My Partner Has been Burgled

wilcoxm · 19-10-2006, 22:42

Hi All,

My partner was burgled this morning, but now she is now in bits on returning to her own home. I have done all i can to reeasure that measures that have been put in place will secure her house, but the thought of a stranger in her home spooks her out.

Any suggestions into reasuring her that all will be OK.

i have changed the locks, fixed her alarm, fitted window locks and more, but she will not accept the fact that she was burgled.

For the record, only money was taken. Any suggestions??

**David F** · 19-10-2006, 22:53

Sorry to hear that mate victim support might be the way to go

Gareth · 19-10-2006, 22:53

If only money was taken then she's been very fortunate - often resellable (is that even a word?) items are taken, knowing that they'll be replaced through your home insurance policy, which is an open invitation for the tea leafs to return again and get even more out of you.

As it's only money that was taken I'm guessing this was opportunistic kids more than your average burgler (I wanted to say more professional, but that's not the right word to use to describe this profession). There's no guarantee that there'd be a large amount of money in someone's house, so they took a pretty big gamble by breaking into her place.

The fact they didn't take high value items suggest they don't really know what they're doing (unless they were disturbed), so I'd say all the measures you've taken so far will deter these amateurs from returning again.

Hope that's some reassurance to her.

wilcoxm · 19-10-2006, 23:01

She heard a noise and put the downstairs light on from upstairs. So i think they were disturbed.

TOP THAT - it was her daughters 7th birthday also, but they didnt get the Â£50 birthday money in the front room. All money was taken from the back dining room.

grandmaster · 19-10-2006, 23:03

is it not possible for you to stay with her for a few nights?

wilcoxm · 19-10-2006, 23:15

she staying at my house till sunday, and i staying at hers till midweek. But i am thinking long term.

grandmaster · 19-10-2006, 23:26

I dont think there is much that can be done that you have not already.

fixing the burgular alarm was a must anyway and i would also contemplate CCTV.

You can pick up fairly inexpensive systems these days and of course security lighting is a must.

My CCTV can be patched through to my bedroom so i can see whats going on outside.

I also have LED shock sensors on the windows that reflect against the curtains so moron burgulars know that the windows are protected.

---------- Post added at 23:26 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------

And i suppose a bloody big dog would not be a bad idea...
I want one but the Mrs is not having any of it lol

**Rob** · 19-10-2006, 23:36

It's the personal side of burglary that is often the more distressing, not the losses. That she was in the house when it happend will inevitably make her more insecure. Time is the big healer.

Ensuring windows and doors have good locks is a must. You can look at the exterior of the house too, make approaches to the doors and windows harder to keep quiet. Fit motion detector lights and stuff. As a final resort, think about upgrading a burglar alarm that allows the downstairs of a house to be alarmed even when occupants are asleep upstairs (might be a ppoblem if kids or someone gets up in the night), with motion detectors inside the house as a back up against intruders.

The worst time will be the first night you can't stay there with her.

wilcoxm · 19-10-2006, 23:39

All - Thanks - i will print off and show her, and hopefully her mind will be assured. Thanks again.

At this point, may i praise the Poilce who were there within minutes and SOCO who were where there an hour later. Credit where credit due.

ADd · 20-10-2006, 00:20

re: external of the house, check the gate is substancial, and has a quality lock on it, plus possible improvements to the fences around the grounds. A member of my family has placed something like this:
http://www.greenfingers.com/supersto...&pf_id=DD8007D
on top of the walls/fences after being burgled several times.
Also ensure the shed, if you have one, is well secured (experience has taught me that), and ladders are locked away

Edit>>make sure warning signs are put up if spikes etc are placed
http://www.insight-security.com/perimeter.htm

lauzjp · 20-10-2006, 03:11

I'm sorry to hear what has happened to your partner, we had an attempted break-in in May, (just before we went to Egypt for a week!) and that was a horrible enough experience... It's just so un-nerving to know that someone wanted to get into our flat so bad, and we were so close to being violated. It took me a few months of sleepless nights / waking up in the middle of the night to get back to 'normal' - there's not much else you can do besides what you have already done - I'm sure your partner is grateful. Don't forget lots of hugs and kisses! Tell her to phone you as soon if she ever feels uncomfortable. And she must phone the police if she hears a noise outside or sees anyone suspicious. As she has had a break-in they will come quite quickly. Personally I found the response of the police after our incident most re-assuring.

Nidge · 20-10-2006, 05:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilcoxm

Hi All,

My partner was burgled this morning, but now she is now in bits on returning to her own home. I have done all i can to reeasure that measures that have been put in place will secure her house, but the thought of a stranger in her home spooks her out.

Any suggestions into reasuring her that all will be OK.

i have changed the locks, fixed her alarm, fitted window locks and more, but she will not accept the fact that she was burgled.

For the record, only money was taken. Any suggestions??

Like I've always said, they ccan burgle me all they want but if I catch them they must be prepared to face the consiquences when I do collar a hold of them.

A I can do is echo the repiles above, reasure her that everything has been done to secure her living space. Be there for her that's the main thing.

Chimaera · 20-10-2006, 06:33

Sorry to hear about the burglary wilcoxm, similar thing happened to me many years ago, we were all asleep upstairs too and it's really frightening. The police that attended (very quickly too) said the best burglar alarm to have is a dog. A burglar won't take a chance on a friendly looking dog turning ferocious once they are in the house. I have a dog now, she wouldn't hurt a fly but sounds totally the opposite to any callers to the front door. And she's pretty good at deterring door to door salesmen too!

etccarmageddon · 20-10-2006, 08:27

I have these sleeping in the front room which is always curtains open.

dont think I need an alarm! tell her to seriously consider it if she still feels scared.

LSainsbury · 20-10-2006, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandmaster

I also have LED shock sensors on the windows that reflect against the curtains so moron burgulars know that the windows are protected.

Grandmaster - what are those? Got a link so I can see them?