Ideas to protect my self in my home

[JJSS123]

So last night around 8pm me and my partner were sat on the sofa and baby asleep in Moses basket door locked with key in and turned. Always do this. Have lived here for 4 years not a great area desperately saving to move.

Live in an apartment block of 7 I am on the first floor there are 4 floors. Someone tried to get into our apartment, they tried with a key I think it sounded like. The front door is a fire door type. I should add the bottom floor door has a code. But someone tried to get in me and my partner both shot up off the sofa and then this person/s had disappeared. I have a friend who lives below I asked them to go into the communal area to check (didn’t want to open my door with a young baby in the house could of been anything)

When I went to bed last night we had a couple of hundred cash in the house so I put that at the front door and my engagement ring and both of our watches incase someone tried to get in they could just take it instead of searching. Went to sleep with a knife a fire extinguisher and some kind of hammer in my bedroom I know this might sound silly but I felt I needed something so I had a fair chance of protecting my baby. I would absolutely kill if I had to, what mother wouldn’t. But what else can I do???!!!! Got new neighbours upstairs been to ask them if it was a mistake and nope no idea. Asked our next door neighbour and no idea. She said she didn’t feel safe here anymore and neither do I. What else can I do to protect my self?

Sorry this is so long :(

Can you put a chain on your door? That way, even if the person has a key, they can’t get the door open.

Or change the locks.

Yes was considering a chain!! So scary. Just to add there’s no backstory to this just a normal young family both working class nothing dodgy

Changing the barrel of a lock is actually quite easy just buy the same type as the one you have and swap them out. You might need a little hacksaw to cut the right length but they're super cheap. Our Yale lock allows you to lock it with the key from the inside too. But remember to ensure that whatever you buy, you can easily open it from the inside in case of fire.

Maybe also consider a porch light, Nest camera or Ring doorbell.

Your local community Police might be able to visit to discuss security, worth looking up a number/email online to ask.

I'd fit a deadbolt to the inside of the door, and would report it to the police on 101.

In the nicest way, you're being ridiculously paranoid. Burglars don't go around in the early evening trying keys in occupied properties. Logic suggests they were just at the wrong door.

Statistically, it's rare for anyone to break in when people are home. And even then it's usually because they've mistakenly thought the house was empty/ they could go unnoticed. The rare occasions it does happen, there's normally a specific reason that particular home has been targeted, which seems highly unlikely in your scenario. I suppose a passing drug addict might try a door to steal their next hit, but again, they'd be unlikely to break through the main door and go to the first floor and try with a key.

A knife and a hammer is stupid anyway, unless you have reason to believe any intruder is unlikely to be able to take them off you. It's just providing them with a weapon.