To be really freaked out and scared to go to sleep?

[theresabluebirdinmyheart]

This morning when I went to bring my bin in and put it away I realised the bench in my back garden had been moved. It’s a heavy wooden bench and the wind would not be able to blow it. It had been moved closer to my secure 6ft fence. I have a side gate which was still bolted shut.

the bench was where it usually is when I put the bin out last night so at some point during the night last night it had moved.

The only explanation I can come up with is that someone had climbed over my fence during the night and moved the bench to get a leg up over the fence to get back out again.

I am really really freaked out at the thought of this. I have a ring doorbell camera at the front door but no cameras at the back so haven’t got any evidence to prove anyone was there but I just can’t come up with any other plausible scenario than a prowler or potential burglar moved it to gain access over the fence.
I’ve tried to put it out my mind all day but now it’s dark and time to head to bed I’m feeling really sick and anxious. I’m a single mum with a disabled daughter and feeling really vulnerable. Every noise is creeping me out.

Can anyone think of a plausible and less terrifying scenario of how the bench could have moved? To put my mind at ease? Have ordered a camera for the back garden to be delivered tomorrow but fucking hell I feel really afraid.

TL;DR - heavy wooden garden bench moved during the night last night and am freaked out someone was prowling in my back garden and used it to climb over the fence.

I half wonder if we're in the same area OP!
We are a through route for addicts and most of the estate have been victims in one way or another.
One got into my car and emptied my little change pot.
And notably nicked the neighbours pram!
They've been through my garden numerous times and tried to get in the house once.

My friend borrowed my hoover a few weeks ago, I thought I'd order a new one, as I needed a replacement really and was embarrassed to lend out my one that's seen better days! So I lent it, they dropped it back whilst I was out...within 3 minutes my hoover was gone. Stolen from just under the ring camera.

If they realise that there's nothing to nick easily they move along to their next potential victim...

@theresabluebirdinmyheart This is actually a very good idea {As long as you don't step on it yourself}
A rake, tines side upwards if stepped on actually causes the handle to fly up and smash one on the nose. I have stepped on one and can attest as to the pain.

Tempting and funny as the rake scenario is, it's not advised to leave any tools or implements outside and unsecured as they could be used to break into the house, break windows or as weapons against a householder or pet.

To be honest lights left on should do the job. Burglars aren't generally in the business of wanting to be caught! They'll just move along if they think the house isn't empty. Opening a window and shouting "FUCK OFF!" is a pretty great deterrent too.

I've steps on a few rakes in my time. It's so sudden and painful - like when you trap your fingers in a door jambe

It would be great if houses were more booby trapped though: buckets of cold water, big tangly nets, trip wires and spring traps for fingers on the tops of fences - ouch!

They were probably checking sheds for tools and saw you didn't have any

I fully understand the fear and admire your spirit but please think very carefully about this as it is generally not advised. A weapon like this could be taken from you by an intruder and used to seriously hurt or kill you. If you used it against an intruder and hurt or killed them, you would have to justify why you had an axe upstairs and that would be very difficult to do. A baseball bat or cricket bat kept alongside some sports kit, perhaps of your son's, would be easier to justify by the way.

Thanks, I get your point re axe upstairs {I chop wood outdoors}
I will see what I can get re sports equipment.

I'd definitely not be wanting to use the axe {it cleaves oak like it's polystyrene} on a person or have it used on me.

It would, but tempting and amusing as it is to think about boobytrapping our homes - a pet crocodile in the back garden pond is one of my own favourites! - we have to think of emergency services trying to gain access to come and help us.

I keep a heavy can of hairspray next to the bed. Two folds!

A) clonk someone over the head with it
B) Spray someone in the eyes

C) It's an everyday item so nobody could say I'm using a weapon

Hope you are ok op. I know that when people wander about in people's gardens round my way they are usually looking to break into sheds. A lot of sheds and garages are broken into. They seem to like bicycles particularly. One New Years Eve the kids came charging downstairs and flew out into the back garden like hounds in full cry. Turned out they had looked out the window (there were fireworks) to see a guy in the garden looking up at them. The guy had fled before they got outside. I suspect he hid cowering behind the bushes at the end of the garden whilst the kids milled about yapping excitedly ( or he leapt over a 6 foot gate). My kids are quite scary. We saw he had stepped on an icy puddle and put his foot into the icy water so he must have had a cold and wet foot and it was a cold and frosty night. I felt almost sorry for him. Mind you I wouldn't advise giving chase to any would-be burglars like my kids did! As you have a shed this was probably what was being targeted and whoever was in your garden was probably looking for something to sell for drugs money and they want something that is quick and easy without the risk of being caught. They would not be interested in the house provided doors and windows are secure and someone is obviously in. A security light for the back might be a good idea as it tends to deter thieves and also alerts you if there is a prowler. I did put an alert on nextdoor about our intruder to warn other people.

OP, if you're still awake and reading, I have to disappear now but I'm sure lots of other Mumsnetters will be around overnight if needed. I really hope that you have a peaceful night and do go and bunk up with your daughter. You do need your rest. Sleep deprivation only makes anxiety worse and caring for a disabled loved one harder. Sleep tight and don't have nightmares, (as someone used to say).

I don't have any advice but just want to say I hope you're ok.
Hopefully when your new camera arrives, it'll give you peace of mind xx

Is the bench nice? Good quality?
Just wondering if someone was trying to pinch it and realised it was too heavy. Just because it's moved it doesn't mean they want to gain access to your house.
Although it's still awful to think someone was nosying about gardens,
I had to report a theft to the local police. Policeman who took details told us someone had nicked his bench from his enclosed, secure garden with 6ft fences and it was bolted to the concrete.
I Hope you manage to have an uneventful evening x

Hope you have a quiet night and get a camera sorted for peace of mind.
Lovely user name by the way .

Call your local police station (non emergency number), explain the situation and request that they do a few laps around over the next week or so?

Hoping you're ok op and found something nice to watch on tele if you're staying awake

Hope you’re okay x

When I lived alone in a dodgy area, I bought a pair of men’s work boots from a charity shop for a couple of quid and left them by the back door. Also bought a gadget that flickers a light to mimic a tv. They don’t have Ring camera then, so I have spent many nights worrying in my own home at every noise. Unnecessarily as it turned out, but I know the feeling well. Hope you’re ok.

Actually remembered the many times I was imagining how to defend the house Home Alone style. I did consider a load of marbles on the side path, which I never used. In the end I put windchimes against the gate. They wouldn’t be free to clang about other than if someone opened the gate, that was the plan to put people off.

Hoping all OK with you op. A few tips you could consider for future to help:

Get some motion activated battery powered sensor lights outside. Will only come on with movement and turn off after 15 seconds. Rolson are good from amazon.

You can record a (big and ferocious) dog bark off the Internet to your phone it another device. If you were ever to be worried someone was outside you could play that loudly in the house and they wouldn't be sure it wasn't a real dog inside.

Buy a 'warning, dogs on the loose' sign and display on your back gate.

Pick up a large pair of mens work boots or trainers and put them just outside back door, might make someone think you've got a burly chap indoors.

For indoors I'd be leaving a different combination of lights on overnight for a few weeks, don't be predicatable with the same ones as they'll know you're on to them but ideally at least a couple upstairs and one downstairs and TV on as pp mentioned.

You could also place a 'cameras in use' sign both by your front and back doors as an additional deterrent and keep the 'on' light of the cameras switched to on so it's visible they're there from anyone outside looking around.

Hoping your concern is for nothing 🤞

Are you okay op? Hope you managed to sleep

How did it go OP? Reading the thread and it’s reminding me of ‘home alone’ booby trapping the house!

Morning everyone and thank you all so much for the kind words, I managed to get a couple of hours sleep with all lights left on, tv on, no signs of anything this morning but my camera for the back garden will be delivered.

I did notice some of my plants in the garden had been disturbed (they are hanging basket style on the high fence so definitely fit with the theory someone jumped over). Seriously did consider taking a kitchen knife to bed with me but have read as a woman any weapon you might try to use is often snatched out your hands and turned on you. It’s awful as women we are made to feel this way and have to think of these scenarios, I can’t imagine a man would be feel this fearful.

I might contact local police station and ask for security advice, or see if they’ve had any reports of similar in the area.

Hopefully it was opportunistic and a one off but I’ll be on edge for ages now.