The Cowardly Thief - Protect Yourself

The Cowardly Thief - Protect Yourself and Your Property
By: William Doggett

Home invasion and break-ins is an ever increasing problem in the United States. Property loss, property damage and assaults in the home are on the rise. How does one protect their property and even more importantly, protect themselves and their families from this type of crime?

Before we continue, allow me to point out a fact about my beliefs on crime and criminals. I take a hard stance and I call it as I see it. If you do not agree with my thoughts, that's acceptable. That's what's great about a free country. However, I ask that you not become offended as I cannot address every criminal mind in my writing nor do I care to understand the reasons that a thief commits the crimes he/she does. Bad upbringings, tough lives, growing up on the streets, or lack of caresses by loved ones are terrible to have to live with, but these things do not justify crime in my opinion. So, if this belief is too much for you, I suggest you stop reading here. Otherwise, keep on reading and thanks for your ear.

Let's talk about the criminal element involved in home break-ins first. A person should understand what they are dealing with before attempting to move into protecting the home and the occupants.

The Criminal Thief

Contrary to what is put out in the movies and in music about thieves, gang-bangers, dopers and this sort of criminal element, are cowards. This may come as a shock to you especially when one observes the result of gang violence, narcotics crimes and robberies and such involving personal harm. Below, we'll dive into the criminal mind a bit before we proceed to what you can do to protect yourself and your property.

Thieves are motivated by a few things. A thief usually has another reason behind need for money, quickly. Things such as a drug addiction, loyalty to a gang, impressing friends and sheer laziness are amongst some of the most popular reason for theft.

The reason I identify laziness as a trait of a thief is simple. The thief commonly waits until the last minute to address his/her need for money. Then, as panic or anxiety sets in, they realize they have no means to gain money as they have not prepared nor done anything to provide an income. Their life experience teaches them that theft is the solution as that is what they've been exposed to for so long in many ways.

Drug addiction is the top reason for home break-ins that often result in assault, petty theft and vandalism. Drugs put the mind of the thief in another world. This world they reside in while high is absent of responsibility, accountability and the results of actions. They just do what feels good. This can be dangerous but can be addressed.

Gang related crime to include simple peer pressure by friends can also be dangerous. But this type criminal is very cowardly and fears the thought of being considered weak or inept by their friends or fellow gang members. They act mostly to be cool and fit in. They do little for their own personal monetary gain or to improve their own lives. They simply act to impress others. These types respond incredibly cowardly when alone. They are commonly encouraged when friends are present.

The above summarizes a few of the more popular criminal types. Now let me give you a bit of information on protecting your property and the psychological means of dealing with thugs and thieves.

Personal and Property Protection

Criminals do not like to be confronted or observed. Remember, their cowardliness has converted them into criminals. They seldom even have the personal fortitude to commit crimes to better themselves. The majority of their crimes are to influence stature amongst friends or most commonly to feed a drug habit. There exist fewer yellow individuals in this world than thieves.

Personal property is something that you've worked hard to earn. Protecting it unfortunately is something a person has to do in this current day. Repercussions for thieves in our justice system is lacking greatly. If you loose personal property due to crime, it is very unlikely that you will ever fully recover for your loss. So, you must invest in protection.

Let's address car theft. This is on the rise and always will be as it is very profitable for the cowardly thief. My best advice, by an undesirable vehicle or educate yourself on making it undesirable for a thief to steal yours.

Regardless of how hard you try to secure the vehicle, if the thief wants it, he/she will take it. So, try these tips to protect your vehicle. When parking, look around. Profile people. Thieves commonly like to look like thieves. They dress like thieves, talk like thieves and act like thieves. That's all there is to it. If you see one of these cowards milling about, go with your gut instinct. If they look like a thief, they probably are one. My best advice, don't park in that area. Go somewhere else. If you don't have a choice, then keep reading what I've got to say proceeding at your own risk.

Park your car in lighted areas, populated areas, areas that are difficult to leave from without being observed. That's just commonsense.

If there is a scumbag present, park your car as detailed above. Get out and blatantly observe the scumbag who seems to be milling about. He/she should know that you have observed him/her. I know this may be a bit intimidating to you and that's okay. Regardless of the method at which the scumbag thief attempts to appear tough, I assure you he/she is not. Make eye contact. If you're close enough, give the greeting of the day. Watch him/her cast their eyes downward and mumble a response if any. This is the perfect I'm a thief identifier. If they respond back with an eye locking greeting, rest assured. This individual is not likely a scumbag thief. He/she is probably just wearing the latest in fashionable, Impress my buddy, scumbag attire. When greeting the thief, do not be condescending, appear friendly. You should not chastise.

When entering the building of the location you are visiting. Step inside a few moments, then step back out and observe your vehicle again. This second look informs the thief that you are not a sheep to prey on. You are a confident individual who is aware of surroundings.

Let's talk about break-ins and crime on the home front. It is very uncommon for a thief to be entering your home to harm you. As I mentioned, thieves are cowards. They dread and avoid confrontation at all costs.

If someone is breaking in your home while you are present, you should be prepared to use whatever force that your local law allows. Ensure that you call the police immediately. Do not fear being wrong about a noise and the police come to the scene. They get paid for that with your tax dollars.

I live in a state where I can defend my home with a firearm if need be. I personally would not live somewhere that I couldn't. Unfortunately, law enforcement does not have the means or the ability to protect every single person in a situation as this. I won't get into the politics of gun-control in this article, , maybe later.

More often that not, thieves break in to unoccupied residences. So, to defeat this, make it seem occupied. Leave a light on and the television or radio going when not present. Keep a dog inside. It's easier to pick up the poop then replace stolen and destroyed goods. Thieves don't like yapping dogs no matter the size. I recommend the Chihuahua. He's not big in size but sure loves to yap. Have a neighbor retrieve your mail and newspapers. There is no better cue to a scumbag thief that you are gone than a stack of papers in the front yard. You can even go as far as to postpone your paper and mail deliveries until you return. It's not that much of an inconvenience.

Thieves love garages. That's where you keep the lawnmower and all the tools. Garage doors are easy to penetrate. So, lock you tool box and chain it to the wall. The lawn mower should be locked as well. Another little trick is to keep some empty tin cans stack strategically in locations throughout the garage that the thief could potentially knock over. The sound may not be thunderous, but the cowardly thief despises and is petrified of any kind of noise.

Well, those are my tips. I hope you enjoyed them. And if you are a thief, the calling you a scumbag and coward is my personal opinion only and does not represent the views of any agency I work for nor the views of my company well more or less.

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William "Cole" Doggett is an expert in knives and owns a successful Internet based website, Knife & Supply Company, LLC at www.KnifeSupplyCompany.com. His website is devoted to all things tactical law enforcement, military, outdoors and of course, Knives.