To feel a little bit creeped out..

[aloneathome]

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..

@Latenightreader

Anyone else thinking of Eugene Victor Tooms in the X-Files?

@llizzie

I remember an episode on TV bailiffs where the locksmith used a gadget which opened the door from outside without a key. Perhaps that has happened to you? A couple of bolts would perhaps stop that happening if you are at home. If you are out and someone has that sort of gadget, it might be more difficult.

Another thing to mention: Someone was gaining access to my house on a regular basis. Nothing was taken, but letters from files were on the floor when I got up, and it must have been a pretty big mouse to knock things off the top of the fridge.

People said I must be mistaken, but papers dated a few years ago on the floor that were not there the night before makes me think that someone wants me to know they can come in whenever they like. Last year I got those bolts that fit on the handles of French windows, and fitted them to the room at the top of my wheelchair ramp and the patio doors at the back. Since then I have not had signs of someone coming in.

That's bloody scary! Do you have any suspicions who it might have been?

Kate Winslet?

VettiyaIruken I am really not sure, though have a fair idea, but changing the locks did not help. It stopped happening when I bought patio door bars that fit over the handles of French windows. I have French windows at the top of my wheelchair ramp.

From what I see on TV shows, if they cover themselves up well, you cannot even prove who it is on CCTV.

I hope you get to the bottom of this! It could be totally innocent, like not turning the key enough, thinking you've locked the door but haven't. I've done that loads of times with my stupid patio door!

How come your dogs didn't bark if someone was around or inside?

@BigBaublesGalore

If you the leave the key you lock the door with in the lock then no one can use a key from the other side

But they can cut a hole in the glass and put a hand through to open the door (or a window).

@aloneathome

My DP left for work around 10:30pm last night - I was still up and locked up everything after he left (he locked the front door behind him) so I know I definitely locked everything up. He got home at around 8.30 this morning and came through the front door again (so we hadn't checked the back at this point) both went into the kitchen, let the dogs out but the door was already unlocked. Xx

Found our back door unlocked several times after DH had definitely locked it. It’s a new door so new locks. There is a point where, if you lift the handle up and don’t lift it quite all the way, the key turns as if it’s locked and if you try to press the handle down to open it it appears locked BUT if you jiggle the handles it actually opens. Could it be something like that?