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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to politely remind you

17 replies

UnsuspectedItem · 02/05/2018 11:52

To make sure your house is properly secure?

My friend woke up this morning to find his house had been burgled. They took everything, including a lot of expensive recording equipment he uses for his business, his computer, TV etc.
The most terrifying bit is that they broke in whilst he slept and ransacked the place.
He's been told by the police that they drove a screwdriver through the lock of his UPVC door, which is easy and silent.

It's the kind of thing you never expect to happen to you or people you know Sad

I know that my parents have similar doors, as do many of my friends so just posting on AIBU for traffic to ask people to check their security and clearly scumbags will seize any opportunity.

OP posts:
RB68 · 02/05/2018 11:56

So despite having a secure door they still got past.

I think better advice is don't have things in view of windows, don't light things internally, cover over red and blue lights to avoid light spill, make sure you keep keys and phone on bedside, get good insurance.

If they are determined and you are targeted then fort knox isn't going to stop them

Original poster
UnsuspectedItem · 02/05/2018 11:57

@RB68 his landlord is selling the house so theyve been having people viewing. He suspects its one of the viewers.

OP posts:
ToadOfSadness · 02/05/2018 12:10

We, several rooms in a shared house) were burgled once when the landlord wanted to sell the house. He obviously wanted us out first and then put it on the market. We, and the Police, knew it was him, it was obvious from the dirty footprint he put on the inside of the room where the window didn't open enough to let a person in with feet that big, plus the footprint was going outwards so his feet would have been clean, not to mention it was bone dry outside. Interestingly none of the looks were broken on the doors either, so keys had been used.

However, I am also very wary of people being in my house and always hide anything of value. We have had a run of doors being forced in the road, no-one has PVC doors here.

ToadOfSadness · 02/05/2018 12:11

Forgot to say, those PVC doors are apparently the least secure ones you can buy.

Anewhope · 02/05/2018 12:26

We bought some PatLock things which clip on to the handles inside on your patio doors. Well worth the £50 a set. You can't open the doors from the outside while they're on.

mummyhaschangedhername · 02/05/2018 12:35

I was burgled in October, it was the middle of the day at a time I am usually home. I have CCTV and my doors and windows were locked. I had about £10,000 worth of property stolen. My advice, make sure your adequately covered.

Other things that possibly make me a risk, my bedroom curtains were closed that day (we live in a bungalow)m no idea why we hadn't opened them, think we were just had a busy morning and both thought the other one had. But most possessions were taken from that room additionally we don't (and still don't) have a gate/fence from the front to the back so he could just walk straight around.

In all honesty though, if your targeted they will find their way around most things, I guess just making yourself less of a easy opportunity helps. A dog would probably be a wise pet to get but I just don't have the time to dedicate that a dog deserves.

We now are more cctv and a safe.

Pickleypickles · 02/05/2018 12:47

I think everyone should have alarms, you can set them up so they only set downstairs at night (or a certain of the house area if you live on a flat or a bungalow). If someone breaks in whole you are asleep the alarm will go off and either scare them off or alert you.

Original poster
UnsuspectedItem · 02/05/2018 12:52

I'm not sure I'd want to be alerted to a burgular. But I'm a lone female.

A dog is a good deterrany but sadly I have a friend whose dog was beaten to death by intruders Sad

You're right of course that if they're determined, they'll get in.

OP posts:
liz70 · 02/05/2018 12:53

I managed to unlock my front door with my mum's key. She lives 250 miles away. I swear most keys aren't that much different from one another. We really are just relying on most people's honesty to not be burgled. I'd put fuck off big bolts on your door to use at night, if you can.

GrimSqueaker · 02/05/2018 12:54

Mum was done last week - no finesse to it but they'd obviously had a good sniff around the house with the way they went in - hammer through the one remaining single-glazed window in the house which is hidden right away and I don't think I've even been into that part of the house grounds in the decade they've been in the house it's that tucked away. Straight up the stairs, passing about 3 laptops and a couple of iPads on the way... into the bedroom for the jewellery.

Being honest the house is so isolated but on a public footpath that I'm somewhat surprised they've never been targetted before but obviously gutted for them as a lot of the stuff taken was their parents before them and then intended for us and our kids.

Juells · 02/05/2018 13:08

There was a spate of burglaries on my road - always when someone had just gone out, the front door was kicked in within a few minutes. So obviously someone sitting in a window watching the comings and goings. I got a burglar alarm and set it religiously every time I go out, and last thing at night before going to bed.

MsJuniper · 02/05/2018 13:22

The advice I heard from the police after a spate of car thefts in my area was to leave the car key by the front door. If that's what they're there for they won't leave without it and better they take it and go rather than ransack the place or come upstairs.

We are thinking of getting a burglar alarm as it seems that's the greatest deterrent.

Whatshallidonowpeople · 02/05/2018 13:32

Yabu because we are not idiots and if they want it get in, they will.

ShotsFired · 02/05/2018 13:36

@RB68 I think better advice is don't have things in view of windows, don't light things internally, cover over red and blue lights to avoid light spill, make sure you keep keys and phone on bedside, get good insurance.

That is absolutely the LAST place I would keep my keys!
If burglars are after my car, then they can have the damn thing. I don't want them coming looking for the keys next to my sleeping head.

Take the keys and take the car and go, is my preference.

Tinysarah1985 · 02/05/2018 13:36

I have the doberman security system. He is 8 years, weighs 50kg and sleeps on the bed with me. He has seen off a lad who jumped the back fence a few years ago.

to politely remind you
ShotsFired · 02/05/2018 13:38

@Whatshallidonowpeople Yabu because we are not idiots and if they want it get in, they will.

Well yes they will. I work on the theory that all I need to do is make my house less attractive a target than the next house they look at. Gravel, spiky bushes, security lights etc - all of that makes my house fractionally less enticing than a nice quiet, unlit one where they can break in in peace.

Juells · 02/05/2018 20:07

I leave my wallet downstairs as well.

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