Best way to protect your home/assets/life from looters?

Boba on 18/03/2020 - 00:51
Last edited 18/03/2020 - 00:52

I know some will frown upon this, but my wife and I were talking about what to do in the event that our home is looted / under attack.

Her initial thoughts were that if you just give them what they want, they'll go away and at least you're alive.

My initial thoughts were more along the lines of 'self defence' and defending my legally acquired bargains. Use tools such as baseball bat, crowbar, home-made crossbow, etc. She says I'd end up in jail if I did that.

Regardless of which response (of giving them what they want or detering them), there's nothing stopping them from coming back with greater force.

Thoughts?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • John Kimble on 18/03/2020 - 08:15

    Use tools such as baseball bat, crowbar, home-made crossbow, etc.

    You could use the first two (last one is a bit iffy/probably illegal to make in the first place) as long as you don't permanently maim or kill them…but it's very possible they could just disarm you and use your weapon against you also.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 08:56

      Yeah I’m conscious of losing the defence tools in a confrontation. That last one, I agree would be a bit questionable and I’d have to be pretty desperate / bored to actually make one.

    • cameldownunder on 18/03/2020 - 17:20
      +1

      Lucy ?

  • arkie0 on 18/03/2020 - 08:26
    +8

    I'm not giving you advice in case things get bad and I need to loot too. Would hate to see a defense I came up with used against me.

  • Austaurean on 18/03/2020 - 08:50
    +1

    one of my torches is like a baton at 27 to 29 cm and reasonably heavy.
    even though its just a cheapy Aldi 'Lightway' branded 1,500 lumen, powerbank, that I picked up on clearance, it works quite well.
    My Nitecore MH27 is nice n quite small with 53500cd beam intensity and an excellent strobe for disorienting would be thieves etc
    Plus I have a couple of wifi cameras that send me notifications when they pickup sound or movement.
    Call the Police and get my bum in the car to get home.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 08:54

      Thanks, I can do something similar.

      A question about wifi, how does it work if your electric meter box, along with fuse switches etc. are located on the outside of the house? Don’t thieves just cut the power first?

      • darkly on 18/03/2020 - 18:21
        +1

        You can padlock your mains power boxes, just need an approved padlock for the electric company

        • abb on 19/03/2020 - 11:49

          The lock usually attaches two pieces of sheet metal together, an organised imaginary looting mob might carry tin snips or a crowbar ;)

        • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:17

          Yeah my power box is an old wooden one, not too hard to break into but I guess a padlock may still act as deterrent.

          Stills annoys the power company though… They'd have to knock on our door just for an unlock.

          • darkly on 19/03/2020 - 16:53

            @Boba: No, theres certain locksmiths providing padlocks that they eletrcical providers also have a master key for

      • Other on 19/03/2020 - 18:56

        Can confirm: I always cut power to homes from people I'm thieving from.

        Actually No. Most theft is opportunistic - mainly people leaving the door open. Seriously.

        People who get home invasions tend to be drug dealers. Confirmed by: Neville Bartos. Proof: Neville Bartos leg.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3VnX0hf_yM

  • Austaurean on 18/03/2020 - 09:05

    Yep probably.. but as mine log into the cloud, if they go offline, they are supposed to send a notification.

    Perhaps a TSA type lock needs implementing, but for the meter box.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 09:06

      We don’t have NBN yet and our upload speed sucks. Cloud is just a dream.

      Can meter readers bypass TSA?

      • Austaurean on 18/03/2020 - 09:12

        My NBN is 12/5, so its pretty crap, but it works.

      • AdosHouse on 19/03/2020 - 15:31

        Everyone can bypass TSA locks, the keys are readily available. Just Google it.

    • endotherm on 18/03/2020 - 21:08

      There is already such a thing as an Electrical Industry padlock. All meter boxes are supposed to be locked with one. There are a few different keys for them (so that every lock everywhere doesn't have the same key) and theoretically only electricians and meter readers and service personnel are supposed to have a set. It is strenuously protected by the words "do not duplicate" embossed on the key blank.

      • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:18

        Thanks for that, I can ask around to get it arranged.

  • Austaurean on 18/03/2020 - 09:11

    No, that's why i was meaning they need to implement the same principle, their own lock and access key, or make a box with 2 access points, one for the meter and one for the fuses. We as owners/occupiers still need access to the fuses.

    At least that will slow the would be thief down a little, plus it would be noisy to cut/break the lock or box.

  • 2jzzzz on 18/03/2020 - 09:15

    Everyone is going to be home, be a hard time for people to break in. But looters using force is different. I'm putting up signs saying "confirmed Corona Virus patient inside, do not enter"

    Then I'll have hockey stick, machete and more if things go real bad.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 09:41
      +1

      What if it’s, say, one month’s time and the looters have already caught, recovered from, and are now immune to both strands of Coronavirus? They might not be scared of the sign anymore.

      Then again there are other homes to target without “confirmed patient inside”.

  • netjock on 18/03/2020 - 09:32

    You are a bit behind in building your toilet paper fort! The suggestion of a moat in front of the walls of that said toilet paper fort would be helpful.

    Make it is built in a way the rolls cannot be removed from the outside so they will have to climb over the walls in order to dismantle it from the inside.

    Also make sure you dig in at least 6 ft to avoid them digging their way through under the walls.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 09:45

      Are you saying that the fort should be made out of flammable toilet paper? Or that the fort is built to protect the toilet paper?

  • Euphemistic on 18/03/2020 - 09:35
    +2

    It’s going to take a lot more than a month or two of being stuck at home for it to get to the stage of looters. I reckon you’d have to be in a situation where like half the population is infected with a disease that kills you within a few days not a ‘strong cold’ that’ll probably have a treatment available in a month or two and a vaccination next year.

    This will blow over in a few months which isn’t log enoug for society to completely break down.

    While ever we can keep getting food in supermarkets and the govt is able to provide welfare we’ll be fine.

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 09:44
      +1

      I really hope you’re right. Some other countries further down the track have been able to maintain order so far, so that gives hope. Then again Australia is quite a spread out country and I’m not as confident in our capabilities of maintaining order over such a large area. I probably wouldn’t have worried about looters last year but then we had the reports of looters during bushfire season.

      • netjock on 18/03/2020 - 10:41

        Then again Australia is quite a spread out country and I’m not as confident in our capabilities of maintaining order over such a large area

        Only a few population centres. Why would you want to maintain order herding kangaroos?

    • ssquid on 18/03/2020 - 09:49
      +1

      Have you been in a supermarket lately? Besides bread, fruit and veg there's not much food there; no meat, no long-life, no frozen stuff besides desserts…

      • netjock on 18/03/2020 - 10:41

        Good for eating fresh.

      • Euphemistic on 18/03/2020 - 11:02

        There is plenty of food. It’s just all the peanuts taking more than they need a not leaving enough for everyone else. Once the hoarders have stocked up and those that need replenishing (with normal quantities because the hoarders got the early shipments) buy there will be plenty for everyone again.

        • endotherm on 18/03/2020 - 21:23
          +1

          ^^This. The problem isn't so much with supply, it is the suppliers ability to ramp up production to more than its normal rate. The shops want to order 200% of what they normally order to satisfy demand, but the supplier can't provide much more than 100%. If you add in that the supplier might be suffering labour shortages with some workers self-isolating, their actual production might only be 50-75%. If everyone just shops normally, you might see your product out of stock this time round, but it will be available again next week. In many of the supermarkets I've been to, fresh food is stacked to the roof and there is certainly no shortage. It is only the non-perishables that the novice hoarders are stripping bare. A prudent household would already be holding stocks in their pantry of pasta, flour, canned and dried foods etc., enough to keep you alive for a month or more. A true shut-in underground bunker survivalist won't be looking to stock up the week after an event or an emergency is declared, they will do so over a long period of time and with minimal financial impact.

          • Euphemistic on 19/03/2020 - 07:28

            @endotherm: Supermarket I went to yesterday had virtually vegetables and very little fruit.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 09:39
    +1

    I saw the title of this post and then noticed Coles selling these 😕

    • Boba on 18/03/2020 - 09:42

      Wow, retail limit of 20. I’m guessing they’ll be next to fly off the shelves,

      • capslock janitor on 18/03/2020 - 19:54

        Sorry, we couldn't find the page you're looking for

        The page may have moved or you might have typed an incorrect URL

  • JimmyF on 18/03/2020 - 10:18

    Put up some quarantine signs on the front door, you'll be ok :)

    • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:20

      Not if they're already caught it and therefore have no fears of confronting others who have it.

  • nfr on 18/03/2020 - 10:43

    Can't you just install security doors and windows?

    • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:20

      Kinda expensive? Esp. the sliding doors to backyard, I'd imagine that one would cost a bit.

      • ssquid on 19/03/2020 - 16:16

        Sliding doors are easy to lock, just put a dowel in the runner.

        • Boba on 20/03/2020 - 11:08

          Our sliding door runner is outside! It's really weird.

          Also they could just break the glass. It's kinda old and thin.

  • DarthAntz on 18/03/2020 - 11:45
    +1

    Watch the last 30 minutes of Rambo 5. Its a bit like home alone, but more related to your concerns.

    Key is to have at least 2 escape routes. Dont hole yourself in. Plan.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 14:36

      I have two escape routes.

      1. Through my front door.
      2. Through the intruder then through my front door.

      I don't plan to hole myself in. I plan to hole myself through.

      • DarthAntz on 18/03/2020 - 14:56

        Hopefully the intruder has some loot on them already too. Loot the looter.

      • Officialfloyd on 18/03/2020 - 14:57
        +1

        Looks like “pulling” yourself has also made its way onto your super dope and badass plan of attack

    • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 15:03

      Nvm.

      p.s: I didn't neg.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 15:23

    Worst come to worst, we could barricade ourselves in my 'wokshop'. It can be made to be impenetrable and already has iron bars on the windows. It also has a rustic half-bath and electricity. No idea what the previous owner was using it for but it's built like a fortress.

    My wife uses half of it as storage. There's a mattress as well as the kettle and portable induction oven that she was meant to sell but never got around to. That's also where we keep the dog food …

    There is a 'pet-door' for what must have been a humongous dog in the corner, which is now hidden from view by the treehouse that the kids and I have built. From there, we could easily make our way into either the neighbour's backyard or the street. My kids and the ones next door have been preparing for this scenario ever since we moved here. They have walkie-talkies, torches, snacks, batteries , binoculars, ropes, a first aid kit….etc stashed in that treehouse. we'll be fine.

    Edit:We have cricket bats and I have a legally acquired and licenced gun. But I would only use the latter as a last resort and only if it was an us-vs-them situation. I would never let it get to that though.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 16:52

      It can be made to be impenetrable and already has iron bars on the windows.

      18V battery powered angle grinders will make short work of that.

      With battery operated tools, forceful entry is very easy unless you have steel walls.

      If you cannot over power your intruders, you are at the mercy of your intruders.

      • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 17:01

        What kind of intruders are we taking about here? Not your run-of-the-mill TP burglars?

        If you cannot over power your intruders, you are at the mercy of your intruders.

        I would go with option 3: escape from them.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 17:26

          In the scenario of brazen burglars/robbers, it would unlikely be an isolated incident.

          You can run but bear in mind, you will likely meet other trouble. You have a wife and child. Robbers have fewer emotional liabilities.

          We can talk about legal use of guns and social impacts etc etc but at the end of the day, if your wife and children are at risk, I believe you would want every option and advantage at your disposal.

          • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 18:09

            @[Deactivated]:

            You have a wife and child.

            I have a wife , 3 children, my half-sister who has just been placed in our kinship care , a dog and a plumb rabbit … which is why I would choose hiding or escaping over confrontation. They can take whatever they want from the main house and we can barricade the workshop and hide in there.I would get the gun out of the safe and take it with us but wouldn't open fire unless we were in mortal danger.

            Do you think we'll reach that stage of anarchy? I doubt it.

            • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 18:33

              @[Deactivated]:

              Do you think we'll reach that kind of anarchy?

              I don't think so but my safe is always a small turn away from opening.

  • Baysew on 18/03/2020 - 15:30
    +1

    Cancel any "open for inspections" if you are selling.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 18/03/2020 - 17:22
    +1

    Yoy can't use self defence to protect your property. Call the police and give a statement when they turn up a couple of days later

  • lostn on 18/03/2020 - 18:33
    +1

    Looting is only going to happen in a lawless post apocalypse with no functioning government.

    the world is not going to end. Don't be silly.

    Worst case scenario, the whole world gets infected and then the virus has no further pathways to spread to. About 15% of seniors will die which will be tragic, but 80% of cases are mild symptoms and most of the world will get through it hopefully with some form of herd immunity.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 19:39
      +1

      Looting is only going to happen in a lawless post apocalypse with no functioning government.

      Historically, looting happens much earlier than that.

      It happens when people feel that the repercussions and/or the probability of being apprehended is outweighed by the potential gains.

      We have seen fist fights just mere days into a toilet paper "shortage". You really think we need government to collapse before people take things without paying?

      • lostn on 18/03/2020 - 20:46
        +4

        I don't think we're anywhere close to the stage where crime carries no consequence.

        Fist fights happen as early as the primary school yard. It's not as serious a crime as mass looting of houses. Think about it, they will go for supermarkets and shops first before turning to private residences. The poop needs to have really hit the fan before everyone's houses gets burgled.

        Breaking into the odd house in a high crime neighborhood here and there? Yes. That happens not because they being arrested isn't something to be concerned about. People burgle because they don't believe they will get caught. That OP is asking this question now implies he is expecting lawlessness, where people commit crimes not because they think they're good enough to avoid getting caught — they are committing crimes because it doesn't matter. i.e. government has broken down.

        A man will steal from a milk bar to feed his kid if the alternative is the kid starves to death. That is a crime where the gains outweigh the risks. But if every shop is being robbed, it's not because the gains are outweighing the risks. It's because the police and judicial system are effectively gone. In what scenario can every kid be at risk of starving to death? When the world has gone to hell in a handbasket.

      • max2million on 19/03/2020 - 10:44
        +2

        Exactly! Looting happened during the 2011 floods as the water was rising. I watched it happen while evacuating my family and didn't realise until later what I had witnessed.

        Shit people will loot when they get a chance. Panicked people will loot when they don't see any other options.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2020 - 17:43
          +1

          Nobody believes it until they see it.

          Even if you see it, the mind rather you believe the more comfortable possibility.

  • trapper on 18/03/2020 - 18:41

    Baseball bat probably the best option. They unlikely to stand and fight or come back later, will just move on to easier targets.

    But honestly if society got to the stage of bands of looters raiding houses you can probably use any kind of weapon, as there will be no investigation anyway.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 18:43

    Going on a tangent but how good was the The last of us?

    • striker5950 on 19/03/2020 - 09:53
      +1

      it was good alright, number 2 is coming I just wish the launch date coincided with the quarantine, but its 29th may, oh well we will have resident evil 3 in 3 weeks.

  • trapper on 18/03/2020 - 18:44
    +1

    Everyone has about three years worth of supplies now anyway, so no need to go out looting.

    • kaleidoscope on 18/03/2020 - 19:07

      Who is everyone? I know I clearly don't. Still doing my weekly shop as before except i wont be able to get the usual brands.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 19:40
      +1

      I'm considered a prepper and I have never had 3 years supply ever.

      3 months probably. Not much longer.

      • trapper on 18/03/2020 - 19:44
        +1

        Amateur

        • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 19:53
          +1

          Darn! you're in Perth. No where near looting distance :(

          • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 20:02

            @[Deactivated]: I'm in Vic. If you're going to loot me, bring lots of ammo.

            I'll end up with more ammo :)

            Two or my neighbours are former military. Granted one of them probably remembers (or inadvertantly forgotten) WW1 but they're also armed… also curious.

            The kind of neighbours that call up if there are unknown cars in the driveway.

            • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2020 - 20:08
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: *Nowhere

              But you only have 3 months supply. Pftt amateur! :p

              The kind of neighbours that call up if there are unknown cars in the driveway.

              Nosy neighbours? I've got those too. They've been asking a lot of questions about my wife's whereabouts. So have the dads at school , I've noticed.🤨

  • BreezyPalms on 18/03/2020 - 19:36

    An Arlo 2 camera setup should do the trick

  • DiscoJango on 18/03/2020 - 19:51

    Those display samurai swords will come in real handy

  • darkly on 18/03/2020 - 19:55
    +1

    1. Put up some cheap alarm/cctv stickers. Some people even get dummy cameras.
      *This is the most simple deterrent.

    2. Get yourself a quality security alarm (i use paradox) with at least 1 external siren and 2 internal screamers, as well multiple sensors and remote keyfobs that have a panic function (all of which is very common these days). You can go further by having SMS notifications or offsite monitoring.
      *The alarm is the deterrent if they come in to the premises.

    3. I also have a Hikvision camera system with 30 days storage and accessible on my mobile phone. You can go further using a UPS, so the cameras will operate even if the mains power is cut. There are other tricks such as having it installed in a crawl space so it cant be stolen.
      *The cameras are for catching people on video.

    4. Also for your personal security a large heavy torch is great for peace of mind and if you need to swing it at an intruder. Get one with an "assault crown" which is the jagged edge at the top. In the worse case scenario where you need to hit someone, it typically grabs a little of their DNA too…

  • dfg555 on 18/03/2020 - 19:59

    A gun.

    Oh wait…

    • Other on 19/03/2020 - 18:29

      I traded one for 90 toilet rolls.

      Now I just need bullets and I can go looting myself!

  • altitudinous on 18/03/2020 - 21:34

    Sign saying "DO NOT ENTER - Corona Virus patient inside"

  • Lexan on 18/03/2020 - 22:20

    Use BEWARE OF DOG sign. Have barking sound ready on big speakers.

  • Kamsi on 18/03/2020 - 22:37

    Just make sure you don't own Tesla for some reason some dimwit hates that car :)

  • john_conner on 18/03/2020 - 22:54

    Get a dog. Or two. Even if they don’t attack, you can be sure they will make so much noise no one will want to be looting you.

    • Trioboy on 19/03/2020 - 09:34
      +1

      lol, My dog runs away when he see strangers.

      • Other on 19/03/2020 - 18:28

        Clever boy! - your dog will not get the wutang-flutang.

  • TheRealCher on 18/03/2020 - 22:56

    Two words: bikies. Bickies.

  • ju2au on 18/03/2020 - 23:43

    A large vicious dog is the best form of defense. When choosing a house to loot, why choose that one with the dog when there are easier targets available?

    • TK Deadwalker on 19/03/2020 - 14:08

      Boba: Shortage on dog food. I'm afraid there won't be enough to go around for the dog.

      Ju2au: Don't tell the dog…
      We can't let him go hungry he's been with us for years.

      Boba: It's just a dog, you have to save yourself before you can look after the dog.

      We're not gonna have enough food to survive to the end of the month.

      Ju2au: (Looks at dog)
      There has to be some other way.

      Boba:
      I wish there was….
      But there are too many mouths to feed.
      (pulls out chainsaw)

      Mace Window:
      I've had it with these mutha-effen Virus in this mutha-effin Land

      Icehouse:
      Not doing so… Great Southern Land

      Dog: ….

  • Cluster on 19/03/2020 - 01:26

    It depends on which state you're in, but you can use reasonable force in your house to stop an intruder who you reasonably believe is going to harm you or your family. Use that baseball bat to subdue the intruder and call the police? You're all good. Use the baseball bat to instill some instant justice on the spot after the intruder is subdued? You're in serious trouble.

  • Meho2026 on 19/03/2020 - 05:06
    +1

    Just cough on them

  • djprima on 19/03/2020 - 08:38

    Depends on your class. If you are a high level blacksmith you could set up traps

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 19/03/2020 - 08:49

    A cheap 2 stroke chainsaw makes a cheap, effective and legal deterrent. Some looter trying to break in? Fire that sucker up.

    • trapper on 19/03/2020 - 11:18

      As long as you can get it started haha

      • skid on 19/03/2020 - 11:36
        +1

        Yeh, an ozito 36v brushless might work better. Less carbon monoxide too. Reminds me, DOOM Eternal is out soon.

        • Euphemistic on 19/03/2020 - 12:15
          +1

          Battery powered won’t make the same noise effect, you’ll need a recording on your phone.

    • Boba on 19/03/2020 - 12:25

      I actually mentioned the chainsaw and my wife laughed at it. Personally I thought a chainsaw might not swing as effectively as a baseball bat or a crow bar.

      • trapper on 19/03/2020 - 13:01
        +1

        Chainsaw may seem like a formidable weapon, but it is heavy and can also be disabled easily. A hard strike on the bar, or chain contact with any metal object and the chain will just pop right off.

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