Someone just looked through my letter box

[listsandbudgets]

The outer porch door was unlocked. Our house has a long hall with the sitting room at the back so if sitting room door open I can see front door from sofa if that makes sense. About 10 minutes ago I thought I heard someone in the porch and then the dog barked and when I looked up I could see our letter box was opened up and there was someone looking through. Dog was racing down the hall and jumped up at door barking and whoever it was disappeared leaving outer door wide open.

At home alone with kids and completely freaked out - I doubt they had any good intent. Glad dog reacted though she's a soppy spaniel so not exactly top grade guard dog but she certainly earned her bed and board just now. Hopefully she's put him off the idea.

Call the police

I'd call police too, the dog being funny would seal the deal for me. Someone casing the joint, I think.

Another vote here for call the police, and say you suspect the guy is the garden due to the dogs behaviour. Stay safe

Probably an opportunist bet he's long gone.hopefully you can get some sleep.
I hated living in a ground floor flat for similar reasons,so understand your concern.

What do you think the police will do? They won't turn up if you have had a burglary and stuff stolen, even if there are clear hand prints. They won't bother to come for someone looking in. Be careful letting the dog out in case they were after her. I had someone staring in at me, police not interested. Had underwear stolen off washing line including during daytime, reported it to police who said it was probably someone who was jealous of nice underwear. The police aren't fit for purpose.

So nobody should ever call the Police again?

This is the insightful and helpful commentary we all need.

Hope you are ok op

I get that police support varies according to where you live, but round here they would absolutely be interested. Especially as OP has doorbell footage of the person’s face.

We rang the non emergency number a few years back after someone tried to break into our shed. I only expected to report it for the record, but they sent two officers round for a chat the next day. They always seem pretty responsive in our area

Checking in on you OP. Hope all is well!

I think I'd get a doorbell camera asap. I have one and if anything they can act as a good deterrent as well as seeing someone approach the door.

Definitely call the police.

A few months back I heard someone trying the front door handle late at night while I was in the kitchen. Thought it was DS coming in from his night out so turned the outside light on and waited for him to come in the door. When no one came in I checked the footage on the CCTV. Saw that a strange man tried the door then wandered over to the garden gate and tried that. He then ran away when I turned the light on.

Called 999 and police were there in minutes. They checked all round the house and up the street and took a copy of the camera footage, then drove round the area looking for him. They definitely took it seriously and one of them was pretty sure he recognised the guy.

Leave the handbag downstairs! Much better they see it and swipe it than not find anything valuable downstairs then come upstairs looking for valuables!

I know of a couple who had a kettle of boiling water held over their heads as they lay in their beds because they were being threatened asking where their car keys where. They had fancy cars and locked the keys in a safe every night! I'd rather they just take the cars and go!

Er, call the police??

The dog might have barked in the garden as he/she was also on edge following the 'intrusion' (and possibly can sense your fear) so I probably wouldn't put too much weight on that. My dog runs out the back, hackles up, barking with false bravado after Tesco delivers to the front door!

Where I live, that type of doorbell footage is always shared on the local Facebook pages. Someone might recognise him (dementia?), or had a similar experience yesterday, which might reassure you.

Don't take your handbag upstairs!

If they're "only" after cash and valuables, it's much better that they grab it all from downstairs and scarper, not come upstairs and potentially confront you (and hurt you or worse).

Stuff can be replaced, you can't be.

I bet they were looking for car keys they could potentially hook out with a wire.

Are you ok OP?

Hope you slept ok. I rang the police when this happened and they sent officers to patrol the area. They didn't knock on my door or anything but I saw them walking around my house and neighbours. At best it scared the potential burglars off.

Don't do this. If someone is coming in your house, let them take the bloody bag , rather than them coming upstairs putting the fear of god in you to steal it.

When I caught my cleaner with her hands in my handbag I called the police and they came out on blue lights and arrested her.
It's definitely worth a call, they aren't as useless as people here would have you believe.

This sounds really scary.
We have an outer porch door that we only lock when we go out, and when we go to bed. Most people wait outside if they rung the doorbell and amazon delivery people open the door to throw parcels in. Glad your dog alerted you, hopefully it scared them away

@Gunz

Would recommend a ring doorbell as that will pick up any movement.

@Lucimaya

I think I'd get a doorbell camera asap.

🤔

Did you manage any sleep op?

Absolutely this! Never take handbag and car keys upstairs. It would be much more traumatising to be woken up with a potentially violent burglar at the end of your bed, than finding your car gone when you come down in the morning. A lot of burglaries seem to be about cars these days, I’d rather my car didn’t get nicked but I’d prefer it 100% to being faced with a burglar in the night