Help – I’ve been burgled.

TBeckett100

Mark, don't let it get you down. move on from it. it is such a common thing and i doubt they will be back.

I felt low when my car was burgled, not so much what they took, but the fact they rooked through my CD's and left them all.

ceridwen

I can certainly understand why you are feeling so upset - I've been there.

Eventually the "penny dropped" after I had had THREE successive burglaries in pretty quick succession in one place that I was in - ie that the place itself was "causing" this - reason: it was possible for someone to be breaking in without anyone else being able to "have a clear view" of them as they tried to. When I realised this I moved to somewhere else - ie a place where all possible ways into the place were in clear view of anyone who might be passing - and that did the trick...no more burglaries since.....fingers crossed hard that thats the end of it and burglaries are something that will never happen to me again.

So - from this - I would say "get a good mate to view your home through the eyes of a potential burglar and see whether they would feel it was a relatively easy proposition or no to break into it". If they would feel far too vulnerable to getting caught (as they would be in full view of passersby) then put it down to "one of those things" that you were unlucky enough that this S** of a b***h chose your place to burgle. If - on the other hand - said good mate says "look - I could try to get in through that window or that door - and no-one would pass and spot me" - then move.

So - thats basically my advice - and make sure you have good insurance cover.

Sorry to hear this happened to you - I know how upsetting it is.

angelicmary85

When I was heavily pregnant with my 1st child someone came into the house in the early hours of the morning, in the side door and out the front door (I could see the shadow on the wall that leads up the stairs and heard the door closing - I always lock the door before bed) I was in there myself as OH had left to go to work. We live in a small town so he hadn't bothered to lock the door when he left. Needless to say that I s**t myself and turned every light in the house on and when I'd checked everything was o.k I started to clean the windows as I didn't want to go back to bed. Everytime OH left to go to work I would get up aswel having not slept for most of the night just incase someone else tried to get in.

As we live in a small place I just put it down to someone going into the wrong house (although there wasn't much chance of that being true as there's only 4 houses in the street!)

Nearly 2years later I still obsessively check the doors twice every night before going to bed.

busiscoming2

Don't really have any advice, but can understand how you are feeling. Others have posted good advice and I think getting a mate to view itas a potential burglar is a great idea. If you still find it hard to live there (after giving it a little while) then how about just moving and even paying for new locks to be put on before you move in?

never_enough

Sorry to hear that you've gone through this. It wont help when you're out, but there's a great door alarm you can get to give you peace of mind when you're in.

http://magellans.co.uk/store/Safety___Security___Intruder_Alarms?Args=

I often take a similar one if I'm away. That davie bar looks good too.

xmaslolly76

andyrules wrote: »

Additionally, that particular thief knows that there is nothing left to steal.

You would think this is true but my advise would be dont go replacing everything with new equipment straight away by secondhand cheap stuff for at least a couple of months. As it has been known for burglers to wait a length of time for the insurnace to pay out and then nick it all again. However i will say as it appears to be someone with a key if the locks have been changed this will deter the opportunist thief from coming back for a second helping. Also some one mentioned cctv im not sure what your finacial situation is but you can get a system fitted for about £99 round by me it may well be worth an investment to make you feel more secure. I hope you start to feel better about it all soon :-) xx

belfastgirl23

When we were burgled we had a visit from the local crime prevention officer. It really did help me to feel safer and gave me someone to talk through the worries with in a non-judgemental way (friends are so busy trying to reassure you that they miss the bigger questions sometimes). I'd really advise this. Plus for a while I would put something 'noisy' inside the front door that a burglar would probably trip over...don't know if it works but it made me feel better

Good luck. it does get better

Primrose

I suggest you get some cheap automatic timers and fix them to table lamps which can be seen from the front and back of your property to make your house look occupied. Also leave a radio playing on a voice channel (radio 4) rather than constant music. If your burglar was somebody who has a key, it's probably less likely that they will return but ask your landlord to fix security door chains on your front and back doors and always use them when you're in the house. You might also feel more secure if you bought one of these small hand-held personal defence alarms. You can probably buy them via the internet if you don't have a security shop nearby and keep it by your bed, or whenever you open the door. They make a really loud screech and if let off in somebody's face it would rapidly deter them and alert neighbours.

Stephb1986_2

Hi mark, I haven't really got much advice only keep your mobile by your bed so if someone does come in you can ring the police. Maybe get a big dog too

Or install a alarm system that goes off in every other room apart from your bedroom (we use to have one) maybe get a friend to stay with you for a few days. Leave the radio or telly on when you go out so it looks like someone is in.

I hope your ok

Steph xx

mark1234567890

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all of your wonderful words of comfort. :grouphug:

I have not made any rash decisions yet and am still living in the property but I am really scared.

There is some really good suggestions that I would not have thought of myself. I plan to follow many of them.

Once again thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. :T