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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Loads of break ins recently

13 replies

Asosbabe · 21/10/2025 21:50

Don't understand why we can't put anti burglar fencing up. I would like to put spikes up on my fence. It's illegal in case it hurts the burglars. And if they DO break in and I stab them, or my dog bites them (not that sort of dog) I will end up in prison. Law should change.You break into my home , I should be able to do what the f... I like to you

OP posts:
PersephoneParlormaid · 22/10/2025 07:02

You can buy smaller spikes to dissuade cats and birds from sitting on your fence.

Chiseltip · 22/10/2025 08:01

Actually, demonstrably, the law is on your side. There have been many recent cases where a homeowner has challenged burglars, in some cases causing serious injury and even death to the intruders, and they haven't faced any prosecution.

The laws on self defence are pretty clear. As long as you can justify it, you can take whatever action is necessary to protect yourself and your property. Where people get this wrong is when they act impulsively or with unreasonable force.

The reason you can't put dangerous shit on top of your fence is that people very rarely get burgled, and your broken glass, saw blade or small nuclear weapon, will just end up injuring some kid, or your next door neighbour.

Security wise, a tall fence is a terrible idea anyway. If someone wants to get I to your property a fence isn't going to stop them. All it does is provide cover for them, blocking anybody from seeing them as they smash your shed door or break into your house.

Evaka · 22/10/2025 08:09

Which laws are you talking about?

SummerEve · 22/10/2025 08:15

You will not go to prison if your dog bites an intruder. Why all the drama?

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 22/10/2025 08:34

I remember the Hither Green incident of 2018. The homeowner defended himself and his property from a burglar.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homeowner-78-arrested-after-burglar-12300739

I think the poor man ended up moving house because of continuous abuse and harassment.

I agree, though. You break into someone's home, you get what's coming.

Homeowner, 78, arrested after 'burglar stabbed to death during break-in'

The man was initially arrested on suspicion of GBH while murder detectives investigate the fatal incident in Hither Green, south London, and was later further arrested on suspicion of murder

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homeowner-78-arrested-after-burglar-12300739

Phoenix1Arisen · 22/10/2025 08:46

In my view, it's this simple. 'You step over my thresh-hold with evil intent, you leave your rights on the doorstep.'

There's a big difference between coming downstairs to some unknown man in a balaclava and a dotty old granny wandering around in her nightie and slippers.

TenGreatFatSquirrels · 22/10/2025 09:05

You wouldn’t go to prison if your dog bit a burglar… I doubt they’d even put the dog down. And if you could prove you were defending yourself or felt your life was in danger you may not go to prison for harming the person either.

The issue with being able to do what you want to people in your home is that you could say that anyone had forced their way in… but actually you invited them in and then mauled them. That’s how murderers get away with murder!

Just get some sticky or slippy anti climb paint or anti cat spikes

Asosbabe · 22/10/2025 20:18

SummerEve · 22/10/2025 08:15

You will not go to prison if your dog bites an intruder. Why all the drama?

Just the general feeling that rights of wrongdoers are more important than rights of their victims

OP posts:
BallerinaRadio · 22/10/2025 20:29

Just make sure your doors and windows are secure, most thieves are just opportunistic and want to be in and out as quick as possible. Maybe sure your locks are up to scratch and you shouldn't need to worry.

BoredZelda · 22/10/2025 20:40

Asosbabe · 22/10/2025 20:18

Just the general feeling that rights of wrongdoers are more important than rights of their victims

Not based on fact then?

Between 1990 and 2005, there were 7 prosecutions for tackling an intruder. You can use reasonable force. When you hear of someone arrested for attacking an intruder, they have to be arrested if they cause them harm, because it has to be ascertained it was reasonable force, and they will almost certainly be released without charge.

There is nothing to stop you putting anti climb spikes on your fence, as long as you put up signage warning of them. You can also plant thorny bushes.

Better yet, put up security cameras, and get an alarm system.

Step away from the tabloid S/M nonsense about how “yooman rightz for crims” is out of control. You have (and always will have) more rights in those situations.

TheExcitersblowingupmymind · 22/10/2025 20:45

I'm old enough to remember people cementing broken glass on their garden walls in the 70s.
As kids we were in places we shouldn't have been.
If a burglar gets hurt in someone's house so be it ,it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't broken in to the house.

ScholesPanda · 22/10/2025 21:00

Yeah we should probably make it legal for you to stab a burglar to death, even if they're running away.

It's not like burglars are bad and/or desperate people, mostly physically fit men, and this could never lead to US style home invasions where they kill you and your kids. That would never happen.

Ponoka7 · 22/10/2025 21:12

It's not like there's violent men out there waiting for an excuse
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65062565.amp
People shouldn't burgle, obviously, but we can't allow homeowners to be able to kill, unless absolutely necessary. As society gets more violent, so do criminals.

Margaret Barnes

Barmouth: David Redfern guilty of bed mix-up murder

David Redfern murdered 71-year-old Margaret Barnes after she mistook his home for a B&B.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65062565.amp

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