What silly notions do you harbour about what is most attractive to a burglar in your house?!

[milksoffagain]

I know they would head straight for my 30 year old sewing machine. (Or would they...?) Old, clunky, and very very heavy, what's not to love?

What do you value that has never before struck you as realistically highly unlikely to actually feature in a burglar's top 10? I'm interested in hearing about the sort of things that would make all the other burglars snort in derision when the night's pickings were laid out at Burglar HQ in the morning...

Yes, it"s lighthearted, so no boring 'valuables' like phones/laptops etc that are actually worth a lot of money please. Sympathies to anyone who has actually had anything stolen in this way.

(Burglars welcome to join in of course - if any of the sort you find in children's-books are actually reading this thread.)

I moved recently, first place I've bought & furnished entirely myself. WIP at present- mix of make-do/hand-me-down & cheaper stuff I got to survive rental shares & things I've got since I moved in as I change stuff over in time. All are actually lovely but it would be interesting on a few levels to see what a burglar went for!

The kitchen:currently my pride & joy and furnishing focus. The heavy knock off Le Creuset casserole dishes and my huge soup pan- what burglar could resist such an easy grab? My beloved dualit whisk and the compelling to use garlic crusher but not my hanging on in there ancient spiraliser which I'd love to replace. Just please not my precious my fruit bowl.

Elsewhere: a few back issues of Tatler and a complete Delia, perhaps my copy of Debretts... my entire reference library, gone . Also: my many jars of fancy mustard (but not the sad old jar of Coleman's), the booze (who wouldn't want 1/3 of a bottle of jagermeister and a bottle of bitters that got in the way of a exploding paint pot?), my mini straighteners from an Italian brand no one ever heard of but which cost me £18 on a discount site (handy travel size), and the naice handsoap.

Obviously the discerning burglar would also be overcome by my luxury wardrobe... my many pairs of well worn a bit smellyshoes in a tiny size, a few things still with the slight hint of all pervading mould from my previous manky rental, the Barbour older than me, through which one can see daylight...

In all seriousness, I've got quite a few nice bits & pieces I'd hate stolen but I'd be devastated if they took my perfumes and my jewellery. Not even the "good" jewellery but just anything from anyone special. It can't be replaced.

We don't really have anything which has value to us but isn't valuable - the few sentimental items we have are very clearly tat and not worth much money to someone else so unlikely to be taken.
Like pp though my worst fear with being burgled is the cats coming to harm. They're common moggies so not valuable, but I worry about an intruder hurting them.
They can have the stuff, and I'd imagine they'd try to avoid coming into contact with humans so I'm not overly worried for our safety, but the cats are shut downstairs overnight so would be in harm's way.

That said, woe betide anyone who tries it - those cats are my last (tenuous) link to sanity, and the closest thing I have to a "weapon" nearby is the bottle of Jeyes fluid in the en-suite.

When my car was broken into they left the purse with cash and cards in but took a pair of unbranded sunglasses and a half eaten packet of sweets.

@Emlou07

Please post a photo of your cat 🙏🏻

The dogs (they'd never get near the cat, and if somehow they did then they'd really wish they hadn't!). Two Rotties. They have the looks but are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard

I have never been burgled. I used to worry about it a lot where I used to live.

Looking around, I can't see anything they would take apart from my laptop, which I always have on me. It has an imploder (Prey and a DMS) on it so they couldn't sell it even if they wrestled it off me, but they wouldn't know that from looking.

But I don't really have many things! No ornaments, nik naks etc. No gadgets, tv or consoles or stereo. No designer anything or jewelry. No mementoes or sentimental items. Just my laptop and furniture. They'd have to take the sofas and they are massive.

Just remembered when my ex & his parents were burgled overnight whilst all asleep upstairs. The burglar took the champagne, chocs & voucher ex got as a leaving gift from work- he'd left it in his kitchen, £300 cash from mum's purse in her bag in the hall & their good kitchen scissors- taken as a weapon, the police reckoned. Anyone going through my bag I'd be most worried about them stealing my nice mini Fulton umbrella. It's the best one I've ever had .

No pet here but my parents have a rescued Bengal and we'd all be devastated if someone took her. She's 16 now but beautiful and we assume originally quite expensive although we've never cared about that or paid anything for her. Anyone taking her will soon regret it too- she's a destructive diva and a mama's girl, she cries for my mum if they're apart! She's also the most gentle, loving cat with a real personality. She's been through enough already and I can't bear to think of anyone trying to hurt her.

We did have an opportunist thief at our old house, terrace and used the back door. My sister had just bought me a snazzy new messenger bag and dh a new purse for my birthday. First day back at work after maternity and some little scrote opened the back door and nicked it. Police contacted me 6 months later to say a load of other bags had been recovered from a canal And did I want it back.