Brind
01-10-2003, 11:01 PM
Householders 'would copy Martin to beat burglars'
A survey by British Gas claims that millions of householders are prepared to "do a Tony Martin" and take the law into their own hands to defend their families and homes.
More than 82% of Britons say they would tackle intruders to defend their property and family, according to a poll carried out by the energy supplier.
Backing the British Gas findings up in a separate survey of women, 66% said burglars should have no rights and only 2% felt it should be illegal to attack an intruder.
In the British Gas survey of 523 householders, three out of four said the Tony Martin and Cilla Black break-ins should act as reminders to tighten home security. However, less than one in 20 admitted they'd done something to improve security, it seems most of us are still relying on being able to battle intruders.
Martin, 58, of Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, was sentenced to five years after shooting dead 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999. The teenager's accomplice, Brendan Fearon, 33, was wounded in the incident.
Last month masked intruders held a knife to the throat of Cilla Black's youngest son and escaped with more than £1 million worth of jewellery, cash and gold.
The study also found that burglary was the biggest single worry for Britons INSERT INTO post VALUES (61%) with two in five admitting fear of being burgled while away marred their holidays.
A separate poll of 1,000 women for House Beautiful magazine revealed two-thirds thought burglars forfeited their rights once they broke in to someone's home. And 83% said tougher sentences would deter burglars.
A survey by British Gas claims that millions of householders are prepared to "do a Tony Martin" and take the law into their own hands to defend their families and homes.
More than 82% of Britons say they would tackle intruders to defend their property and family, according to a poll carried out by the energy supplier.
Backing the British Gas findings up in a separate survey of women, 66% said burglars should have no rights and only 2% felt it should be illegal to attack an intruder.
In the British Gas survey of 523 householders, three out of four said the Tony Martin and Cilla Black break-ins should act as reminders to tighten home security. However, less than one in 20 admitted they'd done something to improve security, it seems most of us are still relying on being able to battle intruders.
Martin, 58, of Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, was sentenced to five years after shooting dead 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999. The teenager's accomplice, Brendan Fearon, 33, was wounded in the incident.
Last month masked intruders held a knife to the throat of Cilla Black's youngest son and escaped with more than £1 million worth of jewellery, cash and gold.
The study also found that burglary was the biggest single worry for Britons INSERT INTO post VALUES (61%) with two in five admitting fear of being burgled while away marred their holidays.
A separate poll of 1,000 women for House Beautiful magazine revealed two-thirds thought burglars forfeited their rights once they broke in to someone's home. And 83% said tougher sentences would deter burglars.