Has your next door neighbour’s burglary freaked you out?

[Marchalmost]

Stay by myself in a flat and the flat directly next to me was broken into recently. I’m at the stage where I think I’ll just sell and move. Haven’t stayed there since- have stayed either at my partners or parents house instead. It just gives me the creeps as the flats seemed so secure but I no longer feel safe. Basically it didn’t take much for them to break in so the locks ( modern flats) weren’t even secure!

Anyone? Sorry I can’t sleep!

Change your locks to the ones that have 3 stars on them - they're anti snap, drill, etc. They're about £50 per lock from B&Q and will help you feel more secure.

Thanks- yes I’m speaking to a locksmith at the weekend. Didn’t realise it would creep me out so much

Can someone stay at the flat with you?

I’ll stay there at the weekend as my partner will stay with me but it’s harder during the week re this due to his working hours. The other nights I’ll probably stay at my parents’

It also frustrates me how some folk make a life out of crime such as this- why not get a job instead of stealing other folks’ stuff!

It happened to me a few years ago but i was home and in bed. They pulled my keys through letter box let themselves in and helped themselves to my stuff. As you can imagine it was a bit of a shock waking up the next day and it took me weeks to sleep properly and feel safe.

I had new locks fitted by a window fitting company (much cheaper than lock Smith)
I also went to B&Q and brought these stick on alarms one side goes on the opening part of the door and the other goes on the fixed part. U just flick the switch before you go out or when your in bed to turn them on, i also wanted to keep my key in the door due to fire risk so i brought these latch things also from B&Q which are screwed into door frame and when your in bed slide them over your door and even if your door is unlocked no one can open it. I also got CCTV a put up a sign saying smile you are on camera.

Since adding the extra security I've felt much safer and I've had no problems.

I understand you feel shaken but with extra security it should hopefully put your mind at rest.

I need to buy that stick on alarm! That’s a great idea...thanks. That must have been so scary that you discovered you were in when this happened!

This is the door alarms they can also be used on windows. Very cheap but effective

Thanks I’ll get a door one today. Much appreciated! Found it scary how easily they got into next door with minimal damage as well

Not me but DH was surprising his parents home for a visit whilst studying in uni 3 hours away and walked into his parents house being burgled It terrified him and since then, everywhere we have lived, we’ve had CCTV, alarms and 3 star door locks. He triple checks doors and windows before we leave anywhere which annoys me cuz he’s a faffer but I know it’s because that’s always in the back of his mind.

Burglary is something that happens in all types of neighbourhoods and to all types of people. I would take necessary precautions but wouldn’t move tbh. It’s very understandable you’re shaken up but try to keep your mind at ease.

Yeah it's very scary they are very quick very quiet and very capable unfortunately. These are definitely a good deterrent though. I really hope you can feel safe in your home again soon

Annafs- gosh that must have been scary!
I’ll need to look at what a 3 star lock is and the alarms as discussed.
I take it the burglars just cleared off when caught?

Burglary is very unsettling. I was burgled just before Xmas while asleep & my (already troublesome) insomnia has been a bitch since! I don’t feel consciously vulnerable, but it sticks with you.
I’ve got the door handle alarms & they’re great. Cheap but effective.

Our neighbours were broken into a few years ago deliberately for their cars. The burglars smashed their back door window which DH and I heard and by the time we'd realised what was happening and phoned the police the burglars were reversing the cars down the drive and buggering off.

They sold up a few months later as the DW just couldn't settle there. We increased our security and put in better locks (Ultion locks are brilliant) and bought Ring cameras for front and back, but it didn't cause too much worry. DH is away for work often and I double-check things more when he's away but still feel relatively safe.

I invested in Blink cameras after a rash of burglaries around here. I find them very reassuring.

I’ll look into blink cameras to see how they work- hadn’t heard of them thanks

I found it a bit difficult to research cheap home cctv that didn't require drilling and wiring.

A blink system needs a hub (that is permanently plugged in), a wifi signal, and an app on your phone.

The cameras themselves are run from batteries and you can get indoor and outdoor ones.

It's not amazing quality video, but I found the fact that I get an alert to my phone if I'm away or in bed very reassuring. You can talk on the outside cameras too, so my plan is to tell a burglar that I've phoned the police and I have their image on my phone before they even gain entry.

A cheaper thing I've done is get door stops and I use them at night to wedge the kitchen door shut.

If Buckingham Palace gets broken into with its top end security and armed guards - most of us have to accept it as a possibility. Just get as much detergents as you can - good locks and alarm system. Get lights on timers and keep valuables out of sight.
Got burgled in my first home - has made me hyper vigilant ever since.

I myself got burgled 2 years ago. It still makes me so nervous. Im moving soon and hope that I loose some of the anxiety I suffer.