To be absolutely terrified now of house being broken into?

[Honeyandlemon19]

So basically we think we may have been the target or potentially will be target of burglars soon.

On Saturday night a neighbour knocked and told us they had seen two men at the end of our drive with their phones out taking pics of our car/house. He couldn’t tell exactly which but was fairly sure that’s what they were doing. When we came out into his own drive they put up their hoods and walked off. We live at the bottom of a cul de sac & he saw them walk down the street, stop outside and take the pics and then walk back up when he came out. So it seemed very deliberate rather than coincidental.

Neighbour rang the police to report it who came out and spoke to us and a few other neighbours etc. Advised us how to be careful with keys and so on and said they had driven round the area but hadn’t seen anyone.

I actually feel sick with anxiety about being broken into now. We have a 3 month old baby and a very sweet but nervous dog with epilepsy in the house. I am terrified of them coming in while we’re in or of them stealing the dog. The thought of how scared the dog would be with if she was taken away makes me want to cry. She sleeps in the kitchen which the most likely place someone would come in.

We have an alarm but it’s basically just a sensor in each room downstairs and can’t be set because the dog would set it off when she walks around in the night. We can’t really afford a new alarm system.

We’re taking all car and house keys and bags/wallets and so on to bed with us at night. We’re always careful about locking doors and have security lights outside. Apart from that I don’t think there’s much we can do.

I feel like I’m being watched now and am waiting for something bad to happen. I’ve had bad anxiety in the past and this has really triggered it again and set me off imagining every possible scenario, each one worse than the last. I’m at home most of the time with the baby but now don’t feel safe here and also don’t want to leave the house for fear of what could happen to the dog. It’s a horrible feeling. I should add I couldn’t care less about possessions or if the car was taken, it’s the thought of any harm coming to us or our privacy being invaded that I’m scared of.

Has anyone any experience of this or advice on how I can live my life not in constant fear now?

There have been a spate of these burglaries in our area recently. Police advice is as others have said, keys not visible from windows but easy found downstairs if they do get in. It's mainly cars they are after. Apparently organised gangs from the north east target our area as we are close to a motorway.

My friend is a police officer and she told me to install CCTV even if it’s just a dummy camera, it works well as a deterrent. She also said outside lights, leaving a hallway light on in the house and a beware of the dog sign can help.

I feel for anyone in this situation. I read stats before that school run times/ Thursday afternoon were most likely timed to get broken into. I would leave keys downstairs also. Why entice an intruder to come upstairs? Hope all works out ok OP.

Thank goodness for your vigilant neighbours . The fact that they were spotted and the two strangers left will probably have acted as a deterrent already .
It’s going to be hard to restore your peace of mind but @PickettBowtruckles gave a good suggestion .

I would get CCTV even if you have to borrow the money or put it ona 0% credit card.

I have a Patlock on my patio doors it was about £35.

Also I bought some CCTV yellow stickers from Amazon as a deterrant.

Argos do a fake flashing T.V for about £25.

Your baby is small so you probably haven't invested in stair gates yet, but you could install them at the top and bottom of the stairs as an extra deterrent. Plus they're in place for when your baby is crawling.

After I got burgled (whilst asleep upstairs) I always close both stairgates at night and it does give me peace of mind because they're a massive pain to open unless you happen to be familiar with those 2 models. Of course a burglar might be, but it's unlikely. Plus they want to be in and out quickly and not fiddling with gates.

Beware of the dog sign will just alert dog thieves to the presence of a dog to steal, no way would I put one of those up, it is asking for trouble.

If they don't steal the dog they usually beat them to death or stab them (sorry op).

Lock internal doors, especially where your dog is, it will take them longer to get into the rooms, but not your bedroom.

I have been in a situation where I was afraid to go to sleep, I keep a paint spray handy, not one that washes off, and hairspray to hand. I am within my rights to keep items in my home and if someone tries it on I am prepared to go for the eyes. Tell the Police to look for a yellow or green flourescent burglar. I do actually use paint sprays so just ensure I have them to hand.

I always leave my car keys and purse right inside the front door. Not in view so people looking in the windows won’t see them, but very obvious. My theory is that someone breaking in will hopefully see them, take them and leave. It might also be worth you investing in a Ring doorbell? They’re not cheap, but you can check your front door from your phone in bed, and it’ll record anyone that comes into your property?

What type of car do you have? Do you think it is this they are targeting?

Do not take the keys upstairs with you. Your physical safety is worth far more than a car! The advice to leave the keys downstairs is consistently given for a reason!

Could you ring the alarm supplier who fitted your alarm and ask how much to swap the sensors for pet safe ones?
My entire alarm system with pet sensors and a panic button in the bedroom was around £100. Maybe they could just swap the sensors?

I'd be worried sick too if I was you but I did once catch someone taking photos of my house - I freaked out for months but nothing happened (he drove off when he saw me watching him). Those two your neighbour caught sound very dodgy. Maybe they'll see it as too risky now they've been seen though.

Absolutely agree with all the advice not to take keys up with you. We were broken into and the keys were on the stairs. We were none the wiser until the morning when we realised the cars had gone. For this I am thankful - they’re only cars, they can be replaced.

I’m a police officer that reports a lot of burglaries. It is very rare that burglars come during the night or while you are at home. I don’t think I’ve ever reported one where they have gone into the bedroom while someone slept (I have reported hundreds). Similarly I’ve never reported a dog being injured or stolen during a burglary. Usually it’s grab car keys or grab valuables (if it’s daytime and homeowner out). They don’t need car keys to steal the car.

Even though I report crime and so am well aware of it (and the increase) and I am prone to anxiety it’s not something I ever worry about. As pp have advised- burglar alarm or a fake box, secure windows and doors. Sorted. They’ll find an easier target if you are well secured.

One of my friends had an old webcam from the 00s which she had positioned (visibly) on her front door. It didn't do anything but had a little red light when plugged into a USB. It looked really convincing.

I agree with using Alexa (if you have one) or the flickering TV light

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We have a patlock on french doors. They are a good deterrent as can be seen from the outside if anyone looks in and tries the handles and they are easy to take on and off.

We have an alarm but it’s basically just a sensor in each room downstairs and can’t be set because the dog would set it off when she walks around in the night. We can’t really afford a new alarm system.

As a PP has said, you can exchange your sensors to pet-friendly ones (ie ones that aren't set off by pets).

Zippy

It must depend on the area. There were three night time burglaries last week in the small town near the A1 I live in. All for upmarket cars. Noone hurt.

Smart frog cameras are £5 a month, no contract

To settle the dog upstairs I would buy a plug in dap diffuser

I'm in a council property. I got my burglar alarm fitted free when I moved in. It costs me £1.60 a week on top of my rent, has sensors in every room & outer doors. After one of my friends & her son woke up to burglars standing over them with baseball bats demanding car keys, I always leave mine in my coat pocket but don't hang my coat on the front of the rack, I always hang it under old coats that I don't wear & since I have to park 200metres from my home, they don't know which car is mine.

We've got a Yale easy fit alarm for a few hundred and doesn't need wiring in.
Get stickers for the doors (dog and alarm ones, leave a dog bowl or lead visible outside), bolts and padlocks for any back or side gates. You can get little devices that alert you if someone comes up the path (or a Ring doorbell) or to fix to doors and windows or garages (entry points). Get some lights and the radio on timer settings. Put tools away inside (on the second time we were burgled they carried our mallet around with them - you don't want to get hurt by your own tools). Move ladders or anything that might help them break or access windows. You can't stop burglary but you can make your house look occupied well kept and an unattractive prospect for not too much dosh. Tell your DH how he can help you get peace of mind back.
Then try and get on with life - you can't live in fear for something that might never happen. If it does it will be shit but the little scrotes are after stuff, and unlikely to hurt anyone unless challenged. We got through it, it might happen again but I will not put my life on hold worrying about those selfish druggie idiots, they don't deserve my time.

God forbid it were to actually happen but make sure all of your valuables are insured.

Wow everyone thank you so much for all your replies and suggestions!

You have given me a lot of great ideas. I do have an Alexa and never knew what to use it for so that’s an excellent idea!

Will definitely look at getting some CCTV signs off amazon and the different cameras available.

My current alarm provider is no longer in business from what I can tell! Will see what ADT can do for us as well but I won’t sign anything until I’ve had a good look around.

We do have brilliant neighbours all around us. Everyone looks out for each other and it’s easy to spot strangers. It could have been as innocent as them going to a party or something and getting the wrong street. They might not have been taking pictures at all, maybe just looking up the street, who knows? It was around 8pm on a Saturday night so seems a bit obvious to be out scouting for cars.

Hubby just has an Astra but it does have the rear tinted windows and alloys. It’s a bit chavvy for my liking so honestly I wouldn’t mind if someone took it kidding obviously..sort of

Think we’ll try to compromise on the keys and maybe just leave at the top of the stairs. I’d rather just leave them downstairs though.

Again, really appreciate all the replies!

I was burgled for the first time a few months ago. It was a pain (mud-tracked carpets to be cleaned, police finger print powder to scrub away, tidying up of overturned cupboards and drawers etc).

They took tablets devices etc. But actually it made me less afraid of being burgled again.

Keep a light on downstairs overnight, keep the radio on in the daytime, install a Ring alarm.

We’ve just put new cctv up across the outside of our house and it cost something like £30 for each cameras, you can view them on your phone and they also detect movement so you can see what’s going on when. I can ask hubby for the link if you like. They really weren’t expensive.

I used to work for the police and yes car keys downstairs but not in reach of the doors / Letterbox, Lock the doors when you are in the house, don’t let anybody into the house. Most of the burglaries we dealt with were:

• Using a contraption to hook the keys through the letter box / grab them from the inside of the keyhole when left in the door

• Walking / climbing in through Unlocked doors and windows, both overnight and in broad daylight

• Distraction ie knock on the door and ask to check the gas meter or similar etc etc and steal while there

A lot of the police advice contradicts fire service advice re exiting swiftly in the event of a fire so try to leave house keys somewhere you will be able to grab them quickly - bedside table etc

Depending on the layout of the house, you could fit a strong door at the top of the stairs which is locked at night,a kind of panic room door. Also if there are just two of you, the main bedroom door could be the panic room door.