Not what you want from a weekend away

[alex]

I was visiting my parents this weekend and had to cut it short as I received a call this morning that our flat had been broken into. Aside from wrecking a window, they went off with my partner's laptop as well as a few items of jewellery/watches etc.

I had previously felt that our house was pretty secure and each window is double locked. Seems they only needed a crowbar and a little effort to break in so I guess this is a warning to you to double check your security and back up your data!

 

[Blossom]

Shit, that's horrible. Even more than the stuff it's the violation that someone's been in your home

 

[newguy]

It's horrible when that happens. Someone smashed a living room window trying to get into my old place a few years back. Luckily, there was a latch that was tricky to open so they gave up. The police told me they'd be unlikely to return, but I sat in wait for days after hoping/dreading that they might. Slept in the living room and everything.

 

[alex]

Yeah, it’s a funny feeling, first that people went through out stuff, but also will it happen again? Last Saturday two people broke into the flat next door and were scared off when our neighbour arrived back home. This seems to be a very similar incident - same people maybe?

 

[Pred]

never rains but it pours, literally
very sorry to hear this

make sure you change all passwords to everything
also I would seriously consider getting a very good alarm system, very soon
if renting, consider moving as sounds neighbourhood is not safe

 

[alex]

never rains but it pours, literally
very sorry to hear this

make sure you change all passwords to everything
also I would seriously consider getting a very good alarm system, very soon
if renting, consider moving as sounds neighbourhood is not safe

Thanks for the support, and thanks to the other posters too.

I've been on to the landlord pushing for an an alarm and CCTV which are not that expensive these days. As for the area, I'm told this has been an unlucky week for people. Everyone else in the surrounding flats have been here years and these are the first ever issues they've had. I was actually recommended the place by my cousin's husband who lived here for 10 years. It's just a pain it's happened now since we only moved here last month.

Good point about the passwords.

 

[Pred]

unfortunately, sign of the times

it's a balance with flats, you don't want to live in a fortress as in event of a fire (God forbid) people actually want to get in and out! so window bars etc are not good and door guards

again with flats, worth going above ground or basement level reduces chance of being broke into when choosing a flat

if you only just moved in then there for 6 months at least, and prob much longer, lets hope was a one off spate and police catch scum who did it

in meantime might be worth fitting good windowlocks and extra door lock and say to landlord you will pay 50% and he can match it or else you will give 1 months notice and adios if not

also without over worrying you as hope just kids who broke in but if they tried neighbours too and came back it is not unheard off criminals break back in in a number of weeks once people replace stolen goods, I have read, so I would certainly cancel any overnight business trips etc for coming weeks if your partner lives with you and get security devices added asap

again don't want to worry you but just saying what I would be thinking/doing

good luck

 

[alex]

Cheers for the advice and yes definitely going forward with the extra security precautions etc. I've lived in far worse places (shootings/stabbings right outside the house) so this hasn't really phased us that much, but is a total inconvenience, especially as we're going to have excessive insurance premiums next year. We live in an old Victorian house split into 7 flats so wasn't really built for the modern thief. If something good has happened it's that we now know the neighbours

 

[Pred]

yep, you have to take in stride

i've heard of people setting up their own cctv in home and then handing recording to police when robber is swanning round their house

however not sure how it works if they nick laptop or dvd recorder

anyone care to enlighten?

might be a good idea, don't tell girlfriend, then you can keep tabs see if she's keeping up with housework and washing up when not there

 

[alex]

yep, you have to take in stride

i've heard of people setting up their own cctv in home and then handing recording to police when robber is swanning round their house

however not sure how it works if they nick laptop or dvd recorder

anyone care to enlighten?

might be a good idea, don't tell girlfriend, then you can keep tabs see if she's keeping up with housework and washing up when not there

Well we'll see how it goes, I have just had the landlord on the phone so will find out what we can get done. To be honest it's more likely to be the other way round, if we do get CCTV she'll make sure I'm doing the housework while she's not there.

 

[Edwin]

Sorry to hear about your break-in - sounds horrid!

For security, perhaps an IP camera connected wirelessly to a hidden network-connected HDD? That way even if the computer AND the camera are taken, you've still got a record (and also your data if the HDD does double-duty as a remote backup device).

 

[dazc]

This seems to be a very similar incident - same people maybe?

A lot of crime is carried out by a very small number of people so it's very likely. I don't think you can ever be immune from this stuff no matter where you live - I've lived in the same place for ten years and we've had odd phases through the years with break-ins, car thefts and so on - you get a few and then nothing for again for 3 years or so?

I know the cr*ppy feeking this stuff leaves you with though - it seems to linger for a week or so before you can shrug it off.

All the best anyway - you'll get over it soon enough .

 

[khalid]

Sorry to hear about your news mate.

My advice:

1. alarm with auto dialler
2. CCTV with email alert
3. Dogs; I have two, not big, but noisy as hell if they hear ANYTHING

 

[khalid]

oh and a baseball bat beside the bedside lamp

 

[chrisduggan]

Sorry to hear that news. We had a similar incident a couple of years ago in our old flat in Ealing. Needless to say my wife did not feel safe enough to stay so we moved. Nothing much taken but its the violation. We have spent thousands on security, peace of mind I guess. We live in a such a big brother society now but having a young child I cannot put a price on keeping family safe.

Hopefully your landlord sees it right to fit a decent security system.

 

[Lovekraft]

Not good at all, it's only when something like this happens that you really start to think about security measures half the time.

Had a car nicked a couple of years ago by some joy riders who had been coming back every other day to nick car after car from the same street. Being into my older classic cars mines was the obvious choice (no immobiliser, alarm, much easier to hotwire etc). Needless to say my replacement car now has all of these fitted in the unfortunate event it happens again.

Was proper gutted as i had a lot of memories and big plans for that car but like you say it was more of a hassle than anything else when you have your every day possessions stolen from you.

 

[BREWSTERS]

might be a good idea, don't tell girlfriend, then you can keep tabs see if she's keeping up with housework and washing up when not there

or more...

 

[BREWSTERS]

Also, keep an eye on things, I have a few friends in the police and they've said before that if you're burgled there's a high chance they'll come back again within six months because they know you're likely to have claimed on the insurance and have new kit.

So that's you working from home and not going out until November!

 

[retired_member32]

London's not like Rutland Alex....you should have kept to the tranquil Leicestershire Countryside

 

[Pred]

or more...

I did think it, didn't print it

just in case 'pop' is your landlord from league of gentlemen