I was recently held at knife-point by a person I let into my house and only escaped injury or worse by the timely intervention of my wife who displayed far more courage than might have been good for her.

I advertised an article for sale and received a call from someone who indicated interest. I admitted him to our home and made the stupid mistake of taking my wallet out of my pocket to answer my cell phone. The man casually reached out and grabbed my wallet and when I attempted to get it back he pulled a flick knife out of his pocket and threatened me with it.

I started grappling with him, all the while keeping my eyes on the knife which looked about the size of a katana to me, but later proved to be not all that large. I called for my wife who pushed the alarm panic button and then, displaying a fury which, quite frankly, scared even me, came charging in brandishing a long bamboo plant stake with which she proceeded to belabour the hapless would-be thief. He ran out of the house, dropping everything including his car keys. However the comedy was not yet over. Once he was outside the gate I closed it but after a few minutes he climbed back over it and knocked on my door, politely asking for his keys to be returned. Naturally I refused and waited for Chubb Alarms to turn up which they did closely followed by the police.

The criminal mastermind had waited for the police to turn up and when asked for ID he responded by producing an ID document which he had apparently stolen that very morning and had crudely pasted his photograph on top of the legitimate owner’s.

In his possession was also found a stolen cheque with which he intended to pay me for the goods I had advertised for sale.

My hat is off to Chubb Alarms and Tableview police.

JON RALPH

Table View