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Original poster

Don't feel safe anymore .....

27 replies

Ghosty · 27/03/2003 08:52

I had a nightmare this week. On monday I took DS out in the morning for a nice jolly morning and picnic lunch with a friend and her little boy. When we got home we found that we had been burgled. Our front door had been bashed in and our telly, video, computer and my DH v. expensive and good camera had gone.
I was devastated and hysterical ... DS was upset as 'his' telly had gone ... We are totally insured and all of the stuff is replaceable (nothing precious had been taken) but I am just gutted that someone came into our home, our space uninvited and saw fit to take our things that we worked hard to pay for and have.
The police have taken a report ... have said that we must be vigilant when we replace our things as 50% of houses are burgled again less than a month after the first one when the burglars reckon you have new stuff.
So, I am now terrified and hate being on my own ... DH is out tonight so I am clinging to the laptop and my mumsnet friends .... I am scared when I come home in the daytime and our house looks awful as the front door is now boarded up. Not to mention the fact that I have a toddler to entertain all day with no telly
Nothing more to be said really ...... just wanted to share .... Oh and I came on today so there is not baby this month .... not feeling the greatest all in all .......

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breeze · 27/03/2003 09:03

Oh Ghosty, how awful for you. I know how you feel, someone tried to break-in to our house on Christmas Eve, this terrifed me because we were all in doors asleep at the time, luckily something must have scared them off and they never got in, but it does make you nervous and listen out for silly noises. I hope that you get your stuff replaced soon. You must have put your laptop in a safe place.
Take Care xxx

prufrock · 27/03/2003 09:06

Poor you ghosty. I know how you feel - we were burgled a couple of years ago and it was so scary afterwards to know taht soebody else had benn in my house - I had to change all teh sheets and wash all our clothes because they might have touched them. I was a nervous wreck at nights for a couple of months afterwards - kept telling dh to go and check out the slighteset noise in case it was the burglars come back - but yhou do get calmer after a while.
It is very unlikely that anybody would try to burgle your house whilst you are in it during the day, or at night. Most take place during the day when people are out - so don't be scared about being there by yourself. I wish I could be more reassuring, but I still occasionally get a bit apprehensive about opening my front door and seeing that somebody has kicked in our balcony doors again.

Do you have victim support there? We had a very nice woman who came round and gave us practical advice about securing the place, and they offer counselling if you want it.

It's a very good job they didn't take the laptop isn't it

Original poster
Ghosty · 27/03/2003 09:07

Thanks breeze ... yeah the laptop goes to work with DH everyday ... so it wasn't here. Also by some bizarre freaky thing I took our camcorder with me that day to record DS for my mum and dad ... I usually forget it and curse myself when we are out doing nice things. I am so pleased I had it as the tape has all sorts of lovely scenes of DS on it (birthday parties etc) and I would have been gutted if it had been nicked.

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Original poster
Ghosty · 27/03/2003 09:09

We crossed prufrock ... thanks for the kind words ...

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WideWebWitch · 27/03/2003 09:17

Oh Ghosty, how horrible. Can you do anything to the house so that you feel safer? i.e get a reinforced door/alarm/extra locks etc? Maybe it's unrealistic but just a thought. Also, if you're worried at night, could you leave some extra lights on, especially if you're on your own? Burglars don't want to be disturbed usually and they really don't want to go for houses where there's someone in either. Anyway, sorry you've had an awful day, hugs.

megg · 27/03/2003 09:26

Ghosty how awful for you. I know its difficult but try to focus on the positive though like you weren't home when it happened and you're all safe and well. Thinking of you.

eemie · 27/03/2003 09:29

Sorry to hear it Ghosty. Sympathy on the baby front too - same here.

It will take you a while to settle and reclaim the house as your own 'territory'...but they can't take that away from you. Why not invite as many friends round as you can in the next few days to speed the process?

Glad none of you were hurt and that you didn't come face to face with the intruders.

Batters · 27/03/2003 09:48

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GeorginaA · 27/03/2003 10:02

How horrible Ghosty

I agree with wickedwaterwitch that if you can possibly spare the cash fitting an alarm (especially if it has a "panic" button or similar for when you're at home and feeling a bit vunerable) or some other security thing might go a little way to getting your confidence back.

Do the police near you have any home security/neighbourhood watch liaison officers that could come around and advise where improvements could be made?

Dh works away from home at the moment, and I always make sure the mobile phone is charged and by my bed at night which also gives me a better sense of security.

bells2 · 27/03/2003 10:08

How awful for you Ghosty. I would definitely do what you can to step up security.

Marina · 27/03/2003 10:48

So sorry to hear this Ghosty - so often us urban Brits think of NZ as a haven of civilised values and behaviour (well that's what it implies in the tourism office stuff...). Definitely agree with the others that a burglar alarm might help. In the UK, your contents premiums are reduced if you have one, so that would help with the cost. At the recommendation of our Crime Prevention Office, we also got a kick bar fitted to our door frame so you would have to blast the entire thing out of the wall to shift it. Getting an expert eye to look over your security arrangements will start the process of getting over this nasty shock. Also think Eemie and Batters' idea of filling the house with welcome callers will make you feel good. I have to be honest and say I am still plagued with anxiety about a similar burglary on our family home when I was 11...it is very traumatic, hugs to you.

Original poster
Ghosty · 27/03/2003 11:40

Thanks for all your lovely messages .... We have decided to get an alarm ... closing the gate after the horse has bolted .... and have had a chap round today for a quote ...
Am going to bed now ... it is nearly midnight and I have to be brave ... will have my mobile on next to the bed ......
Night night all ....

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tigermoth · 27/03/2003 12:27

Hope you soon feel safe at home again, Ghosty.

Podmog · 27/03/2003 13:14

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sobernow · 27/03/2003 15:31

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woozle · 27/03/2003 22:25

Hope you slept well Ghosty.

Lots of good advice from fellow netters here. I've nothing really to add except to ask if you have asked for a crime prevention officer to call round.

I have been burgled 4 times and had my care stolen by the garden cane through the letter box method.

The crime prevention officer was excellent and pointed out the good and bad points about our security.

Do you get on well with your neighbours? I met a few more after we were burgled - I went to visit a few to tell them what had happened. More of a community spirit and all that.

Things will get easier and good luck with your plans to get pregant. Sounds like you need DH in more ways than one!

Original poster
Ghosty · 28/03/2003 08:26

Nah ... didn't sleep well woozle ... not because of any intruders but because DS woke up at 1.30 am screaming that a frog was in his bed tickling his foot! He then didn't go back to sleep until 3am and so I am pooped!
I have got lovely neighbours ... they are all pretty ancient and deaf so they will be no help in security BUT knowing they are there and are nice is a bonus ... the lady next door baked some muffins for us as 'comfort food' on the day it happened ... sweet ...
Anyway ... we are having some people over on Sunday ... good idea folks ...
Entertaining DS without a telly when it is p***g down with rain all day is a bit of a challenge however ....

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ScummyMummy · 28/03/2003 09:00

Didn't see this before. Horrible nasty burglars- a pox on them for scaring you and taking your stuff. V annoyed with them. Hope you feel better soon, G. xxx

p.s. Trying to think of something positive to cheer you up and the only thing I can think of is at least they didn't crap on the floor or pee in the kettle! Some comfort I am, huh?

Original poster
Ghosty · 28/03/2003 09:06

Scummy ....
We do have the last laugh tho' ... our telly is from England and so doesn't work in NZ unless you have a Sky Dish ... not many people have those here ... if they have anything they have Sky Digital .... so some burglar is sitting somewhere trying to get our swanky posh telly to work and thinks that is is crap ... tee heee

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zebra · 28/03/2003 09:24

One big plus about living in a poor neighbourhood with many large Asian families living in regular size 3-bedr. semis -- somebody is always home. There isn't much to nick. The few cars on the road are already knackered. We buy the local paper and there are never burglaries or vehicle-thefts in our area.

prufrock · 28/03/2003 09:25

Ghosty - i had the same thing - we have Bang & Olufsen stereo, (dh's toy) which they took, but they couldn't take the leads as they are all plumbed in. Only B&O leads fit, and B&O will only sell you spare parts if they know you or you have your serial number - as a security measure. So my burglar got a very swish stereo and speakers, but no way of listening to it through them!
And I'm now going to tell a very embarrasing story just to cheer you up.

My burglar took away his loot in a couple of gym bags from underneath our bed. One of these was the repository for a couple of ..ahem.. toys. My husband was seriously considering claiming on the insurance

Original poster
Ghosty · 28/03/2003 21:21

prufrock ...

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Podmog · 29/03/2003 10:22

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Original poster
Ghosty · 29/03/2003 10:59

Aaah Podmog ... thanks for asking ... given me a nice warm feeling that has ....
Seeing as you ask ... not toooooo bad ... except DH is out again tonight and so I am hugging the laptop once more. DS has a rotten cold and I think I am getting it too ...
And we are going to have to fork out around $2000 for an alarm system and the excess on our insurance plus $30 per month for the alarm to be monitored. Not much in pounds stirling but a lot over here ... might even mean that I won't be able to pay for a specialist if I ever do get pregnant ....

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Tinker · 29/03/2003 11:03

Ghosty - ugh, being burgled is horrible, got done 3 times in 8 months, and one was a return burglary - fortunately stuff had't been replaced. But just try to tell yourself that burglars very rarely enter an occupied house - at least, that's what I tell myself.

Glad you're getting an alarm - mine stopped after that. Was told by a policeman that he had never know of a successful burglary on an alarmed house. I'm sure there are but it is a big deterrent.

Don't know if this would help, but for years later I rented my tv and video thinking that if they were stolen again (which they were once) it didn't feel as personal.