Shotgun cartridges

Two years ago, Robert E, from South Shields, had his garage broken into. Strangely, the thieves didn’t touch his bike. In fact, they made away with nothing more than a frozen turkey. But it was enough to make Robert take drastic action.

He said: ” I went to a gun shop and bought this trigger mechanism, some shotgun cartridges with extra explosive, but no shot and some fishing line.

” The spring-loaded pin is prevented from firing by the presence of a small washer. By connecting fishing line to the washer at one end and stretching it across a doorway at chest height, the device works like a stun grenade, leaving the intruder confused and disorientated. ”

The trigger mechanism is usually used by farmers for scaring off birds and vermin (should be just the thing for bike thieves, then). Security firms and the Army also use them as training devices.

The unit is intended to make a lot of noise without putting holes in anything. One firearms supplier warns: ” Blanks should only be used in this trigger mechanism, never live ammunition. ”

Cost: The trigger mechanism is about £9 from a licensed gun shop. Cartridges are £8 for 25.

How legal is this?

Det Insp Gibbs says: ” You can legally possess shotgun cartridges without a licence. If you are simply using cartridges to create a big noise, I don’t see a problem in either criminal or civil law. But as a police officer I would ask the question: Why shotgun cartridges? Why not an alarm? ”