Posted by Davey J on 03/01/2014 19:23:32:
Evening all, just been reading this thread with just a hint of concern. Use lights, very spiky plants and make "safe" noises to scare the herberts away. Please do not think of pyrotechnics of any sort, it will end in tears. Your local Constabulary will take a very dim view of such devices (trust me, I am a CSI) **LINK** If they have decided to come in you will not keep them out. Make entry as difficult as possible and hope they break into next door's shed instead – harsh but that is where society is at present. P.S. Make sure the hinge side of the door is as secure as the lock side. So easy to snap wood at the hinges and leave the expensive bullet proof padlock in place. Also secure the roof firmly, on most sheds these pull up and off with minimal effort!. Sorry to be so gloomy so early in the New Year,all the best. David
Good morning David, the latter part of your advice is very sound and actually, as creative people, we can easily fabricate bolts that go into the door jamb on the hinge side and then into pockets on the door itself, this way even if the hinges were ground or cut off the door would not open.
However, I am a bit concerned at the link you posted to the BBC website highlighting the case of three men who were charged with manufacturing a firearm.
This case ended with aquital of all three defendants. In my opinion, having a little knowledge of the case, the problem here was not only did the defendants (well, one of them anyway) actually place the shotgun blank into a tube (very bad idea) but that he actually used a shotgun cartridge and not a blank bought "off the shelf".
The difference was between a charge of "Manufacturing a Firearm" or using a Signalling Device – Poles apart. The type of signalling device being copied was the one sold by Henry Krank as shown. Also on Amazon UK if you do a quick search for Alarm Mine.
Sorry to be pedantic but I try to stick to the facts and the British Bonking Corporation report fewer and fewer of these as the weeks go by – facts that is. I am certain they only reported the "Harrowing Story" as opposed to the full story. What were these boys doing on the property? Not once but by their own admission multiple times? Were they charged with anything? (the answer is no by the way) Were they "given advice"? No, But God Forbid a homeowner tries to repel an intruder. We have a serious attitude problem in this country and those people we the taxpayer pay to do our bidding and keep us safe are no longer value for money. That is not a whinge, it is a fact sadly.