Burgled while we were at home

My husband thinks I am making a fuss when I insisted the back door to our garden is locked when we are in another room watching television. But this post assures me I am doing the right thing!

So sorry for you, it is a shock. Glad you weren't hurt and hope the insurance company does not give you any issues.

What a horrible experience. Years ago, an elderly next door neighbour (who was often up in the night) told me that she had peered out at around 2am to see a man walking down the street, trying all the front doors - she rapped on her window and he fled. But the next day she went up and down the street telling everyone (and I sent an email around to everyone I know). Most burglaries are opportunistic - an open door or window. I'm always checking the doors because my husband is always forgetting to lock them (!) We decided to get a burglar alarm a few years ago and one bonus of them is that you can set your doors to beep every time they are open - and to set a partial alarm during the night (to cover the more vulnerable windows too), which makes me feel much more secure. I don't know how I would cope if someone had been in my house when I was there. A visit from a local police crime prevention officer might help you feel more secure in the future. Of course, all this doesn't replace much loved items that have gone missing. Sorry.

What a terrible experience Lincolnimp that must have been really frightening for you.

I have a slam shut locking system on my back and front doors.
Which means when I close the door it automatically locks and you need a key to unlock it. Some people think it’s not good because you always have to remember your key or you are locked out. But my daughter has a key as does a neighbour...just in case.

I think it’s a great system and a few of my neighbours now have the same.

The dreadful people who burgle people homes should be punished severely. Instead they will probably just get a fine that’s if they are caught at all.

? A horrible experience, I had the misfortune to be burgled many years ago but I can still remember that awful feeling. Have strength.?

So very sorry. There are some miserable creatures about these days and now there is no shame attached to being a thief. It feels so unfair that there is no way of making people understand the pain they cause by doing this.

Can't think of much worse to happen!! We were broken into while we were away. The police were no help at all, declaring "they wouldn't have got in if you'd had locks on your windows!!"
I pointed our we did have locks on the windows, but it made no difference when they broke the window to get in!! Have to say the insurance company were pretty useless too. They insisted the smashed front door should be repaired - I told them if I'd know they were going to break out, I'd have left them a key!!!

It has just happened in our village, mum and child had just gone out for a cycle ride after homeschooling. The dog was hit over the head with a crowbar. CCTV has images but of course they're wearing masks though it has picked up one of their voices.

Many years ago, someone broke into my house whilst I was asleep in bed. I guess I must've spooked them when I got up to have a shower, so I was walking upstairs, naked, not realising two men were downstairs. When I went downstairs, after my shower, I could feel a draught in the kitchen and realised the window was wide open. Went into the lounge where they had tied the curtain up ready to lift stuff out of the window. Six months later the police rang me to say they had got the main person involved and they drove him around the neighbourhood where he pointed out all the houses he had burgled. Since then, and I'm talking over 10 years, I never have downstairs windows open unless I'm staying in that room for a while and then I will close it if I go to another room. So in summer it gets very stuffy.

I keep all my doors locked all day and night. I open them to let the dogs out, I stay there while they’re out and as soon as they come back in, the doors are locked again. The windows only open a very small gap so no one could get through a window either. I do it to keep my dogs safe rather than anything else.

Bad enough being burgled but whilst you are in the house, unbelievable. Did the Police give any indication why they think your house was targeted. To get through a porch door then the house door took a real nerve then to rummage about knowing you were up and about how brazen can you get! Hope you have the sentimental item found and returned to you and of course the scum caught.

Maybe look into getting a Ring video door bell? You can buy them from Amazon.
It has a motion detector that will start videoing when anyone approaches your front door so any opportunistic burglar will be caught on camera.

www.amazon.co.uk/all-new-ring-video-doorbell-1080p-hd-video-advanced-motion-detection-and-easy-installation-venetian-bronze/dp/B07WGJ8XN4/ref=sr_1_2?hvlocphy=20474&hvnetw=g&keywords=ring+door+cam+view&hvadid=473158412624&qid=1614856319&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7cHnxMCW7wIVqujtCh242gMcEAAYAiAAEgLMG_D_BwE&hydadcr=4051_1737863&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=kwd-810015011502&adgrpid=110794981185&hvrand=3097951396873015081&sr=8-2

I'm so sorry for you; it is a very unsettling & upsetting experience. We have been burgled twice while at home; the first time, many years ago when our youngest was a baby & still having a daytime nap, I was gardening; went upstairs to check on him & found one burglar in our bedroom & a second one jumped out of the window. Luckily, baby was in another room & slept through....

One thing we were told, is never to leave car keys anywhere near a door with a letterbox, since thieves are very adept at contriving gadgets to hook and retrieve them, in order to steal cars.
I’m not sure they’d be interested in our cars - there’s something to be said for having fairly boring, run of the mill ones - but our keys always go well away from the front door now.

Effalump; same thing happened here, months later the police said they had driven the convicted burglar round the neighbourhood where he pointed out houses he had 'done'.

DH's cousin and his wife had their brand new cars stolen off the drive a day or two after they were bought. Thieves used a rod through the letterbox to lift the keys from the hall table.
When we had alterations to the house we opted for a front door without a letterbox, we have a slot in the side wall of the porch and post goes into a cupboard.
We also had our windows altered after someone tried to gain access by removing beading and trying to remove the whole window. My neighbour had her kitchen window removed the same night.
Have to say we have not had any attempted break ins since installing CCTV, I have stickers warning of 24 hour video recording but the car has been broken into under one camera right under an enormous yellow warning sign telling them they were being recorded.
I really don't think they give a stuff, nothing happens to thieves even if caught.

So sorry to read about the burglary. Very frightening! A couple of years ago, we bought a video doorbell (Ring in our case, though other makes are available), plus a Ring camera with light for the back. If anyone comes in range of either device, the apps on our phones/pads start jingling. They are not too difficult to set up if you have a smart phone or pad and mean you can be aware if anyone approaches the house even if you are away.
Another useful idea to prevent a burglar getting into your property by pulling down a front door handle through the letterbox if the door is not locked on a key is to fit a post basket to the inside of the letterbox. The obstruction will mean they can’t easily fish through the letterbox as well as making post easier to pick up.

So sorry to hear that, similar thing happened to my Mum in her eighties, they took her engagement ring but she had the presence of mind to sit on her purse. I think the worst thing is that it shook her confidence so much.

Our house was burgled in 1991, and the 2 thieves, (seen by a farmer from across the fields), left a crowbar on our bed. (The burglars seem to have been disturbed by something, and left in a hurry, as a video recorder was left half disconnected too). Police told me it was VERY lucky I had not returned home and entered the house....as they would very likely have used the crowbar.

What a horrible thing to happen to you. I will show this to my husband who thinks my security measures during the day are ott! I think I'm getting my bed linen printed with the word "Swag" then perhaps thieves might get stopped in their tracks - maybe in luminous letters too. I'd be upset, as I'm sure you must be, but absolutely incensed with rage at the sheer cheek of it. I do hope all goes smoothly in your dealings with Police and insurance people. I expect you have been told about victim support. Do use them if you feel the need. I've heard they are very helpful. Good luck and very best wishes.

Oh my my heart goes out to u all! We were burgled twice in our previous home both times we were at home. First time we were asleep and our children were young teenagers it really spooked our daughter. They took all the washing off the line much to my son’s upset as there were mostly his clothes. The credit card got a hammering replacing them! Not much else taken other than a pair of gold earrings I’d had for years but not worth much.
Last time around 3 yrs ago I was asleep in bed in the house on my own as DH was on nights. They took my wedding engagement and friendship rings that I’d had for over 40 yrs I was so upset but kept telling myself they were only things. As the police said it could have been much worse. DH replaced my rings but it’s not the same x

How upsetting and sad for you, especially the loss of items that can never be replaced.

Lincolnimp, this is so horrible for you. I remember when my in laws were burgled, saying that it wasn’t just what was taken that upset them, but knowing that somebody had been in their home, touching everything and tipping stuff about.
I do hope you are able to get over this in the not too distant future, and that the police can help you.

How awful for you!
We’ve got ring.com so we can hear & see if anyone comes anywhere near the front door - you can get cameras fitted around the outside of the house to link up too. Peace of mind!
Hope they get caught and you get justice!

So sorry to hear of this. Horrible that you were in the house at the time. Hope you at least get your sentimental items back. I always keep my doors locked even during the day - my ex husband walking in on me one evening, cured me of leaving them unlocked- ever!

This happened to us when I was 7 months pregnant and on Christmas Eve. Thieves broke in and helped themselves to our booze and chocolates then took off with our gifts for all our family and friends. Our cat wandered into our bedroom which is what woke us (she slept in the living room). My husband bravely went downstairs whilst I called the police. They didn’t catch the burglars but hubby must have scared them enough that they shot off. Found some of the presents scattered around the path and garden along with an 8 inch knife. Not a happy experience.