burglars

[Explorer-8]

If a burglar is in your house walking off with any of your property whilst you are sat there, say watching the TV, would it be illegal to try and wrestle the item from him, or to hit him with, for example, an umbrella? Are we only allowed to reason with burglars in the hope that they will desist from their crime voluntarily? Are we only allowed to understand their point of view, poor dears?

[madman06]

hit them and and hit them hard then phone police and say i heard a noise went to see what it was and saw some 1 trying to flee he tripped over my slippers and hit is head (bless him)

[Ethel]

Of course that is not illegal.

It is illegal to shoot them in the back while they are running away, or to beat them black and blue while they are lying unconscious.

But you do have the right to use reasonable force to protect yourself and your property.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

yes,you are allowed to use only REASONABLE force

[fairkatrina]

Basically you can belt them with anything which comes to hand (e.g. an umbrella, a knife, the TV) but nothing that constitutes a pre-planned weapon (e.g. a golf club, lead-lined bat etc). As long as you can explain why you had the implement with you at the time it's ok. (So a knife in the bedroom is out of the question, but in the kitchen it's understandable). You also have to demonstrate your need to use the weapon, as you can't e.g. practice knife throwing on the bloke climbing the back fence to get away lol. You have every right to defend yourself and your property, and as long as you can explain away what you did as reasonable then you'll probably get away with it.