Burglary

[darkmonkeygod]

Once again, not to come off as a know it all, but if you live in the US or EU, you should NEVER set a trap for a human being, regardless of what they are doing (theft etc). Many of the 50 states have provisions for legal killing or maiming in defense of your own life, some for defense of others and a few in defense of property, but setting a trap is a premeditated offense that just does not fly with the federal court system since about 1993. I know it's harsh to say something along the lines of desiring whoever did this take themselves out of the gene pool, yet I am someone who has a Nelson Algren level of compassion for troubled souls, but if YOU kill 'em, do it in defense of self or risk your own bodily freedom. Just sayin'.

And Gillfan, go for a wireless redundancy on the alarm system if you can. That w a back up battery can pay for itself in seconds.

Also, this may seem real strange, but if you still  feel really uncomfortable at home after a month or six weeks, you might try a technique that has seen lots of results in individuals and family mentally / physically 'reclaiming' space after violation and disaster. You sit in your space in the dark for a while just listening, and then eventually fully explore your own house with a low light flashlight (not a halogen). Reportedly it helps your nervous and limbic systems 'reset' once you experience the thrill / fear of the dark and explore it and find nothing you are truly afraid of.

[Monster Bob]

C'mon in univited and I'll play ya' a tune.

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

but if YOU kill 'em, do it in defense


setting a trap is in defense, the scumbags forfeit their lives when it becomes a home invasion.
so a nail board may seem pretty brutal to some,but so is the mind of the criminal...
Shoot first and forget asking the questions, that's southern justice....
Criminals need to be dealt with in harsh ways, instead of a slap on the wrist and 30 day sentence,so they can come back and do something even worse.
jmo

[ICEMANN333]

******* EYE FOR A EYE *******  COMES THREW MY WINDOW ***** LEAVES IN MY TRUNK*****ITS THE ONLY WAY TO FLY......ICEMAN........

[darkmonkeygod]

setting a trap is in defense, the scumbags forfeit their lives when it becomes a home invasion.
so a nail board may seem pretty brutal to some,but so is the mind of the criminal...

While not a lawyer, I have read much about many good people who have done similar things in defense of property and had their freedoms legally stripped of them in court, or been successfully sued in civil court by the 'victim' (yep, the intruder) or even the intruder's family. There's an element of premeditated intent to harm in a trap that gets very, very tricky to legally defend in most counties. That said, you know how I feel and think about it from my first post. I find uncivil behavior intolerable.

******* EYE FOR A EYE *******  COMES THREW MY WINDOW ***** LEAVES IN MY TRUNK*****ITS THE ONLY WAY TO FLY......ICEMAN........

Heh heh. Roll on iceman, roll on, I'm not getting in your way

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

I find uncivil behavior intolerable.


uncivil? you talking about the home owner protecting their family and home?
or are you meaning the dirty scumbags who have invaded yer home?

[long live kong]

You should see how ludicrous the justice system is here in England, where you can defend your home as long as you use 'reasonable force', a rather ambiguous term that has led to many victims being prosecuted. I hate violence, it does nothing for me but if anyone entered my home at night, where my wife to be and child sleep, I'm afraid I would have to put my civility aside. And remember its not allways your TV and stereo they are looking for.  

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

You should see how ludicrous the justice system is here in England, where you can defend your home as long as you use 'reasonable force', a rather ambiguous term that has led to many victims being prosecuted. I hate violence, it does nothing for me but if anyone entered my home at night, where my wife-to-be and child sleep, I'm afraid I would have to put my civility aside. And remember its not allways your TV and stereo they are looking for. 

Thankfully, I have never had a break-in here at the home,but if did, I am prepared...
One good thing about living in the country,criminals fear Rednecks 

[ChattyLMS]

if you live in the US or EU, you should NEVER set a trap for a human being, regardless of what they are doing (theft etc).

DMG - I thought about this.  I also thought that if a burglar gets hurt in your home they can sue you.   I don't know if that's correct or not.

[darkmonkeygod]

Oh, please make no mistake, I consider uncivil behavior to be not respecting the boundaries of others as long as those boundaries are reasonable for you (unless of course you are mentally compromised into unreasonable, in which case to hell w what you want). That of course includes the property of others. That said, some people are, for various reasons, so desperate they commit unreasoned acts. I have a personal code by which I live and have been exceedingly fortunate to have the limits of it only minorly tested. I fully believe there are instances in which it is necessary to exert lethal force. I believe that as a society there are instances where it is necessary. And as a people, a species. That said, I dunno if I could bring myself to kill a being over my Creature from the Black Lagoon figures. Or a car. Or wallet. But the risk that should I see it happening and that unreasonable individual will go to greater lengths to protect themselves? That's the balk line. I'm not the worlds biggest fan of the police or the military, but it's easy to understand how those people end up killing others in a situation that upon reflection (more time, less adrenaline and cortisol) did not warrant it. Still, draw a cell phone out of your pocket in dim light and brandish at me and I'm afraid it's a gun and you are trying to kill me? That's two center of mass as fast and accurately as my fear will allow.

The UK is fantastically, fascistically stupid in this regard. There are many who have killed, maimed and only threatened others in defense of their lives and property and are now incarcerated. Obscene. But so are the ASBOs. It's as if Judge Dredd has come true and then metastasized. Frightening.

DMG - I thought about this.  I also thought that if a burglar gets hurt in your home they can sue you.   I don't know if that's correct or not.

Depends on the circumstance. In many municipalities, it's just like someone who was invited into your home hurting themselves (thus the 'trap' issue). Yellow runs through and through, and many of these people will lawyer up, especially if you have homeowner's coverage that is comprehensive. Your insurance company will often settle at your limit (it's cheaper FOR THEM) and then either raise your rate, or black flag you and drop you. That's the system. Scary, huh?

[ICEMANN333]

BOTTOM LINE ITS 3.00 IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT .....YOUR IN ROOM WITH YOUR LOVED ONE AND A MAN IS LOOKING DOWN AT YOU..... LET SEE WHAT WOULD YOU DO.... (1. SAT HELLO...NO..)  (2..ASK IF HE WOULD LIKE SOME THING TO DRINK ..NO..)....(3.. WAIT TO SEE IF HE'S GOING TO RAPE. SHOOT. OR STAB YOU TO DEATH...)).....65 PER CENT OF BURGLARY"S ENDS THIS WAY..IF SOMEONE  IS HOME IT ENDS UP IN RAPE OR BEAT TO DEATH..........HERE"S WHAT I WOULD DO I WOULD SHOOT HIM TWICE IN EACH LEG.....THEN GO FOR A QUICK DRINK AND A SANDWICH.. GO BACK TO SEE IF HE COULD STAND ... IF SO SHOOT HIM AGAIN....  THEN PUT A KNIFE IN HIS HANDS CALL THE POLICE AT LEAST ONE HOUR AFTER THE 1ST SHOOTING.. WHY A HOUR TO SEE IF THE BLOOD WOULD STOP....(((  HERE"S THE BOTTOM LINE DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE THREW MY WINDOW CALL 1ST................((...PROTECT IF NECESSARY......FAMILY IS 1ST...))...THE ICEMAN ...

[Fester]

This discussion on burglaries and suggestions for home defense got me wondering just what the risks are , so I consulted the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program website http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/index.html

Here are a few interesting things I learned:

IN 2005:

There were 1,612,683 burglaries recorded by the FBI. 
Of these, 1,060,513 (65.8%) were residence burglaries.

Of all burglaries:
18.7% were residence break ins at night (30,431).
31.1% were residence break ins in the daytime (500,972)
   There were an additional 258,170 reported where time of day was not noted.

During the same year, 192 people were killed in self defense by a private citizen. 

Only 88 people were killed during a burglary. 
Of those, 54 were strangers or unknown.  The rest were family members or friends.

Of the 12,068 murders listed in the FBI's report; 2,700 (22.4%) were killed by a family member.   There were more people killed in alcohol fueled brawls (120) or arguments over money (211).

[long live kong]

Heyup Monkeygod, funny you mentioned ASBOs as I was at a friend's 30th birthday party last night and the subject of ASBOs came up. The kids who are given an 'ASBO' consider it a badge of honour.

There is a real problem in the UK with society and its getting worse. The kids are not alright and they need help. Deprive kids of moral guidance and discipline and chaos rules. The big wigs in government should watch/read Lord Of The Flies and take note of its message!!

[long live kong]

Thankfully, I have never had a break-in here at the home,but if did, I am prepared...
One good thing about living in the country,criminals fear Rednecks  

I wouldn't go camping in the Appalachiens without an Uzi and a good pair of night-vision goggles!

[Fester]

I wouldn't go camping in the Appalachiens without an Uzi and good pair of night-vision goggles!

The key for a safe visit is:  Paddle faster if you hear banjos!