To take my handbag to bed with me

[Ceebs85]

I don't like leaving my handbag with purse and car keys downstairs. I take it to my bedroom and keep it overnight by the side of my bed. This just seem common sense to me as if we were burgled they would be safer next to me.

Partner thinks this is ridiculous and takes the piss 'sure you don't want to take the TV to bed with you?' and other hilarious lines

Am I abnormal?

I’d rather my handbag and car was stolen than an intruder came into me bedroom!

I leave it downstairs. Like others said if I’m burgled I’d rather it was easy for the burglar to get what they want and get out. I’d rather lose my stuff than my life! Insurance will take care of stolen things.

I don't know why everyone is assuming all a burglar will want is their purse and car keys? Is this a known thing?

... why wouldn't they want your jewelry, or other valuables that are likely to be in your bedroom anyway?

My handbag, purse and keys are all very easy to find and definitely not in the bedroom. I don't want anyone thinking they have to attack me to find them - they are more than welcome to take them. No bravery (or stupidity) from me. Nothing I own is important enough to put my family at risk.

My bag is always in the bedroom.
My phone is always on charge by the bed, as is dh's. My purse is is in my bag, dh's wallet is in his pocket. Both sets of house keys hang up by the front door. Neither of us drive so no car keys.

Chrys because most intruders who break in when you are in the house are either deseperate for money and after things to sell easily and quickly such as TVs, games consoles etc or they are stealing high value cars that can be turned around and resold (often abroad).

The first type wants to be in and out and not get caught, they are not going to risk waking you by rummaging around in tyour bedroom.

The second type will make sure they got what they came for and will threaten (and use) violence to get it, the stakes are high enough to justify the risk.

So leave your car keys somewhere where they cannot be hooked through the letter box (insurance wont pay out if you do) but easily grabbed.

The car thing is quite scary. DH's car is very high on the most stolen list.

Aargh just googled the list and mine is even higher. But mine is tucked away in the garage.

I don't have an upstairs and have feck all in my purse but I'd rather not have burgulars coming into the bedroom looking for them!

You need a Stunt Handbag in your hallway.
I did this after our break-in

Old handbag with your previous purse, filled with coins, old loyalty cards and receipts in it so that it feels fat & heavy enough to be a current purse, maybe one or two fivers so that the ruse is not obvious.

Add your old, deceased mobile phone if you have one, or an old phone case if not.
Pad it out with an old lipstick, pack of tissues, out-of date inhaler, water bottle and leaflets/general detritus.

If you think they're likely to be after your car, add your spare car key with a few old keys on a largish key-ring for ease of finding.

That way if we are broken into again I won't have to get a locksmith in and spend hours cancelling and sorting out replacements for credit cards/ drivers licence / medicare card etc and will only (worst case) have to claim my car on insurance

Some burglars are after jewellery but most are after cars (to order) cash and things they can sell easily, like mobile phones / iPads

@MargaretRiver - that's a brilliant idea!

Ceebs85 I used to do this all the time. It used to be an obsession with me. I think it may be partly to do with the fact I used to live in a naice area and then I moved to somewhere a bit rougher. Well, I have now lived here for 5 years and I have only had one theft and that was something from my garden, a communal garden in a housing assoc. block. I have relaxed a lot since and now I leave my bag in the lounge usually.

What you cuddle at night is up to you, if I had a nice Radley bag I'd take it everywhere. Hint hint Santa, sorry Father Christmas

After my car was taken I always have my keys separate. We had to change the locks as I’d kept my keys together. Easier for me also easier for the burglar.

I’m with @Ropsleybunny - succinct and to the point.

We’ve had break ins round here. Police advice is to look very carefully at your security. We have an alarm, locks on windows, a new very sturdy front door, shutters on the back door, a new fence all around the back and a high locked gate at the side access.

We have blinds so no one can see in, again on police advice. If you are leaving stuff downstairs, in case someone breaks in, then improve your security.

I never used to until we got burgled this year. They took my handbag with my purse, housekeys, car keys and many personal items including my diary. They also took my husband's wallet and keys and the car. The police advised us to take everything upstairs and said hardly ever do these burglars come upstairs looking for stuff. They want to get in and out quickly and don't want to risk getting caught. I hope that is right. But it was so easy for them to just take everything in one bag.

I agree about keeping it down stairs. My Aunties house was broken into and he came right into her room looking for things to take.

I live in an area that is a target for car thieves for order. Its a massive problem, we had one chap part of an organised gang of theives arrested on our street a few months ago, he didn't realise it was a dead end... idiot

The police have been out a few times speaking to homeowners and their advice is always keep your keys downstairs and increase home security.

Burglars are very determined though! We live in a naice area (apart from all the car thefts!) and most people have cctv, alarms etc already. One house has an alarm that is a voice telling you to back off if you get too close to the property.

As much as I love my car, I would rather them take it than roam around my house.

Chrys- because that is what happened to us. They walked past high value and easy to sell in tens including tablet and laptops and only took keys. They were very clearly only wanting the car keys to dh’s car.
As it happened in their haste when the alarm went off they took the wrong keys, so didn’t take the car.

Our alarm was the essential deterrent though - it gave them far less time as it went off so soon and so loudly. I couldn’t not have an alarm set at night now.

My phones upstairs as that’s where it charges. Our keys fare at the bottom of the stairs - also means they are in an easy place to get if we needed to get out in a hurry.

I don't even lock the back door, let alone take stuff upstairs. But we do have a dog who barks her head off every time someone so much as sets foot on the drive, to get to the back door they'd have to squeeze between 2 motorbikes and the back door is so swollen from the rain you have to really shove it to open it!

Since living with a conman , who would sell his own granny, my bag always stays with me. The house and car keys are downstairs.

Keeping car and house keys in the same room as you sleep in seems reasonable to me.

I always have my bag at the side of the bed but the safer thing to do is leave your car keys downstairs.