Freaked out

[whereareallmyhairbands]

I'm not feeling well today, and having trouble sleeping.
Whilst laying in bed thinking, I heard a strange noise downstairs. I thought the cat might have brought home a mouse etc so I pop downstairs and have a look. Can't see anything or any sign of cat. Check the back door and the cat flap is open, all the way, stuck open.
So I shut it, and as I turn out the kitchen light the house phone rang!!!
My goodness it scared me - but because no good calls come at night I answered phone. No one there initially, and then i hear a tv with what sounds like a scary film playing in the background.

I've hung up and put the phone handset and base on mute downstairs.

I'm now upstairs writing this message so I don't feel so alone!!!!

What’s going on now OP? I really hope this has all been a nightmare.

I hope the police are there by now!

All this would freak me out too. People shouldn't feel insecure in their own homes! It makes me so angry that some people think they can just enter a property and take what they like!

Although this post has given me a useful idea on how to keep my son out of the kitchen at night! He keeps going in after we have gone to bed and eating food, making a mess then leaving the door open (we have a cat and guinae pigs so I don't like the cat in the kitchen when we are not there just in case). So i think we might get some star locks fitted - plus it will make our house more secure 👍

Op, i hope you are ok and have managed some rest today.

How scary! Hope you are ok

Omg OP your post has really scared me. Hope you are ok xx

Hope you’re all ok this morning. I would definitely get an alarm fitted, you can set it when you go to bed and look at getting better locks for your doors etc

Oh how scary! Hope you’re ok. X

Another one here really hoping you're ok x

@ThanosSavedMe we had an alarm we used to set on a night and it would go off if there was movement downstairs. We can’t set it now we have cats so might be the same for op

Police came and spoke to me - because there is no actual evidence of anything they left, but they have given me lots of advice.
This morning I let the cat out the back door and there is a plastic bag with empty beer cans in. (They weren't there last night when the police did a check)
So at least there is some actual evidence of something.

I'm going to argos today to see if they have cameras in stock.

My initial feelings is it might be my ex.

Oh OP I really hope you’re okay! What did the police say?

Sorry, cross post with you. Glad they came and that you now have some evidence and empty cans will likely have dna on as well. If you think it’s your ex do you think that’s a good or bad thing? As in will he just be intimidating you (obviously that isn’t actually good but you know what I mean) or would be actually do anything worse?

@whereareallmyhairbands was thinking of you last night. Are you okay?

Tell us more about the ex. Would he know your son is away now?

OP if you think about it as harassment rather than an attempted burglary does that make more sense? Is that something your ex would stoop to for some reason?

@whereareallmyhairbands My ex is being charged for harassment currently.
It's the worst and scariest feeling with stuff like this.
Keep us updated.

Hope you’re OK OP. I would get a wireless alarm system with door sensors fitted, we just had one fitted for around £700. The door sensors will trigger the alarm if they are opened and you get a key fob to activate/deactivate and an app for remote activation and to notify you if it has gone off.

Keep the cans as if they've been drinking from them that's DNA!

At least if it’s your ex the police can target him. Is he likely to be scared off by them?

Good shout in getting cctv. If it’s your ex rather than an attempted bugler I’d be tempted to put them somewhere sneaky to see if I could get footage of him where as with a burglar I’d put them somewhere obvious as a deterrent. But the police might not think that’s good advice

I think the CCTV is a good idea. Hope you are ok, OP.

If it is my ex, I will wonder how he found me. He left us a long time ago but he drinks a certain type of beer which makes me think it's him.

Last I heard he had intentionally made himself homeless, but that was a few years ago.

I don't know how I'd feel if it where him - it doesn't explain the phone call, and I don't know why he would wait till the middle of the night to try and get in.
I'll be cross I think, as there's no need to try and frighten me.
I'm conflicted - whilst I wouldn't welcome him into my home with open arms, I also wouldn't want to turn him away into the night if he needed help?

He's my child's father after all, Even if he has a lot to atone for.

Ugh. I really don't want it to be him but at the same time, better the devil you know??

I feel calmer than last night - this is going to sound SO SILLY but, I'm glad it's not paranormal!!!!!!

Don't want to worry you even more, but when I had a locksmith out for a different reason, he said if I ever locked myself out he could break in via the catflap in seconds. And definitely don't leave your keys in the lock on the door with the catflap as that's even easier. How quickly can you get Ring doorbells fitted on all doors?

Hope you are okay op

Do you know your neighbours OP? Go and knock on a few doors and see if anyone else has had any weirdness or seen anyone odd hanging around. ( odd as in out of place). These happenings seem connected yet don’t really add up together to look like a proper burglary attempt (a few things bother me for example - why leave cans there? They would have both dna and likely fingerprints). It certainly wouldn’t hurt to have some friendly people nearby keeping their eyes peeled.