To be really conscious about getting broken into?

[pumpkinbump]

I saw on FB posted on the local group that someone was leaving for work at around 4am a few mornings ago, and saw a man checking if doors were open. This road is opposite where I live, meaning I can see down the road from my window.

I've always been a bit nervy as I live alone with my 2.5 yr old daughter. We have a dog but not sure if she would be any good in this situation.

Tonight I'm really conscious about it thinking they're still lurking around. I usually have my living room curtains open, so people can see in, not directly on the pavement, have a front garden in between. Also have a side entrance which worries me and makes me think I'm an easier target than those who don't. Going to get quotes tomorrow from electrician to put a floodlight in the side entrance and back garden. Any other tips? I'm sure most women who live alone are worried about this, especially with a child in the house.

I've read various things today. Some say having curtains drawn makes no difference. Having lights on all night doesn't make a difference. So just looking for tips. Need to get an alarm system installed and proper cctv, I have a camera in my living room window pointing at my path currently.

I didn't realise so many people left their doors unlocked. Do they really try the handles and move on if locked?

I no would have thought leaving a light on was a good deterrent. Don't leave your keys in the door either.

No I don't leave them in thw door. I used to until I learned that they cut holes in doors to get the keys!

Do you have a house alarm or CCTV? Both can be a deterrent for would be thieves. Especially if other houses round about don't have any security systems.
Lights aren't as much of a deterrent as most people know these are on timers and don't really mean much.

Keep doors and windows locked even when you're home.

Don't leave valuables lying in view of the window and consider blinds or other window coverings to make it harder to see in.

Try not to scare yourself witless! Do your best to secure your home and take all the precautions you can practically do and afford. It is true from what I read that many attempts at break ins are around 4-5am which is when most areas are at their quietest and most deserted. I would be surprised if a burglar would want to enter a home which has the lights on though. Not saying it couldn't happen but less likely I would think.
I saw a while ago a tip for anyone with door handles on a front or back door. Hook a tea cup by its handle, on the door handle and if the handle is pushed down the cup will fall and clatter. Only really works on a hard floor though. Another tip is to remove your door keys from inside the lock if you have that type of door and put them way out of site. It is not unknown for thieves to use devices through the letterbox to hook the keys and just let themselves in.
OP please don't let this keep you awake all night!

Was typing some hints as others were doing the same so sorry for the duplicate tips.

Thank you. I've been looking at alarm systems tonight but it's a minefield. Might get a few quotes to have one installed. There was also a burglary down the rode about quarter of mile away and three men broke in at 8pm so that's worrying too. I used to like to be able to see out so I could see who was about but friend told me it's less important than them being able to see in.

An unexpected bonus of putting stones on our driveway (which wraps to the back door too) was we can hear when anyone steps onto the property.

Also if you can't stretch to CCTV or a ring type doorbell then a cheap webcam indoors on your windowsill.

I imagine that if it is accurate it was some chancer of a burglar, as you are right in thinking people don't tend to leave their doors unlocked at night, in winter, during a pandemic! It could have been a person with dementia, someone sleep walking, a person who let a cat out, locked themselves out but lives next-door to family etc. I know I'm suggesting random scenarios but the person going to work doesn't know for sure, right.
It's completely understandable that you feel on edge but remember that things always seem worse at night.
For tonight at least, leave some lights on and if possible order some of those plug in timers so that lamps come on at random times.
Tomorrow, do all you can to reassure yourself that your home is secure, i.e. floodlights, window locks etc. Find out if there is neighborhood watch maybe. Try not to scare yourself. X

I think a lot of thieves are opportunistic in that they try door handles and look for open windows.

My ex husband used to leave the front door unlocked and it drove me mad. If you always keep it locked you don’t have to remember to lock it! I do have the back door open in summer but we have a side gate which is bolted from the garden and does make things slightly more difficult. This has made me think again that I should get a padlock.

Never leave keys in the door (or within sight).

I also have a burglar alarm and while I don’t set it when we are in (because of pets), prospective burglars don’t know that.

I have been wondering about getting cameras.

get a beware of dog sign and put it on your door.. I also have two dogs that would not really be of any help...two big standard poodles. Our old girl would show them where the good jewellery is...and our young girl would bounce around asking for a treat...then happily go on a car ride with them.. I THINK.. who knows MAYBE they would have instinct kick in, but i seriously doubt it. They run out and try to lick the amazon driver (he loves them and calls them by name) BUT they do BARK if they hear anyone out front so maybe that is a deterrent enough. I have a beware of dog sign on my fence into my garden though.

Lots of people do leave their doors unlocked, especially those UPVC type doors where you need a key to lock it from the inside.

Leaving a light on can be a deterrent, ideally a light in a room not just the hallway. You can also buy little lights that make it look from the outside like a TV is on. I had one when I worked long hours out of the home, it was set to come on automatically at dusk to make it look like someone was at home watching TV.

I think a lot of thieves are opportunistic in that they try door handles and look for open windows

This.

I know a couple of people with ring doorbells. One of them told me that she was shocked at the number of people who approached her door - during the day and night - and tried her door handle!

Recently a local FB group published a photo taken from a ring doorbell of somebody who approached a local house in the early hours of the morning, he must have spotted the ring doorbell as he came half way to the door and then ran off.

Definitely get an alarm too.

Keep windows and doors locked even if you are inside your house.

Put up a sign saying beware of the dog. Dogs are apparently the number one deterrent for burglars.

I have always used timer switches too so while lights on may not deter every opportunist thief it must be better than your home being in darkness when you are out. One in the living room, one in a bedroom is good idea. If I am out when it gets dark late afternoon or early evening at least I know my house is not obviously unnoccupied.

Thank you all. That TV light sounds really good! I will look for one and put it in thw front bedroom. No point in living room if curtains are drawn.

That is very scary about the ring doorbell, sounds like it's a real deterrent too so I will look into getting one of these. Not so keen on subscription though. I have a camera in my living room on windowsill pointing out so not sure if this would deter them too. Hope so!

I had also thought about a dog sign but some people break in to take dogs so not sure.

One afternoon a couple of years ago, someone saw a man in the next road ringing doorbells and knocking doors and, when there was no answer, trying the door handles. Although the man did break into the house at the end of my road, someone caught him on CCTV so he was arrested, charged and convicted. The police told us that many break-ins happen in daylight hours and also that people are daft enough to leave doors unlocked.

If on the same level as the pavement I would put blinds up.
Fit a light and a camera to pick up people who try the side gate. Also fit bolts to the gate.
If you have cameras fitted don't have them fitted at the eaves of the house because all you will do is film the top of thieves' heads. Much better to have at about 11 feet off the ground and be mindful that they should not intrude on the privacy of neighbours.
Make sure you have anti-bump/anti-snap door locks and also fit an additional lock like a chain in the inside.
Never leave a spare key outside unless it is in a key safe.
Don't leave things out like wheelie bins that can be used to climb up onto, say, a garage roof for access to landing windows.

Just do whatever you can to minimise the chance of burglary by making it as difficult as possible for potential thieves.

Maybe some window grills. My parents got them when every few months someone was trying to get in. I even chased a burglar once who was scouting the house out. The grills mean they feel much safer and just at the back door and window, so wasnt too pricey.

We have a ring doorbell. We also have Phillips Hue lights that we can control from Alexa, or our phones. When I am home alone with the children and I hear any sort of bump in the night I put the lights on downstairs using my phone whilst I am tucked up in bed. One night a car stopped outside our house and I could hear the engine running for a while. I looked on the ring doorbell just after I switched the lights on and the drive off. Maybe a coincidence but it has given me peace of mind.

I would like to set up Alexa with “intruder alert” where it turns all the lights to red and plays Welcome the The Jungle. If I had a robotic vacuum this would be the point where that would come out and start bashing at the ankles of the would be burglar. in America they have an option with Alexa where it sounds an alarm if it hears breaking glass.

Thank you for all the suggestions! I'll definitely do as much as I can. The bulb idea is good too so will definitely use that.

Thw patio door was broken and was about 20 odd years old. Before I had it replaced I left my keys in my car in town by mistake, when I got home I gave it a bit of a shove and got in no problem. It was broken for years. How I slept like that I will never know!

Alarm, cameras covering front, side & back, lights with sensors outside, smart lights inside that you can switch on from your phone, radio on a smart plug to come on at night or if you are out. Make sure you have snap proof locks on outside doors, gravel on paths, gates with locks, alarms on windows ( you can buy them & stick them on, any vibration & they go off) Take your mobile phone to bed with you because burglars sometimes cut the landline, have one bedroom with a solid door that you can lock & a plan for if you hear anyone downstairs, so you can grab your child & lock yourself in. I'm a domestic violence survivor & that is what the police security officer advised. If you make your house secure & hard to break in to burglars will walk past to somewhere easier, they don't like to have to make a noise & will usually try to get in the back where they won't be seen.

Put up a sign saying property covered by CCTV
Get an alarm / CCTV we have 3 cameras professionally fitted and alarm which cost about ££800 last year but it’s worth every penny
If you have side gates put a bolt at the bottom so the gate can’t be opened
Sensor type flood lights

I think being alone with a young child automatically makes you feel more vulnerable. I worried too about things like burglaries when my DC were young. Fact is if your doors are locked and your windows shut, someone is very unlikely to break in. As a pp said, burglars are mostly opportunistic, unless you are wealthy and targeted for a specific reason.

Make sure you have contents insurance just in case. It’s not expensive. I’m shocked by the amount of people I’ve met over the years who don’t have it.

I often leave things around windows and doors to deter burglars.
Glass vases, vacuum cleaner, wind chimes, clothes airers, all sorts.
Anything to put them off.

I think too many visible ‘security’ deterrents (like cameras, alarms, signs saying cctv monitoring etc) can have the opposite effect in that it implies you have items of great value or money stored in the house.

Definitely don’t go for bars unless you live in a high crime area where they’re common. It looks suspicious. I’ve only had bars when living abroad (in a country that was politically unstable, and the bars were a sort of outer cage protecting the whole property). Undoing the gates was a major task and made me feel vulnerable!

Same with complicated door locks, you don’t want to be fumbling around with various keys trying to get in.

I’d recommend internal bolts you can lock at night and a ‘beware of the dog’ sign on the side entrance (doesn’t matter she’s not aggressive, they don’t know that and a dog is a major deterrent!)

If you have French doors make sure they have proper locks and double glazing. But again I wouldn’t go for those huge safety bars you can get for French door locks, too obvious you’re worried about burglars.

I’d leave a light on when you’re out or a timer to turn a light on and off.

Movement sensor lights can be a pain as the slightest thing sets them off (birds, the wind, a mouse) then you’ll keep freaking out.

If you do get an alarm system I’d go for one with discreet window sensors as well as the door and erm make sure you have the code somewhere accessible as it will go off if you have a power cut or kid triggers it.

I don’t like ring door bells because of the hacking/security issues.