police and "don't make yourself a target"

[Clockwise]

Today I was linked via Facebook to another run of the mill youth offender making the news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15853088

Now at first you think "damn that is an awful letter" but as I moved down the page I got the police versions of what is in the letter telling me to buy fancy switches and lock up extra safe and think well aren't they the same message?

Anyway what are your views on the many "don't make yourself a target" statements. They seem to approach everything from the rape/assault ones that spurred the "slut walk" to "using your phone in public is an invite to criminals" to whatever.

Is it crime prevention or a blame game?

Does it make the crimes "ok" as the people are now police designated targets?

Other views on the same subject?

[El Wayneo]

I think the "Police Versions" are just highlighting common sense really, whereas the burglar saying thats its your fault i burgled your house because the windows were open is a childs excuse really, yes you make yourself more of a target but he still broke in.


When i had to get the bus through some of the rougher parts of Birmingham i wouldn't use my phone as you will get robbed if its a good one, i would also walk another 3 minutes upto the bustop outside the SAAB garage as they have security rather than waiting outside a pub and nightclub and being asked for cigarettes and money while i wait for a bus.


Anyway i'll say it again just shoot them, its easy cheap and effective.

[Sarky]

Its not necessarily homeowners fault, granted unless they leave windows open etc, however we were burgled earlier in the year and we had all the 'security' measures, and luckily they didn't get in. They just rendered the door useless, the handle came off and jammed the door shut. This was in the small hours, only reason he ran off was because the dogs started barking.

Sigh, also the news article is from Leeds. Fantastic.

[heavywater]

Is it crime prevention or a blame game?

Does it make the crimes "ok" as the people are now police designated targets?

Other views on the same subject?
I think a little bit of common sense needs to be used.

If you set up a diamond stall in the middle of Tottenham then pop to Costa for half an hour, chances are your diamonds aren't going to be there when you get back. Is that really the fault of the police?

Same thing with houses. I know somebody who never ever locks his back door. If (when) he gets burgled I'm going to have no sympathy for him at all.

[Broadsword1976]

Give anyone who's burgled my house five minutes alone with me. They'd sure as hell be sorry after, tho' perhaps not in a state fit to write about it.

The scumbag has illustrated a point however, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the chances of being targeted and we don't live in happier times where you can leave doors and windows unlocked.
I always close my curtains if I'm heading out, lights are left on or set to a timer if I'm away for more than 12 hours and all my internal doors have locks (nothing can prevent a determined burglar from getting into your property but there's no reason to give them free reign once inside.

Good relationships with your neighbours helps too, knowing they keep an eye on your place while you're out and in turn you doing the same for them is a useful resource to have. Twice this year I've been out to challenge strangers in my street who were blatently casing neighbours property...with a phonecall to the police (non emergency line) after they'd moved on.

I sure hope they didn't actually send that letter to the victims.

[Clockwise]

Common sense and common sense tho. I think "buying a timer switch to give the appearance of people being home..." isn't common sense but "booking a cab and not jumping in a strangers car" is.

Where do you draw the line?

[Faz]

I'm sure all of us would be able to burgle, if we had nothing to live for and couldn't care less, like the majority of burglars. Yes I have thought about how easy it would be to open that window, look its not got a security lock, oooh they obviously keep their key under the mat as I've just seen the bloke pick it up, etc etc.

BUT, it's just WRONG. And this is instilled in most people from a young age. This offender obviously has a problem and he should serve time for it, rightfully.

My point here is that I'm pretty sure if I wanted to, I could make an excellent burglar. I'm not an idiot and I wouldn't make stupid mistakes. But it's totally wrong and I think how violated I would feel if someone broke into my house and stole, and that removes any thoughts of it being a feasible idea from my head. This is normal. The boy clearly didn't have the latter thoughts and, being so stupid, didn't wear gloves or something and with his fingerprints being on there after he contracted cyphillis at 12, they caught him. These people have no place in society, they should be dealt with more harshly (capital punishment etc.)

[popabear]

Drag them kicking and screaming out in to the street . tie them to a telegraph pole and beat them with a stick . Then crime wont be such an attractive option and criminals will run back in to the shadows where they used to be .

[Alexxx]

i dont feel sorry for the victim at all, they have brought it on themselves and its asking for trouble. they encourage people to steal by enticing them