Someone’s been in my bedroom

Savernake Forest, right down to the creepy name, reads as being the work of a professional writer. Regular folks don’t have the vocabulary of “sinuous” terror and a “commanding voice” and then the symbolism of three Black labs and a puppy.

I wondered that.

This. See my post above. Maybe no-one had been in at all.

I'm going against the flow a bit here, but I think if your neighbour had been snooping, she/he would have covered their tracks better? Knowing that they should not be in there?
I am thinking more likely to be your Mum, who although she shouldn't be there, might feel more entitled to be in your bedroom, and not think of covering her tracks.
Surely your neighbour would not give the key to another person to cover for her?
I'd ask the neighbour if she has seen your Mum around.

Have to say though I'm impressed at you remembering exactly what your room looked like before you left. I'd have no idea.

Did the ex and kids leave for holiday before you did @Hakunamatoto? If not my order of suspicion would be him, one of the kids, neighbour, mum. I'd not consider someone living in the loft

I'd be asking neighbour if they saw anything odd (too socially awkward to confront directly) and let them know what you'd noticed in the hopes they'd fess up.

Nosey people don't just snoop once and arguably a relative has more motivation to snoop than a neighbour. Maybe OP knows her mum well enough to be sure it's not her but I wouldn't give all mums an automatic pass.

Maybe nothing happened. No-one was in there. The OP just didn't quite leave it as she remembered.

It’s not worth it, it’s like someone testing out their dodgy horror story writing story skills.

Hope you find out who the culprit is OP, horrible that someone could violate your personal space like that.

@Hakunamatoto My old next door neighbour had a pet that a long term neighbour used to always feed.

I would sometimes notice when neighbour came in.

{The pet was outside}

To properly feed and change pet's water bowls and clean up the occasional poo would have taken no time at all.

But I was aware that the neighbour would sometimes spend absolutely ages in my Next door neighbour's house.

After neighbours got back, It came up in conversation about the other neighbour being ages in their house...

Neighbours said ''No! We thought stuff had been moved in drawers''..........

After that they stopped asking neighb to look after their pet- I did it instead as could easily hop over the garden wall, and didn't need a key.

It's shocking how nosey some people can be.

For peace of mind is it worth looking at an internal CCTV system? And casually tell others you are putting it in for your personal safety? Maybe this sounds extreme, but if you are uncomfortable as you sound it nay be worth it. You don’t need anything technically complex.

It’s not a true story.

She didn't hear you enter the house and walk upstairs?

Was just coming on to say this.
Our dog never gets on the bed........
Unless we are away or he thinks we are away.
He has also on occasion moved my hairbrush and makeup bag - he is a Labrador and loves to carry things.

Do you have the sort of relationship with your mum where you could ask her directly and she’d be truthful (or you could tell she was fibbing)? If so, might be better to ask her first. Would be awful if it was her and it ruined the friendship and trust with your neighbour.

Mums should, of course, respect your privacy, but as you’re her child, she might feel there’s less of a boundary and maybe it’s something innocent, like she was looking for painkillers etc. But, why would she come to your home when you’re away?

I find it hard to imagine your neighbour doing it and not covering her tracks. But I’d ask the neighbour directly too. Why not if it’s made you feel creeped out? As long as you don’t sound accusatory. Just casually something like: ‘I don’t suppose you were with the cat in the bedroom?’. So many people have cameras now, they may fess up.

Otherwise, it’s not the end of the world if nothing’s missing or damaged. But you could change the lock barrel to feel more secure. Really easy to do.

I'd get the locks changed.

@Meadowfinch I said 'some' not most.

And it's true, given opportunity some people will rifle through a drawer, read a diary etc

Could it have been the cat?

I'm glad I didn't read that in the night!

I was thinking this.

I often go to work thinking I've made my bed and then come home and I haven't, because I'm so used to doing it I get a surprise. Or I've left drawers open because I've been rifling through them last minute, especially when I'm going away.

Trace & measure the shape left on the bed by the person sitting on it & check the suspects to see if any fit.

Yes my thoughts too. It's not like the neighbour would have been approached by anybody arriving in a hurry and needed to leave it like that.

Ugh sorry, I don't know how/why I've tagged you!

Honestly, if someone was having a sneaky rifle through your underwear drawer, they’d probably cover their tracks.

I bet you did it just before you left, and the indent could’ve been made by you, or the cat.

I don't think it was your mum as there must have been other opportunities before now to have a nose around.

It was the neighbour.