Please tell me about your home security

[Complexico]

Ok, going to preface this by saying I do have a condition that leads to anxiety. However, I am currently on my own due to the COVID situation and my dog is no longer here.

I keep noticing the front gate is open when I am sure I have shut it and today I found a nut (the metal kind) at the base of a window upstairs window (on the inside). The upper window is unlocked and I am sure I have not had it open - the window key will not fit into the lock to lock it. I don't think a person could fit through it but it's freaked me out.

I've heard some weird noises and thuds in the night, but I've also had COVID and been taking morphine and was putting it down to that. We have had a lot of thefts around here recently but it's mainly been bike sheds, garages and cars.

If you have easy to install and set up home security or CCTV please can you tell me about it? For my peace of mind at the moment I want to set something up at the front and the back of the house.

It's hard to understand what's happened, do you think someone unscrewed it? Rather than it just fell out or was out already?

Does the gate ever swing open a bit?

Ring system - doorbell with sensor and camera, other external cameras, internal sensors and window/door barrier alarms all connected to one app on your phone. We’ve got a lot of cameras and sensors, plus mini solar panels for the outside cameras so they don’t need power. Cost about £1200 all in, indoor stuff is all stick on, outdoor stuff required five minutes with a drill and no additional wiring as it’s all solar powered.

We have the Blink cameras from amazon. Really easy to set up and you can check them through an app on your phone when you're out.

Or driveway and front garden is walled (over 6ft) and we have solid wooden electric gates with a Ring doorbell.

We are planning on a couple more Ring cameras.

Oh blimey, I'm a bit security mad! Cameras outside and inside (inside ones only on when we're out!). Super duper doors and locks. Windows locked when we're out. Spikes (anti cat) all round fences. Locks on downstairs internal doors. Alsation guard dog.

It would be quite hard to break in here as the front door is very solid. Motion sensor light just outside. Front door is opposite neighbour's front door so I expect he'd hear me scream if I was startled.

You might be a bit disoriented with the morphine, can you make a point of checking gate is shut every time you come in for peace of mind?