I've been burgled, WTF!

Fiocca said:
Just yesterday i was with a locksmith breaking into peoples homes using just a piece of plastic to open the doors within seconds....it's amazing how simple it is to enter property with yale locks.
Click to expand...

I once called out a locksmith to get me into my house. 30s from him getting out of his van to him standing in my front room and advising me to get a better lock. It was quicker than using a key and he did no damage at all, not even the slightest scratch. He dismissed yale locks as not really being locks at all, referring to them as latches.

I fitted a 5 lever mortice lock as soon as possible.
 
Advice from The Met on door locks and security here.

My folks got broken in to many years ago now and as well as changing the locks to a Rim Automatic Deadlock and mortice they also installed a door limiter for night time security. This is a metal bar and runner rather than a chain and is very difficult to fiddle open without shutting the door first.

I cannot remember exactly remember how they got in but believe they did a fair bit of work on the frame.

My father was a locksmith at the time (around 20 years ago).

RB
 
Interesting thread. I live in a 3 bed semi in an OK area but am paranoid about being burgled. I can only imagine how gutting it must feel to know it's happened to you :(

I remember when I found that someone had tried to steal my car, they made a right mess of it and I felt like someone had tried to take part of me.

All windows/doors are uPVC (front door, patio doors and kitchen door) and have the normal uPVC barrel lock with multiple points to the frame (the type that pop out when you life the handle). How secure are these perceived to be?

It's alarmed with PIR and door sensors too with a visible alarm box on the wall of the property.

I have a garage out the back where I have some tools and one of the cars, this is behind a padlocked gate that could be climbed over. For the garage door I welded a gate style sliding lock to some bolts and a steal plate behind it, pin slides into a large hole drilled in the floor, this is padlocked shut. The windows of the garage are plastic and I have either screwed metal bars over the inside, boarded them up or put shelves over them!

I must admit that I am guilty of leaving the curtains drawn all the time at the front but not often at the back of the house, perhaps I should get nets for the front? I also don't tend to leave any lights on, perhaps I should!

There's also a dog locked in the hallway/landing/porch area during the day but she would most likely roll over for a tickle than ward anyone off. She does enjoy eating my post though!

Any ideas for improvement? I have a security light over the front door but need to finish wiring this up, perhaps I should be fitting one out the back of the house too!
 
taske said:
All windows/doors are uPVC (front door, patio doors and kitchen door) and have the normal uPVC barrel lock with multiple points to the frame (the type that pop out when you life the handle). How secure are these perceived to be?
Click to expand...

Not easy to pick, but notoriously easy to just kick in, as far as I'm aware.

My situation is almost exactly the same as yours, though I'm pretty certain that the only thing that's prevented our house being burgled by the human detritus that populate the cesspit in which we live is the dog. He knows the local hoodlums by smell alone and goes absolutely feral if he detects them anywhere near the property.
 
taske said:
All windows/doors are uPVC (front door, patio doors and kitchen door) and have the normal uPVC barrel lock with multiple points to the frame (the type that pop out when you life the handle). How secure are these perceived to be?
Click to expand...

Well we broke into 2 of those within seconds simply by using a piece of plastic as the handle wasnt lifted to engage the extra latches and they weren't locked using the key...
 
Was the laptop password protected?

If you used a browser to store passwords she should change her passwords for everything asap.
 
beachBOYken said:
if there is any sign of a break in you call 999
Click to expand...

What?

How is that an emergency situation? At worst, you'd stay outside of the property if you were worried that someone might still be inside.

There's no way I'd call 999 for a break in.
 
div0 said:
What?

How is that an emergency situation? At worst, you'd stay outside of the property if you were worried that someone might still be inside.

There's no way I'd call 999 for a break in.
Click to expand...

, so what if the suspects are still in the house ?

for instance if someone went home , and found the windows broken open there house wrecked ,stuff missing , oh i know i will just wonder over to phone and call the non emergency number? are you kinden , thats a emergency!

But if there is signs of a break in you will find that 999 is the correct thing to do.
 
Last edited:
At worst, I'd wait out side if I was concerned there may be someone in the house.

Still would not phone 999, as I can't see how you consider it an emergency. When this last happened to someone I knew, I just phoned the local police station and they came round to investigate and check it was all ok. They took a few prints and made suggestions as how to avoid problems in future.

There was no suggestion I should have called 999.
 
Fiocca said:
Well we broke into 2 of those within seconds simply by using a piece of plastic as the handle wasnt lifted to engage the extra latches and they weren't locked using the key...
Click to expand...

Lifted 'n' locked even when I'm home, let alone when I'm out :)
 
div0 said:
At worst, I'd wait out side if I was concerned there may be someone in the house.

Still would not phone 999, as I can't see how you consider it an emergency. When this last happened to someone I knew, I just phoned the local police station and they came round to investigate and check it was all ok. They took a few prints and made suggestions as how to avoid problems in future.

There was no suggestion I should have called 999.
Click to expand...

but that does not make sense if you was concerned there was someone in the house you would call 999?

most people who find they have been broken in , the first thing that comes into there mind is "Are they still in the house"
 
beachBOYken said:
but that does not make sense if you was concerned there was someone in the house you would call 999?
Click to expand...

I can honestly say I wouldn't.

As I've said, if I was concerned, then I would wait outside until the police turned up - after phoning the non-emergency number.

What is the 'emergency' that requires the police to arrive quickly? Bearing in mind that them turning up at your door could prevent them being able to attend a more serious situation.

If you are worried that when you go inside, you could find someone with a knife or syringe, then wait outside.
 
I'd get a syringe out and enter the house to freak him out!

Laptop was password protected, and I know it's trickier to get around than xp, but is it still easy to get through win 7 password without reinstalling or formatting? She's changed her passwords just in case, but would ne nice to know
 
It would be very easy to get into it, it doesn't provide much protection really, if you have the laptop you can change the password.
 
Saying that though the opportunists that nick a laptop are most likely going to be after instant cash from selling it on rather than trying to hack your Windows account and look for passwords/details.

This thread has been very informative about home security, lots to keep in mind. Sorry to hear about what happened to those that have been burgled. We haven't had it at home but have had it happen when on holiday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom