Attempted break in, what can I do to prevent?

[Ilikewinter]

I was woken up at 3.30am by the dog, came downstairs to find the backdoor lock had been snapped and it was wide open.....honestly its sent my stress levels through the roof.
Im petrified they will come back tonight so today we have:
Had anti snap locks fitted to front and back door.
Purchased a "patlock" for the french doors.
Fixed the garden outdoor light.
Put a blind up at the backdoor window.
Purchased a thick chain for the gate.
And incase they want the car have got a crucklok thingy.

Is there anything else you would do ..... this happened to us 5 years ago and it took me ages to get over it, in fact we moved house and this has sent me straight back there again.

Can you set up an indoor webcam(s) facing the doors? Often you can live stream from them in your browser or their app and can watch from bed if you hear a noise. More for your peace of mind rather than hearing noises late at night that turn out to be nothing and you not being able to sleep.

Lights on the front porch and the back doors (try not to blind the neighbours though).
Prickly bushes near low walls/fences around the edges of the garden.

@Sparklfairy, yeah I think a cameras a good idea, didnt really think about getting an indoor one, that would be a quick set up - im not really good drilling outdoors!

@Blackdiame weve fixed the back garden light today, but probably need to think about some plants that we could put in.

Thanks 💐

@Ilikewinter you have my utmost sympathy. I was burgled in 2019 whilst I was asleep on my own upstairs. Like you I moved house since then but still get nights where i wake having a panic attack, convinced I'm being burgled again. Its horrible.

You sound like you've done everything you can - the best deterrent is your dog if it actually makes a noise!! My cat just looked! The only other thing that you could maybe do is leave a 'trap' for them to fall over - maybe loads of cans or bottles for recycling that would make a noise if tripped over? They will be expecting you to be on your guard tonight - if I remember correctly you aren't allowed to leave an actual trap (I would have loved to set up one!) but forgetting the recycling goes out..................................??

Ring doorbells are a great deterrent and super easy to fit, along with a house alarm.

an alarm

House alarm, these days they are wireless so very easy to fit and YouTube videos showing you how.

We always night set the alarm and put it on full every time we leave the house.

I think you have done plenty to deter them in thinking it would be as easy as last time. We do have a Ring doorbell and everything you need to fit it comes in the box including the drill bits. They are good but I wouldn't say great, they can miss stuff outside sometimes. I think an alarm is better. We have seen videos on our local facebook group that shows people on video and they are just in all dark clothing with their hoods pulled up and a scarf across their nose and mouth. You cannot tell who they are. An alarm would be better if it goes off to draw attention to their activity.

All our lights are on plug in timers too inside.

We do have a house alarm, ashamed to say in 5 years we've never set it, on checking it though we can only set it for the whole house or zone it for downstairs only ..... which would be triggered by the dog ..... its an old alarm though so maybe its something we can look at upgrading.