Interestingly , Zinn ’ s respondents said they were not particularly put off by armed response signs , as these simply warned them that there was an alarm system that would need to be disabled , something a seasoned burglar can do pretty easily if he feels it ’ s worth the trouble . What works better is an alarm without warning signs . That way , if a potential robber breaks in without having planned for an alarm , he is surprised when it goes off and will try to leave as soon as possible . Oh – and don ’ t even think of those silly “ warning , live snakes ” signs . Really ! Robbers may be dishonest , immoral , and even totally evil , but they aren ’ t stupid .
What to do if you are robbed
OK , so what do you do if , despite all your best attempts , you end up with a robber in your house ? Remember , these are human beings with feelings , emotions and needs . And what they want and need is , in no particular order , your stuff and to feel safe . Yes , really . To feel safe . Just because they making you feel unsafe is part of their job description doesn ’ t mean they don ’ t appreciate safety – it ’ s just that they care about their own safety and don ’ t care about yours . That ’ s mutual , you ’ re probably thinking , but don ’ t let on , because making them feel unsafe is likely to drastically decrease your chances of actually staying safe .
This means that the smartest thing you can do is to give them what they want . Give up all your stuff . All of it , even your most treasured antique heirloom jewellery , even your laptop with an almost finished novel on it that you hadn ’ t quite got round to backing up , and your cellphone with all your numbers and stuff . Give it all up , willingly and fast . That ’ s the robber ’ s need number one taken care of – your stuff .
Their need number two ? To feel safe . Don ’ t look at them – that way they ’ ll know you can ’ t identify them . Make no sudden movements , and keep your hands where they can see them . Be humble , be polite , but don ’ t try to appeal to their better nature , because in many cases that better nature is hard to detect . Although many of them did tell Zinn that asking them not to hurt you would help . According to one respondent , being submissive shows respect – a rather warped kind of respect , but respect nevertheless . Don ’ t even think of trying to outwit them or being clever or sarcastic . You might feel that this advice will make you look wimpish – well , live with it !
Of course , there are exceptions . If you are a Mossad-trained anti-insurgency specialist , a Recce or Chuck Norris , if there are no children in the house , and if you just happen to have your automatic weapon in your hand when they crash through the front door – by all means turn it into a fight .
But if the above does not describe you , let your cellphone be your weapon of choice . Don ’ t try to be a hero . Hero to zero can be achieved in one rapidly terminated heartbeat . If you hear ( or even think you hear ) a break-in and you ’ re not in the same room as the intruder , quietly get out the house through a back door and hide in the garden , or try to get to a neighbour , and call armed response , the police or the estate security . Or all three . If that ’ s not possible , lock yourself and your family into one bedroom or bathroom and stay very , very quiet . And yes , call armed response and the rest . And if you come home and even vaguely suspect there may have been a break-in , don ’ t enter the house .
Do not enter the house !
Just don ’ t , OK ? Call the tough guys .
Bottom line
Get some cute ( preferably yappy ) dogs , get to know your neighbours , take an active part in community security initiatives , invest in logical , common-sense security features like good fences , exterior beams , burglar bars , armed response and maybe CCTV , and be aware of your surroundings . And if you still end up with some baddies in the house – just do your best to keep things as cool and businesslike as possible . It ’ s a numbers game – they want your stuff , but that ’ s not as important as not going to jail . You ’ d like to keep your stuff but that ’ s not as important as not getting hurt .
We have only touched the surface , there ’ s so much more . So it ’ s worth getting hold of a copy of the book .
Zinn , R , 2010 . Home Invasion . Tafelberg : Cape Town .