Somone coming into my house...

Pete*G_4

Just wanted to stop in and pass on my thoughts for you. I hope things get better for you and some sort of normality returns.

OOh, whilst I think about it, instead of this;

ariarnia wrote: »

Just try and make sure you make a note of how you've left things so you can consciously tell that nothing has been moved and no one's been in. Once you can reassure yourself that nothing has changed, you can feel your area is safe.

get yourself a little magnet like THIS for under £2, and blutack it to the bottom of the door (on the inside). then get yourself a steel (i.e. magnetic) washer for a few pence, like THIS. Place the washer on the floor inside the door, so that when the door is opened the magnet scoops up the washer without the person entering hearing/seeing it. You will have to leave sufficient room for you to be able to still get out, but that shouldn't be a problem. Whenever you get home, if the washer's there, no-one's been in. If the washer is on the magnet, then someone's opened the door.

despite offering the advice above, my thoughts are that if the locks have been changed then you should be ok. for added peace of mind you could also invest a few pounds in something like THESE magnetic contact alarms. I picked up a card with 4 on it from Poundland not so long back, they're cheap as chips and very loud! Even if people don't come running, the noise will startle and deter any would-be intruder!

dawn_rose

as for carrying it in your pocket when out and about....who on earth takes a dog for a walk with a fork in their pocket?????
you obviously havent seen what junk my dh carries in his pockets then. the fork idea has been taken from a gross psychology book when suggesting self defence.

p.s. gross is the author of the book.

tandraig

dawn - a psychology book on self defense - how novel!
I prefer to rely on the years i did martial arts (Aikido and Tae Kwon Do) thanks.
but if the book is heavy enough you could really do some damage by throwing it at them!
you also have to take account of the law - perhaps some our posters from the police may be able to advise here. its my understanding that to use an item which you would reasonable be carrying eg bodyspray in handbag is less likely to result in charges against you - than carrying something like a knife or fork which could be construed as intent to wound?
but back to the main issue - how are you Alyth?
feeling more confident now?

alyth

hi Tandraig. I am fine -a little tired but otherwise okay. It's been a week now, the measures are being implemented, and should be finalised by the end of the week. Work tonight was good, and I haven't seen any sign of Fred the stalker. Spoken to my college about counselling so I am having a chat with someone at the end of the week, more just for a kind of sounding board than anything, and have been scouring college noticeboards for self defence but nothing so far.

Thanks Pete as well for those contact alarms, will look for those at the weekend.

I'm also going to change my routine a bit, so that I'm not at the same place at the same time so my movements can be observed, or at least as much as they can be changed. I know what I mean anyway!

Rosa's suggestion of a cermony is fantastic, some work is being done on the cottage over easter and that's a really nice thing to suggest and one which I will definately do.

And just to finally prove to myself that Fred the stalker was coming into the house on a Tues night when I was at work, the dog, having not gotten off the sofa on a Tuesday night for weeks, him having come up and played with her, is running about the house like a lunatic with her toys!!! God love my dog, if only she could speak

cazziebo

Alyth - you are amazing! You really take my breath away. What an inspiring, brave woman you are :T

Sagz_2

cazziebo wrote: »

Alyth - you are amazing! You really take my breath away. What an inspiring, brave woman you are :T

I'll second that :T:T

alyth

oh thank you - I'm having a teary moment actually as I've just had to spend 10 mins running about like a loon playing with the dog, and I've not had to do that for at least two months! I just feel vindicated that I wasn't going mad, and that I've done the right thing in going to the police and all the changes I am making.

I always believe things happen for a reason, I am 40 soon and maybe this was some kind of wake up call for me to totally change my life. I do feel so much safer, a bit liberated as I know I won't have to meet him in passing any more, and the changes that are being implemented are good ones.

All I need now is to pass the FOUR exams that I have over the next 6 days :-(

Errata

Norbertsmum wrote: »

I'll second that :T:T

And I'll third it :T :T

Counselling sounds like a good idea. Sometimes we only know what we really think about things when we talk out loud about them and listen to what we're saying. I also think a change in routine is often quite useful, not least because it gives one different / new things to think about.
Saying a kind of 'thank you' to the cottage for letting you know something wasn't quite right sounds a wonderful idea.

newmee

cazziebo wrote: »

Alyth - you are amazing! You really take my breath away. What an inspiring, brave woman you are :T

And I'll ditto that too. Thanks for keep coming back to let us know. I too am 40 this year and even though it hasn't happened to me I will be sure to learn from it too. Thanks so much for sharing and for all the wonderful advice people have given. I have been a single mum for 10 years now and try to keep my and childrens safety no1 priority but lots of food for thought here!

Wishing you the very very best of luck in your exams. Hoping Karma will come through for you :happyhear

missjennipenni

Agree with the above, sadly. Please be wary.