Personal security during a break-in (1 Viewer)

[Stanbrook]

Using reasonable force against intruders
You can use reasonable force to protect yourself or others if a crime is taking place inside your home.
This means you can:

• protect yourself ‘in the heat of the moment’ - this includes using an object as a weapon
• stop an intruder running off - for example by tackling them to the ground

There’s no specific definition of ‘reasonable force’ - it depends on the circumstances. If you only did what you honestly thought was necessary at the time, this would provide strong evidence that you acted within the law. Read guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service.
You do not have to wait to be attacked before defending yourself in your home.
However, you could be prosecuted if, for example, you:

• carry on attacking the intruder even if you’re no longer in danger
• pre-plan a trap for someone - rather than involve the police

 

[Jim]

I wouldnt worry too much about what you might do, in the unlikely event of an intruder, what you actually do will be instinctive and with little control. The vast majority of us will move away from dangerous situations, some, very few, will confront it, think little old ladies hitting post office robbers with an umbrella.

I would say in the situation you describe your voice is the best weapon and it cant be turned against you. Make lots of noise, scream and shout.

 

[billym]

Well as someone who has felt the full effect of CS spray in a confined space ( the cab of a JCB) I can definitely not recommend using it in a motorhome.

 

[pete4x4]

My wife weant mental when she woke up to find someone in the van, scared the sh*t out of me and the thief and he scarpered, I think I would have as well if id been able to. The best weapon is your wife and thats based on experience

 

[steve 6644]

Make lots of noise, scream and shout.

What like fake an orgasm.

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[pappajohn]

Of all the reported incidents posted on FUN regarding people waking to find some scroat robbing them how many have actually grappled with the scroat?

NONE, the robber ran away every time. .

 

[Riverbankannie]

We just slept through the intrusion into our van! Only realised someone had been in the next day. I think the deterrent was the wall of lounge back cushions filling up the cab.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Fire extinguisher every time. Legal, powerful, makes a good club when empty.

My fire extinguisher is right by the side door so more likely to be used by an intruder against me.

Using reasonable force against intruders
You can use reasonable force to protect yourself or others if a crime is taking place inside your home.
This means you can:

• protect yourself ‘in the heat of the moment’ - this includes using an object as a weapon
• stop an intruder running off - for example by tackling them to the ground

There’s no specific definition of ‘reasonable force’ - it depends on the circumstances. If you only did what you honestly thought was necessary at the time, this would provide strong evidence that you acted within the law. Read guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service.
You do not have to wait to be attacked before defending yourself in your home.
However, you could be prosecuted if, for example, you:

• carry on attacking the intruder even if you’re no longer in danger
• pre-plan a trap for someone - rather than involve the police

At least there is one example where the CPS didn't press a murder charge:

Pensioner who shot burglar dead outside caravan home jailed for ‘il...

A PENSIONER who shot dead a burglar at his caravan home was jailed for 10 months yesterday for illegally possessing a gun.

www.express.co.uk

 

[steve 6644]

Of all the reported incidents posted on FUN regarding people waking to find some scroat robbing them how many have actually grappled with the scroat?

NONE, the robber ran away every time. .

Probably saw them grappling with their scrote

 

[gus-lopez]

When we first moved to spain we were told " injured"= problem , dead = no problem" ......................by the Guardia.

When I am inside the van at night there are only 2 ways in. Smash the cab window & climb through or the sliding door , & that has a chain to prevent full opening + you can't get in as I'm sleeping across it..

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[MC 55 FUN]

A can of WD40 or similar inflammable aerosol, point at the oik, with a naked flame poised to ignite said aerosol . . .

 

[Googlebot]

A can of WD40 or similar inflammable aerosol, point at the oik, with a naked flame poised to ignite said aerosol . . .

Don’t think that would work if you accidentally set fire to your pride and joy. :-(

 

[Johnen]

I always have a large aerosol of de icer handy in my motorhome. It is capable of Spraying a concentrated stream of de icer quite far and accurately

 

[CamperJack]

I'm fairly sure anyone trying to break in would wake me up. In which case a a loud shout offering advice about where they should go, followed by opening the sliding door in the bulk head wall, getting in the cab and driving away.

If they got in my umbrella just so happens to have a rather pointy metal end on it.

While at university my flat mate arrived home at gone midnight and three days early. He almost got his head caved in with my landing net pole - that's essentially a 10ft rod made of metal.

 

[Landy Andy]

I wouldnt worry too much about what you might do, in the unlikely event of an intruder, what you actually do will be instinctive and with little control. The vast majority of us will move away from dangerous situations, some, very few, will confront it, think little old ladies hitting post office robbers with an umbrella.

I would say in the situation you describe your voice is the best weapon and it cant be turned against you. Make lots of noise, scream and shout.

This is the truth, and i speak as someone who has had an intruder.

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[ceejayt]

If I remember correctly, pepper spray isn't legal in the UK so you might be prosecuted for possesion and assault if used here

That is correct. That said...

I have some bear spray which we brought back from Canada when we shipped our motorhome back and it is very handy near the Han door just in case

 

[mikebeaches]

Personally, I think a VERY powerful torch or floodlight flashed straight into the face of anybody entering the van would sufficiently disorientate them and encourage their early departure.

For your part, you were just looking to see what was going on...

 

[DBK]

As well as making your van as secure as you are happy with to be asleep in overnight, I would more importantly be seriously questioning the risk of this happening by the type of area I was thinking of staying in
Do you really want to be in such areas where this might happen, or an area that has the potential to lead to such activity?
A remote secluded spot might be the sort of place this could perhaps happen, for example when wilding, but I personally doubt the risks would be such if you were in a more commercial or organised or official place to stay, with others around or near you.
It's only my opinion, but the carrying out of a risk assessment by yourself when you stop is probably one of the best things for your piece of mind.
If it don't look safe or you feel uneasy about an area, move on somewhere else until you are happy.
Don't be in an area where you think this might or could happen, and probably best to be near, but not on top of,other like-minded motorhomers, campers and caravaners.

Not in my limited experience. We were broken into in a tent on a large campsite near Seville. Lots of targets in a small area. They robbed several pitches.

 

[Clarky]

I’m another one with a large and heavy Maglight beside the bed.
Plus a Growler, although not of the four legged variety.

Richard.

 

[TheBig1]

I had an unwanted caller this evening, the third Irish guy in a week wanting to buy the camper. My dogs went crazy when he knocked the door and were barking and snarling. I put them away and opened the door and the guy had retreated down the path to the pavement

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[Minxy]

If someone got in our MH/camper they wouldn't walk out that's for sure ... they might crawl though after they've had a good beating from me and hubby, and had their nether regions 'rearranged' by the dogs ...

 

[Boris7]

Its important to remember you should think about where you park and whose around you, you don't want to be a target for bad guys, in my experience in a van (not MH) and having travelled as far as Moscow/Marrakesh/Cario and Baku as well as Route 66 I've learned to always make the vehicle keys un-obtainable to anyone but myself (could be a safe or just a safe place) and just in case I get hot and bothered in the night I freeze a small bottle of water and to keep it frozen I wrap it in a sock and tie a knot just below the bottle, its a waste of time as in over 30 years on the road I've only used it once, but it really did do the job. Very refreshing in the middle of the night in Tangiers

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Not in my limited experience. We were broken into in a tent on a large campsite near Seville. Lots of targets in a small area. They robbed several pitches.

I am genuinely sorry to hear that about your break-in.
I was only thinking when I posted about the UK safety aspect.
I have no experience or comment to offer outside of UK as I have not taken our van abroad.
Sorry.

 

[John Barrett]

Its important to remember you should think about where you park and whose around you, you don't want to be a target for bad guys, in my experience in a van (not MH) and having travelled as far as Moscow/Marrakesh/Cario and Baku as well as Route 66 I've learned to always make the vehicle keys un-obtainable to anyone but myself (could be a safe or just a safe place) and just in case I get hot and bothered in the night I freeze a small bottle of water and to keep it frozen I wrap it in a sock and tie a knot just below the bottle, its a waste of time as in over 30 years on the road I've only used it once, but it really did do the job. Very refreshing in the middle of the night in Tangiers

Ah, Tangiers. The first place I took Jan to just after we met 25 years ago. The Cafe de Paris was full of shady characters, just as it would have been since time immemorial. There was a tall handsome grey haired Frenchman next to us who looked like a spy, which added to the atmosphere! We stepped outside and were besieged by locals wanting to be your -expensive- friend!

 

[bigtallgeezer]

As a former user of CS gas, I can assure you, you do not want to use it in an enclosed space if you haven’t experienced it before, or even if you have! We have a panic button installed in our Moho, which sets off the alarm and notifies the monitoring control room of the alarm/gps location etc, and they will notify the local law (European) if they don’t get a sharpish answer on our phone.
As luck would have it, I also keep our small kindling for winter bbqs axe in our inside tool kit, in case we need emergency kindling.

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[Nanniemate]

from of Movan's frisky posts lately if an intruder broke into her or my van and they were tall dark and handsome (or not) they would be worried as I am not sure they would escape unharmed come in and stay a while.......

 

[poppycamper]

Quick exit out back door n let Mrs Poppycamper sort them out... Wimp.. Nope ...sensible...oh yea...

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Think I would throw Mrs CC at them, give me more time to escape
Not worth both of us ending up in A&E

 

[Val 3 dogs]

As well as making your van as secure as you are happy with to be asleep in overnight, I would more importantly be seriously questioning the risk of this happening by the type of area I was thinking of staying in
Do you really want to be in such areas where this might happen, or an area that has the potential to lead to such activity?
A remote secluded spot might be the sort of place this could perhaps happen, for example when wilding, but I personally doubt the risks would be such if you were in a more commercial or organised or official place to stay, with others around or near you.
It's only my opinion, but the carrying out of a risk assessment by yourself when you stop is probably one of the best things for your piece of mind.
If it don't look safe or you feel uneasy about an area, move on somewhere else until you are happy.
Don't be in an area where you think this might or could happen, and probably best to be near, but not on top of,other like-minded motorhomers, campers and caravaners.

As a solo female traveler I have never experienced any bother from potential intruders (I am pleased to say) in many years of traveling and parking up throughout Scotland, England and Wales in petty antique and unreliable horse boxes (always complete with stallion and assorted dogs) in all sorts of odd and remote places.
I have allso spent many a long hour waiting to be recovered from the hard shoulder of various motorways in tbe afore mentioned vehicles with a kindly traffic col parked behind me waiting to see me safely rescued
These days my dogs and I travel in the uk and through France and Spain in our motorhome. (Touch wood, we have not broken down yet). On these trips we mostly wild camp in remote areas. I feel that the likelihood of there being an intruder lurking about waiting on the off chance of my turning up is extremely remote .
I think such undesirables are far more likely to be hanging around known rest areas, campsites etc., plus anyone trying to enter having disturbed my young dog (a Spanish Mastiff) would be foolish indeed!

 

[Bonkers the Dog]

Pepper spray is illegal in the UK, it is classed as a firearm under the Firearms act. Importing it, selling it, buying it or being in possession of it is an offence, if you used it on an intruder you would probably get jail time for it. Also, in my experience when deployed in a small space everyone gets it and mayhem and panic ensues. However, if you wish to have something to hand almost anything can be employed as both an offensive and defensive weapon, from a pencil to a cast iron frying pan, a wheel brace, keys or a fork. Or a chilli powder shaker...etc

The judicious use of violence is not a natural state for most, the will to employ violence as a means to an end takes some doing, a good deal of practice, the correct motivation, full alertness and a strong stomach; I'm guessing that most of the fine readers on here would not fit the profile! Also, know your law, know when defence falls over into offence; it is a very easy line to cross when the red mist descends.

I am constantly amused by this recurring theme. I think the likely hood of it happening are next to zero. Choose your pitch carefully, don't park in areas that look dodgy and lock the door; the fear of crime is more of a concern and will affect your enjoyment. If some skull does get into your van then you get out the other side and let them do whatever they want and let the Polis deal with them - nothing, absolutely nothing is worth getting seriously injured, killed or jailed for; the only thing that should concern you is your safety and the safety of those you love.

Relax, you should be more concerned about fire risks, now that is a strong possibility of death.

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