My Perth?? World's burglary capital??? (Slight rant)

[Bruce in West Oz]

Perth break-ins worst in world
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By Ben Harvey
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PERTH is the world's burglary capital, says South Perth Independent MP Phillip Pendal.

He branded the city after a crime study backed by the United Nations exposed Australia as one of the most dangerous nations in the developed world for burglaries, serious bashings, sex assaults and robberies.

Mr Pendal told State Parliament yesterday the UN report was particularly disturbing when read in conjunction with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures which showed twice as many West Australians were burgled per capita as Victorians and a third more than New South Welshmen.

"If, through the ABS, we have sadly declared Perth the burglary capital of Australia, it stands to reason . . . Perth becomes the burglary capital of the globe," he said.

The UN report, which compares crime rates in 17 countries, shows Australians are burgled at twice the average rate - cementing burglary-prone WA as one of the world's worst places for home invasions. More than 24 per cent of Australians experienced one of the 11 types of crimes covered by the survey, meaning they were more likely to be victims of crime than Americans, who are popularly considered to be most at risk.

The International Crime Victims Survey, compiled in conjunction with the UN Inter-Regional Criminal Justice Research Institute, was based on surveys which researchers began compiling in 2000.

Thousands of people from Australia, England, Wales, France, Poland, Sweden, Canada, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Portugal, Scotland, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the US, Spain, Switzerland and Japan were surveyed.

Mr Pendal attacked successive WA governments and police chiefs who he said had been prepared to tolerate the poor clearance rate of burglaries.

"Eighty-six per cent of intruders are getting away scot-free," he said.

http://www.thewest.com.au/20030612/news/perth/tw-news-perth-home-sto101299.html

Since this was printed this a.m., we have had increasing panic and bleating among the politicians, who are now stridently demanding "something be done!"

Official police advice in event of burglary (or "home invasion" if you are present) is to either (a) lock yourself in a room and let the burglars take everything else, or (b) leave immediately via another exit. People who resist are publicly condemned on television as foolhardy or irresponsible or even vigilantes.

Here's the crux of the matter, to my mind: We have "safe storage" laws for firearms. Firearms have to be locked away, dismantled, with bolt and ammo locked away separately. Burglars and home invaders know with a 99.9% certainty that they are going to face unarmed resistance. Walking along a suburban street to them must be the same as one of us walking down the aisles of the supermarket -- "Hmmmm, what will I have next?"

To the self-serving politicians who want "something done" about this -- return to us, publicly and loudly, the right to perceive our home as our castle and to defend it against all transgressors -- with firearms if we deem that response necessary.

Sadly, they will simply legislate to make us even more prisoners in our own homes, by making alarms and safety screens on doors and windows compulsory or some similar tomfoolery.

Don't ever be lulled into thinking that "safe storage" is benign -- even if it is "for the children".

Bruce

 

[Standing Wolf]

I have cigarette butts in ash trays that are worth more than the life of any criminal who breaks into my house—but then, I don't live in Australia.

 

[Pilgrim]

Mr Pendal attacked successive WA governments and police chiefs who he said had been prepared to tolerate the poor clearance rate of burglaries.

"Eighty-six per cent of intruders are getting away scot-free," he said.

I think the WA's clearance rate for burglaries matches those in the United States of America.

So, when do the United Nations peacekeepers arrive to straighten you people out?

Pilgrim

 

[Destructo6]

Sorry to hear it.

Sounds not unlike the sureal society in "A Clockwork Orange."

 

[dustind]

Wasn't the crime rate steadily dropping in that country in every category for the last twenty five years, and now it has suddenly risen in, I believe, every category over the last few years. It couldn't be gun control... naa

 

[fallingblock]

Standing Wolf....

"I have cigarette butts in ash trays that are worth more than the life of any criminal who breaks into my house—but then, I don't live in Australia."
****************************************************

Those cigarette butts have approximately the same value the Australian government places on the lives of its subjects

 

[Lock Down]

Never a truer word spoken.

 

[Waitone]

Nuhuh! Can't be true.

I thought you guys did away with the cause of violence?

 

[fallingblock]

Not yet, Waitone.....

The Australian government has to get every single legal handgun out of law-abiding civilian hands before we notice any improvement in the crime situation

...and then there all those vicious rifles and shotguns.....

 

[Esky]

Leavin', on a jet plane

This doesn't surprise me. I've known of too many cases, all around me in the hills of Perth.

And I've been in the Armadale Court of Petty Sessions, where the magistrate fined a man $150, and confiscated his 'weapon' after the man told him that he carried it in his car because he lived close to some bad guys who had threatened him. He told the magistrate that those guys knew he had the 'weapon' and had left him alone because of it.

The magistrate (Mr. McIntyre, if you know him, Bruce) told the man that if he felt threatened he should call the police. He also said that he didn't want people to "start taking the law into their own hands, like they do in America."

Oh, and the 'weapon'... was a cricket bat.

The guy made the mistake of telling the police who stopped him for a 'random breath test' for alcohol (yeah, they do that here a lot) the true reason why he had the cricket bat in the back seat of his car.

I bet he's less honest the next time he gets stopped. Now he's a criminal for possessing a 'weapon' to defend himself with.

And I'll miss Australia, but I'm coming back home soon- after too long away. It's getting too dangerous here, and it breaks my heart. Henry Lawson is probably spinning in his grave; he wrote a poem titled "Every Man Should Have A Rifle". I agree!

Notice to potential burglars: in America I will be armed, and it won't be with a cricket bat.

Esky

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I visited Perth several years back and loved it. There used to be a nightclub called Godfathers that I can still remember partying at. Saw the Queen and Prince Phillip walking down the center of a street waving at the crowd one day. They just blocked off the traffic and paraded down the street. No wall of police or soldiers like you see in the US. I have some pictures of her about 10-15 feet away and in the open. Bet that never happens again.

Too bad the government there has gone off the deep end.

 

[fallingblock]

You're right, there, Esky!

Henry Lawson wouldn't even recognise the country he lived in when he wrote "Every Man Should Have A Rifle"

For those Yanks who don't see much Lawson, Here's the poem:
****************************************************
Every Man Should Have A Rifle
Henry Lawson
1907

So I sit and write and ponder, while the house is deaf and dumb,
Seeing visions "over yonder" of the war I know must come.
In the corner – not a vision – but a sign for coming days
Stand a box of ammunition and a rifle in green baize.
And in this, the living present, let the word go through the land,
Every tradesman, clerk and peasant should have these two things at hand.

No – no ranting song is needed, and no meeting, flag or fuss –
In the future, still unheeded, shall the spirit come to us!
Without feathers, drum or riot on the day that is to be,
We shall march down, very quiet, to our stations by the sea.
While the bitter parties stifle every voice that warns of war,
Every man should own a rifle and have cartridges in store!
****************************************************

Now what option are the foolish hoplophobes who comprise the Australian government and a large segment of the population left with - Perhaps learning the phrase: "PLEASE DON"T HURT ME" in Indonesian?

It is getting too dangerous here...in more ways than one