To think I might have been burgled?

Why? I mean I've always been told to leave handbag etc by the front door, but can quite understand why people would take personal things upstairs with them. It takes seconds to pick up your handbag and stash it in your cupboard when you go to bed. Just a bit of safeguarding like checking doors and windows are locked/chargers switched off etc. Not sure it implies that poster is neurotic.

I mean, perhaps we should not bother locking our doors at all seeing as the chance of getting burgled is low?

There are the thieves that use a hook, on a telescoping fishing rod to hook things through letter slot. Handbags by front door are popular items, if it doesn’t fit thru door, then can still get stuff out of bag one they get it near the slit opening. They get keys this way too if left on nearby table.

When you break into your work locker, could your handbag be in there? Sounds more likely that it's there or in your car, than someone letting themselves in.

Also the people assuming small value stuff doesn’t get stolen would be surprised how often it does!

Sibling left car unlocked one night and the next morning discovered a 6 pack of Stella, a pack of Capri Suns and £5 in loose change had been taken from it. Car was otherwise in tact!

Im messy and absent minded too i expect its been lost not burgled. I misplaced some things recently including a bank card for an account I don't use much. I was like 99% sure they were in the house, took me over 6 weeks to find them, so i was starting to doubt that recollection when they turned up again in a very random place. I'd tidy and sort the flat out and see if they turn up.

If you can, use the weekend to get your flat tidied and if the missing stuff still doesn’t turn up during this process then absolutely invest in some cameras.

I’ve lost all sorts in the house before including a mobile phone that inexplicably went missing as I was getting ready for work one morning. After being unable to find it for a week I bit the bullet and bought a new one. Eight months later I picked up an old trainer that I never wore and the phone fell out!

Spend the weekend tidying your flat. Give it a good deep clean and if the handbag doesn’t turn up then change the locks.

Sorry to read your post, I was in similar position a couple of years ago. Came home from day out, front door was a bit stiff to open, thought nothing of it. Wandered into my first floor flat, thought a few things were oddly out of place, then realised some underwear was 'arranged' in my hallway! Got out, phoned the police, who came very quickly, transpired yes, I had been burgled as front door was warped (upvc) and now wouldn't close properly. Ended up staying with friend overnight then getting door fixed next day. Police gave me an alarm to wedge under front door, in case they tried again. I eventually found out they'd taken a pair of sandals and a winter coat, odd mixture but at least it gave me a well needed laugh trying to work out why those items.
Hope I haven't scared you, but please change your locks and look after yourself.

I could have written this post - right before I was signed off from work with burnout.

That’s a very strange way to live. Have you considered therapy?

I wouldn't go around getting any locks changed on the basis of a missing handbag, a flea prescription & a lost receipt.

Sounds like the money could be better spent getting a cleaner in.

The problem is that we all do things routinely until for some reason we don't.

I once hunted high and low for house keys. Couldn't find them anywhere. Several hours down the line, I found them on the side in the bathroom (where I'd put them before going to the loo when I'd come in).

This sounds terrifying, how did you catch them?

You haven’t been burgled. You’re just messy and absent-minded (I say this as a messy and absent-minded person myself).

You need to bite the bullet and have a huge tidy/declutter. Go through the house methodically room-by room.

All these things will turn up.

And use the opportunity to create some systems and rethink how you store things.

This thread has encouraged me to fill an old handbag with a bunch of keys of unknown origin (everyone has a drawer containing those don’t they!), car keys for a car I no longer own, expired cards of various types and a couple of £10 notes. I’m going to have fun “curating” this and leaving it downstairs as my burglar decoy. Maybe some old used tissues for authenticity as well.

Why would someone go in and take a pill box and some random paperwork? Far more likely you've misplaced it. Have you had anything else unusual happen over the last few weeks?

older locks can also be opened with other Yale keys - like Old Ford’s!

One of thd few sensible things my ex did. He lived in a cottage, nearest neighbours a mile away. It had a massive driveway & he had 3 cars 🙄 Car keys were left in a bowl on a unit in the porch. For the exact reason he said he'd rather someone broke in, grabbed the keys & took the cars & didn't enter the actual house

Unfortunately he wasn't always so sensible

As someone with hoarding tendencies myself your post honestly sounds like you also could be.

You KNOW its highly unlikely anyone is stealing your flea prescription etc... you are just losing them in what is already self acknowledged to be 'untidy'.

I would say to get help but unfortunately hoarding is a MH condition that no one takes seriously and there is pretty much no help for. Youtube can be great though, I would suggest Cas from Cluttebug as she really nails the 4 different types and implements coping methods to be able to organize and find things based on your own type.

If you lose things often you will most likely be a ladybird (a hider who puts things out of sight to look tidy and forgets whats hidden where) or butterfly (a trail leaver, who leaves things visually where they expect it to be but can't find it if its not in that expected spot).

That's freaky. It sounds like whoever is coming in is messing with you rather than trying to steal anything valuable. Which is freakier than an outright burgler.
Would your trusted neighbour have anyone in their house - partner or teen who could be doing this with the key? As they might have access to it?
I'd maybe change the lock and try a different trusted neighbour with the next key.

As above, I was told the opposite. If some drugged up burglar is going to come into my house, they can take what they want as long as they leave my family alone. I don't want anyone coming upstairs to look for car keys.

Burglars don't carry keys. If entry has been gained by using a key that sounds like it's someone the OP knows.

Realistically though noones going to steal pills & documents. It's more likely they've been mislaid