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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel a little bit creeped out..

233 replies

aloneathome · 09/12/2020 09:34

Hello :)

So I'm really sorry in advance if this sounds crazy.. but I don't know what to
Think.

This morning, I came downstairs to let the dogs outside, to find the back door (goes into the garden) unlocked.

We don't leave keys outside / in 'safe places' or anything like that, and always lock doors from the inside before heading off to bed.
Nothing seems out of place, didn't hear any noises through the night that were alarming, and I am a very light sleeper so most things would wake me up.

The door itself was still shut, it's just the actual lock has been unlocked which I found quite unnerving 😳 as I was home alone last night (DP on a night shift and has only just got home)

When I came downstairs this morning, I noticed the utility door was ajar (always close all internal doors - don't know why! Just a habit - so this was also odd but again nothing out of place from what I can see so far. (Loft hatch is in the utility room in case this is of any importance)

Fast forward to now, working from home and I notice a couple of large handprints on the living room windows from the outside. Too high up for me to reach, and DP wasn't here last night as I say.
Rational me is trying to think 'probably been there for weeks, unnoticed' but at the same time I definitely haven't seen them and we had all of the windows cleaned 2 weeks ago.

Not sure what to think! What would you do? I will keep an eye, but more worried as to how the outside door was unlocked this morning 😩 we have had a spate of burglaries in the area so feeling a bit vulnerable as it is..

OP posts:
Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 09:39

To add - DP Is now doing what he likes to call a 'sweep' of the house to make sure nothing is out of place / missing - just in case. X

OP posts:
WilheldivaHater · 09/12/2020 09:59

Is DP checking the loft as well as the main rooms?

Do you leave any spare keys around inside the house? If so it'd be worth finding them and maybe moving them somewhere more hidden.

It's probably nothing but I'm a real worrier and something like this would have my mind jumping to all sorts of things so better to be safe than sorry.

Also I'm guessing DH didn't come in the back door this morning and just leave it unlocked by accident?

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:04

@WilheldivaHater we do have multiple spares and do leave them inside the house, but al in one place; if that makes sense..
I've checked and from what I can see (and remember!) they are all there, phew! 😳🥴

DP didn't mention about the loft actually - I will get him to have a look up there, too.
We haven't ever used the loft before so not sure what's up there / how it looks..

Nope DP left out of the front door last night, locked it behind him, but I do all of my checks before bed again and all doors were definitely locked! X

OP posts:
Stillfunny · 09/12/2020 10:04

I would also report to police if there has been a spate of burglaries nearby. Perhaps they could get into from handprint too.
Check to see if the barrel of locks have been tampered with.And if shed is disturbed .

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:05

@Stillfunny thank you, I will give 101 a call
And report it - could be nothing but it's a little
Unnerving! 😩 my mind tends to go into a bit of a frenzy, so currently sitting here trying to rationalise who's handprints they could be 🥴 x

OP posts:
nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 09/12/2020 10:10

Definitely check the loft. Some older terraced houses used to have shared loft space, where there was nothing separating your loft from your neighbours.

FortunesFave · 09/12/2020 10:18

Got any teens? I was once convinced we were being broken into...it was 2 am and i heard a deep male voice outside...close to the house. Turns out DD's (16) friend had texted her and they were having a nice chat sitting on our garden wall!

Teens do sneak out.

Calmandmeasured1 · 09/12/2020 10:21

I think I might report it to the police as, if you have had an intruder, they could dust for prints and it could help them catch the burglar in your area.

In addition I would also:

  1. Check the loft.
  2. Change all exterior lock barrels for the anti-snap, anti-bump type (Easy to do yourself but you need to remove handle first to check you get the right size). If you aren't DIY-ers, get a locksmith in.

www.amazon.co.uk/Nickel-Platinum-Keyed-Alike-Cylinder-Security/dp/B077DV7HTL/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=anti-snap+cylinder+lock&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1607509172&sr=8-7

  1. Whilst waiting for locks to be changed, assuming doors open inwards, put a door wedge so that the doors can't be opened from outside.
  2. Hang a windchime behind the door so that, if you do have an intruder, you will hear someone come in.

YABU to be creeped out by an unlocked door, utility room ajar and handprints on a window. Why would there be handprints on a window? (Never seen any in mine).

Honeyroar · 09/12/2020 10:21

The lift aspect of this tale makes it creepy. Is there any access to next door from the loft?

YoniAndGuy · 09/12/2020 10:22

If the doors were definitely locked and this morning they weren't then yes, someone has been in.

I'd see if you can get the police to come out to get prints from the handprints? Not sure on if they would if no visible 'break-in' though.

Check the loft for sure!!!!

BrandyandDeath · 09/12/2020 10:24

Don't send your DH up to check the loft while you stay in the bedroom.

If you've seen Luther, you'll know why.

NeverRTFT · 09/12/2020 10:24

Check all your valuables

YoniAndGuy · 09/12/2020 10:25

And there is just no explainable reason why there would be handprints high up on a window. Where is that window in relation to loft? How high - only possible if someone had a ladder against the house, for instance? (Is it at all possible that they're the result of clumsy window cleaning?!)

YoniAndGuy · 09/12/2020 10:26

Also - if he was on a night shift, does that mean that a car that would normally be parked and visible wasn't there, so someone would guess that not all the family/possibly none of the family were at home?

TillyTopper · 09/12/2020 10:26

I'm sorry OP, that is horrible for you. If you are 100% you locked the door - as I would be - then definitely someone has being doing something with the lock, even if they haven't taken anything. Could you quickly make it a bit more secure?

Ring doorbell with video footage back/front
Security light that goes on and maybe records with a sensor
Set up stuff so you aren't caught by surprise - for example we place a piece of wood of the right length on a ledge of the patio door (inside) so it can't be opened. If you have a press down handle hang a cup on the inside so if the handle goes down the cup slides off.

Good luck sorting it and I'd be asking neighbours if you have any if they saw anything.

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:27

Thanks all. Partner will check the loft in a moment. We are a detached house so no access to the others around us, very rural area also. The garden backs onto fields with a low fence between the fields and our garden, easily 'hoppable' hence why we really thoroughly check and double check all doors etc are locked..

No children, just the two of us which makes it more unnerving.
Handprints are high enough that both DP 5'8 and I 5'3 couldn't reach. Could well be a result of the clumsy window washer!

OP posts:
Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 10:28

We’re there any clothes missing from the utility room?

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:29

To add regarding DP's night shift - his van (large) would have been gone and only my car in the drive.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 09/12/2020 10:33

Are you absolutely sure you locked the door?

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:34

Yep absolutely certain I locked the door, I always have a little pattern that I follow each evening before bed to check / lock all doors x

OP posts:
D4rwin · 09/12/2020 10:35

If you are totally sure you locked up then change the lock(s) today. Buy the barrels yourself from a hardware or DIY type shop and do it before bed, you'll feel better relaxed.

Bence69 · 09/12/2020 10:36

Jesus do not let DH check the loft while you stay in the bedroom ... that Luther episode is fucking terrifying x

alphasox · 09/12/2020 10:36

Do any of your family/neighbours/friends nearby have a key for the back door? Sometimes my MIL pops in when I'm out and work and leaves things like a pint of milk in the fridge, for example, so I wouldn't necessary notice it.

YoniAndGuy · 09/12/2020 10:37

If you are sure, then someone has been inside and you need to call the police.

Sounds like they managed to access the house somehow and let themselves out of the back door.

Original poster
aloneathome · 09/12/2020 10:39

Thanks all, I'm just a bit shaken up! I haven't watched Luther - probably best I don't by the sounds of it haha! 🥴

Other family members do have keys - but only DP's parents that live 45 mins away. Can't imagine they will have come in but I don't know for sure of course.. I will send them a text to check.

We have ring doorbell cameras on the front of the house but not around the back yet.

OP posts:
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