What can I do to feel safer?

[tinychairs]

Have name changed for this but I'm a long-time poster.

I live outside the UK, in a small place where there are a lot of migrants arriving from developing countries – literally thousands over the last few months – arriving on rafts.

The government is doing a pretty shit job of managing the situation, accommodating the new arrivals, monitoring what's going on, and there are lots of makeshift housing centres popping up all over the place, but also many people overflowing out of these and camping in the valleys. Locals are up in arms and there have been some really vile racist protests and groups created online.

Unfortunately a small proportion of the people who have arrived are committing crimes – and in my small village, where there are two accommodation centres for newly arrived migrants, there are muggings, house robberies or attempted robberies happening at least once a week. Cars broken into, houses broken into... police are out and about during the day, and there have been helicopters the past couple of evenings looking for something, I don't know what.

I live alone in a house that's split into two apartments – I'm downstairs and there's a young couple in their 20s upstairs.

And I can't believe I'm writing this, but for the first time I feel a bit afraid. I've always felt very comfortable and safe here, but with the tension between locals and new arrivals escalating and the muggings and robberies, I'm getting nervous to take my dog out for his evening walk, and when I'm home alone after dark I keep questioning the security of my house.

There's a decent lock on the front door, but no alarm system. I have several 'back doors' that open onto a terrace at the back and they're wooden and glass and shut with bolts into the floor and ceiling.

I had someone ring my entryphone this afternoon saying he wanted to speak to me about home security, and I said no because I didn't want to talk to a stranger about what I did and didn't have in place to keep the house secure –but it's got me thinking.

What should / could I be doing to feel a bit safer?

I have a pretty big dog, but he's an old man and very friendly, so not much good as a guard dog

Any suggestions, more to put my mind at ease than anything, would be welcome.

And to be clear, in case anyone's preparing to jump on me –I have nothing against the migrants arriving here. I think all the governments involved are doing a terrible job of managing some terrible situations, and unfortunately a small percentage of the people who have travelled here are worsening an already tense context. I simply want to feel a bit safer in my home again.

I'm sorry that this is a very UK-centric reply, because I don't know how things work where you are, but do you have any kind of community or local police you could ask for advice? Here they do seem to have someone whose job is to actually visit and give security advice, but failing that, someone might be able to suggest a reputable security company, rather than just someone turning suspiciously up at your door.

That said, we had a monitored alarm fitted after a cold call years ago and it has been very good, regularly serviced and a good response to alarms (all false ).

Hmm, I would put an alarm system in place.

And for glass doors you can get those metal grill doors that go outside then - can be quite pretty. They might be toughened glass anyway though?

Anyway alarm system for sure. If you have 2 floors then make sure it’s set up so you can activate just the ground floor when you are in bed.

camera alarm system, motion detecting security lights at the front and rear of the building, stickers in the windows letting people know you have a visual recording alarm system. All act as a slight deterrent.

Camera-doorbell. Small yappy dog. Prickly hedges along boundary walls. Vandal grease on climbable areas. alarm window locks that go off when window is opened. All more slight deterrents.

No valuables out on display, ever. If it can been seen through a window, it's a temptation. Keeping 'mens' items around the house: a set of dumbbells, a man's jacket hanging in the hallway, two or three cups left on the dish-drainer, etc. You're less likely to be targeted IF whoever peeps in thinks a man lives there/you don't live alone.

plastic film on the windows: means windows don't just smash, quickly. again, small window alarms so if windows are smashed, you know. You can buy systems that link to your phone so you can be 'on guard'.

never leaving doors or windows open unattended. whenever you leave a room, even if you're just going for a pee, lock the door and the window. decent bolts, top and bottom, on all your doors. internal locks on room doors so that when you go out, you can 'lock' doors, so if somebody does get in, they can't flit around the house helping themselves to things. Don't buy those lil fiddly bathroom door type locks; you want proper iron hooks and hasps, or heavy duty bolts, well drilled into doors. Make life hard for anyone who does think of targeting you.

Keeping the curtains closed (see above). Using timer lights and plugs when you're out/out late. Keeping a radio on, at all times, talk radio, low volume. (fewer people will break in IF they think there's somebody in the house).

Keeping a pair of large mens' shoes, work boots or trainers near the front door (burglars are less likely to target you IF they think there's a burly man in the house). Saying hello/goodbye to 'men' when you leave or enter your house. 'bye Michael', 'Michael, I'm home', etc.

All of those can cut your risk a little.

Talking to your neighbours, if you share an entrance or doorway, being mindful of making sure door is closed, never wedged open, never left unattended, never letting anyone else get in the building, taking your bins out ONLY on bin day, bringing them back in as soon as possible, all can help a little, too. People can go through your bins, work out who you are, use the bins as ladders to gain access to windows, etc. Don't make life easy for them.

Making sure there's nothing left in your garden that can be used as a burglar tool. So, brooms, long canes, spades, hoes, anything somebody can use to pry open a door or stand on to get in a window, etc: keep all that in the house.

How about a neighbourhood watch group? Everyone gets together, draws up a rota, and patrols the area in pairs. Everyone does one 'duty' a month.

Get to know your neighbours. Who lives where, who visits who, etc. Be vigilant. Anything out of the ordinary? Take a photo, and report it.

Seeing anything suspicious in the neighbourhood? Stones or chalk-marks by your or your neighbours' door, strange graffiti, writing in the snow? Photo and phone the law.

Yes, all this seems... hard work? But if you do all this, opportunistic burglars will move onto a house that's easier to get into.

As for the dog walking/being worried about mugging? Try to go out with a neighbour if you can. Don't go out too early or too late. Stick to main roads, don't go off the beaten track. Try to vary your route where possible. Buy a loud rape alarm. They make a lot of noise, which most muggers don't like. If somebody mugs you, give them your shit. Never keep anything in your bag that says where you live. Don't have a big bunch of keys with you; just your front door keys, makes it easier to replace the locks if your keys go. Buy a shitty £10 phone you don't mind losing. Don't keep much money or any cards in your 'dog walking' purse. Don't wear expensive jewellery. Walk with a big stick. All of that can help.

But, you should be able to contact the police and see if they have an 'officer' who'll look around your house and give you some tips. See what they come up with.

Maybe set up cctv for outside your front door if your allowed.

Never leave keys in the door at night when you go to bed, and dont leave anything like laptops or handbag in any room except your bedroom (so if anyone ever did break in they cant take your keys or bag or laptop etc).

Alarm system if you can. And i know this ones obvious but close your curtains and blinds at night so no one can see in and make notes of your stuff.