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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have no sympathy for the burglar

758 replies

Mitmoo · 19/09/2011 09:10

Another burglar has been stabbed to death when he broke into a businessman's home. His wife and child were returning to the property. The details are very scant at the moment as it is early day.

But the burglars who were stabbed robbing a shop, and an edlerly shopkeeper killed one of them, he was not prosecuted. I think that's right.

It's on R5Live now being debated after another burglar was killed at the weekend.

Personally I think home burglars should take getting stabbed as a occupational hazard. I have no sympathy for them.

OP posts:
BabyDubsEverywhere · 19/09/2011 09:13

Completely agree.....but you will have a hundred posts now telling you it is the break down of a decent society, and at least another hundred giving pop psych analysis on the poor old burglars state of mind....

But have a YANBU from me :)

itisnearlysummer · 19/09/2011 09:17

My feeling is that once someone has crossed the boundary of breaking into your home, they have shown no respect for you, your family or the law and are therefore capable of anything.

They may just be there to nick your dvd player, or they may be there to tie your family up and torture them.

Given that I don't know which of these groups they fall into, and my children's safety and welfare is more important to me than theirs, I think I agree with you Mitmoo.

Especially about the 'occupational hazard' bit.

I don't think you should be allowed to chase them down the street and attack them (as has happened in the past I think) however.

NinkyNonker · 19/09/2011 09:18

I'm in two minds, I mean human lives are worth more than property, even if they are a burglar. However, I can completely understand the desire to lash out like that in defence of what you love (and poss a perceived threat to your family) as well.

purplemurple · 19/09/2011 09:19

I have no sympathy either, occupational hazard IMO. We got burgled a couple of months ago whilst in bed. Until it happens to you it doesn't really register how frightening it is that men (or women) have been rooting through your belongings, it doesn't bear thinking about if they were disturbed. DS has AS and for months after he didn't feel safe in his own home.

If I was confronted by a burglar and felt they were going to be violent I would use any weapon to hand, and just like in the scary movies I would be frightened that once down they would get back up so would most probably go over the top.

On a side note when we were burgled I checked all the local scums fb pages that were open, a surprising number of them had as status updates, going grafting tonight. NO SHAME

doublechocchip · 19/09/2011 09:20

yanbu I have zero sympathy at all for these burglars.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 19/09/2011 09:20

These days it is not unheard of for burglars to do awful things to people in their own houses - torturing, raping etc. Therefore, I would have zero sympathy for this burglar and feel that it is no loss to society. I have every sympathy for the owner who now has to live with the fact that he killed someone, albeit a dreg of society.

itisnearlysummer · 19/09/2011 09:22

NinkyNonker I would agree that human lives are worth more than property, but if you and your family are in the house at the time, it is human lives you're thinking of.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 19/09/2011 09:22

Yanbu, occupational hazard

wannaBe · 19/09/2011 09:24

live by the sword, die by the sword n all that.

Ultimately it's very simple - if you don't want to be stabbed to death in someone else's house then don't burgle it. Its not rocket science really.

I saw somewhere else that his friends and family (the burglar's that is) were laying flowers outside of the house he was burgling! Hmm

mayorquimby · 19/09/2011 09:26

Don't feel any sympathy no, think the laws regarding defending your property and family are spot on.

NinkyNonker · 19/09/2011 09:27

That's what I mean, that's why I said I can understand doing it completely.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 19/09/2011 09:29

Occupational hazrd - LOL, funny!

Original poster
Mitmoo · 19/09/2011 09:30

Life is more important than property but it is just as man has just said on R5L that the burglar doesn't come, wake you up, ask if he can just nick your television and he won't make too much of a mess.

When you're burgled the home owner has no way of knowing what is in the burglars head.

I also agree with if you shoot or attack while the burglar is running away then that's not reasonable force but it's not murder either. A handslap should suffice because the home owner would have been placed in a dreadful situation by the burglar. Not let them off totally but little to no jail time IMO.

OP posts:
spookshowangellovesit · 19/09/2011 09:31

i have to say i agree, i would not overly care about a burglars rights. they have come in to my home uninvited and i do not know their intentions. that is a risk they take.
the problem is however, if home owners are given more freedoms to protect themselves against home invaders, as apparently Mr Cameron is saying he may do, burglars will in all likely hood up the anti. knowing they are now taking a bigger risk because the people inside can get away with protecting themselves iyswim.

JillySnooper · 19/09/2011 09:31

Actually some human lives are worth jack shit in my eyes. Like those who murdered and tortured Baby P or Fred West or any number of other scum.

The world is an infinitely better place when some of these so called human beings have left it.

Ilovedaintynuts · 19/09/2011 09:32

Totally agree. No sympathy at all here.
I've even pondered how I would feel if it was my son, stabbed to death whilst burglarising and still feel it's tough titty.

I hope the 'murderer' receives a very light sentence.

Groovee · 19/09/2011 09:33

Wasn't it his own knife he was stabbed with? If so then if he used it to threaten the family then it's his own fault for carrying a knife in the first place.

Original poster
Mitmoo · 19/09/2011 09:36

A neighbour of mine was burgled and they crapped in her knicker drawer, like what's that all about? If she was at home would this pervert have hurt her?

The phone in is in support of the homeowners unsurprisingly. We usually get someone to say how cruel he was but hasn't happened yet.

OP posts:
Jamillalliamilli · 19/09/2011 09:36

NinkyNonker he didn't 'just' try to burgle, he pulled a knife on the householder.
Zero sympathy for armed burglars here, definately an occupational hazard that they come up against someone able to disarm and harm them.
I hope the householder and his family recover asap from the horrible events.

ShowOfHands · 19/09/2011 09:37

I doubt aibu is the place for me to express an opinion on this. Because it's home of the bunfight, not reasoned debate.

But no I don't agree with you at all op.

Original poster
Mitmoo · 19/09/2011 09:38

I hadn't heard that Groovee even if it was his own kitchen knife I'd say fair play to him. I hope the CPS, if it is as straightforward as it currently seems, don't even prosecute him.

OP posts:
JillySnooper · 19/09/2011 09:38

Try the other thread in In the news.

ComradeJing · 19/09/2011 09:38

Absolutely no sympathy from me either. YANBU.

kiwimumof2boys · 19/09/2011 09:39

YANBU
No doubt the burglar's family will sell their sob story to some tabloid soon . . . (and get paid heaps)

itisnearlysummer · 19/09/2011 09:40

ShowOfHands just out of interest, why not?