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..

I bet your dogs would have barked had someone been in their house last night.
Could you have accidentally left the back door unlocked last night after letting them out for the last wee?

The only windows we ever have open at this time of year are my bedroom ones, as I can't sleep in a warm room. But if someone had come in using that window, I surely would have heard them!

The marks on the window are baffling me too. Could well have been there a little while, I'm not sure as I haven't noticed them before but I only saw them this morning as the sun was hitting the window at a certain angle.
I suppose they're around about the height that you would need a ladder for.

As Dryroast says, if ddogs not worried then some reassurance.

They would leave by the door as easier and quicker.

I would have thought that someone letting themselves in with keys would also lock behind them-? Maybe not. Does it lock from the outside with the key?

Have you had new locks put in since you moved in OP?
We had our doors changed when we bought the current house and the locks that came with the doors were a bit crap (or possibly faulty) and the thumb turns didn't lock the door every time so we had to twist 2/3 times to get it to bolt.
All changed now after a call to the guys we bought the doors from.
Previous houses we've always changed the locks ourselves though it was only because we'd spent a bomb on new doors that we got the 'professionals' in to do it.

Can someone please enlighten us as to what happened in Luther??

I’d definitely change the locks!! Just incase 😬

I’ve got bolts, top and bottom, on all my outside doors. DH used to be away a lot when the DDs were little and locking up the doors and bolting them felt safer.

Is the door upvc? Because you can think you've closed them properly and locked them but the door doesn't quite catch and then blows open slightly. Happened on a few occasions to me.

Thanks all. I haven't had the locks changed.. this is our first home. Maybe I'm a bit naive? Will look into doing that 😳

Doors in question are a set of french doors that lead out onto the patio and garden, from the kitchen. X

Agree that the most rational explanation is that you or DP unlocked, or didn't lock, the door. But I also agree with changing the lock for peace of mind. Maybe add on a new one. Could you put a bolt on that door?

I was coming to say change the locks (it is very easy to do yourself), I always did, even in rented accommodation (you just tell the landlord and give a new spare to the EA).

Get a patlock lock for your french doors!

Just a reminder to to anyone buying a house - always, but always, change the barrels on locks of exterior doors when you buy a new home.

I love all the posters saying the dogs would have barked/been disturbed in some way if someone had been in...

Not all dogs react, my silly ddog would walk quietly up to an intruder wagging her tail for cuddles.

She loves everyone, never barks and comes to the door tail going nuts to anyone coming through especially men!

The cats would be more affected by an intruder

I would change the lock and put a bolt on the inside. I was once burgled while asleep upstairs! I didn't hear a thing but came down the next morning to find all of my cupboards open, back door open and valuables such as my phone missing (the old days when my mobile didn't come to bed with me). The police said it wasn't unheard of for the area and they had suspicions but were not able to prove anything. Obviously the burgular/s knew I was in and didn't care which is a bit scary.

Do you have a house alarm? We have a chime set on all our doors if they open. Also report to 101 as they can check for prints especially if there have been burglaries in the area, and give some free advice for security.

You could have forgot to lock the door, my parents check doors etc thoroughly but once left the back door unlocked. Luckily they noticed but it can happen.

Check the loft as well, especially if the door leading to the room with the loft hatch was open.

My sausage dog would have barked the place down

Occam's razor theory here, with nothing missing or out of place then you forgot to lock the back door last night.

That's spooky OP, I use a cycle lock on my patio doors. The plastic covered metal cable type of cycle lock and I wrap it around the inside handles so the doors can't be opened / forced from the outside, this could be a temporary fix for you.
You're not overreacting, always trust yourself ❤️

@BrandyandDeath

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.

^^ Definitely this.

Also due to Luther I now avoid sitting on the top deck of a bus late at night or selling a fridge to anyone who turns up with a suitcase...

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.

This.

If you really want to know, @Bleughbleughbleugh12, the baddie was hiding in the loft. Of course he was! Homeowners hear noise. Sends husband up to look. Deranged killer wraps husband's head in clingfilm iirc and shoves him through plaster ceiling into bedroom below...

See www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g25733419/luther-scariest-moments-night-bus-fridge/

Yes, @Grenlei!!

Never mind Luther, this is reminding me of The Fall :-) In all seriousness OP i would flag up with the police, change the locks & check for any missing items, however trivial. It would unnerve me too, but taking steps to boost your security will settle your mind.
Fwiw i've got 3 dogs - 2 would raise the entire street if anyone broke in, one would barely raise his head So i can believe your dogs might well have not reacted.

OP, if you're sure you locked up, then I'd change the locks today. You've had good advice on here. And get someone you don't care about to check the loft!

Thanks all, DP has been up to the loft and nothing unusual up there / just some paperwork of floor plans dated from when the house was built.
Really odd.

I'm going to set the alarm tonight and see what happens - never have before as I'm always worried that the dogs will set it off in the night