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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
pigletmania · 19/09/2011 18:35

no i would not cheer about it, but i do not feel sympathy for the burglar, because if he did not burgle that home he would still be alive. He chose to commit a criminal offense, as a result he is dead.

BobblyGussets · 19/09/2011 18:36

MIFLAW, I agree with what most what you have said in the last post. The perceived danger is what the whole argument hinges on for me though and the split second in which the householder had to make a decision.

I am not crowing over the burglar's death but I don't feel sympathy. It does not mean I think he deserved to die.

The family are just shameless that's all. No desire to impinge on their rights, I am jus shocked at how brazen they are.

mayorquimby · 19/09/2011 18:38

"Hardgoing, Mayor - we don't disagree at all then."

In theory no.
I do think we disagree on our assesments of what constitutes reasonable force/self-defence. I'm not in line with 'the hang 'em, they're all scum, bring back the death penalty' that some people seem to support.
However I do still think that if a burglar put someone (not me because I most likely wouldn't confront them) where by the person had 2 options. (1)Allow their i-pod/picture frame/wallet to be taken or (2) attack the burglar to stop this happening and the force necessary to stop them doing so resulted in their death, I would think that it was justified.

BatsUpMeNightie · 19/09/2011 18:40

Is your real name MIFLAW then? Only I'm wondering how one should address the beak when standing accused of libelling one Mr or Mrs Miflaw, real identity quite unknown, address unknown, age and date of birth also unknown.

Sillier and sillier!

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 18:40

" He chose to commit a criminal offense, as a result he is dead."

True, but there are people on this thread who do not seem to agree that the punsihment should fit the crime. It is unfortunate all round that he died as a result of a burglary. He got unlucky - if he had struck when the house was empty, carrying the same knife just in case, he would by now be in a pub toasting his success, the householder would be busy filling out an insurance claim form and the story probably wouldn't even have made the news.

pigletmania · 19/09/2011 18:42

He got unlucky and he is dead as a result. Its an occupational hazard I am afraid.

LineRunner · 19/09/2011 18:43

Miflaw, I'm not really getting your argument about it possibly being foolish to open one's own door. Most of us haven't telepathic knowledge of the criminal intentions or otherwise of callers at our doors.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 18:43

That's right, Bats - why should you have to worry about accusing a stranger of consorting with criminals? Not as if you have to stand by your remarks, is it, or back them up with any personal courage, integrity or even thought.

Why not call me a rapist and paedophile and get your money's worth? I am a man after all.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 18:45

"Miflaw, I'm not really getting your argument about it possibly being foolish to open one's own door. Most of us haven't telepathic knowledge of the criminal intentions or otherwise of callers at our doors." Nor am I - it was more an aside.

But I think the police have been advocating door chains since the 80s so, for those of us living in the present, perhaps caution is best practice.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 18:45

Sorry, misread as saying you weren't getting INTO an argument about it!

BatsUpMeNightie · 19/09/2011 18:50

Oh calm down miflaw. I haven't called you anything! That could change at any moment though. I'll keep you posted.

FreudianSlipper · 19/09/2011 18:51

MIFLAW i agree with what you are saying

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 19:03

Bats

This was you;

"Sounds like crim-speak to me. I wonder if you're coming at this from the point of view you are for a reason that you have yet to explain to us?"

And, Piglet, this was you:

"MIFLAW are you friends with any burglars per chance!"

So here's what I'd like to say - this sort of shite is exactly what I would expect from people who, to paraphrase James Brown (a convicted criminal and therefore worthless individual) like "talking loud and saying nothing." It's easy to shout Daily Mail tosh on a website and slag off anyone who dares to disagree - a bit harder to actually think through what you're saying and consider how your cartoon-like ideas play out in the real world. Still, just accuse your opponents of the same and deflect the attention, eh?

i'm sure it's mutual - but I hope to GOD I don't know either of you in real life. I have children to think of, you see.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 19:04

Off now. Enjoy your evenings.

ToothbrushThief · 19/09/2011 19:04

What a funny turn this thread has taken. The poster supporting the rights of the burglar is threatening another poster with libel? Bizarre

I hope the police investigate thoroughly and sensitively. If this man is innocent and acting in self defence I hope he is given compensation and police support to move on.

The grieving family should grieve outside their own front door.

Occupational hazard? I think if you carry a knife...yes it is

BatsUpMeNightie · 19/09/2011 19:07

Bye bye Miflaw. Enjoy your evening in cloud cuckoo land where all scrotes are fluffy doe eyed bunnies and decent law-abiding householders are knife wielding maniacs.

pigletmania · 19/09/2011 19:10

bats Grin hope MIFLAW does not find themselves in that situation, we'll see how he reacts and how much sympathy he has for a burglar, when his life is on the line and that of his dcs.

CheerfulYank · 19/09/2011 19:10

I think it's sad when anyone dies. Not so much that they died, in some cases, but that someone who was once an innocent child somehow became a person whose death inspires little sympathy.

That being said, I don't think the homeowner should be charged with anything.

I used to think that I would try to be calm and non violent if such a thing ever happened to me, but (and this is very upsetting, so don't read it if it will make you sad) after this case I think I could and would kill if I thought there was the slightest chance that my family was in danger.

LineRunner · 19/09/2011 19:11

Posters who say they are off, never actually go off.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 19:13

There's something a little bit wrong and sad about someone who uses the word "scrotes" as if it actually defined a type of person.

Luckily for me, by the way, I don't live in a country where "decent law-abiding householders are knife wielding maniacs" - just one where fatal stabbings are thoroughly investigated by a standing police force.

Gee, when you really think about it I guess it's kinda old-fashioned, but we prefer it that way.

MIFLAW · 19/09/2011 19:14

LineRunner

You know me so well.

Though it's usually because they know other posters will slate them behind their back.

Sort of a vicious circle thing.

Animation · 19/09/2011 19:18

"Posters who say they are off, never actually go off."

Do they secretly lurk? Grin

Must give MIFLAW credit for holding his own in this discussion - quite like to see that in a poster.

cheekeymonkey · 19/09/2011 19:19

Once again bats here, bloody here. I dispair!

LineRunner · 19/09/2011 19:20

It's just something I've noticed in general on MN, particularly with the more combative poster.

JillySnooper · 19/09/2011 19:22

Cheerfulyank - god that is just fucking awful.
And why I wouldn't hesitate forone second to attack and kill anyone coming into my home.

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