Just want to hear what others might do. There's been some burglaries in my area, and that recent balaclava deal got me thinking on what I'd do if I'm a victim of a burglary.
If I was at home and burglars made their way inside, I'd yell "Give me my gun".
Am I allowed to have a machete or a metal baseball bat under my bed?
diggin a shallow grave , now just need a deal on fake id , ticket to mexico and a good fake moustache
i mean could be a new post on ozb "Asking for a friend how to get a fake id and cheap tickets to mexico" i mean u could use the intruders hair as a mustache
its prob best if u dont know why that u dont ask why
Call the ambulance - but not for me.
anonomously ofcourse
It's Ozbargain, just reach for the High powered flashlight to blind them and force them to leave.
For some reason I keep a can of surface spray next to my bed. It’s not premeditated blindness.
My first option would be to run. Either to a neighbour or get in the car and drive.
I had burglars about 12 months ago who broke in through a window. Basically, they stole everything small and valuable. They will ransack your place looking for treasure. They might even steal your shoes. Don't ever expect to get anything back. The cops go through the motions, but have no intention of finding the crooks.
The best tip I can give you is make it hard for the robbers. Store your suitcases in the very highest cupboards or they'll use them to tote your stuff away. Make them carry what they steal. Hide high value small electronics like cameras. Make jewellery impossible to find. If you can, lock your electrical box, they turned off the power to disable any security systems.
To make things easier should this happen to you, keep an inventory of your items as you purchase them, including the serial number and receipt. You'd be surprised at what you've forgotten you own, until you find it missing later on. Make sure you have a photograph of yourself wearing any insured jewellery. Insurance companies will want you to provide "proof of ownership". If you are going to be paying an excess anyway, claim every single bit of damage the burglars do.
Finally somebody living in the real world and not a Marvel comic strip.
Thank you for this advice 🙏🏻
If you’re going to use a machete, you better have a way to hide the body.
This is where the Southern States in the US have it right someone breaks into you house you ask them to leave if they dont youre allow to shoot'em
One less criminal in an over populated world
Personally I'd use whatever force nessary if I thought they were a threat to myself or family
I think that's reasonable tbh
Lock yourself in a room, claim insurance.
It’s against the law to fight back or harm burglars.
Burglary is totally legal as they let burglars go the next day.
What so keep all my jewellery and expensive valuables in the one room and lock myself in there? Surely they would try to break into the room…
Get a small discrete safe for the valuables that aren't in daily use.
This whole lock yourself in a room concept doesn't work in all situations though…
What if you are on public transport, some scumbag decides they want to rob you in broad daylight, are you gonna lock yourself in a room?
I can imagine if someone is threatening your safety directly, then you are not going to just stand there and not defend yourself
You could be cooking in the kitchen when a burglar enters your home, you may not have the chance to run into the nearest room to lock yourself in. So what is acceptable for you to do in that situation?
You clearly don't have kids then.
Beat the shit out of them with the baseball bat that’s in my closet, if they have a gun probably just cower and beg for my life
i have family members sleeping at home and I will use whatever i can grab to defend them. Known vicious dogs, white and chilli pepper powders
Help them load the truck.
I have executive level insurance.
Doubt that insurance would be any good if you become an accomplice! :D
Who have you been talking to?
Shhhhhh
Lol
Weird flex but ok..
The fact that you think it's a flex says a lot about you.
I'm merely stating a fact. I get new, up-to-date everything. Why would I stop them from taking stuff and risk my family's lives?
Okay?
As someone who has been to court for assault charges (which were completely bogus, I was attacked by several people and ended up giving them a thorough beatdown, so they went and claimed I attacked them - was dismissed in court but was an epic PITA and costly!) - I'd recommend getting a good understanding of what Australian criminal law currently considers 'REASONABLE FORCE' to use in such situations and also think about what else you could have done to avoid any violence i.e locking door of your room & calling Police.
And just to be clear - I don't agree with it - I don't like it, but a lot of folks watch Yank TV and think we have the 'stand your ground' rules here and we do not.
It's absolutely brutal going to court and being told by the magistrate you didn't HAVE to hit someone back as you could have fled etc - which goes against my entire upbringing but when i was in court (15+yrs ago) thats how the law in NSW was applied.
Haha and just final words of advice - do not EVER say anything to the Police before you have spoken to your lawyer (yes we all know it but in the moment if you think you did nothing wrong you will say stuff!) and don't go out waving bats, knives etc UNLESS you're completely prepared to use them fully.
The word "reasonable" in any law is the biggest load of bullshit and it seems some magistrates are hell bent on treating victims as though they're aggressors. Good job navigating the system and coming out in one piece.
Umm sadly it was more good luck than anything else. I was terrified as I was early 20's staring at a custodial sentence or a crim record for life - and even the Police told me the 4 other people (2 males, 2 females) were inconsistant with their stories and they had reservations about their honesty - but as they also said it's 4 people's word against you.
I learnt that day all the stuff you're taught as a kid - just be honest, defend yourself if needed - is BS in the eyes of the law. Thats why you're best advised to either know the rules thoroughly or do nothing at all. Being int he middle and hoping for the best is a fool's errand.
This is the thing. You're only in the right if you can afford very good lawyers to prove that. Some of the convictions I've seen in the news are nuts. There was one young teen victim of child rape and abuse had a still birth at home alone then years later was convicted of neglect for not calling for help, some dude went to jail for trying to pay for something with monopoly money. Yet obvious criminals just walk off free.
How did the court prove the truth if it is just your words against theirs? If your charges were dropped, does it mean the attackers got charged instead?
Ummm it's hard to describe essentially the court sort of found me guitly but no charges or penalties were applied. I'm really not sure how that worked - but wasn't asking questions. I stated the charges were dropped as for all intents and purposes thats what happened - but in the court alas they found that the 4 vs 1 testimony, along with the guy who attacked me initially (he actually king hit me from behind) having several broken bones in his face - was enough to 'prove' i was guilty of the charges.
Sorry to say but the Police were terrible to deal with - being honest and trying to assist them only conspired against me and unlike on TV the court system does not want to really examine such low end cases for inconsistancy etc - they just want to bang them out.
Alas no - the attackers (one of the males and both the females assaulted me, I only hit the male despite being scratched to pieces by the women - all of them were drunk, I was sober as I worked in a bar and was at uni) all never even had an issue. The one male who didn't attack me even told me he was sorry but he was pressured by his friend and GF to testify against me even though he knew it was a lie.
A few years ago I saw the guy who attacked me in a supermarket - it was all I could do not to go over and let him know I'd not forgotten about what he did. But didn't seem like a great idea for a number of reasons. :-/
Don't know what I'd do but I'm always worried my dog would bite a protected class and get put down. Thankfully though the one time anyone tried, the dog chased them out of the backyard and there has been no activity since.
I have contents insurance. Unless they are posing a risk to my family then let them do as they please and call the insurance company after all is done.
If burgers broke in to my home…
Probably just listen to the screams as my GSD rips them apart. The thing hates anything that's alive.
Doesn't the GSD get put down then?
does it?
whats the point of guard dogs
on trespassers
they just stink
Nope. At worst it gets registered as a dangerous dog from that point on if the burglar doesn't survive.
looks like doesn't apply when it's ya own home
Ok so it's fine if the dog attacks the intruder but I myself can't as it will be seen as assault? Best to look into buying a dog then…
strip buck-naked
and stand your ground with a knife
im aiden pearce with the baton, ready to hack my house and beat them
I've been in a position where I've had to sleep in a house for sometime after a break in - the house was a rental - and even though the security was upgraded it didn't really change much. They attempted to get in again on several occasions after. This event took place sometime back over 10+ years. I guess thankfully I wasn't there at the time.
Cause that event has (profanity) me up a bit - if I was placed in a position again where this time I was present when they entered I'd probably OVER-react to the situation. My history would be my defense in court lol.
Had been broken into, they left one worn hoodie left behind.
I found the culprit selling my stuff, and the cops did jack all.
First question will be do you have insurance - if you do, they won't act at all.
After this experience, I have no faith in cops or the law. Especially when I handed them everything on a silver platter, absolutely useless.
as others have mentioned - prevention is the key make it as hard as possible.
Do as Bas Rutten does use chilli sauce.
The only self defense lesson you need.
https://youtu.be/idAkqZkVcP4?t=277
if it were me/
i have a nice sharp hatchet next to my bed. if need be off goes their hand or their fingers and send them on their way.
think about the legal system later. Family comes first
FWIW not a great weapon for a close quarters tussle, you need to swing it to use, so pretty easily negated, especially in a tight area or if you're wrestling etc.
The other problem with having an item like this is you're going to have a bugger of a time explaining to the court the rationale for using it as clearly it's a deadly weapon capable of killing a person. And it's not something you'd expect to find by a bed etc - that you could say you just grabbed.
So while a hatchet, sword or halberd might make for a better weapon, you might find that a smallish pocket knife or blunt force object might be easier to explain away. Even a can of oven cleaner canwork pretty well.
the hatchet i use to chop my trees down each week :)
Your legal bill to defend against a charge of manslaughter comes to $80,000.00. you are sentenced for 8 years imprisonment with parole after 2. With time served you are out.
Now you are a crim, all your insurances skyrocket or you end up uninsurable.
Your wife and kid are now out on the street because they lost 1/2 of the income going to the mortgage. Your kid is teased cos his dad is now known as the ax killer.
Some cousins of the 13 year old child that you killed have been visiting your wife and child, screaming at them and throwing rocks at the house, slashing their tyres.
All cos you used a hatchet instead of an oven cleaner!!
shoot them in self defence
hopeful donot hear them other we could be in for a fight.
I had a burglar from a neighbours place try to escape through my backyard. I ran out the back immediately and grabbed a big kitchen knife on my way. Then I realised I can't stab the guy, so ran back and grabbed a hammer (sits next to the doorway). Then I realised if he has a knife I would like a knife too. So I was out the back with a knife and hammer trying to find him. Then I thought to myself "wtf am I doing?" I can't stab the guy and smash his face in with a hammer. On hindsight, I probably should've just locked the doors and waited fo cops.
My neighbour stopped the guy with poly pipe (which is probably a much better non-lethal alternative)
Pretty good example of in the moment, reacting without thinking - which is normal and I freely admit that I'm very much the same way. But you'd have been completely screwed if the fleeing thief had come at you - ended up getting stabbed and bled out. All of a sudden you're at best facing a manslaughter charge and your life's in tatters. Alas is one of those times where nice guys end up being penalised due to wanting to assist others. Unfair but sad reality.
Ozb catastrophisers term of the month
"Bled out"
What's the data in your state for home owners who have 'bled out' or even been stabbed, as a result of a burglary?
It's happening mate. At least a few in QLD this year. and btw his was referring to the intruder bleeding out. Gotta read the whole comment.
@tonka: If your saying the vigilantes are going around stabbing petty burglars, I'm not surprised it's QLD.
Home invasions are another matter.But there's almost always a sinister background story or drug connection to most of them.
Got any links to the media coverage of the multiple events?
A for street crimes etc, I'd like to see massive increase in penalties for possession of a bladed weapon.
And more focus on drug distributors
@Protractor: Mate, read the comments properly. And do your own research I'm not that invested in your education.
@tonka: YES Sir!
I'll just take everything you take as gospel, despite checking it out and finding 4 or 5 incidents since 2015 that match what you reckon is current QLD experience.
@Protractor: Don't take my word I don't care what you know, and don't call me bossy when you were clicking your fingers for me to fetch you links. I don't care enough about your opinion to wanna prove my point.
@Protractor: @Protractor
Got any links to the media coverage of the multiple events?
How dare you ask for actual evidence!
This whole thread is just a bunch of knee-jerk emotional macho BS.
The actual number of 'aggravated burglary' events in normal people's homes is pretty small.
Remember this is distinct from specific 'home invasion' events which garner much media interest. These are nearly always crime and/or drug-related.
@Roman Sandstorm: Yeah, I recognise artificial intelligence and catastrophising when I see it.
Interestingly I note crime stoppers sites in some states don't publish active unsolved cases(at least I tried QLD and failed to get a hit)
SA I googled 'burglary' on the local CS site, and I did not get a single hit
Maybe some states like to keep schtum, so it doesn't wreck the cosy narrative
@Roman Sandstorm: Imagine having a casual conversation then asking people to prove everything they say. You'd end up spending your time trying to find company on a bargain site forum.
So how about I ask you to provide actual evidence that aggravated burglary is rare?
@tonka: as opposed to just dropping unmitigated BS and expecting the world to accept is as fact.
The Trump/Musk right wing ,cooker model. Love it
@Protractor: You really don't know how conversation works do you. It's Ozbargain not a courtroom. And I reckon I made it pretty clear I don't care what you accept.
What is this 'Trump/Musk right wing ,cooker mode', trash talk meant to provoke? Dead set man you gotta earn some respect before insults can burn.
OzB Smug Know it All's move of the month: Asking for statistical citations for a clear hypothetical example. ;-)
@Protractor: For you perhaps a 'Special Officer Doofy' one….but thats the best I could do.
https://youtu.be/SQ-RaBBspZg
@Daniel Plainview: HILARIOUS!
Curious about your fortuitous day in court. Did you receive a suspended sentence or guilty with no conviction recorded?
Or was the case formally dismissed.
I mean you said you were facing jail time, so if you dodged it, you'd know wouldn't you?
@Protractor: I did cover it earlier - but well I was facing assault occassing grievous bodily harm or similar IIRC.
It was magistrates court level in Lismore, NSW - as I mentioned earlier I only said it was 'dismissed' as the end outcome was this - but in reality it was something along the lines of a 'no conviction recorded' outcome, which is detailed here:
https://lyonslaw.com.au/blog/no-conviction-recorded-in-nsw/
Massive PITA, incredibly stressful and all completely baseless (if applying common sense) - I was walking home after completeing a work shift as a barman - confronted by 4 drunk people who knew & disliked me, was pursued and attacked by 3 of them. Struck one of them with a single blow ONLY after being hit in the back of the head by that male, while 2 females were also attacking me.
Then had blood spat all over me as I went to seek Police assistance for having been attacked - only to be put in the lockup overnight myself as I wasn't the one with the broken nose & depressed fractured cheekbone. Hardly my fault that I have a good straight left.
Plus if the intruder has any skills, you've just provided them a lethal weapon and a valid self defense scenario to use it. And why would you want to risk a knife fight when you can throw furniture at them.
Cameras. I have multiple videos of people milling about where they shouldn't and the look on their face when they notice the camera is priceless. They panic and quickly pretend like they were doing something else, then realise they have no reason to be there, they (profanity) off and you never see them again. Thinking of getting a little spotlight to shine on the camera so they can spot it sooner.
I have multiple videos of people milling about ….
They're your roomies ….. after an all-night bender & lost/forgot their keys. Just let them in already.
its simple, you make them disappear :) what intruder?
Simple?
LOL.
For a pig farmer maybe
Burglars have rights, you don’t have any legal recourse if you hurt them
Not strictly true - it's more complex, alternative courses of action you could have pursued, what level of response you chose, the time you had to consider all this etc.
It's annoying as I think a reasonable person would consider being killed by the occupant a risk if you go breaking in to other people's homes in the middle of the night etc. But the court will atleast in theory try and apply a degree of common sense to this - we don't want it to become like America where folks are shooting strangers who accidently pull into their driveway or knock on their front door asking for directions.
The message as always is know what the realities are BEFORE you go head first into this kind of thing as it can be a lot harder to put humpty back together again afterwards.
Yank their hair off or scrape their face, making sure their dna is under my finger nails.
That's what Oprah said to do when you are being attacked, and don't let them take you to a second location.
Baseball bat to the head
Why