There was a time when homeowners facing a rash of thefts in their area could count on police to offer them tips about keeping their property safe. In same places now, though, police are more concerned about making sure thieves aren’t injured during their break-ins.
It sounds like a joke — or maybe satire from the Onion — but it’s the truth in some parts of England, according to a story in February from an English newspaper.
After a series of burglaries of sheds in several towns and villages in Kent and Surrey, homeowners starting adding extra protecting to their sheds. Thomas Cooper, of Tatsfield, Surrey, added wire mesh to the windows of three garden sheds after he had been hit by thieves twice. But police warned him this was a bad idea, because he could be sued by thieves who got hurt.
“I reinforced my shed windows with wire mesh, but was told by the police I had to be very careful because thieves can actually sue you if they get hurt,” Cooper said. “It is ridiculous that the law protects them even though they are breaking it.”
Some people don’t understand why many of us want the right to be armed and why many of us increasingly don’t trust police to protect our property. The truth is that the state is increasingly unwilling and unable to protect people. We know that. We’re ready to take over protecting ourselves, but the state has to get out of the way first.