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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that someone has been in our house while we've been out

66 replies

thatniceperson · 11/01/2015 20:38

I may sound like I'm being irrational but I'm genuinely quite scared so please go easy on me...
Just got back from an afternoon out and returned to find a light on that was definitely off when we left. God, it sounds so pathetic when written down. I was the last out of the house, all the lights were off. 100% sure they were off.
Can lights randomly switch on by themselves?!
This is a bit scarier as a while ago my partners' keys went missing. We didn't get the locks changed (I forgot about it cos we have a spare set of keys he started using when he lost them). Someone could easily have got in.

Both of those things might be nothing (are probably nothing) but there is someone from my past who I am scared of finding me and this stupid light is scaring me.
It sounds so petty but don't weirdos do this kind of thing, try and creep you out by doing little meaningless things? Move stuff, just generally 'be' in your house as a form of control?
I'm generally a rational, grounded person but I'm terrified it's him who has found out where I live and is planning some sort of revenge.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Can you report even minor things like this if you think someone might be intentionally trying to scare you?

....And if its a ghost it can fuck right off...

OP posts:

Koalafications · 11/01/2015 20:40

I would change the locks, just to be sure.

SavoyCabbage · 11/01/2015 20:41

If you are 100% sure that it was off then maybe someone has been in.

KeatsiePie · 11/01/2015 20:43

If I came home and saw that, and a set of keys were missing, I'd change the locks. Even without a person from my past to be worried about. Do change them, so much better safe than sorry.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 11/01/2015 20:44

Yes, get the locks changed. It's always best to do that when you lose your keys.

Maybe the light was left on and you didn't realise - I do that sometimes if it's daylight.

If there is someone you are scared of finding you, then just log with the police, just so there are records. It probably is just a case of not realising the light was on because it was daylight, but just for your peace of mind, a log can't hurt.

SewingAndCakes · 11/01/2015 20:44

Change the locks first thing tomorrow

CrohnicallyCold · 11/01/2015 20:44

Just a thought- but what sort of light was it? My inlaws have a ceiling fan with light that has a remote control. If there is a power cut (no matter how short), then when the power comes back on the light switches on. I think it must be to do with the remote control.

Definitely change the locks though, also have you considered getting a burglar alarm?

Bothofyou · 11/01/2015 20:45

Probably nothing, but book a locksmith tomorrow to change the locks and put your mind at ease a little. Not worth the worry.

DixieNormas · 11/01/2015 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dalekanium · 11/01/2015 20:46

chronically we have one of those too. Bloody annoying.

TheHobbit · 11/01/2015 20:47

Last time I thought someone had been in my house when we went out, I was right! It was our rental agent. We only received the letter to say we were due an inspection the day after the actual inspection! I was pissed off as I wasn't expecting an inspection and we rushed that morning so house was a tip. I felt so violated.

ModreB · 11/01/2015 20:47

Lights can come back on, if the switch is clogged up on the inside, they don't really turn off and gradually switch back on IYSWIM.

But, I agree, change locks asap, just to be sure.

ImperialBlether · 11/01/2015 20:47

I would get the locks changed and I'd buy a CCTV too - it's not expensive and it would really reassure you that nobody was around.

TheHobbit · 11/01/2015 20:47

Do you rent? Could it be agency or landlord?

OldRoan · 11/01/2015 20:49

We have those lamps where you tap the base and they turn on and cycle through the levels of brightness. I came in the other day and it was on so I mentally cursed DP for leaving it on, tapped it off and thought nothing of it.

2 nights later, home alone watching TV. The lamp suddenly switches on. I was utterly terrified. It never gets brighter, just the one tap. DP said "oh yeah, it always does that. I just unplug it" . So yes, they can.

I'd still change the locks though, just for peace of mind.

Ems1812 · 11/01/2015 20:49

Definitely have the locks changed & maybe think about having a small surveillance camera outside for a while? Seems a bit extreme I know, but at least then you will know for sure if anything is happening

TheReluctantCountess · 11/01/2015 20:51

Can you leave a web cam recording?

lemisscared · 11/01/2015 20:52

Change the locks for no reason other than your peace of mind. Im sure no one has been in your house but if you change the locks you'll know for sure.

Tsoukalosy · 11/01/2015 20:54

Probably nothing at all, maybe it completely slipped your mind? I'm forever doing it, but you can always call an emergency locksmith for tonight if that will put your mind at ease? I had to call a locksmith at midnight once when my locks broke.

Inthedarkaboutfashion · 11/01/2015 20:56

Even if nobody has been in just change the locks anyway due to the lost keys. Locks are really easy to change.

MrsMaker83 · 11/01/2015 21:01

It might be nothing, but it sounds concerning, but either way for your sanity and safety it would be an idea to make your house feel more secure.

Perhaps you could change all locks and ensure only those living in the house have keys plus one or two spares left with 100% trusted people.

Do you have an alarm? If so update alarm code, if not, have one installed.

You could even look into a basic/inexpensive cctv kit and have your doors monitored, so if you feel like this again you can look back and see for sure if somebody has gained/tried to gain entry. I know somebody who has cctv because of constant car damage and it was easy enough to set up.

Keep calm, and be vigilant

26Point2Miles · 11/01/2015 21:04

Anything else moved/odd?

BlueBrightBlue · 11/01/2015 21:04

Last week I was visiting a friend, I felt he need to return home for some reason.
Good job too!, had left a hob ring on ( no cut out switch as it had broken and I'd temporality fixed it, naughty me) The glass cover was over it and I was wondering why I felt this heat..
Another few minutes and my house would have been on fire.
Reckon you left the light on without knowing.
That said a few years ago I came home to find 3 men in my garden, it has 6 ft fences all around, I went for them with a rolling pin and they laughed. Police were not the least bit interested.

Aviator · 11/01/2015 21:06

Change the locks tomorrow. Even if it is not the person who is trying to scare you there are some odd people around. This happened to a friend of mine - the person who had a spare set of keys (not known to my friend and god knows how he got hold of a set), but was going in to his house and helping himself to food, having a shower, wearing his clothes etc! Eventually more expensive things started to go missing and the intruder was spotted by a neighbour letting himself in with keys! I don't think the intruder was intentionally trying to freak my friend out or stalk him as he has no connections to him, we just think he was very odd, wanted to live other peoples lives.....was quite sad really. Funny when we look back now......but not at the time.

Aviator · 11/01/2015 21:07

Oh yeah meant to say this went on for nearly a year, started off with small things such as lights left on, cup in sink etc. things that you can explain away to yourself.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 11/01/2015 21:18

It's far far more likely that you thought the light was off but it wasn't, especially if you left in daylight, but do change the locks ASAP anyway.

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