Newbie here

**Elliot Chen** · 07-07-2012, 00:59

Hello everyone,

I am Elliot and I sign up to ask a Self defense question. Pls bear with me.

I train in boxing mainly for exercise and I admit I am not a very good boxer, and I have no intention for being an bad- ass.

However I have a worry and that is home invasion by robbers. I have no confidence at all of using my boxing skills should the worse ever happen. I live with my family i.e. Aged parents, wife and two kids

Apart from the obvious of having guard dogs and installing alarm and CCTV at my residence what else can I do should I encounter home invasion/robbery.

The weapon of choice of those home invaders are machete, crow-bars, screw drivers and metal cutters. Thank god, firearm is rare as my country has strict firearm control.

I hope to get some realistic solution form this forum which I can implement within legal confines.

Infact, I am thinking of buying a large General Kwan training halberd (blunt edge) from my local martial art shop. I have no skill in wielding it but I figure if
I can just wield it, it will scare off those buggers and hopefully leave my home alone.

I may sound dorky but I sincerely hope to get more info from the community at large.

Many thanks

Elliot Chen

**gmtkd** · 07-07-2012, 01:38

I wonder if home invasion robbery is actually as likely as you feel like it is where you live. I'm not saying it is not, since I don't know where you live. It's just that lots of people have one self-defense situaition they fear most, even though none of us knows what self defense situations we are likely to encounter.

I think the guard dog and other steps you have taken to make sure it is hard for someone to break into your house is a great idea. Have you also had practices with your family for what each person is supposed to do in case of a break in at different times of day? Which other adult will take care of which child while you try to get to your weapon, for example. Is it realistic for you to practice getting the whole family safely out a back entrance as it is more important to protect your family than your house?

**torbjork** · 07-07-2012, 02:51

Thank god, firearm is rare as my country has strict firearm control.

Rare among law-abiding citizens, you mean

Anyway, and meaning no disrespect, a halberd has got to be one of the least practical means of home defense there is, unless you live in a castle and have plenty of room to swing it about...

Whether firearms are an option or not, I would make sure that anyone trying to get into my house would have to make a great deal of noise, in the light (criminals usually don't like well lit areas), and that there were barriers between them and me once they're in that would slow them down further and give my family time to evacuate.

Of course you can also improvise - I'm assuming mace is illegal where you live, but strong bug spray makes a decent substitute, for instance.

**Elliot Chen** · 07-07-2012, 05:27

Originally Posted by gmtkd

I wonder if home invasion robbery is actually as likely as you feel like it is where you live. I'm not saying it is not, since I don't know where you live. It's just that lots of people have one self-defense situaition they fear most, even though none of us knows what self defense situations we are likely to encounter.

I think the guard dog and other steps you have taken to make sure it is hard for someone to break into your house is a great idea. Have you also had practices with your family for what each person is supposed to do in case of a break in at different times of day? Which other adult will take care of which child while you try to get to your weapon, for example. Is it realistic for you to practice getting the whole family safely out a back entrance as it is more important to protect your family than your house?

Somehow I still don't feel safe. My neighbourhood which is considered an upmarket residential area has seen some home invasion lately. Some had their alarm wire cut, but I must agree, dogs somehow is a better deterrant.

Originally Posted by torbjork

Anyway, and meaning no disrespect, a halberd has got to be one of the least practical means of home defense there is, unless you live in a castle and have plenty of room to swing it about...

I know nuts about halberd therefore I do not intend on swinging it. But I found out that the chinese halberd is by far the largest and most menacing looking training weapon on sale from the martial art shop. So I am thinking along the line, "My knife is bigger than yours, so bugger off to rob someone else's house"

Elliot

**TonyU** · 07-07-2012, 06:50

You said that there have been home invasions in your neighborhood. First thing I would look at is what is their main purpose? Money, jewelry, or to hurt the homeowners? Dogs by us are good deterrents, but since you're in Asia maybe not so much.
Firearms may be very strictly controlled, unfortunately it's one of the reasons your area is having such problem. As they know you're limited in how you can defend yourself.
Anyway, if their main purpose is just to rob and steal then I would look into having an exit strategy or a safe room in place. Possessions are not worth getting someone hurt over.

**Abbax8** · 07-07-2012, 08:53

A can of Hot Shot bug spray to the face might work, it will shoot 20 feet. A Wrist Rocket slingshot is a serious weapon at close range. When used with metal ball bearings it can have the same effect as a small caliber handgun. Reloading is slow but if you hit your target you may not need to worry. Another option is a paintball gun used with frozen paintballs and a high capacity ammo holder. With a high pressure setting at close range frozen paintballs can do serious injury. If you plan to use a dog, get two large breeds like a German Shepherd or Rottweiller or whatever large breed is native to your country. Multiple dogs multiply the deterrent effect and they make great members of the family. Talk to the local police for their ideas on what you can do to protect yourself and your parents.

Dennis

**Elliot Chen** · 07-08-2012, 06:13

Originally Posted by TonyU

You said that there have been home invasions in your neighborhood. First thing I would look at is what is their main purpose? Money, jewelry, or to hurt the homeowners? Dogs by us are good deterrents, but since you're in Asia maybe not so much.
Firearms may be very strictly controlled, unfortunately it's one of the reasons your area is having such problem. As they know you're limited in how you can defend yourself.
Anyway, if their main purpose is just to rob and steal then I would look into having an exit strategy or a safe room in place. Possessions are not worth getting someone hurt over.

Well it is a no-brainer that the primary objective is material wealth. The problem is also when these criminals should they find that you do not have a lot for them to rob, they will resort to violence in frustration.

Also, I was told that before the criminal act, they will take some form of stimulant (ampthemine type or kodin/ ko- dene sp?) to give them dutch courage. I will also have to prepare in engaging with people who are not rational should they have ingested stimulants.

From report among our neighbourhood, those who got rob had something in common i.e. they do not own dogs. It is comforting to know but still my mind is not at ease.

Dennis' suggestion to use hot bug spray (not sure what that is) has given me an idea....

I am thinking of getting aerosol paint from the hardware store (black paint) and train my house dwellers to use it. It should be easy to use... Aim for the eyes. Blind them, disable them then plan our escape.

What do you all think?

Elliot