My burglary experience
Discussion
Hi all...
I thought i'd share my experience of Saturday morning when my flat was burgled. Any advice and comments are appreciated.
At 8.30am on Saturday morning my girlfriend and I were in bed, me half asleep and her wide awake. My room is above our main living area, accessable by a small stair case at the back of the living room.
We heard some noise downstairs, opening of drawers and cupboards, not thinking too much of it due to me having a flat mate who likes to go out on the raz, I thought she had gotten up early and was sorting out her washing and making breakfast.
It was only when the stairs started creeking and someone who was not my flat mate popped their head up into my room that my girlfriend turned over and said she'd seen someone she didn't recognize.
Queue a bit of flapping on my part - my girlfriend is blind as a bat without her glasses, but within a minute or so I was up and investigating, by which point the perp was well gone. I rang my flat mate who said that she had not been back to the flat that morning nor had she sent anyone back for anything of hers.
It emerged that whoever it was had ransacked my flatemates room, making off with her DSLR camera, some worthless but sentimental jewellery and my bag, containing my wallet and some clothes. This person failed to take a laptop and the camera battery which was plugged in at the same plug point as the camera...
Confusion led to shock and worry as it emerged we'd been burgled and the scumbag was wandering around my flat riffling through our stuff whilst we were just above them.
I rang the police (who have been EXCELLENT), they sent someone to chat with us about 90 minutes later. In between time, my flatmate came home to confirm what had been taken. The police sent a seperate team around within 30 minutes of the first PCs leaving, to dust for prints and examine the door etc.
Now... There were no signs of forced entry. The police are suggesting that whoever gained entry to the flat did so by either jimmying the lock and leaving no trace of doing it, or more worryingly, they had a set of keys. They more than likely got entry to the building through the service entrance - we share that corridor with two restaurants and a shop, all of which leave the security door on the latch. The second security door was broken and does not lock (I was unaware of this).
I got straight on to my lettings agent but was unable to reach anyone up until this morning. They have had both barrels from me due to the lax security on the building as a whole and due to the comments made by the PCs who visited me on Saturday.
We've had issues recently with our bathroom plumbing and have had no end of builders and handymen in to sort things out - all granted access to the flat by the landlords. I would imagine that they don't know who holds keys to the flat, but from our point of view, all the keys are accounted for.
We don't have contents insurance (a mistake on our part, clearly) and are wondering how to broach the subject of the missing jewellery and camera.
I, for the record, have lost nothing other than a cheap bag from Gap and clothing that was worth little. There was no cash in my wallet, I just had the pain in the arse of cancelling cards as a result of this issue. The only thing enraging me is the fact that the whole of this has scared the s
t out of my girlfriend.
You thoughts?
I thought i'd share my experience of Saturday morning when my flat was burgled. Any advice and comments are appreciated.
At 8.30am on Saturday morning my girlfriend and I were in bed, me half asleep and her wide awake. My room is above our main living area, accessable by a small stair case at the back of the living room.
We heard some noise downstairs, opening of drawers and cupboards, not thinking too much of it due to me having a flat mate who likes to go out on the raz, I thought she had gotten up early and was sorting out her washing and making breakfast.
It was only when the stairs started creeking and someone who was not my flat mate popped their head up into my room that my girlfriend turned over and said she'd seen someone she didn't recognize.
Queue a bit of flapping on my part - my girlfriend is blind as a bat without her glasses, but within a minute or so I was up and investigating, by which point the perp was well gone. I rang my flat mate who said that she had not been back to the flat that morning nor had she sent anyone back for anything of hers.
It emerged that whoever it was had ransacked my flatemates room, making off with her DSLR camera, some worthless but sentimental jewellery and my bag, containing my wallet and some clothes. This person failed to take a laptop and the camera battery which was plugged in at the same plug point as the camera...
Confusion led to shock and worry as it emerged we'd been burgled and the scumbag was wandering around my flat riffling through our stuff whilst we were just above them.
I rang the police (who have been EXCELLENT), they sent someone to chat with us about 90 minutes later. In between time, my flatmate came home to confirm what had been taken. The police sent a seperate team around within 30 minutes of the first PCs leaving, to dust for prints and examine the door etc.
Now... There were no signs of forced entry. The police are suggesting that whoever gained entry to the flat did so by either jimmying the lock and leaving no trace of doing it, or more worryingly, they had a set of keys. They more than likely got entry to the building through the service entrance - we share that corridor with two restaurants and a shop, all of which leave the security door on the latch. The second security door was broken and does not lock (I was unaware of this).
I got straight on to my lettings agent but was unable to reach anyone up until this morning. They have had both barrels from me due to the lax security on the building as a whole and due to the comments made by the PCs who visited me on Saturday.
We've had issues recently with our bathroom plumbing and have had no end of builders and handymen in to sort things out - all granted access to the flat by the landlords. I would imagine that they don't know who holds keys to the flat, but from our point of view, all the keys are accounted for.
We don't have contents insurance (a mistake on our part, clearly) and are wondering how to broach the subject of the missing jewellery and camera.
I, for the record, have lost nothing other than a cheap bag from Gap and clothing that was worth little. There was no cash in my wallet, I just had the pain in the arse of cancelling cards as a result of this issue. The only thing enraging me is the fact that the whole of this has scared the s
t out of my girlfriend.You thoughts?
Arese said:
And get a fking big dog.
EFA.king big dog.I am sorry, but I have never been burgled, but a friend of mine was, and he was never happy again in that house - I think they sold it a few months later.
I guess it all depends on how you/your girlfriend feel about staying in the place. IF you think it could have been one of the builders etc. then a burglar alarm will be no good either, because the builder would also need that code to get in when you are out..........
I have a couple of burglar bashers in my flat...
Plus I have one of these:
http://www.londonbar.co.uk/
which means they would have to work extremely hard to get in in the first place and I would hear them by then.
Plus I have one of these:
http://www.londonbar.co.uk/
which means they would have to work extremely hard to get in in the first place and I would hear them by then.
+1 for the above mag light! I have a 6-cell one (about 40cm)..the police advised us to get one because under the eyes of the law its easily explainable as self defence if you use one on a burglar as its a torch...(you go to investigate the noise with the torch, spot said burglar chappie and shout "its coming right for us!" then bonk him on the head and call the bobbies. I also had a problem in another house I lived in where some chaps appeared determined to get our tv and ps3 in the lounge.. so much so they came back on 4 occaisions, they didnt come back after the 4th because someone might of wired up a home made (relatively harmless) claymore in the back garden where they were coming over the fence. It might of gone off one night followed by a yelp and we never saw them again. Its amazing what you can make if you apply yourself with gravel, a bit of piping, some fishing wire and a blank shotgun cartridge.
Edited by Mark.H on Tuesday 1st June 12:34
Mark.H said:
+1 for the above mag light! I have a 6-cell one (about 40cm)..the police advised us to get one because under the eyes of the law its easily explainable as self defence if you use one on a burglar as its a torch...(you go to investigate the noise with the torch, spot said burglar chappie and shout "its coming right for us!" then bonk him on the head and call the bobbies. I also had a problem in another house I lived in where some chaps appeared determined to get our tv and ps3 in the lounge.. so much so they came back on 4 occaisions, they didnt come back after the 4th because someone might of wired up a home made (relatively harmless) claymore in the back garden where they were coming over the fence. It might of gone off one night followed by a yelp and we never saw them again. Its amazing what you can make if you apply yourself with gravel, a bit of piping, some fishing wire and a blank shotgun cartridge.
Edited by Mark.H on Tuesday 1st June 12:34
lawrence567 said:
Mark.H said:
+1 for the above mag light! I have a 6-cell one (about 40cm)..the police advised us to get one because under the eyes of the law its easily explainable as self defence if you use one on a burglar as its a torch...(you go to investigate the noise with the torch, spot said burglar chappie and shout "its coming right for us!" then bonk him on the head and call the bobbies. I also had a problem in another house I lived in where some chaps appeared determined to get our tv and ps3 in the lounge.. so much so they came back on 4 occaisions, they didnt come back after the 4th because someone might of wired up a home made (relatively harmless) claymore in the back garden where they were coming over the fence. It might of gone off one night followed by a yelp and we never saw them again. Its amazing what you can make if you apply yourself with gravel, a bit of piping, some fishing wire and a blank shotgun cartridge.
Edited by Mark.H on Tuesday 1st June 12:34
You dont need to apply yourself atall and it was remarkably easy to make and cost a grand total of £7.50 including buying the blanks...im pretty sure I would be in a world of trouble if I explained how to make one on here.
Sorry to hear that OP - and I doubt you'll get anywhere with claiming against any of the other tenants or the landlord - everyone will just point the finger at everyone else!
As an aside, how easy is it to change the locks on one of the uPVC security doors which are now becoming commonplace?
(Or on uPVC patio doors?)
As an aside, how easy is it to change the locks on one of the uPVC security doors which are now becoming commonplace?
(Or on uPVC patio doors?)
Havoc , very easy. Normally a screw hold the euro lock in place. Unscrew and then turn your key to one side and you can pull the lock out.
When my mental ex moved out I changed all my euro locks for anti bump and anti drill ones.
Do a google on euro cylinder locks and I think you'll be shocked at how easy most are to bump
Toby
When my mental ex moved out I changed all my euro locks for anti bump and anti drill ones.
Do a google on euro cylinder locks and I think you'll be shocked at how easy most are to bump
Toby
Skipppy said:
We don't have contents insurance (a mistake on our part, clearly) and are wondering how to broach the subject of the missing jewellery and camera.
With whom? You didn't have insurance, who do you expect to pay? If you can find the burglar maybe you've got a chance (ha ha) but otherwise who do you think will cough up because you don't bother to have insurance? Mark.H said:
+1 for the above mag light! I have a 6-cell one (about 40cm)..the police advised us to get one because under the eyes of the law its self defence if you use one on a burglar as its a torch. I also had a problem in another house I lived in where some chaps appeared determined to get our tv and ps3 in the lounge.. so much so they came back on 4 occaisions, they didnt come back after the 4th because someone might of wired up a home made (relatively harmless) claymore in the back garden where they were coming over the fence. It might of gone off one night followed by a yelp and we never saw them again. Its amazing what you can make if you apply yourself with gravel, a bit of piping, some fishing wire and a blank shotgun cartridge.
This post is useless without plans! 
tobster said:
Havoc , very easy. Normally a screw hold the euro lock in place. Unscrew and then turn your key to one side and you can pull the lock out.
When my mental ex moved out I changed all my euro locks for anti bump and anti drill ones.
Do a google on euro cylinder locks and I think you'll be shocked at how easy most are to bump
Toby
Cheers Toby - very useful.When my mental ex moved out I changed all my euro locks for anti bump and anti drill ones.
Do a google on euro cylinder locks and I think you'll be shocked at how easy most are to bump
Toby
It isnt a nice feeling knowing someone has been rooting through your place.
Last summer me and the mrs were in bed, all the upstairs windows open and i heard a squeaking noise, thought it was the little one in bed and took no notice. The noise carries on and I got the feeling it was coming from downstairs so i got up and looked out of the bedroom window to see... a pair of legs hanging out of a very small window! Approx 1ft x 1.5 ft. Didnt even think of what I could do, I just shouted and ran downstairs into the front room but they had gone. Luckily enough a police van was on the street so they came and had a look around with us and then took 2 hours to write a statement (after 2am). Never caught who it was. If I hadnt have shouted I could have ran downstairs and used the scumbag as a punchbag while he was stuck in the window
We must have left the window unlocked so it was our own fault, but in the 2 months previous to this we had 2 attempted break ins. One of them left a shovel they had been using to prise the window open and the 2nd one left the end of a broken screwdriver still jammed in the window.
2 days after the last attempt we had CID round asking had we done this ourselves so we could be rehomed. Nice.
Last summer me and the mrs were in bed, all the upstairs windows open and i heard a squeaking noise, thought it was the little one in bed and took no notice. The noise carries on and I got the feeling it was coming from downstairs so i got up and looked out of the bedroom window to see... a pair of legs hanging out of a very small window! Approx 1ft x 1.5 ft. Didnt even think of what I could do, I just shouted and ran downstairs into the front room but they had gone. Luckily enough a police van was on the street so they came and had a look around with us and then took 2 hours to write a statement (after 2am). Never caught who it was. If I hadnt have shouted I could have ran downstairs and used the scumbag as a punchbag while he was stuck in the window
We must have left the window unlocked so it was our own fault, but in the 2 months previous to this we had 2 attempted break ins. One of them left a shovel they had been using to prise the window open and the 2nd one left the end of a broken screwdriver still jammed in the window.
2 days after the last attempt we had CID round asking had we done this ourselves so we could be rehomed. Nice.
Dupont666 said:
A lady my partner works with is from South Africa. Her husband has been in the security business (legitimate protection of the rich, famous and those in power) most of his life but it was getting to risky to continue in South Africa so they moved here to Aus.
Talking to them a while back they both said they would ONLY try and take on an intruder in a really extreme situation because you just do not know what they are capable of or what they are on. Even old mate who can handle any number of weapons and use household items as weapons would rather play dumb, take bit of a kicking and lose his TV rather than risk getting properly f
ked up taking on someone he cant beat....he said unless you can knock someone fully unconscious with one blow or kill them with 3 its not worth trying. Skipppy said:
We've had issues recently with our bathroom plumbing and have had no end of builders and handymen in to sort things out - all granted access to the flat by the landlords. I would imagine that they don't know who holds keys to the flat, but from our point of view, all the keys are accounted for.
When I was last in rented accommodation I had similar fears. We had window washers round once a month. They held keys and it started getting annoying / concerning when we'd come home from work and find things near windows rearranged for access.The letting agents really didn't understand why this would bother us and were unable to tell us what other contractors held keys to the flat or be able to tell us exactly what day(s), in advance, the window cleaners would be visiting (despite being bound to provide 24 hours notifications for any access to the property).
Had a huge argument with them around cancelling the window cleaners which eventually happened but I was always uneasy at their completely lax policy around access and key availability to the block and our flat.
Changing the locks was a complete no go short of doing it ourselves and risking the fallout - which may have been worth it?
Worth asking pointy questions of the landlord / letting agents. Particularly with the police involved.
Skippy said:
We don't have contents insurance (a mistake on our part, clearly) and are wondering how to broach the subject of the missing jewellery and camera.
I'm not sure what you're expecting here, you were robbed but don't have insurance. Who are you expecting to pay? If there is, somewhere down the line, a connection made to the landlords lax security / key holder arrangements and the person who ended up stealing your possessions you *might* have some sort of legal comeback to the letting agent. But I suspect it may be tenuous and, personally, in the same situation I would pin the blame on myself for not paying the £10 a month in insurance.To counter the harshness of the above paragraph I'm sorry this happened. I've been lucky not go through anything like this. But I suspect it's merely a matter of time and statistics.
I am glad though that things turned out as they did when they realised someone was in the flat...
deviant said:
Dupont666 said:
A lady my partner works with is from South Africa. Her husband has been in the security business (legitimate protection of the rich, famous and those in power) most of his life but it was getting to risky to continue in South Africa so they moved here to Aus.
Talking to them a while back they both said they would ONLY try and take on an intruder in a really extreme situation because you just do not know what they are capable of or what they are on. Even old mate who can handle any number of weapons and use household items as weapons would rather play dumb, take bit of a kicking and lose his TV rather than risk getting properly f
ked up taking on someone he cant beat....he said unless you can knock someone fully unconscious with one blow or kill them with 3 its not worth trying. If I have no quarms about being on the pitch and lauching a drag flick or a full on shot at head height with defenders in front of me wearing no body armour (got one head shot and several body shots doing that), I aint going to think twice about bashing someone who is there to rob me...
Plus you have to remember when holding a stick like that it doesnt need to be held at the end, its designed to be held in the middle too allowing very fast and and repeated hits (think axe like)... if of course you want to that is...
I would only be doing it to scare them off as I live in a location that if someon comes in its not like I can escape anywhere (2nd floor flat)...
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