Prowler outside - what should we do? Photos attached

[RedPandaFluff]

I've just been woken by our 3 month old DD and saw that our home security camera sent us an alert triggered by a motion sensor at 1am (stills from the footage below).

Somebody with a rucksack seems to be checking out the front of our house and it looks as if he might have taken a photo of the front door as he was leaving the driveway.

I'm so freaked out. It seems like he's scoping us out for a burglary. What should we do? We'll contact the local PCSO in the morning but should we call 101 or anything . . . ?

This sounds awful. I'd be tempted to leave some sort of "symbol" to show them you know they're doing this. Not sure what but maybe someone else can suggest something? A gigantic cctv sign that they can't miss would be a good idea - preferably one that they wouldn't have been able to miss last time so they'll know you're onto them.

Oh gosh OP, that is so worrying.

I would keep some lights on all night. Have you actually seen them live on the camera, or is this recorded footage?

@RedPandaFluff Could you leave your lights on in the kitchen and front but you need blinds/curtains that ine can't see through from outside. Otherwise, they can tell no one is in the rooms and might try their chance anyway. If they can't see through, they wouldn't know. Safer that way.

Also tv on.

So sorry this is happening. I can imagine how anxious it's making you and I think it's unhelpful for the police to try to find them AFTER they've broken in. They're trespassing, at the very least and that should count for something but I know they can be very busy with emergencies and whatnot. Still, it doesn't allow for peace of mind to know you can only get help afterwards and not before or even during!

PP suggested some tricks that might be helpful too should they attempt to break in (so sorry this may be frightening but better prepared). Could you have some heavy furniture pushed against the doors at night before bed or some noisy clangy items that will make a lot of racket should someone open the doors?

Definitely advertise the fact you've seen them on CCTV. Its primary use should be a deterrent, then a forensic aid. How horrible for you OP. Signs have got to be the first level of escalation whilst you sort lights etc.

We've not seen them live, it's when we've checked the alerts/recorded footage the next day.

Will definitely leave some lights on tonight, and probably the TV as well. We've done as much as we can, and had put deadbolts and things on doors and signs up after last time, but the proper security system will give me more peace of mind. If they want to break a window and come in, there's nothing we can do to stop them.

We started to relax after last time, thinking it was just someone trying their luck. Now I'm properly worried - one of the guys had a claw hammer, FFS.

So an alarm is coming on Wednesday?

Do you belong to a local Facebook Group? You could post the images on there and see if anyone recognises them, or if anyone else has had the same.

Did you get curtains for the front room?

Yes, alarms/home security system coming on Wednesday, the house is fully curtained now, and we told our immediate neighbours and posted it on the community Facebook group so I think we've done all we can for now.

Oh that’s good, I hadn’t seen about curtains but that’s helpful too.

Is your DH scary looking? Can he stay up and wait for them, then come out and tell them to fuck off if they do?

Fwiw, if I saw them at 3am, you couldn't get me on the phone quick enough to the police

I’m surprised the police aren’t bothered. I could understand the first time could be written off, but a second time with people wearing masks and carrying hammers? Come on now, their intentions are clear.

In the first set of images it looks like they’re interested in the car

Can you change the settings of your security alerts so that the notification is audible/vibrates and wakes you up? Take your phone off do not disturb perhaps? I’m sure you’d rather be able to call the police whilst they’re outside, instead of having them enter your property first and only being able to contact the police after the fact

Also I think the fact that they walked off this morning is a good sign? Perhaps they noticed subtle changes from the last time they prowled, making your house less of a suitable target and won’t come back? Because I’m not sure why they would need to scope the house twice, I think today was d-day but you foiled their plot.

Can you buy outdoor motion lights for your front and back entrances? That would be a further deterrent if they dare return.

get a recording of a large dog barking & yell at dog to stay quiet

Print those pictures and stick them to your front door with a note saying that the police are aware.

What cars are on your drive/outside the house?

Sadly we have been broken into twice and they were after the car keys.

First time I disturbed them, I was bf’ing Dd and heard a noise down stairs, 2 men in our hall way, they grabbed a bag by the front door and ran, the bag had my old banger keys in it and police advised to block my banger in with DHs very expensive company car.

2nd time we didn't hear them and they managed to steal said expensive car, we only discovered this when leaving for work and couldn't find the keys! We alerted the trakka company and the car was found.

It's such a scummy thing to do and it's hard to get past it. I spent a long time with a can of fly spray, a baseball bat and a glass bottle close by at bedtime, I feel for you.

My suggestion is to set up ”skittles” inside every exterior entrance. Plastic bottles with stone inside them, glass bottle with marbles in, empty jars. All piled up in a stack to scare them off.

Not a nice way to live but a bit of peace of mind

We called 101 again, sent the footage etc. but the police aren't interested as they've not actually broken in yet

I am not at all surprised by this. I have a similar incident happening to me on a regular basis. I have their full faces on cctv and the license plate of their car and the police are not interested even though I am scared to be in my own home and can't sleep at night. I think someone would need to be murdered before the police become interested.

I'm wondering about all these people posting cctv footage on social media? When I asked if I could do that I was told no because I would be violating the criminal's privacy and could be taken to court. WTF someone should have privacy after tresspassing onto my property I have no idea.

Good luck OP I hope your deterents work. After you spoke with your neighbours did they say if they had similar problems?

My friend is a police officer and she told me the biggest deterrents are leaving lights on inside the house overnight

We had an attempted burglary (frightened away as they were trying to force the lock) when dd2 was a baby at 4am.

I had been feeding her downstairs overnight and used to leave a light on to come down when she woke. The police said that a light on at that time can look like a security light set by someone who is away and better to leave a timed light on that goes off if you're away.

If it's any comfort to you, OP, they never came back to our house to try again.

Just realised that they have come two days in a row, I’d find it difficult to sleep tonight

I would push the police OP

They’ve definitely got spare capacity, given the things they seem to consider worth their time at the moment.

What can the police do, though, @LilacTree1? Probably not much except to maybe patrol down our street every now and again; but even so, the chances of catching them are so small.

It's not two nights in a row, @browzingss - the first time was a few weeks ago; we only recently put up the camera. And that felt a lot more benign - more like an opportunist trying doors and windows. These two guys have come to the house with a claw hammer which feels a lot more sinister.

That's scary, @Witchend - funnily enough I have a four-month and I'm breastfeeding. I'm hoping our 'visitors' don't come back either.