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Police in Britain Pose as Burglars to test homeowners

3K views 54 replies 47 participants last post by  Tint Bob 
#1 ·
This has got to be one of the worst ideas ever! Imagine what would happen if this were attempted here in the US. Thank goodness for the 2nd Ammendment:comeandgetsome:

From the UK Daily Mail
Home | Mail Online


Cold-calling police are to pose as burglars to drive home their safety message.

Householders whose homes are an easy target could be woken in the middle of the night by officers trying windows and doors.
The initiative, code-named Operation Golden, is being launched in a bid to cut break-ins.
More...Cleared: Father who chopped off intruder's ear with samurai sword after he threatened to rape and kill his family

It is being trialled by Cheshire Police, who say residents who fall foul of their checks will be roused with a lecture from officers on what they could have lost.
But there is bound to be concern that the police may scare some elderly residents as they pose as burglars.
And with the political debate raging about the rights of homeowners to defend their homes, there is the danger the police themselves may be attacked by people who fear they are genuine intruders.

Insp Gareth Woods, who is heading up the operation, admitted some people will not be happy about the early hours wake-up calls.
He said: 'If we're told to get lost then that's a risk we take. It's a difficult balance to strike.

'The bottom line is officers get a mixed reception when doing anything like this, but I say to any of my officers that if they see an insecure car or house to let the owner know, no matter what time of day or night.
'Most reasonable people will say thanks for letting them know and be grateful.'
He added: 'Obviously we will be very discreet and won't be trying every door. We will target areas where we have intelligence burglaries will be happening.'
The operation is starting in Macclesfield and will be rolled out across East Cheshire.
It has been prompted by statistics which show nearly 40 per cent of all burglaries are carried out through unlocked doors or open windows.
Police and community support officers are also distributing thousands of door-hanger cards which list security checks to be carried out before householders leave home.
Chief Insp Peter Crowcroft said: 'There are burglars who specialise in sneak-ins. They walk around streets, nipping in and out of gardens and trying doors.
'Most of them don't care if anyone is in the house. Even if the family is in the next room watching TV, the criminal will walk in, grab a bag, purse or some other item of value and be out again in seconds.

'Operation Golden is about raising the profile of security at home and keeping people safe.'


Read more: Police to pose as burglars in bid to cut break-ins | Mail Online
 
#3 ·
What the ... somebody isn't running on all 8 here:confused:
 
#4 ·
And this is why I thank god every day that I'm born in the USA. Now Arizona or Texas are a little closer to my ideal political environment than Kalifornia but that's just me actually buckling down and moving... If I didn't have all of my extended family within a few miles I'd be gone in a heartbeat.
 
#7 ·
I'm waiting for the follow-up story. You know, the one about the officers arresting a homeowner because he smashed a cricket bat into one of these moron's skulls... :hand1:
 
#11 ·
Only in a society of sheep who are unarmed could something so xxxxxxx xxxxxx happen. Protect your second amendment rights at all costs.
oldogy
 
#13 ·
I can't believe what has happened to a once powerful nation. How they have fallen so far into this "nanny" state of protection defies logic. It's bad enough that they are doing something as idiotic as these staged burglaries, but in that same article is a link to another story.

Cleared: Builder who chopped off thug's ear with Samurai sword after he threatened to rape and kill his family | Mail Online

If you want to see how far they've fallen, just read this story. Two thugs break in, threaten to rape and kill members of this guy's family. He defends his family with a Samurai sword and he gets charged for attacking the crooks. Thank God a jury set him free, but only after a 9 month ordeal. And to top it off, the two crooks get a suspended sentence.:aargh4:

There simply isn't enough money in the world to make me want to live in England under the current political climate.

Hoss
 
#14 ·
I guess they haven't thought about the little lady with the pot of boiling oil who's making some fish & chips for dinner.

Wait till she flings that on one of the fake burglars.

I think I'd rather be shot than french fried.
 
#15 ·
I'm wondering if the officers are going to shoot the homeowner if the hm actually wakes up, catches them in the act, and wacks them upside the head with a bat or something....

Bunch of morons
 
#17 ·
Another: We know what's best for you, nanny-statism, feel-good program (feel good by gov't bureaucratic standards). Such a bad idea....and here I thought stupid didn't have a name....it is now: Insp Gareth Woods
 
#18 ·
Here you go the cops there don't have guns right? What happens when they break into a Muslim sleeper cells home and they get blown up or taken hostage.
 
#19 ·
This is just stupid. Enough said.
 
#21 ·
The hits just keep on coming over there. I spent 4 years stationed in England before I retired last year. That place is a joke with there laws concerning weapons. While I was stationed there, they had amnesty boxes set up throughout all the villages so people could get rid of their illegal knives and or guns. Of course, who do you think used these amnesty boxes, the GG's. However there were BG's caught trying to break into these boxes to retrieve the items turned in.

In the housing estate I lived at, I had to call the Bobbie's 4 times because I witness kids breaking into neighbors houses. They would actually go through their loot on next to the house they just robbed while I'm standing there on the phone with the police describing them to a "T". They didn't care over there and it was mostly because they knew no one was armed to include the Bobbies.

Anyways, I'm glad I'm off of Gilligan's Island now and back in the great ole USA.
 
#40 ·
The hits just keep on coming over there. I spent 4 years stationed in England before I retired last year. That place is a joke with there laws concerning weapons. While I was stationed there, they had amnesty boxes set up throughout all the villages so people could get rid of their illegal knives and or guns. Of course, who do you think used these amnesty boxes, the GG's. However there were BG's caught trying to break into these boxes to retrieve the items turned in.


Anyways, I'm glad I'm off of Gilligan's Island now and back in the great ole USA.
I have seen dealers putting notices in newspapers saying "don't put any knives into amnesty boxes, sell them to us"
 
#22 ·
Two things.

First, what are they really trying to do? Do they have entrapment laws in the UK? Because it seems to me like some power hungry politicain wants to crack down and catch homeowners in the act of defending themselves so he can throw them in jail and make an example of the "cowboys" who think they have that right.

Second, yeah, that sounds like a brilliant idea. Focus on the victim, not the problem. Next thing you know they will be issueing tickets and citations for leaving your door unlocked. (raising revenue to pay for the beurocracy that is in place to deal with you after the crime you are facilitating is committed). Brilliant, once again, it is not the criminals we should deal with or try to stop, or increase prison time for; we should inconvenience and scare the "tea and crumpets" out of innocent citizens!! :aargh4::aargh4::aargh4:
 
#26 ·
This is incredibly stupid. What if they startle some old folks and they have a heart attack! Or if the officer gets cracked over the head with a cricket bat....do they just say "oops, you passed" *** are they thinking? Maybe this is the wrong term but "entrapment" comes to mind. Test and unsuspecting persons security without their knowledge and they will likely try to defend themselves...against the police? Good way to make problems where there don't need to be any.
 
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