Help – I’ve been burgled.

skintchick

I was burgled just after moving into my home in 1998 and I lived alone. It was awful - I came in the door as they went out the back and the police didn;t even want to come out that night!

I spent the night with a neighbour's car parked across the bottom of mine as they had taken my spare car keys, a knife in one hand and the phone in the other!

The locks were changed the next day and I got timers for my lights so the house wasn't dark when I was out, and no-one ever tried again.

I also replaced some louvre windows in the kitchen for full glass as that was how they'd got in.

It is scary but if you leave lights on when you're out and use timers, and hide valuables in kitchen drawers and bathroom cabinets you will be OK.

The police told me burglars want to be in and out quickly so they won;t search kitchens and bathrooms as they don;t have the time.

Hope that helps a bit.

garryq

Hi my neighbours were burgled last week and 2 of my family members have had their neighbours burgled. The credit crunch is causing a rise in crime like this. It is very scary. I was done about 10 years ago. It does fade but is always in your mind. I have decided to install a CCTV syste. Normally about £200 at B&Q - Screfix have the same system for £85 inc delivery. I have installed it my self and it works. You may want to consider something like this.

screwfix.co.uk

MadMac_2

Thanks for the tip.

I think you are talking about this system?

Do you rate it and are the images good from it? Might be useful for some.

DKLS

I have been burgled twice the first time the alarm didn't go off as the box had been drilled and filled with expanding foam and they took pretty much everything, fortunately the ins co was great, the 2nd was interrupted by ten stone of Japanese akita, who pinned the burglar up against the wall by his throat.

Silaqui

Hi Mark, hope you are ok.

I was burgled a few years back, I was in bed but I'm a light sleeper so heard the front window smash (bedroom was at the other end of the flat) and voices as they climbed through the window. I was standing behind the bedroom door in my PJ's with a stilletto heel in one hand (only weapon I could think of!) and whispering into my phone to the police in the other, I almost went to try and chase them off but I realised my tool box full of hammers and other tools was in the living room (I was a product design student at the time!).

This was about 2am in the morning, they left about half an hour later, the police didn't come until 7am despite me telling them on the phone that they were there right now! It's hilarious when I look back, well apart from losing stuff obviously, but the police and victim support were really good.

Try not to worry, do the noisy thing in the entry, cacti on the window sills, take your time replacing stuff and if you are really worried keep your eyes open for somewhere else to live. Even one of those stickers, 'this house is protected by CCtV' and a fake camera can work as a deterrent.

Best of Luck
x

fayhare

I have been burgled 4 times in 4 years (all different addresses) and it is really horrible :-( It's not really the stuff but the feeling of invasion of your personal space and fear of them coming back. The last time they took out the whole of my upvc bathroom window in full view of the entire estate (4th floor) and not one person called the police.

The fear does fade though and I am happy to be living alone once again. (I did have the boyfriend to stay for a week after last time though as I was very scared) Big hugs x

mark1234567890

Just a little update for everyone.

As the weeks have passed since the burglary it is becoming easier. I will never forget the experience but I am slowly starting to feel more comfortable in the house now.

I may be leaving the house soon (see here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1801481).

All the best