Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

Original poster

Someone broke into our house last night and only ds and I were there

23 replies

arabella2 · 12/01/2004 09:28

I woke up at 5.15am because of ds waking up. When I came downstairs I found the two back doors open. Stupidly I wondered whether I had left them open (you never know, pregnancy brain and all that) but 45 minutes later I came back into the house from the car where ds and I had been waiting for the police (who were just going to check the house with me, I wasn't convinced it was a break in at that point) and that's when I saw one of the kitchen window panes missing...
Anyway, I must have scared them off coming downstairs because I cannot see anything that they have taken, even easy stuff like the video camera.
Anyone have experience of knowing someone was in their house while they were asleep? All the more scary because dh is not here since yesterday and until Wednesday, but luckily I have someone else to spend the nights until he comes back because there is NO WAY I am staying in this house. They can take the entire contents away if they want. Every little noise would have me jumping out of my skin. I did hear a noise this morning which is one of the things which made me come downstairs, but then again that has happened before when there has been nobody in the house.
The police reckon they won't be back but I am not so sure, surely they have had a good recky (spelling?) now and know how easy it is to get in and out?
Plus dh and I who have a very up and down relationship anyway, were disagreeing on the phone this morning... The insurance company of course have to fix the missing window pane, but he says get them to fix the broken locks on the back door as well (nothing to do with break in). I have nothing morally against this as a tiny thing like that is okay for a huge insurance company to deal with etc.. to whom we pay money etc... It's just that I hate lying and I think I am crap at it.
It's weird because last night I was wondering if I should leave a light on or not... mind you I wonder those kind of things every time dh is away for a night.

OP posts:

leander · 12/01/2004 09:32

Oh arrabella poor you,I hope you and ds are ok.

handlemecarefully · 12/01/2004 09:33

That's a frightening and unsettling experience.

I would recommend a burglar alarm. You can set a programme whereby its activated downstairs but off upstairs - so that it can be on whilst you are asleep. We set ours without fail every night.

nutcracker · 12/01/2004 09:36

Oh god, how awful for you. Hope you get it sorted

pie · 12/01/2004 09:36

How awful arabella, I hope you and DS are ok, and don't get too freaked out by the whole thing (though I know I would).

Angeliz · 12/01/2004 09:37

arabella", i hope you are o.k, what an awful experience!

Batters · 12/01/2004 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katierocket · 12/01/2004 10:00

arabella - exactly same thing happened to me about 12 months ago. They broke in while we were asleep in bed, stole car keys (and then car), wallet, cash etc.

It really freaked me out and I know how you must feel - it's horrible.

We now set the alarm downstairs every night without fail - worth it for the peace of mind. Sadly think this is becoming more common - happened to 2 other people I know over last few months.

take care
xxx

fio2 · 12/01/2004 10:16

arabella how awful for you. I am glad they were scared off by you coming downstairs though, I always worry people will turn on you. You will have to have a good security check now to put your mind at rest. Oh it must be so frightening, hope you are feeling better soon

Hulababy · 12/01/2004 10:19

I would also recommend a burglar alarm. We got one in our house after we were burgled (we were out at the time). We only had sensors downstairs as it would have very difficult for anyone to access from upstairs. We also had a panic button next to our bed whch you could press if you thought there was someone in the house and you were upstairs. I used to set that alarm every single night since and it did make me feel more secure.

I hope you and your DS are okay now. It must have been awful for you.

saintshar · 12/01/2004 11:09

Before we married, me and my sister used to live with our parents, and we shared a downstairs bedroom (bungalow.)
Anyway, we were both asleep in the middle of the night, she was woken by something touching her head. There is a patio door in the bedroom, and her bed was next to the curtains, so when she woke up she thought we had left the patio door open and the curtains were blowing. She stood up and opened the curtains so she could close the door... to find a burgler stood behind the curtains.
She ran off to get my Dad, an left me in bed froze to the spot i was that scared. To be honest, i don't know who was most scared, my Sister or the burgler!!
Anyway, i know it is really awful arabella2. Everthing feels 'strange ' for a while after. It is hard to describe, but you will feel better about it soon, it just takes time.

Bron · 12/01/2004 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

roam · 12/01/2004 11:40

arabella how awful. Years ago an old neighbour was broken into twice as they waited for things to be replaced by the insurance money which I understand is how they do it. I would leave dh to do the lying. I'm glad they didn't get away with anything.

I have often wondered about getting an alarm but my dh thinks I worry too much and it's an unnecessary expense. Anyone know how much they cost?

SueW · 12/01/2004 12:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Chandra · 12/01/2004 13:06

Arabella, I think that the dearest thing the burglars take when they enter into a house is the sense of security you felt when you were at your home. We had been burglarised in several ocassions, the first one was the most traumatic (I was a 6 years old and they took the TV!!!), the second one they literally split the front door in two, took every single electric appliance in the house and left a horrible mess. When we arrived from the university my parents were waiting for us at the door with a big grin in the face, informed us about the problem and took us to a restaurant to 'celebrate' we have been robbed!!! (a quite bizarre step given that we didn't have any insurance), but their dealing of the matter in a positive attitude had the good effect of minimising the trauma and since then, every time something disapears from the house we feel the anger, take more precautions, but know that as long as we are safe, we are fine.

So don't let them take your security, fit the locks and the alarm if it make you feel safer and try not to think about it.

turnupthebass · 12/01/2004 13:11

This happened to me a few years ago so I really sympathise- I was the only one in and (luckily) slept through it all. My housemate was away at his girlfriends house.

The first I knew was when I cam downstairs in the morning and the back door was wide open. Just like you my first reaction was confusion - then gradually as I looked around I began to notice things gone.

They had drilled through the wooden frame of a small dining room window, then used the drill bit to flip up the window bar.

They only took obvious things like DVD player, Playstation, Stereo - and as far as I know they didnt come upstairs (thankfully). But it really shook me up to think I was there on my own and so vulnerable.

The worst part was the (very nice) policewoman telling me how easy we had made it for them. We had no alarm, no window locks and used to leave the back door key in the lock - making it so easy for them to take anything they wanted with an easy exit.

Needless to say I have learned my lesson from it! I never realised before how important window locks can be.

We worried too that they may return, but fortunately there was never any more problems.

Chandra · 12/01/2004 13:15

Oh and I forgot, I know it's very traumatic to know somebody has been inside the house while you were there -have also had the experience-, but don't forget that unpleasant as it is, you are safe, nothing really terrible has happened, so don't let this problem take your security away, if anything let it make you stronger.

CountessDracula · 12/01/2004 14:38

OMG you poor poor thing, how scary?

We had a similar experience when I was pregnant we went to Ibiza and rented a rather remote villa off season, it was burgled (and we weren't even there at the time) and it ruined the holiday for us as we felt really ill at ease in the evenings and hated coming back to the villa, I can't imagine how awful it must be if it's your house.

xxx

SHIREENSMOM · 12/01/2004 17:30

oh my good hope you and ds are ok

Original poster

arabella2 · 12/01/2004 21:04

Thanks for all your messages. I'm feeling a little better now but both myself and ds have had a terrible day. Ds watched far too much tv but I literally didn't have the energy to do anything else much with him plus I couldn't go out as I was waiting for various repair people. Tonight my neighbour is coming to spend the night here as dh is not here till Wednesday. It was that moment of seeing the back doors open which was the worst, like a horrible icy heavy shower on my back, the sickening realisation that all was not as it was supposed to be, and yes, feeling unsafe in your own home.

OP posts:

3GirlsMum · 12/01/2004 21:08

How terrible for you Arabella (((hugs)))).

Demented · 12/01/2004 21:53

arrabella, hugs {{{{}}}}. Sounds awful.

handlemecarefully · 12/01/2004 22:14

Roam,

Your dh thinks that a burglar alarm is an unnecessary expense!!! - at what price personal security ?

The police will tell you that they are the biggest single deterrent to burglars....they cost a few hundred quid

lyndsey66 · 12/01/2004 22:24

arabella2 - how awful for you all. I really hope that you are ok. I have been burgled (luckily whilst out of the house). I know that at first I was really reluctant to leave the house incase they came back, but they never did.
hilst discussing this - can any-one recommend a good burglar alarm?
Hulababy - where did you get a panic button from?
thanks, big hugs to you arabella (())

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread