Protect ourselves
rePOrTS that in some areas nine out of ten burglaries are written off by police without any investigation shows how divorced politicians and chief constables are from reality.
It is not just property that is involved. After your home is burgled, every click as a radiator cools, every creak as a floorboard settles and every rattle as the wind blows against a window causes fear.
Home becomes a violated place, your peace of mind stolen. I shed no tears for criminals killed in the act of violating the homes of people threatened and scared out of their wits in the one place they should feel safe.
If the police can’t protect us or investigate the guilty after the deed is done, and the courts are not empowered to keep repeat offenders off the streets, Parliament should change the law to allow us to defend ourselves and those we love in our homes without fear of prosecution.
VICTOR LAUNERT, Matlock Bath, Derbys. I DOUBT Mr and Mrs OsbornBrooks will ever sleep peacefully in their bed again due to the sheer terror of being burgled again. This decent, hard- working and lawabiding man has taken the life of another — a burden he will carry with him until the day he dies.
JANE GIBBONS, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. I WOrKeD on the renovation of social housing in Yorkshire and tradesmen had to sign a method statement, which informed them of accidents that could happen if they did not pay due care and attention. This is one drawn up for burglars:
If it is necessary to break a window for entrance, be careful where you put your hands and feet as you may cut yourself.
The people who live in the house may have called the police, which would possibly mean you will spend time in prison.
They may take exception to the fact you are in their home uninvited and start screaming, which could wake the neighbours.
People feel they have a right to retain items for which they have worked all their lives and to protect those they love. So if your profession is that of taking what belongs to others, be aware that homeowners have right on their side and the respect of all hard-working people.
Please sign to show you understand the perils of your trade. Miss GEE HAMILTON,
Bradford, W. Yorks.