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Original poster

We have been robbed, my teen boys were in the house..

174 replies

Hendecan · 14/04/2021 11:45

I feel so shaky. I took my girls to an art club and my teen boys were in the house.
Thankfully my boys were not harmed or injured. The robbers forced their way in. We live in a detached property in a rural area. They took all my jewellery.
I feel sick- they were probably watching the house.

OP posts:
HowToBringABlushToTheSnow · 14/04/2021 13:12

@FurierTransform

Sounds suspicious that they left ipads etc & went straight for a safety box. Did they turn the place upside down looking for it?
When we were broken into they didn't take iPads, etc just jewellery and a Rolex. The police told us iPads, etc are hard to sell on with 'Find my Phone' facility, etc.
KindleRemote · 14/04/2021 13:12

@FurierTransform

Sounds suspicious that they left ipads etc & went straight for a safety box. Did they turn the place upside down looking for it?
Electronics like phones, laptops and Ipads can be blocked before they've made it to Cash Generators to sell on. They're also easier to trace and identify the person who's taken it if they take it back to their house.

No one bats an eyelid if you turn up at cash converters with a £30k necklace, but they ask for ID when you sell an IPhone that's 10 years old.

TheSockMonster · 14/04/2021 13:14

Go easy on her @Creepygnochi, it’s not possible to cover all bases in two short posts.

She doesn’t say that she didn’t express those emotions in front of her boy, just that she was trying to hold it together in front of her girls today. I read it as her girls are home with her today whilst her older boys are at sixth form and she’s trying to hold it together in front of them.

Best not to jump to worst case scenario when there are so many ways to interpret posts.

Roszie · 14/04/2021 13:15

I'm sure the police will be looking for who knew you had jewellery worth taking. I'm glad you're all okay.

eurochick · 14/04/2021 13:20

I'm sorry to hear this. We were burgled last year and they also left all the electronics and went straight for the jewellery. And then on the way out they must have spotted the keys to our four day old 30k car and took that too.

Bastards.

Most of the jewellery wasn't worth much but there was stuff from my grandmother and silver christening bracelets I was going to give to my daughter, etc. I felt the loss of the low value sentimental stuff much more than the higher value stuff I actually wore!

FedNlanders · 14/04/2021 13:21

Knowing someone has been in your home in such a way is horrible. I'm so sorry this happened.

Changechangychange · 14/04/2021 13:23

The fact they did this in the middle of the day aswell when there would be people out and about is crazy

From what the police told us when DM was burgled, most burglaries happen in the daytime. People are out at work (obviously pre-covid - wonder if the burglary rate has fallen?), and they can see what they are doing without risking turning on lights/using a torch which might be seen from the outside.

They also said burglary gangs usually do watch houses for a week or so in advance to check when people normally arrive home.

HollowTalk · 14/04/2021 13:28

@eurochick I imagine the car was what they were after, don't you?

PineappleUpside · 14/04/2021 13:29

Are you in the UK, OP? I'm surprised at your daughter going to art club.
Confused

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 14/04/2021 13:29

I'm so sorry you've been through this OP. I came home to a house that had been burgled some years ago. The TV was stolen and jewellery. Finding the back door open and things missing was horrible.

If you have an alarm and go out leaving family members in bed, set the alarm. Set it when you go to bed too. Burglars don't like drawing attention to themselves. Our alarm has a panic button in a strategic place too.

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 14/04/2021 13:31

@HollowTalk

Are you in the UK, OP? I'm surprised at your daughter going to art club.

It does sound as though it's someone who knows your house. Can you trust the tradespeople you've had? What about your sons' friends?

Do you have any CCTV on the outside?

Jesus. If she hadn't said where she'd gone, would you have asked?
spilledthebeans · 14/04/2021 13:32

Your poor, poor boys.

I disturbed burglars once. Awful. Among electronics, CD players and a Tower PC, they also took my jewellery box. So many precious items in one place there. They ran muddy footprints over all our bedding.

For months I kept re-living the moments I tried to get in to my house, the penny dropping and running round the block to the gulley to try and get a Reg number. Please look after your boys, it's a huge experience to process.

LeopardPrintKnickers · 14/04/2021 13:36

Really hope you're OK and your boys too. Don't be surprised if they wobble a little later on as the shock kicks in. Just sending love to you all, what a rotten thing to have happened.

Cokecake · 14/04/2021 13:40

You probably know them for them to only target the safe. We have a very small safe but no one would know where it was unless we told them.

GizmoBasil · 14/04/2021 13:41

Flowers for you and your boys, did they discover it or did you realise when you got back?

eurochick · 14/04/2021 13:47

@HollowTalk they wanted both. There was a spate of burglaries around that time (including one on the same day as ours) and they took cars and jewellery in both. That seems to have been what they were after.

LaganinaBubble · 14/04/2021 13:48

Hope you're all OK. How did they know to look for jewellery in a safe box? Don't want to worry you, but I'd be concerned.

Doughnutbear · 14/04/2021 13:48

My brother slept through a burglary. We were on holiday staying at my aunts house. The burglar only came into the room my brother was sleeping. My aunt heard a noise so went to check and the burglar confronted her. She screamed and woke me and my cousin up. He didn’t steal anything valuable but it was remarkable how my brother didn’t even wake up despite the burglar only going in his room. When the sniffer dogs came he was still fast asleep. Anyway he wasn’t shaken up and must’ve been about 13/14. I’m sure your boys will be alright.

thiswaythat · 14/04/2021 13:50

Oh Op it's horrible isn't it.

We had a daytime burglary a couple of years ago and it was only by chance my 15yo son was out with us at the time, he would've usually been at home. I had nightmares for ages imagining him being at home, headphones on not knowing anyone was in the house til they burst into his room.
We had cctv and had really clear footage of them coming in armed with bats. They stole my car and some jewellery.
We ended up moving but they caught the lads and two went to prison.
I really hope they manage to find your culprits. Your poor boys, I hope they're okay and not just putting on the bravado like typical elder teens.

So intrusive you feel absolutely violated. Scumbags.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/04/2021 13:50

I am so sorry OP.
I was burgled many years ago, it turned out it was an acquaintance from college. He made a beeline for my dressing table ( had walked in paint, so we could see exactly where he had gone) took a diamond ring of great sentimental value to me, and some expensive equipment from my flatmate.
It was so upsetting. Also in the daytime when we were both out at college.

Motnight · 14/04/2021 13:51

That is horrible, Op. As others have said, don't be surprised if the real shock hasn't kicked in yet for you.

endofthelinefinally · 14/04/2021 13:51

Have you had anybody in your house OP? Even if it was before lockdown?
Several years ago a friend was burgled in 2 houses, 2 years apart. She thought she had just been very unlucky, but it turned out to be her cleaner's boyfriend's mate who was the burglar. It happened both times when the family were on holiday. I agree it is very suspicious that they knew exactly where the jewellery was.

I am so sorry, it is a horrible experience.

TonTonMacoute · 14/04/2021 13:55

How horrible. When I was 18 I walked in on burglars in our house one afternoon. Luckily they dumped everything and ran.

It's a very unpleasant thing to be broken into, it would have been better if they took gadgets. It's worse when they get away with items that is precious to you.

Chocolatier9 · 14/04/2021 13:58

So sorry OP. Like others, when I was burgled they also took jewellery, nothing else. Police said it’s a no brainer for burglars - it’s valuable and portable and doesn’t have trackers.

It’s the violation and sentimental loss, more than the financial loss. Horrid. Hope you get through it. I drank rather a lot of wine the first few weeks.

GreatDashingBicycle · 14/04/2021 14:16

Did they know to look for jewellery in the safe or did they find a safe and take it knowing something valuable is usually kept there? Could be either but don't scare yourself silly thinking it may be someone you know. The police will look into all that. Keep your chin up sweet, it's horrible being broken into.