Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel scared

29 replies

Spookedout · 24/11/2018 20:48

This morning I came down to find that someone had thrown a piece of our stone border edging through our window. We've got two bay windows by our front door and there's a window in the porch area which is quite hidden. The stone is very heavy and was thrown through the the heavy curtains and landed on the sofa about 1.5m away, so it must've been chucked with a bit of force. It's single pane glass and so the edges are really jagged. No other damage anywhere.

I'm trying to work out whether this was a random act of vandalism or an attempted break-in. Our garden path is quite long and whoever did it must've wanted to be hidden because otherwise they could've thrown it through one of the front facing windows on the two bays either side of the door which would've been far easier and quicker to run away. However, the broken window would allow easier access for an intruder as the other windows have got rose bushes underneath. We called a few different emergency glazing companies and nobody would come out, so I've propped a piece of wood against the window and then placed a bookcase nearby. Dh and I had been looking for wood in our garage (which doesn't lock at the front or back) and had the light on because it was quite dull today. I made a point of going back into the garage to turn the light off. We had to go out and returned when it was dark and I'm sure the light wasn't on because it's really bright and very noticeable when it's dark. Then Dh and I both went out at the same time and neither of us saw the light on then or when we came back (car is parked in driveway in front of garage) When Dh left for work an hour ago he came in and told me the garage light was on!

Called 101 earlier today and they think it is just criminal damage as burglars don't break windows at night because it is too noisy.

Dh works night shifts, so I'm on my own with DS tonight and I'm really scared! Am I just being ridiculous?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 21:38

Anyone?

OP posts:
InspectorIkmen · 24/11/2018 21:43

That’s really scary for you OP. I don’t know what to suggest but it seems to me that the police could take you a little more seriously. Perhaps get back on to them and ask them to drive by during the night - would they do that? Otherwise lock up well, all lights on and leave the telly on. Could you sleep downstairs?

BifsWif · 24/11/2018 21:43

No you’re not, I’d be scared too but in all honesty it’s unlikely someone would break the window in the day to come back at night time. It’s too risky, the police could have been called and i images that they’d have expected that the window would have been boarded.

Do you have anyone who could stay with you tonight?

CaliHummers · 24/11/2018 21:45

It's difficult to know, OP. I mean if you're there with just DS it won't really help if I tell you you should be scared! It could be drunken vandalism, depending on where you live. What would concern me is the possibility that they broke the window on the off chance that you wouldn't fix it and it would be easier to break in later. I'd make sure the window is blocked off.

Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 22:07

The window was broken in the middle of the night. Dh was at home with me and neither of us heard anything, which is really worrying. I thought about drunks as well, although they're normally pretty loud and I usually get woken by them. Police said there were no other criminal damage reports in the area last night.

The window is still visibly broken from the outside because I've propped a piece of wood against it inside and then pushed a bookcase and sofa against the window sill.

The police asked if we've had any arguments with our neighbours recently and what work we do. I can't think why anyone would do that. I do work with some clients who might do this type of thing but I think they like me. I only work a few minutes walk from where I live though, so someone could follow me I suppose.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 22:11

The annoying thing is that the curtain rail is broken by that window, so I can only close the curtains half way. If I leave the TV on, they'd probably be able to see that there is nobody in the room. I think I'd be scared to sleep downstairs. My husband often nods off on the sofa late at night and he'd have been seriously injured, maybe even killed, if he hadn't gone to bed before midnight last night.

I don't think the police would drive by. They're just so busy on Saturday nights.

OP posts:
BifsWif · 24/11/2018 22:15

If it was broken last night I would say it’s even more unlikely that they would come back. It’s sounding more and more like vandalism than an attempted break in.

Still not nice for you and I don’t imagine you’ll settle well tonight. What time is your husband home?

Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 22:28

He's back at 8am.

The police said they think it was vandalism because the stone border was thrown through the window rather than just used to break it. But I'm worried that they might have been testing whether the windows are alarmed (we've got a false alarm box) or whether anyone would be around today as most people would've had the window repaired or properly boarded up by now.

It's just so strange to actually wander up our long garden path and look for something to throw and then choose the darkest corner in which to do it. Drunks or vandals would surely just hurl something through the window closest to them and then run. That's what scares me!

I'm seriously shitting myself now. The later it gets, the more anxious I'm becoming.

OP posts:
ToeToToe · 24/11/2018 22:39

Gosh OP - try not to be scared, although I understand why you are! I get spooked easily when DH is working away too.

I would have thought that any break in would have happened last night, if it was going to happen. Very unusual to break a window, and then come back the next night?

I'd take my phone up to bed and read a book/try to rest. Is your DS little? If so, you could bring him in the room with you - you'll feel more secure.

Skatersbeskating · 24/11/2018 22:47

Could someone put a security light up for you and maybe a camera?

You are being brave Flowers

MeredithGrey1 · 24/11/2018 22:49

That does sound scary, but I think it’s incredibly unlikely they’ll come back, it would be a terrible strategy to break a window one night, put everyone in the house on high alert and then come back the next night.
But still, even if I knew all that rationally I’d be feeling how you are now. I guess you and your son are sleeping upstairs, is there anything you can do to make the upstairs feel more secure (to be clear I absolutely don’t think you need to do this for security reasons, but you sound really anxious and it might just give you some peace of mind).

Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 22:52

Actually, we've got a motion sensor light by the front door but we never leave it on overnight. I've got it switched on now but am thinking that it's just making the broken window even more visible from the street!

Dh thinks we should get security cameras and we'll be looking into that next week. We have a good electrician. I also thought of one of the Ring doorbells but I suppose they're only useful if someone actually rings the bell.

OP posts:
ShesABelter · 24/11/2018 22:58

Yeah that's concerning. I work for a dire and security company. My dh wouldn't be at work tonight if there was an open window like that. How big is the hole and is it secure with the wood bookcase and couch infront of it?

Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 22:59

Yeah, it would be a pretty shit plan to put everyone on high alert and come back.

DS is 14 (only just and still sleeps with cuddly toys!) and he's really anxious about all of this even though I've tried not talk about it in front of him.

I feel such a wimp. So many people come face to face with intruders. I seriously think I'd have a heart attack and die if that happened to me. I'm so timid.

OP posts:
ShesABelter · 24/11/2018 22:59

*Fire and Security

Original poster
Spookedout · 24/11/2018 23:04

It's a big hole. Dh is a nurse so wouldn't even think of not going to work. I've got a piece of wood propped up on the window sill and it fits very well, but I had to tape it to the sides to keep it in place (it's just the bottom sash that's broken and the wood covers just that part). Then there's a gap between the window and the bookcase which is the length of the window sill. The sofa is pushed against the bookcase, so that's quite secure. But someone could get through the gap between the window and the bookcase. I'm hoping they might see the wood and think it is screwed in. I couldn't screw it in because it's very thick wood.

OP posts:
BifsWif · 25/11/2018 07:03

How are you today OP?

Definitely get cameras. I also work for a fire and security company, you can pick up cheap enough cameras online that do the job.

The biggest deterrent to an intruder is actually a dog, is that a possibility?

PanchoBarnes · 25/11/2018 08:06

Everything OK, OP? That sounds very odd.
I'd've been freaked out, and esp with the garage light being on, too.
Hope all is well, and you find out who/why.
Hoping it was just a drunken fool...

It is kinda scary that you didn't hear anything!

Please let us know you're OK when you get a chance...

Gotthetshirt23 · 25/11/2018 08:42

Police would surely offer to get it boarded ? At your expense but at least safe ?

Original poster
Spookedout · 25/11/2018 09:14

Hi all, well I had the worst night's sleep as I kept waking up and then thinking that something must've woken me, so I took a while to get back to sleep. At least I got some sleep though and I was so relieved when it was morning! Dh is home from work now and we are going to try and call around the emergency glaziers again. I told the police that we couldn't get anyone to come out and they said that they aren't allowed to recommend anyone. They didn't offer any help at all.

The garage light thing is really strange. It is so hard to miss that in the dark but then maybe we were both so fixated on trying to sort out the window we just didn't notice.

I really want to think that this was a random act of vandalism but I can't understand why they just didn't smash one of the front windows and then run. They had to pick up the piece of border from the front and then come up to the side window by the front door which is very dark. The window they chose would allow very easy access compared to the other ones as it is at the perfect height to climb in and doesn't have any rose bushes in front of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spookedout · 25/11/2018 09:15

By the way, I just want to say a huge thank you to you all for the support you gave me last night and the concern you have shown me this morning. It is really kind and very much appreciated!

OP posts:
BifsWif · 25/11/2018 09:15

The police don’t arrange boarding, but your home insurance company should same day.

I know that’s too late now.

Skatersbeskating · 25/11/2018 09:34

I was wondering if maybe they got the wrong house? Still horrible for their aimed recipient.

Make sure you keep the security light ON from now Hmm

Grin Glad you are o.k Flowers

Original poster
Spookedout · 25/11/2018 09:47

I didn't call my insurance company because I wasn't planning on claiming on it (my premium is already high because of subsidence). I'm also thinking of moving next year so I wasn't going to call the police. I only rang them because I was hoping they could recommend someone! I don't know whether I'd need to declare anything to prospective buyers if/when I sell.

Dh came home this morning and told me off for leaving the security light on by the front door overnight as he said it was making it easier for them to see what they're doing when breaking in!

OP posts:
PanchoBarnes · 25/11/2018 10:24

I don't think I would've been able to sleep at all!
Do you get very much foot traffic going by your house? It does seem odd that they would walk down the path to get to that window if it were just a vandal. And then throw it so hard that it ended up on the sofa! Maybe they did intend to break in, but were scared-off by something/someone else, even though you or your DH didn't wake up. (The scariest part of all!)
Yep, definitely time for security cameras. Sucks to have to do that. Why are there so many crappy people everywhere?!
You'll probably be on edge for a while now, too.
Have you spoken to any of the neighbours yet? Nobody else heard anything?