Potential burglary problem. Need advice.?

Question

Basically I heard a loud, clattering noise about 3 weeks ago at 2.30 am. I looked out of my bedroom window and saw two men in my back garden fiddling with the lock to my back door. Naturally I was petrified. Thankfully they very quickly grew bored and left.

I have no idea why a person would try to target my home specifically but have, naturally, become very concerned about what to do.

I didn't inform the police as doing so would have just been tons of pointless paperwork and no action on their part.

I live in Britain so gun laws are pretty tight, I'm tempted to apply for a shotgun license (which should not be hard to get as I have no past criminal convictions) and to then purchase a shotgun.

I'd rather shoot them, if they return (which I pray they don't), than call the police because the police are notoriously lazy about burglaries and won't bother arriving in time to arrest the burglars.

Even if they do most burglars only go to prison for 6 months, or less.

Opinions?

Answer 1

Get a dog, a big dog.

Answer 2

Get a dog. Thieves hate dogs. If you shoot someone, you will have to live with it the rest of your life.

Answer 3

Motion detector lights are only good for a few goes (meaning if someone is repeatedly trying to break into your home they can sneak past the lights if they have brains), dogs are good but again a burglar can get past dogs with meat, shooting someone should be reserved for serious break-ins only (like you are in the house and so are they) as here in the USA it is illegal (actually) murder to shoot someone (especially an unarmed someone) outside of your home.  Prison hardly seems worth it. You could have an alarm installed in your home which sometimes works, you can do like they do in the great state of LA and cement broken glass to the window seal, you could call the law the next time and tell them if they don't come you will shoot (but if the law in your area is lazy well this may not faze them) so I suggest not allowing yourself to get paranoid about it, go ahead and invest in some of the above mentioned things because if it is a random burglar they might work, and finally next time someone is outside of your door try this approach as long as you see they do not have a gun drawn--walk to your door, but don't unlock it and simply say loudy "Boy that door really is hard to break into isn't it." Trust me if it is a random act the fact that someone is talking to them from inside the home will freak them out.. You might even consider hidden cameras if the situation continues, but trust me if the people are not in your home then it is not worth shooting them.. In your home is self defense--outside your home is murder.

Answer 4

First make sure your door and window locks are all in good working order.  Have deadbolts installed on ALL doors.  If you have a sliding glass door, get a security device for that.  If nothing else, cut a piece of wood to fit in the track so it can't be opened with the wood in place.  

Motion detection lights are a good idea.  They also make motion detector alarms that sound a noise when motion is detected.  They are not expensive and fairly easy to set up and use.  

If you want one, a dog is not a bad idea but that is a personal decision.  

Make sure brushes/shrubs are trimmed back away from the house so burglars can't use them to hide in.  Use electronic timers to turn your lights off and on when you're not home to give the appearance of someone is there.  Vary the pattern of the lights turning on and off.  Turn on a radio from time to time and leave that on.  

Shooting someone can be quite trauma to you and that is a huge personal decision!  Some people can do it without a huge amount of remorse and some get destroyed by it.  And it leaves a HUGE mess!  :)

Answer 5

I agree with everyone saying to get a dog. I have a golden retriver who's a sweetheart. Every time the door bell rings, someone walks past the house, or he hears a funny noise when it's night he goes phyco; barking and howling and running straight for the door.

Answer 6

Try motion detector lights,,,, thieves are like cockroaches, turn on the lights and they run and hide. I use them where i park and have had no more break-ins