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What would make you feel safe in your home after an incident?

9 replies

makingmiracles · 06/06/2020 14:34

So there was a serious incident this week were I live and my direct neighbours were involved, he being held on remand. The victim is alive but in critical condition. There is chance of retaliation from the victims associates. There is a strong possibility(can’t give reasons) anybody retaliating may get the wrong property if they aren’t 100% sure which property the offender lives in.

I’ve spoke to the asbo team at HA and they have given me personal alarms and window alarms, hpwhich is great, but they will not stick on the back door as the tempered glass was put in the wrong way round so it’s not flat and immediately falls off. I’m going to speak to the HA Monday and request they replace with upvc door as some neighbours have got upvc but ours is old fashioned wooden with glass panel it’s simple lock. They’ve also arranged for a fire proof letterbox to be installed.

I’ve looked at ordering a beware of the dog sticker for the front door, we don’t have pets but it’s maybe another deterrent?
Not sure what else to do, cctv would be ideal but it seems very costly and I don’t know how I would install it as there is no plug point in the porch or nearby to plug them into.

Daytime I’m fine, not overly concerned, just advised kids not to be outside at the front and not to answer the front door, but nighttime I’m a wreck and constantly worrying about car headlights outside and shadows of people on the pavement and what they’re up to(incidents in the past have generally happened late at night/early hours) and finding it hard to go to sleep.

What else can I do to feel safe? housing association will not move me because of this but I am already bidding to move and have been for a few years but nothing has come up suitable yet/bids made were not enough to be first although always nearly,2nd/3rd in-line etc

OP posts:
CrouchingTraceyHiddenLadders · 06/06/2020 14:37

A Ring doorbell or similar enables you to see anyone approaching the front door.

Bless you OP, what an unsettling thing to happen.Sad

FortunesFave · 06/06/2020 14:37

If the HA don't mend that door, I'd simply hammer a sheet of wood over it. I'd also get a movement activated light on both entrances....one at the front and one at the back.

I do understand. I once lived in a council flat (with my DH and kids) and our flat had been a dealer's home. We had people shouting up at the windows and buzzing in for months after we moved in.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 06/06/2020 14:39

Say you live at 24 and the possible targeted address is 26...if the people looking to retaliate know the address then I would make sure that my number (24) could be seen easily.

makingmiracles · 06/06/2020 14:45

Yeah my number is quite clear on my front door, it’s more the fact one of the family is often in my garden/house playing with my dc,(when not in lockdown) so someone could have seen the dc, who is all over their public fb profile and think they live here because they’ve seen them here. Will look at getting metal numbers to screw onto garden gate though.

The motion activated lights are a good idea- do they go off constantly because of animals though? We have a lot of cats in the area..

OP posts:
makingmiracles · 06/06/2020 14:47

And ring doorbells, how do they work, are they wireless? Can you connect them to your smartphone?

OP posts:
MitziK · 06/06/2020 15:08

The Police can, IIRC, request what is known as a Management Transfer - which puts you straight on for a move. At least they used to be able to; it's worth asking them about it.

Sameold2020 · 06/06/2020 15:17

Tape your letterbox shut for now and stick your names on your front door. Baseball bat?

FangleBangle · 06/06/2020 15:41

Sending hugs.

What do you know about the victim?

I would follow the advise above and also stage my house to look different if you see what I mean. For example if the victim is a single man, I would make sure my home looked like a family home, toys obvious or left out in the garden.

Yy to the ring doorbell too. I would also make escape routes /safe places if necessary depending on the type of property. (E. G ensuring there are fire ladders (the easily portable ones) on upper floors etc.

makingmiracles · 06/06/2020 16:28

I don’t have a baseball bat, but I do sleep with a car wrench on top of chest of drawers just in case, was burgled in childhood so have small amount of anxiety from that anyway.

Will look into management transfer, sounds like it could help.

OP posts:
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