Hiro - can't believe that I never thanked you for sending on the Boro video. Most remiss of me, so ta very much.

I did get to watch it the once - before we were broken into and, amongst other things, had the VCR nicked. Thankfully without the vid inside of it.

Here's a question for anyone who can help - we had our 3rd prowler around last night since we were done over, face pressed right up against the bedroom window. By the time I'd woken up enough to get out there he'd buggered off.

The other half is just about at her wits end, so any security suggestions would be v.welcome - ground floor flat, approx. 4 months left on lease, we're leaving for South America in approx. 5 months, two reasonable(ish) locks on front & back doors but that's about it. Ideas anyone ?

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

Answers

Baseball bat by the bed......always worked for me when I lived in some of the less solubrious areas of London

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

Rig up a nice bright light..outside. Prowlers hate to be seen. Reasonably cheap and very effective. Four months can be a long time, espescially for Mrs. Looney. Get on to your landlord, he also has a responsibility to give you peace of mind as part of the lease agreement. And don't forget the baseball bat by the bed as well.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

You're right about 4 months being a long time for 'er indoors. She was canny shaken up after the break-in - not least as she was first back to the flat, only to have the guy come back for some more gear. The faces at the window since Xmas have just about done her nerves in completely but I'm at a bit of a loss what else I can do practically. The tight@rse landlord didn't even want to know about putting a 2nd lock on the front door (so we just got it done anyway and docked it off the rent).

I haven't yet invested in a baseball bat, though did think about getting the old claw hammer out from under the sink. So who knows where do I stand in the eyes of the old bill if I pile out the front door and tw@t someone over the heed who's prowling ??

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

I don't know about your neck of the woods but here in the land of the fair (and very passive - Canadians you know, just want to be Swiss without the accent) you , upon seeing someone commit an offence, are entitled to use whatever force is reasonable to restrain the prick and detain him till the poliss gets there. So, it's not so much what you do, it's how you tell the story when they get there.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

"ahem ... yes Officer ... there was this 'ere gennelman outside my window who I just happened to notice had a nail sticking awkwardly out of his head, so I thought I'd just knock it in a bit with me 'ammer so's it wouldn't be catching on anything ..."

Might do the trick ;o)

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

If you had a brick inside the house you could throw it at the intruder smashing the window at the same time. It could do a fair amount of damage to the kid.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Lonly, what sort of windows?

If they are sliding type, buy some broom handles, cut them off just short of the distance between the sliding window and the wall. Drop it into the runner the window would slide along.

If they are the old sash type window nail them shut.

This is the cheapest way. In both cases the window has to be broken for anyone to get in. You or your neighbours will then be alerted enough to utilise the baseball bat.

Most states have the reasonable force law. You can use whatever is required to defend your property/person as long as it is reasonable.

The legal definition is "what any reasonable person would believe to be the case"

In laymans terms you can go one better. If he has a knife you have a gun, if he has nothing and you use a gun you are in trouble.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

ask Duncan Ferguson,he has the same problem. (sorry) piece of 3x2 "home improvements officer"

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Cheers for all the tips folks - rest safe in the knowledge that sensor lights, fake alarm boxes and the like are in the pipeline. Not to mention the brick and cricket bat - more Australian than a baseball bat I thought !

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2001