People scoping out our house- help me not be scared!ed

[troyandabedinthemorning]

Just before midnight tonight, my husband saw a van outside our house, and the people inside it shone a light at the window which had the shutters open. They left when my husband went to the window, but it very much seems like they were scoping out the house. We called 101 who took some details and told us to call 999 if we saw anything dodgy in the future. It's definitely given me the heebie-jeebies and I need the good people of Mumsnet to convince me that horrible people aren't going to break into my house tonight (or any other night for that matter!)

Cover your windows at night and get cctv installed outside your home. Make sure exterior of your home is well lit. I also highly recommend a quality alarm system.

Thank you for replying! We have CCTV and an alarm (though tonight is the first time we have set it for downstairs only whilst we're all upstairs because I'm so freaked out). My husband has managed to fall asleep like nothing happened, but I am wide awake, jumping at every sound

Poor thing! Things like this are so unsettling. Try to relax as best as possible. As for your alarm system, do you have a panic button in your bedroom? Mine gives me an added sense of protection and safety.

I remember only being in our now house about two weeks and hearing an odd noise early hours of one morning.

I put it down to new house and area and new unknown noises etc but couldn't settle so I went down and opened the back door.

Two guys were literally a few feet away from me and they looked as freaked out as I was but ran down to the end and over out bak gate.

I didn't sleep for a long time

We put better bolts on the side gate and a security light out the front and bak.

Ooh we don't, but will look into getting a panic button, thanks!

Another thougnt, do you keep the inside of your home pitch black at night? I recommend keeping a few soft lights on. Burglars tend not to like that.

Yes we definitely need to bolster security on the side gate and will also look at getting better security lights

@aquamarine we have a newborn so have the upstairs hall light on as I move to another room to feed her in the night, but I think we close all the shutters so nobody would know that. I'll leave a few strategic ones open from now

OP
Can you put this on your local Facebook.

Ah you poor thing, totally understand how you feel, I caught a burglar climbing over the wall in the middle of the night (we both froze, I yelled for DH and he legged it). Do you have a local neighbourhood watch scheme? I'd let your neighbours know asap, obviously for their benefit but it'll benefit you all if you're all aware.

I know you've got a fright but as we're still kind of in a lockdown its unlikely anyone was scoping your house to see if it was empty. Is there anything particular that they could want to steal? Fancy cars, expensive pets etc?

I'm not on Facebook, but will ask my husband to post tomorrow morning to let people know. I've already messaged our immediate neighbors to let them know. Thanks for replying everyone, it's keeping my mind off scary thoughts!

They might have been looking for a house name or number.
How lovely that you have a new born.

I woke DH one night because I thought someone was downstairs he turned over and said” You go down if you want!” I couldn’t believe it. I got a phone beside the bed after that.
You will probably be alright now they have seen someone was home.

Put on the lights now!

Also check outside tomorrow. I have read (probably here on MN) that they sometimes mark the houses they have targeted. I'm not sure how but possibly with a little paint somewhere outside it.

Hopefully, knowing you are awake at this time, will be enough to keep them away. Keep some lights on and get an alarm too!.

I know you've got a fright but as we're still kind of in a lockdown its unlikely anyone was scoping your house to see if it was empty.

burglars totally observe lockdown, I mean they must get furlough pay... (I know you meant because everyone is still home and can’t go out anywhere, but I really don’t think that bothers career criminals. Most burglaries in our area are to get the keys to cars, most are done at night when the occupant is home and car is sat on the drive).

Op get some lights on tonight so it looks like someone is up, open the curtains upstairs in a front room and put a light on. Look at stepping up security ASAP. Maybe get to b&q for a motion sensor light for the front and security light for the back.

Thanks everyone, yes will definitely be getting some floodlight type stuff in the morning, and have out some lights on upstairs.

We have our car in our drive, but it's not particularly fancy so doubt they'd be after that...

I know you've got a fright but as we're still kind of in a lockdown its unlikely anyone was scoping your house to see if it was empty.

I don't think burglars have furloughed themselves, in fact they have probably classed themselves as key workers.

OP, invest in security lights and a baseball bat, aim for the legs.

You could look into getting a motion detector that simulates a dog barking.

How scary. Hope you managed to get some sleep.

Having an alarm box inside high up In the stairwell as well as outside box is a good idea because when an alarm goes off outside people can often ignore it .
But an alarm going off inside the house is deafening and a burglar is not going to stay inside with that amount of noise . And it won’t cost much more to add one inside
Getting a Ring door bell or similar is good as well
If you put locks on gates put one down low at the bottom as well as in the middle and top to prevent anyone leaning over and opening the gate

@troyandabedinthemorning
Hope you managed to get some sleep.

I have a "fake TV" in the living room and in one back bedroom (my sewing room/DH PS room) for when we are out.

They don't use much power, you can set them to come on for dusk +4 or dusk +7 hrs or they can be left on (so all night). They are a random sequence of LED light with some white so it really looks like you're watching a film/on a PC/gaming etc. from outside - I've checked

I only use them if we're out in the winter evenings tbh, but they really look like someone is still up and about.

Have a google - they might put your mind at rest.

Compared to the expensive tools and gadgets we have in DHs shed there is nowt much in the house. Oldish laptops, microwave, smallish tele, my small amount of Jewellery well hidden . I mean what could they nick?