Thinking of buying a bat, have golf clubs right now but they're too easy to break.
Are there any other weapons or defences we can use to protect us from home invasions?
What Do You Use for Self-Defence in Your Own House?
pingualien on 16/06/2018 - 00:26
Last edited 16/06/2018 - 00:56 by 1 other user
Last edited 16/06/2018 - 00:56 by 1 other user
Comments
Nothing. My house is its own weapon. The place has so much clutter its practically a death trap in itself
Agree, any attempt to take something would start of an avalanche. Then the cats would trip them up on the way out.
- Learn to use whatever weapon of self defense you have so you actually have a clue of what to do and don't have it taken off you
- Say a home invasion were to happen, hopefully the weapon eg. baseball bat is enough to deter them and scare them away
- Say it isn't enough and you're forced to use it and successfully deter them, whats the chance that in this nanny state you're going to get charged for using a weapon for assault despite the fact it was purely for self defense?
- Say you deter them, if they're the younger type of home invaders, you better believe they're going to try and get "even" if they get seriously injured
- Its probably much easier and MUCH safer to let them take whatever and claim it all on house insurance
Despite all these conflicting points, I keep a baseball bat next to my door just incase. Only pointing these out as a matter of perspective so you can make an informed decision :)
D-cell Maglite.
This ^^^^ You can blind them with the flashlight then hit them while they're stunned. Pro tip: Go for the man jewels… or if it's a woman, run!
This story of a mummified body they found in the Greenwich house of a hoarder was interesting.
They identified the body as Shane John Snellman who had a history of drug use, break and enter and was never reported missing.
Hahaha Karma in action.
I wonder what weapon he used.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/05/mummi…
Karma? For what? For using drugs? Not sure how that is reason to want someone dead?
For breaking and entering someone's home to steal stuff when they are home.
If someone defends themselves and their property that's fine by me.
Why not. It's one less low life druggie to deal with.
I live in a good neighbourhood and I have excellent insurance. They can steal and break whatever they want.
If you're physically there to need to defend yourself, I hope you have good medical insurance too. And that the medical insurance includes magic.
I do but why would I need to? I live in a high end neighbourhood, my home is secure and thieves want stuff, not me.
Hell, I'll help them load their car. Why would I need to defend stuff if it's all insured?
Stop thinking like a moron American. If you try to defend your stuff, you may then end up endangering your family. Not a smart move.
A junkie in a panic is unpredictable.
Also, let's say that you actually are the gangster you think you are and you really hurt of kill the guy. You might find yourself with serious legal issues. Again, not smart.
Don't be a hero, it's just stuff.
You're assuming they just want to take your stuff. You'll be right in the majority of cases, sure. But that's like saying the majority of drunk drivers get home safe too. Good luck depending on the guy robbing you to be reasonable.
@HighAndDry: you're funny. I'm not important enough for someone to specifically break in to my house to attack me. I'd say there's almost zero odds of that ever happening to me.
Thieves are opportunistic, not calculated. I don't know what your life is like but you seem a but paranoid. Why would someone break in to hurt you? How many enemies do you have?
The intruder doesn't need to be reasonable, they want stuff, you let them have it. Nobody gets hurt.
We obviously have different priorities, I only want my family safe. I don't love stuff. I have excellent security at home and my phone can call the police.
Would I pretend to be a ninja against a nervous guy who needs money for drugs and who's possibly carrying a weapon and desperate? Nope.
If I need to defend my family on the very off chance that somehow they think I'm a rival Mafia boss that needs to be eliminated, I have kitchen knives, guitars, my fists, etc.
I'm not important enough for someone to specifically break in to my house to attack me.
Again, you're assuming they're reasonable and acting rationally. Why you'd assume that, when they've already broken into your home, I've no idea.
The intruder doesn't need to be reasonable, they want stuff, you let them have it. Nobody gets hurt.
Yeah. Or intruder is drugged up. Paranoid schizo. Actually a psychopath.
I'm not saying to go looking for a fight. I'm saying at least have an option to physically defend yourself if you need to, as opposed to assuming that you won't have to.
@HighAndDry: 1. I'm 43. Never had this happen. Maybe I'm super lucky…. Or maybe I don't live in South Africa.
- Likely, the intruder needs drugs. If he's drugged up, less chance he's likely looking for money for a fix. That's assuming it's about drugs. Either way, the likelihood that they've broken in to hurt you rather than steal stuff and go, is very tiny. In both cases, it's better not to engage. If you need to, there's lots of household items to use… That's provided you're choosing Chuck Norris and you don't freeze like most people.
If you weigh it up, there's more change of injury or death defending your stuff than letting them take stuff and go.
Anyway, I have no need to be a hero and I'm prepared to kill someone to protect my family in the hugely unlikely event their lives were in danger. That said, I'm not paranoid enough to keep weapons handy that a psycho intruder can use against us.
@imurgod: Good for you? I've never had a house burn down on me either but I still install smoke alarms.
Also:
If you weigh it up, there's more change of injury or death defending your stuff than letting them take stuff and go.
I've said time and again - you can't assume they're after only your stuff.
And no one is saying you need to keep a weapon handy - just something that could be used as one. Seems like you basically agree, dunno why you're still arguing to be honest.
@HighAndDry: fair enough. So then everyone is prepared to defend themselves since every house has stuff you can use as a weapon.
You're right about this argument though, seems we agree on a few points.
I just think that the chances of an intruder wanting to harm you rather than steal stuff is very,very small.
@imurgod: Oh yeah I've never even had a break in. And I've lived in quite a few ground level units in… not the best suburbs. Bars on windows and "Beware Dog" signs apparently work pretty well. I still like being prepared and just don't see the logic behind "Oh it's a small chance don't worry about it" comments.
I live in a semi luxury apartment building.
Crims would have to first get thru the lobby doors, then get secure access to my level, then open my door and disable the alarm.
Meanwhile I have a baseball bat. Aluminium tho. I'll upgrade to a wooden one with nails on it eventually, ala Dead Rising and the Walking Dead.
Thank you for the detailed instructions.
Baseball bat noted.
Home invasion more likely when home is empty. In the unlikely event, I have a wide variety of stupidly heavy childrens things to smash over someones head or trip them up with. I'd probably go with the scooter, that thing is lethal.
I'd probably go with the scooter, that thing is lethal.
But how will you convince them to ride it?
It has a bell on it and a really cool brake ^____^
Sorry, home invasion only occur when the occupants are there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_invasion
Otherwise called a break and enter or burglar.
Get a short $3 filleting knife from kmart.
They are short so they are not illegal.
They are short so bad guy can't easily knock it off.
They are short so easy control.
And the blade is nastily sharp, bad guy wont want to grab it or put body part near it.Most people wouldn't have to buy something specifically to defend themselves, how many people who have had kids don't have a bat or some such somewhere for example? We have a functional katana on display, don't even have kids but we have a small vintage cricket bat because it looked cool, pocket knife on computer desk because we get a lot of packages to open, even an air horn on the shelf I picked up a few years ago could scare the crap out of someone, and a recurve bow for target shooting in the back yard because it's a fun hobby. Try getting hit by a salt lamp, it's basically a big rock. My mother had a display battleaxe on the wall because it looked cool. Use your imagination because life isn't convenient, in the very unlikely occasion that while living in Australia you are burgled while you are still home, and they unlikely don't run when finding somebody is home, chances are you aren't going to be near whatever weapon you planned to use anyway!
I don't think using a battleaxe, a katana or a bow requires a tonne of imagination :)
whisky bottle beside my bed……johnnie walker RED label
That would be a better use of Red label than actually drinking it
I live very rural, response time for any emergency services would be up to an hour.
Myself, my wife and two kids all train in Muay Thai, the current world champ is our coach.Although it is not lawful to use firearms as self defence against another person, they are still present on the odd chance we are attacked by bigfoot or black panther.
nothing to worry when you are their BIG BOSS for the region 😎
A flamethrower, of course. Why do you ask?
LEGO gun that shoots out Eneloops.
Sarcasm!!!
Nobody can handle it!
Lock front door always. Use peephole before opening door for anyone, get security cameras. If the Apex gang comes to your house trying to fight some immature risk taking teenagers is going to end poorly for you
Have nothing valuable at home and let everyone know that you are broke.
Works for me.
Even better, be homeless!
Me mother.
I’ve got a Doona. You’re always safe under a doona.
Chilly Power from China! Thats all you need
Must be something mysterious. Even Google can't find it.
Just very hot chillie grinder into the power. My grandpa once throw into the eyes of three intruders. They were disabled straight way.
Did your grandpa serve time for disabling someone?
Nope:) The police station chief at the time thanked him personally for catch the three man as they actually did many break in around the area and the police never caught them.
Some stats for the conversation
There were about 3000 residential aggrevated burglaries in Victoria over the last year. In the last census there were 2.5 million households in Vic. Therefore, there is roughly a 1 in 1000 chance in any year of a house being involved in an aggrevated robbery.
Also of note, there were 53,695 cases of 'family violence'. Based on these stats, i would argue that any weapon is much more likely to be used in an act of family violence than by stopping a violent burglary.
Read these statistics (year to March 2018)
B311 Residential aggravated burglary 3,494 55.3 (Rate per 100,000 population)
B322 Non-residential non-aggravated burglary 15,965 252.5
B321 Residential non-aggravated burglary 30,981 489.9
B319 Unknown aggravated burglary 5 0.1
B312 Non-residential aggravated burglary 144 2.3https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/late…
I also read an article that said
"The agency’s data for the year to June 2017 shows Sudanese-born offenders were allegedly involved in 98 aggravated burglaries in the state, compared to 540 Australian-born offenders."
https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/top-cop-says-sudan…
3494 is out of date, that was 2017, it's 3069 up to 2018.
I went with the total number of residences rather than the per 100000 as multiple victims can be impacted by one aggrevated burglary, but the point still stands, it's a very small amount, much lower than other risks in life
98 aggravated burglaries sounds like there are 10 offenders max. 10 criminals of a single nationality dose not make the race.
“So, it’s not that you’ve got a core group of six, generally young, men committing crime over a number of nights.
“What we have seen is that you might see half a dozen involved in an aggravated burglary, steal a car and commit some further offences that night.
“The next night, you might have two of those offenders, but there could be three or four new ones that have come from other parts of Melbourne — networking through social media.”
So like 10 people?
U should always have pocket sand on you at all times. Its australias legal pepper spray
I leave my keys (car and both bikes) in clear view downstairs next to my wallet.
Depends on why you're being invaded in the first place.
If it's some "easily spooked" perps just after money for a drug fix or whatever I'd say some kind of panic button to remotely set off the house alarm would spook them off or at least convince them to grab stuff near the door and bolt after that.If it's like Apex out cos it's cool to maim and kill people then you're kinda in trouble regardless. … maybe my Ozito cordless circular saw or reciprocal saw and hope they're too un-educated on how to work it with the safety switch :P
My weapon of choice is harsh language.
It hasn’t let this (profanity) down yet.
I'm making the switch to aggressively positive language. I find in this dark world its more unexpected, and thus more disturbing (and creepy)
But you are doing a really good job yellowdieselgolf! I think your the best.
I love you. Come here so that I may press your face unto my moist bosom!
Obviously a wooden baseball bat with nails hammered in, if cops ask why you have possession of it, you needed it to fight the overgrown spider in your living room.
Or a 'The Walking Dead' cosplay :D
got a steel pipe in the bedroom
LED lenser and a rolling pin. Or DIY a sap/blackjack
Frozen turkey
All of my family members keep a copy of this book with them:
https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-De…
We got the hard cover so we can beat the intruder to death with it.
I keep a boomerang within reach of the bed
Two German Shepherds, Crowbar.
Option 1: Sleep with a cordless drill ready to go with a 32 Spade drill bit
Option 2: Make eye contact. Slowly unzip your pants. Start jerking it. Never break eye contact. This is vital in determining your success.
Option 3: Be a good sammaritan and try and talk some sense into himOption 2 works all the time, I can guarantee you from personal experience.
Chainsaw! hopefully I never have to use it.
poo is the best weapon
Super bright torch
Mother in Law !
Cruel :)
remind me not to break into your place
Hockey stick. Lighter than a cricket bat and easier to swing.
Sjambok.
In Victoria, it is emphatically illegal to store a weapon for 'home defence'.
If you beat a burglar about the head with a golf club, you'd better have a very good reason for owning that club. Start rambling about 'home defence' and you'll be spending the night in jail and possibly facing charges. The same goes for the hammer under your pillow and the chainsaw in your brolly stand.
You might want to reflect before posting about potentially criminal actions in a public forum.
+1
I'm kind of shocked myself that there's 2 pages of replies and unless I missed it no-one has mentioned that the self-defence laws in Australia are VERY different to those portrayed in popular media (generally US oriented) and also I think most would say somewhat against what most people would assume/think is fair/logical.
This article covers this area pretty well: http://theconversation.com/how-far-can-you-go-to-lawfully-pr…
FWIW I've personally had experience with the self defence laws in Australia - not home invasion but I was attacked by 2 men and 2 women - all drunk I was sober. Struck by them several times. I only hit one of the men back twice, both times after he'd again tried to attack me as I was heading to Police but he had multiple facial fractures. I ended up facing Assault & GBH charges as they all lied and said I attacked them (which was disproven) but my justification of self defence was rejected as the magistrate told me I had other options available rather than hitting back i.e flee).
Yes, I know thats very easy to say after the fact and goes against what most are taught - but thats essentially the way the law views it.
So if a burglar is in your house and you go out of your bedroom with a weapon - a struggle ensues and he's seriously injured - you will have to justify WHY you chose this course of action rather than barricade self in room & call Police etc.
Oh and also reality check for you is that people who break in often have weapons themselves & aren't wallflowers…..they're highly more likely to be on drugs or be existing crims i.e they've done this before. So you jumping them with a weapon is likely to initiate a commensurate response i.e physical assault & maybe worse on you and your family.
My advise would be to have a weapon but to keep it ONLY as an absolute, 100% last resort i.e they break into your room and you're there before the police have arrived….but thats incredibly unlikely to be needed as 99.9% of the time is smash+grab+run.
You're far better off putting thought, effort & funds into non-violent deterents i.e very loud alarm system with panic button in your bedroom etc, motion detector lights, security screens etc. The vast majority of crims by the nature of their gravitation to that profession are not very inteilligent &/or lazy so they'll need little rationale to go find an easier/softer target.
Actually, if you're there at the time, a loud alarm outside the house (switch inside the house), would be awesome. I still like the fire extinguisher too though :)
I can't upvote this enough.
I really dislike the idea of turning and running if someone's already close to striking distance. They're just going to smash me from behind..
That magistrate is a moron. Sounds like a rich entitled old twat who's never had to deal with the drunk public or experienced any sort of violent confrontation where adrenaline and fear don't make for perfect judgement like that magistrate expected from you.
Unfortunate that you have that shit on your record now because of four idiots and a magistrate.
No that magistrate is a perfect example of the people running our country. Idealistic world, no clue of what the heck is happening in reality.
The reason why Americans want guns for self defense is if the police responded quickly enough AND are fair (we have police brutality footage here in Australia too), then there would be no need for self-defense.
What happens when the police go on strike or are too scared to come defend you?
Check out Korea Town riots for America.
The fact is, police aren't doing their job, and can't be trusted, otherwise they would have absolutely no problem wearing a bodycam, and transparent communication about their statistics. If they did, there would be no need for this post, or any police brutality
@cwongtech: Yup. And the issues is really that magistrates and judges tend to all live in very nice and safe neighborhoods, where break-ins don't happen, or when it does happen, tend more to be with a drunken neighbour forgetting their own address than someone (who may or may not be drugged to their gills) looking to do harm.
My advice is to have your story straight and NOT rely on the police or magistrates to exercise common sense.
"Oh yeah officer, I was going down to the kitchen for a midnight snack and noticed I'd left the dinner plate in my room so took that down with me. Guess lucky I had that on hand, coz blimey the bloody robber gave me a fright when he came charging at me out of the dark!"
i happen to play golf, baseball, cricket, hockey and tennis
Perhaps you should take up bowling or darts.
Ice Pipes are banned in Victoria but it does not stop retailers sticking a fake flower in them and calling them vases.
As for going after some thug with a weapon if you are going to do it you might as well do a good job and cause permanent injury if you are going to get charged.
In Victoria, the Premier only does something or changes his mind when it personally affects him or his family.
This was proven when he long opposed euthanasia and then supported it after his own personal experience in seeing a family member ill. So we just have to wait for the Premier to have a home invasion or car jacking then he might actually get off his behind and do something about this instead of Victorians living in constant fear of being attacked by gangs and other lowlifes.
do you rather go to court or be carried out in a coffin?
not seeing a lot of dead people from home invasions. Usually where you do then it is because the people involved have a connection to illegal activity, e.g. drug trafficking, etc.
In Victoria, the Premier only does something or changes his mind when it personally affects him or his family.
Typical pollie
we just have to wait for the Premier to have a home invasion or car jacking
I guess we can get proactive about this…
(Note to ASIO/ASIS: this is a joke. kthxbai.)
That's why you also have a catcher's mitt and a baseball next to your bed.
security cameras, big dog, police union stickers
Uzi 9mm
Hahahahaha, you would first have to find out if their intentions are to steal and cause harm or just saying hello
My partner, before I met her, slept through 2 breakins. She lived across the road from a pub. Re defending yourself - the serious problem with a firearm or knife is would you really want to use it? I'd find it hard to use either unless things were really bad - like somebody killing people, I'd have no hesitation. I like the fire extinguisher idea - blast them in the face, slam the base into their solar plexus (they'll be winded), shove them outside, lock the door, call the cops. Another idea is a really bright flashlight - but really, the fire extinguisher is an awesome idea and serves two defence purposes.
Sleeping through the break-ins sounds like the best idea. My niece, and her partner, got broken into and their car stolen. They slept through it, not even the dog got up. The guy turned out to be one bad hombre who had hurt a lot of people and the cops were after him. If they had confronted him they could've been very badly hurt, or worse. Stuff is stuff, if you wake up then just barricade yourself in the bedroom and ring the cops.
Sleeping through break-ins depends on the person breaking in to have not-the-worst intentions for you and your family. Considering they're already breaking into your home at night when you're at home… yeah that seems like a fairly stupid approach. Kind of like literally sticking your head in the sand.
For sure - she was just lucky. I wouldn't advise anybody to put their safety and well being in the hands of an intruder.
Gee wizz,
We live in Australia not America, you need this
https://www.extac.com.au/cold-steel-liverpool-assassin