Living in Fear

I got a call last night from the police. My mother had been burgled. The guy came into her living room while she was sitting watching television and stole her bag with all her money.

I went round to her house and made sure it was secure. Understandably she didn't want to stay there and is now terrified. I know I'm not alone in feeling very angry about the way that crime has taken over this country. If my kids go out for the evening there is always the concern that they might be attacked by some knife wielding drug crazed moron or even just a stone cold sober moron.

It is a very tired cliché to say that my mother's generation came through the war and are now living out their old age in fear from the enemy within, but it's true and nobody could ever imagine that this country would turn out to be so dangerous for the old and the young.

So now she will live under siege in her home and I will learn more than I ever wanted to about locks, chains and alarms. It reminded me that some years ago I took part in a security makeover show for the BBC in Manchester. We visited the most burgled street in Britain and spent a couple of days putting in all sorts of security products for the resident.

There was one elderly lady at the top of the road who was living behind locks and bars on every window and she was lamenting the fact that what was once a good street had turned into such a terrible place. We fitted a wireless burglar alarm for her and I went through the procedure of arming the ground floor zone so she could sleep safely upstairs with the ground floor protected against intruders.

She was around 85 at the time and though she was very well turned out and as sharp as a pin I took the explanation of the controls very slowly. She stopped me half way through the demonstration and said "You think I'm stupid don't you?". I denied it but she had clearly detected my patronising tone.

"Let me just tell you that during the war I worked on top secret scientific instruments. Just give me the instruction booklet and make us a brew. If I've a question I'll ask you."

I could have kissed her for her fighting spirit.


Roger Bisby
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