I don't know if i'm about to burgled..

thewildthings

So someone came to the house today selling kitchen goods/knives etc. Said he had been released from young offenders and was attempting to get a character reference and I just felt sorry for him so gave him a tenner and sent him on his way. He did show me some sort of licence but to be honest I didn't think anything of it.

However I had to go out into the garage as my front door is stiff and can't be opened (well it can but its a nightmare to get it shut and locked again) and he has seen my two expensive cars, expensive bike as well as several expensive tools.

Now don't think i'm being judgemental here...i'm really trying not to be- but my neighbour has told me when this happened to her and they were burgled 3 days later.

Has anyone else had these problems before?

Laurajo_2

There's no harm in taking extra precautions. Do you have a burglar alarm?

thewildthings

Think i better work out how to set it. Will mean locking the cats out but i'm paranoid now. I only live in a quiet little village as well surrounded by fields so not like a neighbour would notice someone jumping over a fence..

Just doesn't make sense now I think about it. Said he was from Newcastle and i'm a good 200 miles away..

codemonkey

I think you should give your local police station a ring on the non-emergency number and ask for advice. Definitely set your burglar alarm if you have one - the alarm company who fitted it should be able to advise you on different pet settings - we can still set ours even though we have a dog.

Even if it wasn't a dodgy caller, it's worth taking precautions with your security - especially at this time of year.

DCFC79

No harm in taking precautions, hide the keys away or better still are you able to store 1 or 2 of the vehicles in a friends garage. Is there a neighbourhood watch, ask if they have had reports of similar thing happening.

krlyr

I agree with speaking to your local police. Can you move the tools etc. inside for a bit? Breaking into a garage and grabbing what's easily picked up is one thing, but to go to the effort of breaking into a house and hunting down specific items is a bit more than opportunist burglarly. Did the neighbours say what kind of things were stolen from them?

busiscoming2

I'd follow the advice as previous posters have said too.

I'd be a bit suspicious too, we often have these people come round selling but I live in a very urban area. I wonder why they would choose a small village and by the sounds of it where they have a lot of walking to do between properties? Then again maybe they think you are more affluent and will buy more.

Kayalana99

Its the ones that come round with the questionaires asking what you do to try and find out when your at home thats the ones to watch out for!

go_cat

Have you spoken to your neighbours to see if he went there as well as you ? Give them a description so they know who they are looking for then if they see him ring 101 and the police can ask him what he is up to.

Are you out during the day ? Can you put lights on timers, play radio loudly near front door etc so it looks like someone is home

At night take your keys in bed with you hidden out the way

These precautions should be taken even if you hadn't been visited today

melanzana

I don't answer the door full stop! In fact my bell doesnt work, and I don't have a door knocker either!

Those that will call in (friends family) will send a txt and I will be there to open the door. Or they will ring and ring on my mobile... We are outside, open up! And I do. They know to do that now. Silly me...

So I have dodged all sellers, beggars, dodgy ones and so on.

Works for me!

Buick

thewildthings wrote: »

So someone came to the house today selling kitchen goods/knives etc. Said he had been released from young offenders and was attempting to get a character reference and I just felt sorry for him so gave him a tenner and sent him on his way. He did show me some sort of licence but to be honest I didn't think anything of it.

This is a well-known scam. It's been going on for years now

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/young-offenders-salesman-scam-sparks-3033767