just been burgled

[minsat]

Feel devastated. They took all my jewellery - everything. I know it's just stuff, but there are so many memories attached - my engagement ring, ear-rings I wore on my wedding........
Want to up the security on the house. Can anyone recommend alarm company? I also want metal shutters put up on all downstairs windors / patio doors, but DH not keen. Any advise?

I'm so sorry to hear this, it's a horrible thing to happen, makes you feel so vulnerable.

Do you have a local security firm who can install an alarm for you? Change the locks, invest in better locks, door chain etc?

How/where did the burglars gain entrance? For us it was a downstairs window so we sorted security on that and it made me feel better.

And it's not just stuff is it? It's special stuff, sentimental and personal to you.

You have my sympathy. Have a hot strong tea and start making a list for your insurers. xx

The alarm company will come and talk to you about options.
What part if uk are you?
I can recommend someone down south!

I'm so very sorry. The Police can help you to secure your home. Window locks are vital, as is changing the locks. Have you contacted your insurance company?

So sorry minsat. We had a nasty burglary - I was in the house with DD (12) and DM (80) at the time.

Two things -
Don't let the b* win. Yell, scream, swear at them and tell them they are NOT going to get the better of you. Probably best to do this behind closed doors, so no-one thinks you've lost it, but I found it very effective in getting rid of anger - and encouraged DD to do the same.

We sold my car to pay for an outside alarm system which is connected up to monitored CCTV. I like to know that when I'm in bed at night, someone would be alerted if anyone came into our garden - the burglars had come through the fields at the back. This was a totally disproportionate response, but six years later, I don't regret it for a minute, because I feel safe in my own home.

Tried to pm you but couldn't - really sorry you're having to cope with this.

Aw this is horrible, I am so sorry for you x
I would also get an alarm system fitted too, we have one here. It was already fitted when we moved in! Have you thought about getting a large dog? Great deterrent for thieves...and yes I wouldn't be sure about metal shutters like your DH. I would be worried about how to get out in a fire or how they look.....

'All of these little things can make the house more secure without having a prison look of shutters.'

External shutters are common in Belgium, and are fab. I am going to have them fitted to my house when back in UK, as they are great for security but also for insulation. You can literally feel the draught cut off, and they are excellent as black outs as well if your child doesn't sleep.

Minsat that's just so awful, I really feel for you. Jewellery holds so many memories, my heart really goes out to you. Not much more I can advise beyond what's already been said. Alarms bring great peace of mind.

I too am interested to know how they got in.

In the UK shutters are quite uncommon, and they are a visible sign that the house is unoccupied.

I'm sorry to hear that... I thought I lost one of my earrings the other day and it was one half of a pair I received for my 18th birthday from my beloved grandma. Though it wasn't expensive, only had a tiny diamond but I've worn it every day since and I'm now 35! Thank goodness I found it on the bed while changing the sheets.

I can't remember where I read this but a while ago, one of the newspapers carried an article that basically was advice from an ex-burglar and I remembered being rather surprised by what he said was off-putting to burglars. And they are cheap solutions. One was a motion-sensor light that comes on when people walk onto your front path and the other was using shingles in your garden (it's the rustling noise it makes when people walk on it). Best of luck!

You can install collapsible security grilles to your windows and french doors. Not cheap but would be more favourable than metal shutters. Here.

I typed a really long reply and lost it.
We were burgled in September and I lost a lot of jewellery. I want an alarm then, not now as it would not have prevented our burglary and would have put restrictions on us. Police advice was that professionals (the type we had) will get in no matter what you do.
We have made it lots more difficult for any future burglars we have a very well hidden safe and I always put everything in there.
You do not have to accept vouchers from your insurance company there are rulings on this and I can give you details of this if you need them - pm me.
It will get better.
We are replacing through auctions which are really fun looking through the listings and choosing what to bid on. You get much better value for money, we spent less on the replacement engagement ring that the original then had it valued and it is a massive up grade.

Lizcat
A safe is great - until you've got a burglar standing there demanding you take them to the safe and open it. We actually have a safe but keep precious stuff in a separate hidey hole now!

Piglet I am aware that shutters are uncommon in the UK, as I am a Brit and have had houses for 26 years in the UK now; however, having lived for 5 years now in a house with external shutters, I want them in my house in UK , as they are great insulation and security.

In Belgium, it is quite common to have shutters down during the day; when it's been down to -15 here, I keep certain shutters down as the draught doesn't get in. I think given where my house is, the absence of my car on the drive is more indicative of if I'm in or not, than if the shutters are down. After all, when in UK, I don't always remember to draw the curtains in the morning.

Thank you for all your advice and support.
We had all the windows and doors locked. They smashed through a double glazed leaded patio door. We live in North London and there have been a lot of break-ins in our little area. Apparantly they come armed with 'cash for gold' envelopes and are targetting asians for their gold! Having said that many non-asians have also been burgled.
Have 3 alarm companies coming in for quotes today. Have also been advised to put trellis up on top of garden fences as they are too fragile for burglars to climb over. We aren't allowed to use barbed wire as it might hurt potential burglars!! But we can plant spikey plants around borders - just don't think my kids would like that.....
Lizcat, I would really like details of the rulings you mentioned as I have been warned that I might get vouchers. Unfortunately, I'm fairly new to this site and have no idea what pm is..
I'm surprised at my reaction to this. Always thought I was quite robust, but it's been a week now and I'm still really tearful :(

Minsat I can get them and pm them to you no problem at the top of the page by the logout button your message button will go yellow.
You do not have to accept vouchers and I have to say the moment my DH said I am aware of the omubudsmens ruling about this the insurance company backed down and offered cash. From our experience I am afraid it is going to get a bit tougher the insurance company put us through hell to obtain what we were insured for even though we had up to date valuations for everything. Unfortunatly as we insured in March last year and the gold and diamond price had gone up dramatically since then we were under insured, but I don't think we could have avoided that unless we had had items valued monthly.
Our burglars didn't touch anything apart from the jewellery in fact when I first walked into the house as they had taken the patio door of it's hinges and carried it into the house and put it against a chair i wasn't certain we had been burgled.
I cried a lot in the 8 weeks it took to get our pay out, however, it is easier now and as I said earlier doing the auction thing has given us a fair amount of pleasure.

We were burgled when I was younger. We were in bed and they lifted the patio door off the frame to gain entry. It's bloody scary and a horrible experience.

Weve had a spate of burglaries in our street over the last two months. Infact last night someone got into our neighbours home at seven pm and stole money while she was watching the tv. I now make sure I lock our front door even when I'm in the house. We also have British gas coming out to quote us for an alarm system that rings your mobile when your alarm is going off amongst other things.
Hope you start to feel more secure soon.