[Strangeclouds]

2 nights ago, there was a sound of some movement outside my house according to my dad, but he didn't think much of it, and let it go. The next day, we woke up to find that our back door was fully ajar, and that someone had opened one of the double garage doors. There is a pretty decent chance that we had closed it without locking it, and he merely opened it. Anyways stacked upto that garage door is a load of boxes and we don't keep anything of much value in the garage. Also, the large step ladder was still in it's original place, however, the small stepladder could have been moved/replaced, as it was right next to the open door. Whoever it was left the garage door ajar. I took out the mini step ladder and placed it in various positions around the house, and I could not think of any way it could have given them an advantage onto the upper floor windows. Because the garage is so messy etc, we don't know if anything was taken, but a quick look suggests not, but because it's so messy, it's hard to tell.

Then, this morning, I was told by my parents that someone tried to break into my dad's car. This is because at 12:00-12:05 last night, the alarm went off in my dad's car. We called the police and they said everything seems to be secure for the moment, and they just advised that we repair our broken night-time lights around the house (the type that activate when there's any motion, like when you pull into the drive way etc). We only have one atm, it's not working, but they recommended it would be a good idea to get another and get the old one fixed too.

Someone is targeting my house. I'm **** scared, I don't want this to happen. What do you think I should do? I've been thinking of getting a paintball/pellet gun, I've already got one of those guns that makes a loud bang when fired (though no bullet comes out). What should I do?

We've been robbed from, albeit in different areas, before, and it's cost a lot of money and emotional stress on my parents. I can't have it happen again, especially when I've got massive, life-determining exams just round the corner. I'm under-fire massively at college right now, everyone is getting on my back and generally I feel cornered. Work is the only thing that is my respite atm, and today I couldn't start work because this whole situation was on my mind. I need to do something to put my mind at ease. Do you think it's worth staying up late tonight with my 'loud-bang' gun, a baseball bat (I can borrow one), and the phone nearby? I have no ambitions of catching the guy, believe me, I just want them away from my house.

[Cherriesxo]

I'd stay up and try and take pictures. Open your window (discreetly), zoom in on the person's face and take a picture with the flash on.

[pikaboo]

Poor you - my parents' house was broken into (attempted at least) several times while we were sleeping. It is really disturbing. You can take comfort in the fact that they have tried twice now to take something, and would be foolish to try again now you're onto them. My guess would be that they've moved onto easier targets.

[Samus2]

I think placing such a danger on yourself isn't a good idea. If this person is targeting your house then you need to be careful. Although most intruders generally aren't dangerous and would 't cause harm to the residents of the house - you never know, you could startle them and be attacked. Do you live in a close proximity to other neighbors? It might be worth asking if they can keep an eye out. Make sure that any possible entrance is locked and perhaps stay awake with your phone ready to call the police?

edit: Sorry you're going through this OP. Our back garden was broken into and bikes were stolen and it took me weeks to be able to sleep right without fear someone was going to come in.

[Strangeclouds]

What is my legal position if I was to hurt an intruder?

[JO53PHS]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
What is my legal position if I was to hurt an intruder?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6902409.stm

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
What is my legal position if I was to hurt an intruder?

There have been intruders who have won legal cases to sue people who hurt them when they were in their homes. Self defence is okay, attacking them just for being in your home is not. Although there is every chance that your "self defence" would not be seen as such should it go to court.

[dragon500uk]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
What is my legal position if I was to hurt an intruder?

Someone would probably throw you in jail for attacking the intruder in his place of work.......... You know, workplace abuse.

[simoncino]

Your only choice really...

http://www.gunshop-eb.co.uk/

[james1211]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
What is my legal position if I was to hurt an intruder?

I would say you need to be awfully careful. The legality of it is very iffy but as long as you were in danger of being injured by them and give them a warning you intend to hurt them back you should be ok provided you use reasonable force (don't stab them with a knife or shoot them). if they are knocked out, call the police immediately and don't hit them again unless you follow out from the beginning again with the warning etc.

Also, who knows what weapons they will have or how far they will go?

This is dodgy ground.

[BHS12]

Sorry your are going through this OP, but you shouldn't retaliate and try and attack.

Lock/barricade yourself in one room, call the police and make sure you announce you have done that. Obviously if someone comes in and attacks you then defend yourself, but getting out a phony gun and shooting it? I wouldn't recommend it. If you ring the police and say someone is in your house, they act quite quickly. I live 20 minutes away from a police station and they got here in under 10 with their sirens on when I saw one of our cars being towed down the drive and suspected someone was one in the house. I was only fourteen at the time so might of acted a little quicker but they will come.

You really have nothing to be scared off. A burglar is interested in stealing your iPhone, not your life- just don't open the door to strangers- is there windows by your doors that you could speak to someone through??? Keep an eye on them as they walk down the drive too, and if you can get a note of their registration number. If they have nothing to hide, they won't mind. Also if you get people like electricity reading men etc come round, ask them to come back at a time you know your parents will be in.

[Kaiaaa]

I'm really sorry this has happened OP

I think you should (or should ask your parents to) take some measures to improve your home's security, like fixing the lights as the police said, put a lock on the garage door etc. Burglars target places that are easy, and chances are that if they did come back and saw the garage was locked, and then got a security light turned on in their face they'd get away asap and not come back. I think considering they (probably) just opened your garage door, and then probably tried to open your car door, but didn't break any windows or anything they are not looking to seriously break into your property but just take something easy. If they were scared away by the car alarm they would probably also be scared away by a burglar alarm or a bright light. It's a big step from trying to open some doors to actually breaking into someone's house while it's occupied

Also, if they did use the ladder to have a look at your property (scary I know), they probably realised then that it would be too hard to break in and that's why nothing was taken.

Tell your parents how worried this is making you and affecting your sleep, with your exams round the corner. I'm sure they'll take some steps as I described above. Good luck with your exams and try not to worry, although I sympathise as it sounds really unsettling.

[Cll_ws]

how late do you usually stay up? i'm usually up till the early hours of the morning, so i'd make it my task to catch him!
Keep an eye out, the second I see/hear him, ring the police. Hopefully they get there whilst he's still snooping around.

If you were feeling really adventurous, set a trap and lure him in through your front door by leaving it open, you know, a net hanging from the ceiling, trip wire into a pit of tar and throw a bucket of feathers over him, that sort of thing.
It depends how up for it you are on the night I guess

[Toaster Leavings]

There's a chance the car alarm might've scared them off for good. I would reinstall the lights and get a burglar alarm fitted and leave it at that.

[Bill_Gates]

i maybe in a similar situation but i think its time to fight back *home alone music*

[TheHansa]

Thanks for telling me your gun isn't real mwahahahaha


^joke

Speak to your college/school and explain you're having this trouble. Stay up with the phone, I'm sorry to say this but I doubt improving your security (do it anyways to slow him down) will help because he seems to be targeting your house rather than going for easier meat. Can you think of why your house is being targeted or who might do this, previous burgler, previous owner had enemies?

[Playa10]

Surround your house with a pile of ****...that ought to keep them out

[Moleman1996]

you could get one of those dummy CCTV cameras, the ones that are just a lump of plastic and don't actually record, might keep them off.

[Glow in the dark]

Leave a note on your garage door and car saying "their is somebody watching you" "enter at your own peril" . Pretty sure that would detour them. And try stay up with a camera/ video camera if you expect them to return. Depending on how foolish they are I don't expect them to return now as they have already checked your garage, and if they wanted anything they would have taken it by now. The fact that they left the door ajar would suggest they aren't coming back to me

[Einheri]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
2 nights ago, there was a sound of some movement outside my house according to my dad, but he didn't think much of it, and let it go. The next day, we woke up to find that our back door was fully ajar, and that someone had opened one of the double garage doors. There is a pretty decent chance that we had closed it without locking it, and he merely opened it. Anyways stacked upto that garage door is a load of boxes and we don't keep anything of much value in the garage. Also, the large step ladder was still in it's original place, however, the small stepladder could have been moved/replaced, as it was right next to the open door. Whoever it was left the garage door ajar. I took out the mini step ladder and placed it in various positions around the house, and I could not think of any way it could have given them an advantage onto the upper floor windows. Because the garage is so messy etc, we don't know if anything was taken, but a quick look suggests not, but because it's so messy, it's hard to tell.

Then, this morning, I was told by my parents that someone tried to break into my dad's car. This is because at 12:00-12:05 last night, the alarm went off in my dad's car. We called the police and they said everything seems to be secure for the moment, and they just advised that we repair our broken night-time lights around the house (the type that activate when there's any motion, like when you pull into the drive way etc). We only have one atm, it's not working, but they recommended it would be a good idea to get another and get the old one fixed too.

Someone is targeting my house. I'm **** scared, I don't want this to happen. What do you think I should do? I've been thinking of getting a paintball/pellet gun, I've already got one of those guns that makes a loud bang when fired (though no bullet comes out). What should I do?

We've been robbed from, albeit in different areas, before, and it's cost a lot of money and emotional stress on my parents. I can't have it happen again, especially when I've got massive, life-determining exams just round the corner. I'm under-fire massively at college right now, everyone is getting on my back and generally I feel cornered. Work is the only thing that is my respite atm, and today I couldn't start work because this whole situation was on my mind. I need to do something to put my mind at ease. Do you think it's worth staying up late tonight with my 'loud-bang' gun, a baseball bat (I can borrow one), and the phone nearby? I have no ambitions of catching the guy, believe me, I just want them away from my house.

LOL! What the fudge is that going to do? Get a crossbow. Have someone up at that time, if they break in shoot them in the left side of the chest - the best shot from the front is a heart and lung shot; pretty much a guaranteed insta-kill. Don't shoot them in the back as that can be legal problems for you. Don't go for a headshot either as it's a harder target. Point blank range with a crossbow aimed at the chest is an easy shot even if you've never fired one. I'd also recommend you buy a machete just in case; forget the basball bat - it's unwieldy and has relatively low lethality.

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
There have been intruders who have won legal cases to sue people who hurt them when they were in their homes. Self defence is okay, attacking them just for being in your home is not. Although there is every chance that your "self defence" would not be seen as such should it go to court.

Actually you can - it's perfectly legal to injure/kill someone just for being on your property without permission.