To ask your advice?

[Sandbox]

I’m away for Christmas and have heard from a neighbour that there was an attempted break in to my house. (She interrupted them and called the police)
I’m a single mum with a disabled child and now I’m so anxious about being home on my own.
I’ve lived on my own since I was 16 and with my son on our own for 8 years now and home has always been our safe place, even when my ex was threatening all sorts, I still felt safe in my home.
What can I do to get past this anxiety?

I'm sorry it has happened, but so glad you got good neighbours watching out for you.

I understand the fear, I was burgled this year and the only thing that helped was time, but keep remembering youv got good neighbours and the chances of them striking again is very slim.

Could you check your security...there are guides online
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/
But could you get an alarm installed? You can partially set them so they for instance stay on downstairs at night while you’re upstairs. Some can be diy fitted.

Thank you, yes I feel so grateful to my neighbour. I’m sorry it happened to you too.
I’ll definitely look into that bionic, thank you.

I'm so sorry this happened to you op.

I was burgled about 6 years ago.

I was terrified to be home alone and paced the floors many a night.

I made my brother move in with me and felt totally safe when he was here. I could sleep at least.

I would go to your local police station and ask them to do a home visit for advice on improving your home security.

Is there someone that you could call anytime day or night if you're ever feeling vulnerable?

I often rang my brother in the early hours of the morning just so I didn't feel so alone.

Though I have to be honest with you I have not fully recovered from it. I dread old age and living alone.

My heart goes out to you x

Thank you, I have a friend who might be able to come and stay for a bit and is happy to pick up the phone any time so that will help, I’ll definitely ask the police to help advise on security too.

Get the home security check done. WiFi enabled plugs that you can remotely control using your phone are fab too. You can set the lights to come on at really random times so it looks like people are home.
If I am home alone and I hear a noise outside I will grab my phone and switch a light on (we have Phillips Hue bulbs and hub) which makes me feel more secure.

I’ve never heard of being able to set the lights to come on or remote plugs, definitely something to look into, thank you!

You can get timer plugs that are not wifi too, they are quite cheap and we have them to randomly turn on a radio and lights

That’s so clever. I think it will take time but it’s nice to feel more in control and know what to do to help prevent it happening again.

Sorry OP.
How about a personal alarm?

Timed plug in lights are great plus as pp stated if they've been scared off once they're unlikely to return. Possibly massively impractical but my line of defence was adopting a rescue dog when Dd was small and we'd moved somewhere I felt less secure. Dog was 3st of pathetic in reality but funnily enough no one came near us after that.