to want to kill these "people"

[toody]

Early hours of this morning 79 yr dad was burgled scariest part is that they were in his bedroom while he was asleep, can't stop thinking what if he woke what would they have done. Worried they will come back now they know it's an old person living on their own. Need to increase his security but struggles with his hands so doesn't think he can manage a chain or bolt. Suggested yale lock but he worries he can't get out in emergency or I can't get in. Just want to kill the *.

That is unbelievably horrible, your poor dad. How did they get into the house? Would he put a mortice lock on both front and back doors? They're a great deterrant. The only problem with them is that he would have to get in the habit of removing the key from the door because if the key's in the door, you couldn't get a key in from the outside.

Does he have one of those emergency thingies that older people wear aroud their necks? My uncles have them and if they push the button, it rings a series of phone numbers and if none of them answer, it rings the police.

They got in by putting hand through letterbox and turning key which was left in door. Doesn't have emergency button one of worse things for me we live next door didn't hear anything but as they didn't "break in" they didn't make any noise.

the fucking bastards. what a shame for your poor dad - some people are really just scum.

agree with pp, those wee alarm things are great, my dad had one.
not really sure what else to suggest, although as you said, they could come back knowing your dad's there on his own.
maybe someone could stay a few nights in case they do come back- armed with a baseball bat to batter their brains in(i'm only half-joking )

Have suggested this but fiercly independent wont hear of anyone staying told him to put walking stick in bed so he can hit out. They had actually moved his stick he thinks to hit him if he woke up.

Thanks will look at the alarm didn't realise they rang phone numbers thought they just sounded off loud noise.

that is rotten.

maybe they just moved it so you're dad would have trouble getting to them if he woke, you know, he'd take so long they could flee safely?

i hope that was their reason, anyway. the other one's just too horrible to contemplate :(

do you know anyone with a BIG dog your dad could borrow? you know, so anyone who broke in would think "sod that" & scarper without taking anything/ harming your dad? even if the dog's soft as butter, they're not to know that. preferably one who would bark & raise the alarm, as well as scare them away?

or maybe get one of those security systems you need a code for? so that anyone who broke in would trigger it, & it would automatically alert the police?

sorry, i'm not much use, i can't think of anything else.

Oh your poor dad :( I don't blame you for feeling violent. How absolutely disgusting to make an elderly man feel unsafe and insecure in his own home.

I don't suppose you have a big dog? Or want to get one? A gentle one with an impressive bark who could spend the overnights next door at your dad's place?

I know it's not a great reason to get a dog if you're not in a position to care for it properly, but they are a good alarm / deterrent and a bit of company as well.

x post lori!

lol great minds & all that :D

I've had a similar experience with an aged relative and I know exactly what you're going through so big hugs and buckets of sympathy from me to you and your pa.

Of course YANBU - these scumbags deserve everything that's coming to them when the law of cause and effect eventually comes into play, In the meantime relieve your angst with Dirty Harry type scenarios 'you feeling lucky, punk?' while you're holding a Uzi.

Does your pa normally leave the key in the door or did he forget to remove it? If he has any memory impairment it may be that someone needs to check last thing that his home is secure, but I doubt that will be enough to reassure you at the moment.

Perhaps this type of gadget could be of use [http://www.c-p-p.co.uk/product/asp/ProdID/2363/CtgID/1031/af/page.htm]] or install a couple of dummy CCTV cameras (cheap as chips on eBay) where they can't fail to be spotted (most of them have flashing lights and look convincing).

A full on burglar alarm might not be practical for your pa, but you could consider installing a dummy alarm box (also available on eBay) in a prominent place.

Opportunistic dirtbags have been known to return to the scenes of their crimes but if you've taken steps to install some visible deterrents it may make them think twice about chancing their luck again. Maybe dawn to dusk sensors or time-control switches light sensors give the appearance of someone being up and about?

As you live next door could you rig up some kind of listening device (baby monitor type unit) for your added peace of mind?

Have the police been any help? Ask your local Crime Prevention Officer for useful advice on security.

sorry - forgot to convert link:
www.c-p-p.co.uk/product/asp/ProdID/2363/CtgID/1031/af/page.htm

Some people are scumbags.

As well as the security measures, how about getting him a personal alarm he can wear round his neck to alert people if he's in trouble?

That's awful :( Could you nail the letterbox shut and put a postbox on the outside wall?

People like this are the utter shit of the earth. At least he was asleep though, don't think of what could have happened there's no point in worrying yourself.

Friend I know was burgled not to long ago, the thief slipped and impaled himself on some raillings during his escape. If that's not Karma I don't know what is! I hope

Rest a biscuit tin lid on the door handle. It will clatter to the floor if anyone tries the handle which is what a burglar would undoubtedly do first, and scare them off. It also wont cause a problem if your dad had to get out quickly or anyone get in, in an emergency.

I hope your poor dad is ok, must have been a shock for him. :(

www.biolock-uk.co.uk/biometriclocks.html

Put one of those cages around the letter box, so no-one can put their hand through, like this. Saves him from having to bend to pick up his post as well.

Your poor Dad. I would get as much advice and info as you can from PCSO's/crime prevention/victim support etc - we have found them in the past to be very quick and helpful with their response to far more trivial break ins (i.e. garage, shed), where there is a vulnerable person involved they should be even better - I would get on the phone ASAP and seek out whatever is available. An old couple near us who were subject to harrassement recently got CCTV cameras, a couple of windows replaced and lots of police surveillance etc.

Would someone like Age Concern maybe be able to give you any support? Do you have a community warden scheme in your area? If not themselves, they may be able to put you in touch with any resources and/or advice available, eg maybe having the locks on doors moved so they can't be reached from the letterbox, installing some additional bolts, etc.

cage around the letter box is a good idea. Dad has a chain on his front door and wears a personal alarm round his neck. problem with the chain though is that we can't get in if he's ill or hasn't been seen for a few days/not answering phone. he uses it to keep us out when he's feeling contrary, which is most of the time! he also has dummy CCTV thingy and alarm on outside of house.

how awful - utterly despicable

hopefully your dad will be able to be angry and not scared now

and i hope the bastards who did this get run over trying to escape

My mum has bought a device that plays a huge song when anyone comes up the drive, her house is set a long way back from the road and she was worried about people coming up.

I'll go and look for it. It is very loud internally (can be heard from outside) - basically an outdoor motion detector.

Back in a tick.

Oh and your poor dad. . Hope he doesn't feel too shaken.

Awful. There are some class 1 cunts out there. Modern double glazed doors can be locked from the inside by lifting the handle. It then can be unlocked again from the inside by lifting the handle. So no key needed, allowing a quick exit in an emergency. A cage round the letter box is a good idea too.

This happened to my nan and grandad when I was a teenager and my nan woke up with them in her room. They got loads of cash (old people tend to stash it in their houses don't they, which unfortunately these scumbags know!) but luckily they just left when she woke up.

She passed away a few years back now but I was so angry about it and thought how scared she must have been to wake up with a strange man standing there. I know that's one of my worst nightmares and I'm young and agile!

Absolute scum of the earth - I hope your grandad is okay.

Poor you and your poor dad too. Yes, they do target the old and vulnerable. The first is of course preventative - it has already been mentioned about the key. An alarm caller round the neck is a good idea. The police are good at advising measures - they will look around the house and tell him weak spots. Tape playing at certain times of a barking dog? I have heard someone doing this. Or even a big BEWARE OF THE DOG sign to trick them.

Oh dear - it makes you feel so helpless doesn't it? If I were near him I would make him a cake. But failing that, remind him that a majority of the world is really decent. Give him a hug. (And yourself).

Toody - sorry I took so long. It's dc bedtime here in Aus.

here is the link to the people my mum bought her alarm from.

They do lots of other things too, including the fake cctv mentioned ^.