According to research from Confused.com, of those who admit to owning some form of weapon, two-thirds are not afraid to use it in self-defence against an intruder in the event of a break-in.

The most popular household items to double-up as a weapon are a baseball bat or a cricket bat (16%), closely followed by a heavy tool of some sort (12%).

However, some people will arm themselves with less obvious weapons, including pots and pans (10%) or a torch (7%).

Men are more likely than women to arm themselves against an intruder (54% v 45%), with women opting instead for a dog (18%) to scare off trespassers.

Many UK householders are taking additional security measures to ensure they are never faced with the prospect of an intruder. Nearly half of Brits have fitted extra door locks (47%) to keep burglars out, a third have installed a burglar alarm (31%) and a fifth (20%) have introduced self-timed lights to deter thieves.

However this fear of intruders seems to be backed up by the research, which shows that three in 10 people in the UK (30%) have been a victim of burglary, with 39% of people being in the house when the break-in occurred.

Gareth Lane, head of home insurance at Confused.com, said: “Our research shows the extremes that some householders would go to in order to protect their property from intruders. However, while it’s natural for many to look out for their family and their belongings, we do not recommend anyone resorts to violence as you could be putting yourself and others at risk.

“It is far better to ensure that you have the maximum amount of home security that you can. Carrying out simple security measures, such as keeping doors and windows locked, can help ensure householders and their possessions are kept safe.

“It is also important to make sure you have adequate home insurance in place, so that your valuables are protected should the worst happen.”

The report also revealed that burglaries are slightly higher in the summer months, possibly due to people heading off on holiday and leaving homes unattended. Relaxed attitudes are also being blamed for higher burglaries in the summer, as people tend to leave doors and windows open.

According to the research, more than a quarter of burglaries (27%) occur as a result of the intruder entering through an open door or window.

The topic of people defending their properties against intruders has been a contentious issue over the past few years.

Householders who react with force when confronted by burglars are to get more legal protection, according to comments made by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling last year.

“Grossly disproportionate” force will still be against the law in England and Wales, but the bar will be higher than the current “proportionate” force test.
However the question remains as to what proportional force is and how the courts make judgements on a reaction to someone breaking into your home.