Steps to take when faced with armed intruders

Ok ... so the most likely way to die is being shot or stabbed in your own home. So here we have a public service announcement. Comments below.

April 16 2008 at 06:27AM

By Khululiwe Makhaye

According to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, reasonable force can be used when arresting a person presently or previously engaged in criminal activity.

If a person feels that his life or the life of another is in danger, extreme force, which could be fatal, can be used to subdue the criminal.

Police Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said the following steps should be followed when faced with armed intruders on your property. If your life, the life of another or your property is threatened:

Call the police immediately.

Try to escape from the situation.

You can shoot to kill or use a weapon to inflict a fatal wound.

You must be able to justify your actions.

In some cases, the person who made the arrest or killed a an intruder may be arrested.

But in those cases, the person would appear before a magistrate to explain his actions - bail is usually granted.

If the use of force is found to be acceptable he would be acquitted.

This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury on April 16, 2008

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1. Call the police ... oh yes on the hotline that is often not answered? SO while trying to escape or fit, you have a stupid cell phone that is just ringing in your hand.
2. Escape ... from your own home? IE they have MORE RIGHT to be in your home than you do?
3. Fight .... shoot (if you are fortunate enough to own a gun)

This is telling me to cower and run, and even if i do fight, most likely i'd be arrested IN MY HOME, taken to the cells for an indeterminate time, and charged with whatever they can dream up. My froiend shot an intruder and spent the weekend in prison, he had to be hospitalised when he came out.

You cannot win, if the criminals don't get you the justice system will.