IT HAD to happen, but the miracle is that what happened with the latest home invasion in Tamworth is money was the weapon of choice by those who sought to fight back.
In all the media, in all the police investigations, in all the agonising and anguished reactions and community comment, there has been the threat of how some people might attempt to deal with the incidents.
Since the first public meeting called by Tamworth Regional Council in December last year, and the response from those who attended it, there has been the spectre of how the community backlash might manifest itself.
The second meeting was in August this year, and the frustration and impatience of some in our community was evident.
The fact the elderly have been targeted has driven much of the fightback.
There’s been something of an elephant in the room in relation to the home invasions, house break-ins and the fear that’s been engendered, particularly in the homes of the elderly and the defenceless.
There have been plenty who have spoken of the baseball bats, cricket bats and golf clubs now positioned behind closed doors in many homes.
They are the weapons some of the outraged, indignant and manly among us say they will use if they catch people breaking into their homes.
So far, we haven’t seen such a retaliation to these criminals acts.
That’s surprising, because among the law-abiding, lawful, legal fraternity and law enforcers, there has been that fear that someone will be hurt, perhaps badly, and the ramifications of that might strike at a homeowner protecting himself and his property.
Just after midnight yesterday at least two men, wearing the obligatory hoodies, broke into the home of an 83-year-old woman in South Tamworth.
It wasn’t the first time. They’d done it before in June.
The family believes there was also a third, aborted attempt to boot.
Yesterday, fed up, fearful for the health and wellbeing of the matriarch of their family, frustrated by the events and ferociously angry about it all, they decided to post a reward of $5000 to catch the thieves.
Like most law-abiding people, they believe there is no honour among thieves and money will flush them out.
Plenty of people will applaud the action.
