Broken into whilst asleep upstairs.

Slinky

I'd echo what has been said about beefing up security and not rushing in to moving. I got burgled when I was living alone, the police soft soaped me with the 'oh it probably won't happen again'. I was convinced it was and got on to trying to get an alarm installed. Was waiting for a quote to come through, finally got it and agreed an installation date, got home and found I'd been done again. This time I got a visit from the police to do with serial victims (can't remember the official name). He told me I exactly fitted the pattern of repeat burglaries. It's something like you face a chance of being done again within 3 days (they come back for things they've forgotton like your remote controls, or couldn't carry), 4 weeks, 3 months, 12 months. I got done exactly 4 weeks after the first time. If only I'd been given the true information I'd have cracked the whip at the alarm company. What the police bloke did do was talk to the alarm company and get the to come and install the bell boxes the same day(this was a few days before Christmas). Well would you believe it the s*ds came back on 27th December to have another go....... they spotted the bell box and b*ggered off again leaving their rubber gloves by the broken back garden fence on top of the snow which had fallen overnight.

After I got done the second time I really thought about moving, but the alarm gave me the confidence to stay.

If you can keep the burglars out for 5 years apparently you stand no more chance of being burgled again than a house that has never been burgled.

I found out after I'd been done the second time that the house had been burgled twice before I bought it 9 months earlier, but the previous owners misrepresented the situation on the sale form (the question asked was has the house been burgled since you owned it, they answered no. But the house sale was due to death of her mother who had been broken into twice and the daughter who was selling the house found it broken into)

Going off topic here, if you ever buy a house ask the question if the vendor has knowledge of the house ever being broken into, not just ask if they've been broken into. It wouldn't have stopped me buying the house but I'd have installed an alarm when I moved in.

Poppy9

What a dreadful thing to happen. You did well to lock yourself safely away with your phone. I know how you feel about being in your home now and sadly this experience will stay with you for life.

I was just a child when our house was burgled while myself, my parents and brother and sister slept upstairs. We had a dog but the burglars thoughtfully brought a bone for him! We had to stay in the house for another 10 years because my parents couldn't afford to move but as soon as they could they did. If you can move I would say move.

Even after I married and had my own home I still found being alone at night hard as I was listening for every little noise. In my present house I feel much safer for some reason. My OH used to work nights, he's a Police officer, so I've had to get used to being on my own, especially now DD likes going out for sleepovers. I'm fine. So I'm not listening for noises I put the radio on. I don't have a house alarm or outside security lights as in my previous home I did and everytime they went off for no reason I was very jumpy.

After the first burglarly my parents made sure that no-one left anything valuable to them downstairs at night. My father was most upset about losing a moneybox he'd had from childhood which aside having 'old' currency in had his fathers medals & retirement watch. Irreplaceable. I have kept this habit. Every night before bed my handbag and mobile phone come upstairs with me and are next to my bed - I think about them cutting the landline so I've had a mobile for 13 years. I do leave a key in the front door, OH doesn't like this as he says it makes it so easy for burglars to make an easy get away with large items, but I think of the fire risk. Car keys are kept away from front door and I would be bloody annoyed if they nicked my car but I don't want to take them upstairs with me and be forced into handing over my car keys - it's just a lump of metal and I hope they bloody crash in it and kill themselves!!

When we go out at night or am anticipating returning home after dark we put timer lights on. Curtains are drawn a bit to hide things like TV so if they look through the windows they can't see exactly what we have. Same when we go on holiday - we programme timer lights to go on and off in different rooms throughout the evening, varying the programme daily. We leave one car on the drive so it looks like we are home. We tell our neighbours when we are away, and vice versa. My elderly neighbours go away a lot and aside from their gardener they tell me if they are expecting anyone else. If someone wants to come and read a meter etc at my house I never tell them that I'm away or at work during the day. My OH makes a point of telling them he's a shift worker so they know he might be home at anytime. If someone is looking for my neighbours, even if it's parcel force trying to deliver a parcel, I don't let on they are away. I pretend that they said they might miss them and asked me to take the parcel in! If you get strange callers at the door or on the phone ask them to comeback when your "flatmates" are home so you don't let on you live alone. OH also tells me to shout downstairs "I'm calling the Police John" so they think you are not alone and to make a lot of noise. If you have good neighbours ask them can you bang loudly on the wall to alert them if you feel threatened. I second keeping a can of air freshener by the bed along with a large stick too - just peace of mind.

I know it's hard but forget all the things you can replace and concentrate on what's important. People & ladies handbags first and sentimental things second. TVs, cars, phones etc are easily replaceable - though it damn inconvenient and they have no right to them. Just think "what goes around, comes around" and try to look forward.

I too wouldn't be happy with the Police attitude and in OH force burglar on premises is immediate response, but depending on your location that could mean anything from 5 minutes to x minutes. Ring the station and ask to speak to the inspector with a view to putting in a formal complaint.

Forgot to add when I come home by taxi I always say "oh look he's watching for me in the window" and give a wave. I used to do this as a teenager when my mother used to send our dog to meet me from the bus and I had to walk up a lane. I would chat to the dog and wave at the pretend person in the window.

Angel777

Hi Thanks again. I feel awful tonight. Family troubles and i feel really stressed out.All the driving has really taken it out of me too and my brother is being really unsupportive. His girlfriends brother got beaten up so he took a day off work and spent 3 days with her yet wont even bother with me, anyway off the subject. He tells my mum he has textd me x y z but really he hasnt.Things seem really bleak right now. Just sorting papers for the car insurance but feel like taking nytol and trying to sleep.Thanks again for the advise and kind words.

lavidaloca

I know exactly how you feel having been burgled three times but not whilst alone I was out on all occasions. But even though I wasn't there when it happened I still felt more vunerable at night. Take heart that this feeling does go away eventually as you'll soon start to get angry. Don't let this ruin your life, take your time to decide what you want to do and if that's moving then so be it. Make sure you set your alarm each night, take your mobile to bed with neighbours nos. even leave a bedside light on in another bedroom it may trick someone into thinking that someone can't sleep so are reading. They don't always come back. What comes round goes round and these toerags won't be young forever and hopefully they'll find out in later life what it feels like to be abused like this. Ignore your brother you don't need him. Take care.

Angel777

thanks lavidaloca. I am worried that they will come back as they will have seen my tv and massive dvd collection, dont know very down tonight.

skyrocket

Angel I'm so sorry to hear this and am sending you hugs.

I can only hope that karma will deal with the scum that did this to you.
xxxx

journ

Hi i just wanted to show my support to you I'm so sorry you have to go through this nightmare it make my blood boil :mad:

I agree with what other people has said i would put in a complaint to the police , I had to make a complaint myself as my son was on his own walking home and 3 men kicked into him:mad: and he went into a police station coved in blood and crying and he was told they have too much on and they cannot deal with this and my son knew theses men were still out there but the police just didn't care ,when my son phoned my he was crying my heart just dropped , I got my son in the car and phoned the police and i went mad with them i have to call into our local police station and make a full complaint .
I think the police has let you down big time and they cannot get a way with it .
I understand how unsafe you feel but i would change your locks but again the police should have had someone out to help you through this .
I hope they get these s**** :mad: and make them pay they are low life .

Angel777

Thanks so much.Is your son ok? It also makes me so so angry and upset. My mum came to see me tonight and told me she thinks im depressed. I just have so much to deal with at the moment and have to spend tonight here as i am expecting my company to send me my replacement work lap top via courier.I am so tired but CANNOT sleep. I have but dead bolts on the front door but NU still have not contacted me about fitting a new door, i will call them first thing tomorrow.I am leaving the living room light, landing light and front bedroom light on but literally feel sh*t scared.I dont think they would be stupid enough to come back but worried they know i am a lone female. Surely they wouldnt risk breaking in again? I dont know. Thanks again for all the comments/advise.:(

mandy2383

Hi Angel777

I am really sorry to hear what has happened to you, the same happened to me when i was in on my own. Thankfully they only managed to wedge the window open before i ran downstairs shouting. I dont know what came over me this was during the day and luckily for me OH had just gone to the shop so maybe thats why i went to look, i doubt i would have done if OH had been at work.

Its really hard and upsetting but please try not to let these people get to you too much, they have already taken from you, its your house dont let them run you out of it but i can understand if it really is making you unhappy and you dont feel safe being there.

I was going to say have you not got a good friend that you could ask to stay over with you for a little while, just when you need to be at home at least then you might be able to get some sleep.

I really hope you start to feel better soon and take good care of yourself

debs66_2

first thing i would do now is to write all of that down again in two letters - one to the head of your local police force, and another to your local MP.

Every company, particularly the civil service, has to have a complaints procedure that they follow. Put it in writing and it will have to go through that route.

the service you received (or didn't) is beyond a disgrace, and if you don't let the higher powers know about it, then they can't take action - to coin their overused popular stock answer 'so that i never happens again'.

make your feelings known. you were let down. big time. and to be honest heads would have rolled if the break in had turned even more nasty.

don't feel you can't complain. you are a tax payer and these people work for you, paid with wages that you chip into. last year i was kept awake all night by a party, with people outdoors not singing but screaming and whooping through mics on a karaoke system. it went on until 4.30am and i was shattered. i phoned the police to ask if they could send someone to ask them to turn the noise down or move the party indoors.the policeman said it was out of his jurisdiction and i should phone the council (at 3am???). i had an argument with him and told him to enjoy his biscuits as i hung up.

the next morning i emailed my local MP, explained the whole night, and asked him why the police have no jurisdiction, and why the bad guy can do what he wants and not be touched. I received a letter 2 days later, including a copy of his letter to the head of our county's police force, in which he pulled no punches. he had also sent the top cop my email.

4 months on (!) i received a phone call from the head of o ur local town station, asking me if everything was all right now, apologising for the lack of service blah blah blah. we spoke on very good terms, but i told him his officers could do with a session in charm school, and he didn't deny it.

in comparison to your night, mine was piffling. let them know! :rolleyes: