It's getting too close now

Thursday, 02 August 2007, 7.40 pm. I had just finished dinner. LuckyL was at hockey practice and Princess asks if I'm going to pick him up now? No, I'm on my way upstairs for a "read"! 7.50 pm. Done, go down and tell princess I'm off to fetch LuckyL.

I drive up the road (100m) turn right, and there in front of me, 30 meters down the road are 3 armed response vehicle (LIU) parked facing me but on the left side of the road. A man is standing on the pavement, and as I'm stopped in the road, looking uncertain about what to do, he walks into the street and shows me to drive past. I pulled up next to him to enquire if everything is ok.

Nope, he's just been robbed! Armed robbery in the house. He does not have a front fence / wall / security, and the guys just smashed through the dining room windows, pushed a gun to his head. They had a truck parked in the street, and they started to load up anything they wanted. Probably mostly electronic goods, I would suppose.

His wife was upstairs with their daughter at the time, and hearing the commotion, she ran with her into their bathroom, opened the window, and forced the girl out onto the roof! With the rate of violent robberies, coupled with rapes happening today in South Africa, I think this was a very clever move, even though she was up there not knowing what was happening to her husband!

So, had I left home immediately after dinner, I probably would have driven into the action, and knowing myself, would have got involved. Very risky / stupid, and probably life threatening! At the very least, had I realised from the street what was happening, I would have rammed my car into the front of the truck, hoping to at least immobilise that. Or, better still, I may have been in a position to follow them.

I didn't tell the kids, (and those of you who know me and my family, please keep this from them), but did inform the Princess. Placed a call to my security specialist and ordered some electric fencing material for the top of the front gate, and a long range security monitoring camera with two monitors.

I will collect in the morning, and install over the weekend. Will also have a chat to my two top neighbours with regards their electric fences (existing) and ensure that they are active. Might have to talk to my other 3 neighbours about doing something on our common boundaries. Fuck!!!

Then, I'm getting a couple of garden movement sensors, and may even get armed response connected to the house. I have officially capitulated, and joined my fellow countrymen, and am now converting my home into a prison. From now on the 9mm Parabellum will sleep next to my bed, and no longer be left in the safe.

I cannot take this crap for too much longer, and more and more I am looking at the option of just up and leaving. At age 48 (nearly) this may not be easy, but it beats being dead.

Salagatle!