Attempted Break In - Kitchen Window Smashed

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Your window is perfect for climbing through sadly.

Fit external to the lever? window locks (window jammer)

Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Saturday 14th November 07:19

[The_Nugget]

ATM said:

That gate isn’t really going to stop them.
If you are serious, I would:
Get a droppable bollard for the middle of the drive.
Get a security floodlight that pings on when they enter the driveway.
Get an alarm for the house or at least a visible alarm box.
Get CCTV covering the cars and entry points and a sign at the end of the drive pointing out the CCTV.
Get a disklock.

Optional:
A Rottweiler.

As someone pointed out, it’s about making yourself unattractive to them so they find an easier target.

[Chubbyross]

fttm said:

Drezza said:

I'd be concerned they might use violence to get the keys for for all your security. You need a dog... a big one.

Yes indeed , our GS is asleep in front of the fire right now , but I can guarantee should somebody even get close to our property she will let us know all about it . Yes they are needy , stick to you like velcro and eat too much cheese , but nobody will ever come into the house unless she wants them to .
Best intruder alarm ever made .

If she’s anything like my lab the farts would probably keep them at bay. However, as a fierce guard dog she’s more likely to lick them to death.

[CoolHands]

If they were just the more usual crackhead scrotes then bollards for the car etc is pointless as they are just looking for normal stuff to steal. So focus on house security IMO ie security lights (could fit them this weekend), window locks locked, cheap house alarm? Can turn on ground floor zone when you go to bed, might help you sleep better.

[Evanivitch]

House alarms, lights and CCTV are deterrents, they don't physically stop anything.

Good locks are easy retrofit if you have eurocylinder. 3*locks with a 2* handle if you want to go above and beyond the standards. Prevent snapping attacks and drilling.

Good doors. Composite multilock. Only thing getting through them is a specialised chainsaw. You can get one's with metal sheet inserts if you're really bothered. UPVc doors are pitiful to kick through, and wooden doors with single Yale are easy too.

And good glass. Laminated at all key points. Especially French doors. Especially anything directly next to front door. French doors must be toughened, which doesn't mean they're stronger, it means the glass conveniently crumbles. Window pane glass is less convenient, but still easily broken. And for god's sake don't leave keys in a door with a catflap...

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Depending on your area they also use blowtorches on upvc doors/locks.

[ATM]

Thanks for all the pointers. I agree with the comments that the failed attempt was by someone less than professional and less than determined. A professional or determined individual or team could obviously take whatever they want. I am hoping they would not want my cars as they are all a bit nackered and not really worth much - to a professional team. A low level thief would probably be interested in just grabbing whatever and maybe taking a car if its easy enough.

I am trying to use these newly added visual deterrents to let said individual know its gonna be harder now should they decide to attempt the same thing again. And anyone else like minded could obviously see its not going to be easy.

I do have an alarm which was not being used. It is now. I am investigating options to change the window for a different format with laminate glass too. I am also adding additional internal locks on doors.

The biggest difference now is I am constantly thinking about thieves where as before I was probably stupid in thinking it wasn't going to happen to me - or just not thinking at all.

[ATM]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Depending on your area they also use blowtorches on upvc doors/locks.

I've been told to get these for the patio doors.

[Evanivitch]

ATM said:

The biggest difference now is I am constantly thinking about thieves where as before I was probably stupid in thinking it wasn't going to happen to me - or just not thinking at all.

I think that's the biggest thing you can take from a failed attempt.

And it's not to live in fear. No one should live in fear of their home safety being violated. But being mindful that little things really do add up when it comes to preventing crime and unfortunately too many people only make the small changes after they've been a victim.

[vindaloo79]

We bought some of these for cctv as a starting point when moving into our new home. I worked a way a lot and wife was pregnant. We just use them internally facing either in or out now. They operate over WiFi but I have paid for a subscription of about £65 for cloud cover.

I find it handy being able to see in garage or kitchen when I hear a noise, or when I’m out. They send a movement alert to mobile.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CPRK6C5/

I slept much easier knowing I could trust my phone to alert me.

But I went on to get a full hikvision system in the end.

A ring doorbell or blink from amazon may also be a good starting point.

At least then you would know the size and number of visitors and can clear your perimeter without getting out of bed.

[Sheepshanks]

Chubbyross said:

fttm said:

Drezza said:

I'd be concerned they might use violence to get the keys for for all your security. You need a dog... a big one.

Yes indeed , our GS is asleep in front of the fire right now , but I can guarantee should somebody even get close to our property she will let us know all about it . Yes they are needy , stick to you like velcro and eat too much cheese , but nobody will ever come into the house unless she wants them to .
Best intruder alarm ever made .

If she’s anything like my lab the farts would probably keep them at bay. However, as a fierce guard dog she’s more likely to lick them to death.

Colleague of wife's used to pop home at lunchtime to let their GSD out. Got there one day and front door was open and house had been ransacked. Called police and went looking for the dog.

Police found it doped on bathroom floor. This may not be typical as almost everyone where she lives seems to have a dog, but the police said most houses broken in to had dogs. There's some suggestion it might even be easier as there's often a window open and no alarm (or it's off). Mate of mine befriended the guard dog at the garage he ran when he arrived one morning before it had been removed!

[Big Rig]

vindaloo79 said:

We bought some of these for cctv as a starting point when moving into our new home. I worked a way a lot and wife was pregnant. We just use them internally facing either in or out now. They operate over WiFi but I have paid for a subscription of about £65 for cloud cover.

I find it handy being able to see in garage or kitchen when I hear a noise, or when I’m out. They send a movement alert to mobile.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CPRK6C5/

I slept much easier knowing I could trust my phone to alert me.

But I went on to get a full hikvision system in the end.

A ring doorbell or blink from amazon may also be a good starting point.

At least then you would know the size and number of visitors and can clear your perimeter without getting out of bed.

Ring doorbells are easily jammed with a £15 device openly available to purchase on the internet. Poor choice of security strategy IMO.

[TheRainMaker]

ATM said:

Not exactly a good night's sleep. Constantly wandering if I heard a noise. Barricading myself into the bedroom might not be the best idea going forward. It makes it harder to go check the perimeter which I had hoped would force me to just get on with sleeping. The other option was to sleep downstairs. Perhaps I'll try that tonight / tomorrow. I can't decide if I want an earlier notification something is happening - sleeping downstairs - or more time to hide basically - barricading myself into the bedroom.

You should get yourself an alarm which you can part set.

They are not expensive these days.

[paulwirral]

Cctv is only any good if your actually in the house so you can see who it is and get up to confront them , the thieves who tried to get into my house just pulled their beanie hats down low and wore a scarf , covid is a blessing to crims . I watched him check the front door keyhole to see if there was a key in it , if there is then someone's in , then watched him climb over the 2 metre high solid gates and check the rear of the house , again I assume to see if someone was in , then come to the front window to try and remove it silently by easing the beads . As I said previously I confronted him and he ran , doofus has pointed out that you have no idea how you will react until it actually happens .
If I was in the ops position I'd park both porsches side by side facing the fence by driving onto the grass and reversing up to the fence , it'll make an easy getaway impossible.
I only ever had trouble when the bmw was easy pickings , if the Mercedes was parked there there was never trouble .
I realised it was the bmw when he walked past it on camera and checked the badge on the rear just to make sure it was the right model .
Oh , and thieves travel to nice areas to steal , better chance of more rewards.

[Sheepshanks]

This thread is all a bit scary! Our house has very restricted frontage and is surrounded by others with a closed in rear garden and I've never given security a second thought. We unlock our front door in the morning and lock it when we go to bed so anyone could just walk in.

The owner of a property a few doors along has just passed away - I've always like the setting it's in, on a corner and with a very open front and easy access to the rear. Now I'm thinking it'd be a security nightmare. It's rare to hear of break-ins here (rural Cheshire village) but they do happen now and again.

[Evanivitch]

Big Rig said:

Ring doorbells are easily jammed with a £15 device openly available to purchase on the internet. Poor choice of security strategy IMO.

Any WiFi camera can be jammed with a filthy, cheap jammer.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

A hood, a covid mask and gloves defeats witnesses and any cctv sadly

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

There is a Wilson aluminium softball bad under my bed for in case I need to go full Rambo. It is actually a reassurance also (self defence equipment to hand)

[PositronicRay]

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit said:

There is a Wilson aluminium softball bad under my bed for in case I need to go full Rambo. It is actually a reassurance also (self defence equipment to hand)

I was attacked by two guys, one had a handgun (maybe replica) the other had a truncheon.

Both big lads, psyched up, and knew what they were doing. Nothing I could do except take a beating.

Forget the macho stuff.

[Doofus]

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit said:

There is a Wilson aluminium softball bad under my bed for in case I need to go full Rambo. It is actually a reassurance also (self defence equipment to hand)

When I used mine I was told there was a chance I'd be arrested and charged with assault, if the chap who broke in pressed charges. He didn't.

But when the police turned up, one with a dog, I was told in no uncertain terms to "Lose the bat, or this dog'll have you. He's been trained!"