Neighbour burgled - anything I can do for them?

pinkteapot

Our next-door neighbour has been burgled. :mad:

I've told them to knock if they need anything, and I made them cuppas while they waited for the police as they didn't want to move anything. Is there anything else I can do or take round to them?

If anyone reading this has been burgled, is there anything that helps?

fivetide

Nothing much you can do. After the event is always an issue but could you both get outside lights or something to cover each other's properties? The sort of 'stop it happening again' process. I am sure the Police will advise them on things they could do.


Other than that, keep making them tea and see if they can still have a nice Christmas - somehow

duchy

Might be nice to offer to drop in the first time one of them is alone in the house if they are a bit spooked still.

Really it will depend on their personalities-we all react differently.

dandelionclock30

Tell the neighbours to get those locks for the door that cant be snapped off with pliers. They are about £60-£80.
A locksmith will know what they are on about.
Would be worth asking the community support police to come round and help make their property more secure as well.Obviously ask them first.

pinkteapot

Thanks both. There's been a spate on our estate in recent weeks, but it's a fairly large estate. This has hit home with me!

Neighbours don't have an alarm but most people do as it's an area with fairly large/nice houses. Obviously not going to mention the alarm thing unless they do, but if they do I'll recommend our alarm company as they're very good and never upsell. I'd hate for them to panic and get ripped off by an unscrupulous alarm seller while they're upset!

I have this morning filled in the form to ask Google to blur our Streetview pic, as they took a new one recently and one of our garage doors was open so bikes and golf clubs in full view. :undecided

Locksmith was round for quite a while yesterday evening (a door had been forced so would have needed repair) so hopefully he gave them some good advice.

nick-nick

I think it does depend what type of person they are, I was burgled a few years ago and at the time it was a case of "where is my playstation" and it was about the actual items but then it grew into "a random man has been rifling through my belongings" which I didn't like at all.

I know it sounds silly, but if you know one of them is alone (cars gone) then you could turn the TV up, try and talk a bit louder (I know this usually annoys neighbours), leave one of your lights on but anything to make them know somebody else is there so it is a bit safer?

pinkteapot

Unfortunately (well, fortunately most of the time!) we're in detached houses so you're never particularly aware of whether the neighbours are currently home or not and don't hear noise from them.

Next time I see them I'll mention again the times that we're typically around and that they can always phone/knock if they're worried or want anything (even just company).

It's the thought of someone being in my home and going through my things that would upset me more than anything.

We only moved to our house in Feb. Guess this is the downside of moving to a nicer area! My mum wasn't very reassuring - she worked in house insurance for 30 years and said that we're statistically more likely to get burgled in the next little while as they often return to the same and nearby houses. Thanks mum!

fivetide

pinkteapot wrote: »

We only moved to our house in Feb. Guess this is the downside of moving to a nicer area! My mum wasn't very reassuring - she worked in house insurance for 30 years and said that we're statistically more likely to get burgled in the next little while as they often return to the same and nearby houses. Thanks mum!

That was the bit I didn't want to mention at the top - but why I said it might be good if you can set something up that looks out for each other like outside lights etc.


Also, worth letting each other know if you are away/when you are expected back so if noises and lights are seen, chances are it isn't you. Etc.


Sure you will be fine if you have a good alarm etc but isn't a nice thing for anyone at this or indeed any time of year.

Better_Days

After my Dad passed away his flat was burgled.

They stole just about everything they could get away with including towels, bath mats, toilet rolls (and even unscrewed the holder from the wall, and then screwed the screws tidily back into the wall), WUL, and the ancient CRT TV. They did leave the kitchen roll though.

What I found horrible about it was that stranger(s) with unpleasant intent had been in the property. It felt soiled. Cleaning really helped me 'reclaim' the property. It wasn't about the cost of what had been stolen but the intrusion.

So your neighbours may appreciate some help with cleaning and also going through the property checking what has been stolen.

Victim support did also kindly ring me, and commented that it is the intrusion that most people find distressing.

Is there a 'safer neighbourhood' team or the like in your area http://www.suffolk.police.uk/saferneighbourhood/aboutsaferneighbourhoods.aspx in your area? Also a neighbourhood watch? A neighbourhood watch scheme is currently being set up in our area, and it isn't that onerous. And it does help reduce incidence of burglaries.

Oakie

When our neighbour is away,we offer to park one of our cars on the drive.We also check that their post is pushed though the letterbox,and move the bins .

hazyjo

As above, they won't realise things are missing until they need them. Get them to check for passports (the [insert expletive]s nicked mine and I didn't realise until the Sat I was due to go to Portugal ). Also, car keys! They sometimes take them and come back for the car.


My mate got done on Friday It's just horrible. Been there, so has mum, friends, neighbours and sister (while they slept in their beds).


There's not much anyone can do. We all react differently to it. Anger was my main emotion. Tears hit soon after. My mum's very matter of fact about it all, as was my sis. Others have wanted to move (pointless IMO - it can happen anywhere).


Jx