Husband wants me to have an air gun for defence

[assess]

Hello MN. Unfortunately. I live in a street in London that is frequently targeted by burglars, particularly during the Xmas period when they can tell if people are away. In the last few weeks, there have been 2 burglaries on the street (daytime ones while people were out). But what worries me more, is several videos (captured by security cameras) of burglars coming up to neighbours front doors in the early hours. It’s not just this road, but also round the corner.

I am very freaked out at the actual sight of the burglars. More so than I was following the two occasions we were actually burgled (because both of these break-ins were in the day). My husband has set up very good security since then, but still I don’t sleep if he’s away on business. Last time, following our actual burglary, he got his driver to sit outside when he has to go away for a few nights, but this is not sustainable going forwards. Now we have an alarm system that shines mega bright lights in their eyes and also releases smoke on them if they get in, but I’m still highly anxious because one of the burglars on the CCTV had something that looked like a machete and I don’t think they even care about security. Possibly they are high on drugs, I don’t know? The police say they don’t have the resources to patrol the area. Now my husband has told me he has ordered an air gun - specifically for self-defence. Does anyone have such a thing and would you / have you used it if so?

Yes, there has been talk this week on a Whsttsapo group we now have of neighbours clubbing together for a security patrol or similar and someone is trying to gauge interest in this and what the cost would be. So it might well be a possibility, yes, if enough people want to do that. I would love a dog too and will think about that, but obviously it’s a big commitment and we have two cats as it is. But a dog (or two) would be good.

I’ll have look at security grilles, thankyou. The front door is reinforced, but the police said, if they are determined to get in, they will. Not exactly reassuring or what I wanted to hear.

Anyway, sorry to ask what was obviously a stupid question. Forget I asked!

I lived in some allegedly super dodgy parts of sth London for 20 years and never experience anything like this! Maybe it’s cos we didn’t have much worth robbing…
If you honestly feel that unsafe maybe move.

@assess

He says it fires a certain type of pellets at them or something and it would hurt if they were hit? I’ve no idea about aiming guns though and I would just panic anyway, I think.

With these ‘special pellets’ is it really a ‘home defence paintball gun’?

Air guns fire metal pellets (historically lead pellets) or mini darts.

They will hurt, are illegal to shoot at people, are illegal as self defence weapons etc - but unless you shoot someone in the eye you have just turned a burglar into an angry burglar

There are ‘home defence’ and police projectiles made in paintball sizes, for use in other countries. The police versions are unregulated and fire at a higher velocity then is legal for the game of paintball.
Using a paintball gun for self defence in the UK is illegal, using it for the game of paintball on a suitable site is legal
Using other projectiles is illegal
These other projectiles include pepper in the same manner as pepper spray and is an offensive weapon

Many people play paintball for fun, I have been shot by paintballs many more times then many people as a tournament photographer - as when I’m not a player then don’t get eliminated
With my adrenaline going I barely feel them

Shoot a burglar with a paintball gun and they will hardly notice or become an angry burglar
Shoot them in the eye and you either get a blind burglar or a dead burglar.
The US police killed an innocent bystander at a university protest by shooting through her eye, fracturing her eye socket and hitting into her brain.
Load it with anything but standard paintballs and you have a section 5 firearms offence

Do not plan for self defence weapons - they turn you into a criminal

The best defence is to leave a burglar to it. Stick to your alarms and physical security
The best addition is a dog

If you ever do need to defend yourself then the earlier recommendations of a spray are best. A blast of deodorant etc in the face is no fun for them —— then your next step is to run away

Objects are just things that cost money, and you can insure them

If you are very anxious then that’s the issue - one solution is to not be home alone, but it you go to a hotel etc will you just be worrying about an empty house?

It's not a stupid question! It's clear you are scared. You shouldn't be made to feel like shit for asking.

It is a terrible idea of your husband's though. Assuming you even manage to hit them you will hurt them but not incapacitate them. All that means is they'll beat the shit out of you.

The best thing to do is have the best and most visible security. When they're choosing which houses to hit, they'll go for the ones that look easier to get into.

My brother shot my sister in the foot with an airgun once she was mad as hell and thumped him, not entirely sure what your husband thinks will happen to you if you shoot a pellet at a burglar.

probably better off with a super soaker full of chilli infused water

Wouldn't you get into trouble shooting someone with any type of gun?
Personally, I'd rather have an motion activated alarm and one room (bathroom?) with a reinforced door so that you could lock yourself in until help arrived.
Burglars, scary stuff

Get a dog.
Any barky dog will work as a deterrent.

More effective than any UK allowed weapon.

It's daft the police saying if they want to be in they'll get in because unless they bring metal cutters and other machinery or a JCB they won't be able to get through a proper security door. There are steps you can take to make it so difficult that it's not worth their while trying to break in. Robbers want a quick entry, quick exit.

Get one of those stickers that says
No Cold Callers or Burglars.
🤨

Honestly OP, I live in South West London (it's lovely here!) and if you can afford to live in central London you can afford to move somewhere different, especially if you can afford to pay people to sit outside. Move.

This is insane op! I live in a ‘dodgy’ area of london and it’s not like this at all! I work in a well heeled area of london and it’s not like this either! Can’t you move? This isn’t normal.

I am going to assume you live in the same area as one of Blairs houses shall we say.

I am in london, I have a lock on the front door thats all and theres no one roaming around here with machetes and for them to break in to nick car keys says they are stealing very expensive cars to order. also I didnt even know there were alarm systems that released smoke and all sorts, even the jewellery shop my ex worked in that regularly had over 3 million worth of stock in it didnt have reinforced glass, strange alarms that release smoke? and god know what else you just said.

have you considered slumming it and just buying a normal house and a normal car, in a normal area and keep your wealth in the bank or giving more to charity if its burning a hole in your pocket.

@ShadowGirls

An air gun lol. Is this for real? Marginally better than a spud gun

You should get a crossbow, legal and deadly unlike an air gun

Its not legal to shoot someone with a crossbow unless they are Welshman and its after midnight.

I've never heard of house alarms that release smoke. It sounds dangerous.

@VodselForDinner

I’d be terrified to leave my driver outside overnight in a high-crime area.

What if they stole the car AND him?

Duh.. just buy a new driver!

I use an Uzi to keep the ruffians away

I used to live in W2 and we had security grilles covering all the ground floor windows. Felt okay with them although someone nicked my plant pots

I've been shot by an airgun - I was walking to the pub with friends one afternoon, & some lairy teenagers yelling abuse at us for being a bunch of weirdoes (goths, basically) potted me in the leg. It stung a bit.

I didn't even break stride, because I didn't want to give them the satisfaction or escalate the situation.

Rolled my trouser leg up in the pub to reveal a thin trickle of blood & a pellet which fell into my shoe. Nasty bruise developed the next day.

I've since done myself more damage reading by a fire with a disposable lighter which I'd stupidly left too close to the hearth - it exploded & shot me in the tit, drawing blood, leaving a very sore burn AND a truly spectacular bruise!

Honestly, the stopping power of an airgun is zero.

Having said that, they certainly aren't harmless popguns; I also once ran an overseas student trip where someone sustained serious eye damage after there was arsing about with an air pistol in a hotel room.

So a) you won't deter a potential burglar/assailant in the slightest b) you'll give them justification to beat the absolute shit out of you & attempt to claim it was in self defence & c) you could blind someone if you hit them in the eye, & then find yourself defending that one in court.

So no, don't do that. Get a noisy dog!

Op, even your door is reenforced?

Look you need to find a solution and I suspect your husband is desperate now, hence why he came up with this daft idea, as he’s pretty much turned the house into Fort Knox.

You need to find another solution. You can afford it, so hire private security when he’s away. You’re not willing to move out, you can’t arm yourself with an air gun, so just hire a couple of guards outside when he’s away.

Honestly, just move. If you have reinforced doors and windows, security alarms, lights, cameras etc and you're still anxious about it then weapons are not going to resolve anything.

You need a heavy duty steel door in a steel frame. The frame part is an integral part of the security. You can get ones which are covered in wood so they look a bit nicer.

I have friends in SW London and unfortunately, quite a few of them have been burgled too in recent years. Not to mention the recent instances of cyclists being targeted by a gang (or gangs) who chase them in cars or in motorbikes and knock them off their bikes and wield machetes over them in Richmond Park. My husband cycles and they all have been alert to this.

I am anxious at the moment, even though I wouldn’t say it’s more ‘common’ around here in general, but there has been an upturn in the last month or so. Possibly because they thought people were away for Christmas.

We used to live in East London 20 years ago and practically every night there were car thieves trying to get into the underground car park. You could hear the metal gates rattling. My husband once caught one of them. It was madness. We were never burgled there, but neighbours were, so I think we were just lucky more than anything else.

The door is reinforced yes. We had to have a whole new door to certain specifications for insurance after the break in. They had crowbarred the door and had kind of warped it. Now I believe it’s a metal frame and a bar across, but to be honest, it was my husband who dealt with that at the time.

"I use an Uzi to keep the ruffians away"

An Uzi? OP is not from South Central Los Fuckin' Angeles. She wants a normal gun for a normal person

Decent CCTV cameras, signage and lighting are by far the best deterrents. Most house burglars are opportune and operate during the day when people have their guards down, otherwise they target cars and sheds etc at night. It is extremely rare for a homeowner to be attacked by a burglar. Decent cameras, lighting and locks should be sufficient. If you're still anxious at night whilst your husband is away, then either get locks on your bedroom door, stay in a hotel, move or failing that, get a big dog.