Do you have a weapon ready in case of burglars and is it a good idea?

The police used to advise not to put locks on inner doors, as most burglars will just smash them down.

I don't know if they still use that advice.

It is a bad idea to have anything such as a knife that a burglar could use against you, and he is likely to be stronger than you.

jeni, I'm sure they meant you were formidable in the French way...

Yes! ME!
Apparently, I'm FORMIDABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So! GNHQ. WHERE'S THE CRESCENT MOON?

We have two Jack Russell terriers. One of them sleeps in our room. They would bark their heads off if someone came down the drive let alone tried to break in. We don't have a blunt instrument in the bedroom anymore since DH lost his peripheral vision and he'd probably clunk me over the head instead.
I have my mobile handy as I am the lighter sleeper.
We live in a bungalow and have bolts on doors than can be accessed via a window, e.g. the dining room and study. That way if anyone breaks in we would have them contained while we phone the police.
The only problem with barking dogs is they make such a racket you can't hear what's going on.
If you have security lights outside and you think someone is out there, don't turn on any lights indoors. That way, you can see them but they can't see you.
I'm not paranoid but we live in a very isolated property so we have to take care.

We were burgled while we were asleep in bed. They didn't come upstairs.

I have a baseball bat which I keep under the bed! I think I would only use it if I thought I was in danger - not just to stop someone taking something. Of course they would have to get into the house first - I have an alarm, locks on all the windows and all the outside doors are double locked when I go to bed, plus I have security lights around the outside of the house.

This may seem a bit over the top but I live in a rural area and I would rather stop anyone getting in rather than have to protect myself.

Think the best thing to do is have a mobile phone next to the bed at night [says I who leaves mine downstairs in my bag]. My son came home in the early hours of this morning, picked up his keys from the bedroom next to mine and left. I woke up when I heard his car door slam. I always thought I would wake up if someone was in the house so I'm surprised [and rather worried] that I didn't [and neither did the dog ]. By the way, whats that phone number that you dial in an emergency that finds your exact location? A milkman friend of mine [that sounds bad ] said most untoward things happened at 3 or 4 o'clock. I suppose people are in a really deep sleep by then.

Yes DH does, and yes I think its a bad idea... Never had call for it in 20 odd years but he can't break the habit of something behind the wardrobe door when he's asleep. I have no doubt he'd use it if we were threatened.

I certainly haven't got one! I think DH would probably grab something if he thought someone was trying to break in, but all the weapon-like things we have are all downstairs...food for thought!