Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Burglary coincidence?

33 replies

TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 12:43

NC for this - about 4 years ago we were defrauded out of £1.5k by a local man from a known family who commit burglaries and assaults. He took bank transfer for work he then never carried out.
I and two other homeowners he stung testified against him in court last year - it took months for them to arrest him, find him, bring the case etc.
Found guilty and ordered to pay compensation.
Well the first payment was taken directly from his universal credit last month and paid into our account. He'll be paying £20 a fortnight.
Yesterday, we came home after a day out to a fully burgled house. Smashed bifold doors to get in - took all jewellery, handbags, watches. High value probably going to come to £50k. Car keys taken but the cars were out.
The police noted an unusual MO compared to other recent burglaries in the area. They normally go for the master bedroom and clear out jewels and leave fast. These have taken a massive telly, our imac, and turned over all beds looking under mattresses etc. Not fully "pro" apparently.
Wibu to think it could be him or his mates come for revenge? I've give the police his name - they know the family well - but I doubt they'd link it to him even if they arrest him now.
My husband says he wouldn't have gone to court to testify, and obviously 1.5k is better to loose than this.... if it was him.

OP posts:
WaltzingWaters · 27/07/2023 12:52

Oh that sounds awful OP, I’m so sorry. It definitely does seem like it could be a revenge burglary from this guy or someone related to him. I hope they can find some evidence and get him if it is.

All the best OP. Sorry this has happened to you.

Oddsockday · 27/07/2023 12:56

I'd be moving out of the area if I was you.

FuneralDisaster · 27/07/2023 12:57

Timing is definitely suspicious and the different MO would also raise flags

I'd get some CCTV/Ring up ASAP and, sorry to say, I'd be wary when out walking etc too

Hopefully it won't be anything like that and I'm sorry for what you've gone through

PeanutButterOnToad · 27/07/2023 12:59

How absolutely horrible for you, hopefully the police will take the “coincidence” seriously.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:03

Oddsockday · 27/07/2023 12:56

I'd be moving out of the area if I was you.

So I should have just swallowed the £1.5k loss?

OP posts:
GasPanic · 27/07/2023 13:05

TV definitely unusual. Large, difficult to move without breaking and difficult to transport.

Jewellery/gold/cash the favoured target. Alcohol also tends to be taken by youngsters.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:15

Didn’t even take remote controls.

OP posts:
Oddsockday · 27/07/2023 13:19

No I didn't mean that you are in anyway at fault but this is clearly a tactic to intimidate. People like this tend to ramp up this behaviour. You describe it as a family so you are dealing with a vendetta from more than one person.

I'm sorry this has happened but the police can only do so much. I know of a similar case and it eventually led to an arson attack.
Is the worry worth it?

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:26

Oh dear

OP posts:
Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:31

I'm having an awful panic attack now and nobody to talk to.

OP posts:
GasPanic · 27/07/2023 13:32

A lot of remotes are universal these days, so fairly easy to get replacements. But still, very strange thing to steal. Unless it was some sort of 80" behomouth and worth about £10k (which would probably make it even more difficult to steal without damaging).

TBH if someone broke in and nicked my telly I would not be that bothered, they are replaceable pretty cheap, but I would be upset if I lost some stuff of much less value but of sentimental value for me.

Oddsockday · 27/07/2023 13:33

I really don't want to frighten you.
Be pro active. Get the best security system you can. Make it highly visible. Just be aware. Anything out of the ordinary inform the police immediately.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:36

Tv not worth much at all.

The imac is gone with all family photos- not backed up as I have about 3 apple ids I've forgotten

OP posts:
GasPanic · 27/07/2023 13:39

Do you not have iFind or whatever it is called on the Apple ?

WoolyMammoth55 · 27/07/2023 13:40

Hi OP, I'm so sorry to hear about this, how awful.

I have done assistant work for wealthy people in the past and they all have CCTV - a camera on the back wall covering the garden, plus some hidden ones for close ups, and one above/on every door. That could be a good starting point to help you feel safer at home.

In terms of burglar alarms, they used something similar to this: https://simplisafe.co.uk/ where a human operator would challenge an intruder if a camera was triggered, and then place a call to the police if the 'stand down' password wasn't given. (There's a separate password to give if you are under duress). I knew of a few cases where windows were broken or locks forced and the criminals then ran off empty-handed when challenged by the person on the alarm system - so they do work.

But I agree with PP that you've now lost a great deal - the original fraud, plus this very unusual/spiteful burglary - and that this may continue to escalate... Would you consider moving? At least then you know you could put it behind you.

Wish you all the best.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:41

Just been on phone to apple as we still have ipad. But no it appears something wasn't linked up right. Or I've used different apple ids for them...

OP posts:
Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:42

We'd loose so much by moving and my husband wouldn't hear of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:43

WoolyMammoth55 · 27/07/2023 13:40

Hi OP, I'm so sorry to hear about this, how awful.

I have done assistant work for wealthy people in the past and they all have CCTV - a camera on the back wall covering the garden, plus some hidden ones for close ups, and one above/on every door. That could be a good starting point to help you feel safer at home.

In terms of burglar alarms, they used something similar to this: https://simplisafe.co.uk/ where a human operator would challenge an intruder if a camera was triggered, and then place a call to the police if the 'stand down' password wasn't given. (There's a separate password to give if you are under duress). I knew of a few cases where windows were broken or locks forced and the criminals then ran off empty-handed when challenged by the person on the alarm system - so they do work.

But I agree with PP that you've now lost a great deal - the original fraud, plus this very unusual/spiteful burglary - and that this may continue to escalate... Would you consider moving? At least then you know you could put it behind you.

Wish you all the best.

Thank you.

OP posts:
xILikeJamx · 27/07/2023 13:43

The fact that the house has been completely turned upside down and things like even the TV have been taken suggests it's not an ordinary burglary where people are just looking to make a quick buck selling things on, and certainly has a 'revenge' vibe about it to me.

Our old house was burgled (in the 'usual' sense) and I wanted to move asap. OH convinced me not to, "just a random act" etc, but a year later they came back and did it again. Apparently this is fairly common if they find somewhere with lots of valuables (I had a load of professional camera gear) - they'll wait for your insurance claim to go through, you re-buy all the items then they come back and take them again. After the 2nd time our house was on the market within a week - the broken window replaced the day of our first viewings. I was laser-focussed on getting out of there.

Sorry but I'd be moving asap.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:46

Dh also thinks they might have slashed up furniture etc or left shit around if it was spite....

OP posts:
Oddsockday · 27/07/2023 13:48

I don't understand why your husband would not consider moving.
Surely the safety of your family is paramount.

Superpinkflowerpower · 27/07/2023 13:49

@TkkkOnMe As well as CCTV, in these circumstances I would defiantly look at getting a Security Fog machine installed, the Cost is well worth the security.

They fill your home with a complete harmless fog in seconds, that damages nothing and makes impossible for any one breaking in to see and they will flee.

I have one and its brilliant.

Guardall Security Systems - Fog Bandit Demonstration

Fog Bandit demonstration from our engineers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xScP5BfxMzs

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:52

My home is very big so that fog thing might be difficult.

The police who attended say cctv not all that - they wear hoods/masks and all you can do often is watch them burgle you. Even watching "live" the police won't get th3r4 on time

OP posts:
Superpinkflowerpower · 27/07/2023 13:54

@TkkkOnMe Have a look any way, mainly business use them and we have them in our warehouses too.

Original poster
TkkkOnMe · 27/07/2023 13:54

Superpinkflowerpower · 27/07/2023 13:54

@TkkkOnMe Have a look any way, mainly business use them and we have them in our warehouses too.

Will do

OP posts: