Are ALL of your house keys accounted for as well?Sure they didn't manage to grab a set of them as well? I think I might want to change the locks...

All keys accounted for thankfully. So pleased he left the car key in the ignition, otherwise the whole lock set would have to be changed.... ££££££'s

Also can't believe this rodent lifted the car keys off the £20 note that they were sitting on, and left it, the same as the contents of Mrs Ree's purse were left untouched, credit/debit cards and all. :no:

Was this scrote really going around trying hundreds of house doors to see if they were unlocked.?

That's the thing that amazes me...to find doors that are unlocked, how many times/doors are they trying?!

A friend of mine had his car taken from his driveway - his wife had left it unlocked, but there wouldn't have been any clearly visible way of determining this from walking past...which would suggest they were going down the street trying all the handles, even on cars parked on driveways!

In his case, it was a gang who targetted the area for a short period of time so you might find your area's getting the same thing.

Euro cylinders around £20 for a bump resistant one and you can change them youself very easily.

If they were after your car, there is a reasonable chance that they might have another go, so I would certainly change the locks.

Apparently closed gates on the drive that are a bit squeaky when opened can help, so if you have them, then I'd suggest closing them.

Edited 1 October, 201015 yr by cheezemonkhai

Trouble is Rhoob' I've been sucked into the dreaded pit of lethargy with associated carelesness like so many others, and it takes something like this to really shock you into action.

I'm still actually struggling to 1) believe it actually happened, and 2) come to terms with just how lucky I have been.

You think of all the thousands of homes in the surrounding 5 sq. miles of here, and you really do believe (foolishly) that it couldn't and won't happen to you.

Was this scrote really going around trying hundreds of house doors to see if they were unlocked.?

Must have thought it was Christmas when he tried ours.

The only good thing is that he must have absolutely crapped his nappy when he saw my face appear at the bedroom window.

I have never seen anyone run away from me so fast!

Future Olympic sprinter in the making I reckon, and he was a big t**t too.

The bloody cheek of these cretins beggars belief too.

I reckon it probably was him that stole the C4 just over a mile away, 1 hour later. To get there he'd have had to walk down the main road, and with cop cars buzzing all over the place, he was taking a very high risk of being caught.

It never happens to the filthy scrotes leading their charmed lives though, does it, and then he casually drives off down to the motorway to presumably take it back to Liverpool. Unbelievable, especially in the dead of night.

Thanks for your advice regrading security btw.

Any suggestions and advice will be gratefully received.

Usual problem of lack of money at the moment though.

I cant cast the first stone I'm afraid, I have done foolish things leaving things unlocked, etc. I just try to remember the hassle that goes with being forgetful and got into a routine without even thinking.

As for advice, if your skint, go for some fake boxes and cameras, shouldnt be an unreasonable amount. For bell boxes, make sure they have a convincing strobe light on and a company name or something written on them. Try your local alarm company, they may sell you some dummy boxes cheap. If you can get some 'protected by, etc' window stickers, all the better. Anything you can get with the NACOSS (an owl) or BSIA (an eye) logos on is a bonus. Try to do a 'protected by BT Redcare' sign as well. Google the images, you might be able to make a couple up yourself

Make sure the bell boxes are high up, out of reach.

As for cameras, nothing of flimsy plastic. Most external housings are metal. It needs to look waterproof, remember you are protecting a sensitive camera device. So nothing cheap and tacky looking. Maybe a couple of CCTV Monitoring signs if you can do some (by law signs need to be up if recording), the more professional it looks, the better off you'll be..

No need to do fake wiring either, professional external devices dont have any visible wiring to protect it form tampering.

For any signs, images, etc. google images

Edited 1 October, 201015 yr by Rhoobarb

No Triggs' , door locks are not like that here. Lock them inside or out, and they cannot be opened either side with the handle fortunately.

T'was the back door, so no letter box anyway.

Regarding the Disco, if the car wasn't found, did the insurance pay out, or is that deemed to be an insecure door lock, and therefore no payout?

Fair enough, thought I'd check anyway - plus it might help others.

RE the Disco, a day or two later a new JAG XK, XF or something was parked up, which I think was a courtesy car or something. They've now got another Discovery. Police said they often steal them for their luggage space for thefts. I think it was a company car, so not too sure what the insurance said, although I'm guessing he got a new one as he needed it for work more than anything.

Thanks for those top tips there Rhoobarb.

I'm wondering about digging up our manky broken concrete driveway and having gravel installed. Cheaper alternative to block paving and tarmac too, with the massive added benefit of being extremely crunchy and noisy when someone comes down it.

Anyone know if 'this car is fitted with a tracker' stickers are available?

Just thought this might be an added deterent for wannabe thieving scrotes.

But a small terrier - guarding his own territory - more vicious/noisy and determined than any Rottie and whilst a Rottie goes for throats - the terrier makes a bee line for the more sensitive organs . And , they take less exercise and food . Scroats don't like them -they draw too much attention and might just reach the bits that scroats GF might miss .

Trouble is dogs are quite often drugged by determined thieves. Some fatally. Not a guaranteed deterrent anymore.

I was dreading someone was going to ask that.I'll come out straight.Mrs Ree left the back door in the kitchen unlocked.I have never known this to happen before, and partly blame myself now for not checking what she normally does.She was absolutely livid with herself, and me with myself too.The one night we leave it unlocked, and THIS happens. AGGGGGGGHHHH!Good job the car didn't go, as I'm sure the insurance company would have been most understanding and sympathetic...NOT.

Next door left his doors unlocked, and slightly open last weekend. He quite often did it, going off to work all day etc.

Wont be doing that again!

That's the thing that amazes me...to find doors that are unlocked, how many times/doors are they trying?!A friend of mine had his car taken from his driveway - his wife had left it unlocked, but there wouldn't have been any clearly visible way of determining this from walking past...which would suggest they were going down the street trying all the handles, even on cars parked on driveways!In his case, it was a gang who targetted the area for a short period of time so you might find your area's getting the same thing.

They'll go round pretending to do window cleaning, with no 'tools' to get caught with. Again, on the rise.

Euro cylinders around £20 for a bump resistant one and you can change them youself very easily.If they were after your car, there is a reasonable chance that they might have another go, so I would certainly change the locks.Apparently closed gates on the drive that are a bit squeaky when opened can help, so if you have them, then I'd suggest closing them.

I was reliably informed by the town locksmith store that the £20 ones are coated in some grease which does FA. If bumping is an issue, or worried about it, they said they start around £100 and also gaurd against 'snapping' - another thing you'll wish you never heard of.

I looked into it when I broke the back door lock casing and asked the question in roadside about 12 months or so back. I decided the cost wasnt worth it back then.

I've got even worse to confess. .

3 months ago when I took young Ree down to Oxfordshire to take part in the HPI training day, I gathered some stuff out of my fairly new van, but for some inexplicable reason I unlocked manually via the door lock, and LEFT THEM THERE before driving off in the Fabia.

Good fortune shone down on me on that occassion too, as my next door neighbour spotted them dangling from the door a couple of hours after we'd departed, and took them in for safe keeping.

Anybody use one of these in their car btw?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390243309533&ru=http%3A%2F%2Felectronics.shop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_nkw%3D390243309533%26_sacat%3D48839%26_dmpt%3DUK_Gadgets%26_odkw%3D%26_osacat%3D48839%26_trksid%3Dp3286.c0.m270.l1313%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

GPS operated granted, and I do appreciate that GPS jammers can be purchased for peanuts.

Do scrotes actually carry these jammers around when out enjoying the early morning air though?

Thought about getting the official VHF tracker system, as they didn't look too expensive at first glance, from £179 fitted.

It's the subscription that makes them a bit prohibitive though iirc?

Edited 1 October, 201015 yr by Mr Ree

Tracker fitted stickers also on fleabay

Tracker fitted stickers also on fleabay

Yea. Just found them Rhoob'.

Apparently Tracker don't advise the use of them though.

I'm drawing a list up of measures that need to be taken.

Mrs Ree thinks I'm getting a bit paranoid.

I reminded her that I shall check that all the doors are locked shortly, and also reminded her that we had a thieving scrote wandering around our house, and tipping the contents of her bag all over the next doors front garden less than 48 hours ago.

Paranoid?

I think not :think:

Edited 1 October, 201015 yr by Mr Ree

Thats real bad and good news all at the same time, glad they didn't get the car!

My car is parked behind my Dads on next doors driveway so that makes life difficult and confusing for the little buggers. Also, i bring my key to bed with me so they would need to get past me and the dog before they got to drive my car away.

I got quotes on trackers for affect on insurance and it hardly made a difference. Most thieves on high performance cars will just put it in a broken into garage or shipping container and wait, so it doesnt stop them getting nicked.

Edited 1 October, 201015 yr by E1uSiV3

Trouble with alarms though Gadget' is that nobody bats an eyelid when they go off now. Just a roll of the eyes, and groan of, "oh no, here we go again"

My mum's was done recently whilst the alarm was going off. Police were alerted when they saw one of them trying to remove the external box (high up on a gable) and chased the fatherless children but didn't catch them. :( It's definitely on the increase I think.

I was reliably informed by the town locksmith store that the £20 ones are coated in some grease which does FA. If bumping is an issue, or worried about it, they said they start around £100 and also gaurd against 'snapping' - another thing you'll wish you never heard of.

I looked into it when I broke the back door lock casing and asked the question in roadside about 12 months or so back. I decided the cost wasnt worth it back then.

Anti snap, is different to anti bump and it depends who you're talking to as to how much they cost.

If you go to a decent lock smith and negotiate on prices you will get one with anti-bump pins (albeit a basic model) for around £20.

I think your lock smith is expensive.

I used to work for a double glazing designer, so have experience of snapping and bumping locks.

I'm not saying there are not rubbish locks out there, but any decent lock should have hardened anti drill pins, anti snap rods/screw as standard.

The anti bump locks usually have a second set of pins on the key side as well as the top.

Either way, I got a set of locks that I know to be very good averaging £40 each, including 2 euro cylinders and a night latch.

by £100 I mean the locks that use etched keys similar to out car's blade keys.

These are the only ones I've seen the locksmith on YouTube struggle with. Everything else he seems to overcome in 30 secs or less.

by £100 I mean the locks that use etched keys similar to out car's blade keys.

These are the only ones I've seen the locksmith on YouTube struggle with. Everything else he seems to overcome in 30 secs or less.

There are a cheaper version that has the main key on the top, but etched or pinned sides too.

The only etched key I can think of (and I won't mention the brand) was indeed not easily bumped, but was very easily attacked with some brute force.

Lets face it, if they want to get in they will anyway, but making their life a bit more difficult doesn't hurt.

There are a cheaper version that has the main key on the top, but etched or pinned sides too.

The only etched key I can think of (and I won't mention the brand) was indeed not easily bumped, but was very easily attacked with some brute force.

Lets face it, if they want to get in they will anyway, but making their life a bit more difficult doesn't hurt.

Well I may not be able to stop them coming in, but I'll certainly know about it now.

Just bought a couple of battery operated 'Mini Alert'' sirens for the front and back doors from good ole Maplin.

Stick them on the door and magnet on the frame, switch on, door opens and 100decibels scream out.

Even if they find it and switch it off, the racket for just a couple of seconds will have me bounding down the stairs, base ball bat in hand like a demented Buffalo.

Well I may not be able to stop them coming in, but I'll certainly know about it now.

Just bought a couple of battery operated 'Mini Alert'' sirens for the front and back doors from good ole Maplin.

Stick them on the door and magnet on the frame, switch on, door opens and 100decibels scream out.

Even if they find it and switch it off, the racket for just a couple of seconds will have me bounding down the stairs, base ball bat in hand like a demented Buffalo.

Just make sure you store yours sports equipment somewhere, so that you can claim you were frightened and grabbed it in self defence while running down the stairs.

I used to install alarms, if you can afford it go for a monitored alarm or one with a dialler, doesnt matter if the bell is ignored then, someone will know. They are also a good deterrent, 90% ish of houses that get broken into, dont have an alarm. Why break into a house with a potential noisy problem when you can break into one that has no problems at all? Its all about risk assesment as far as a scrote is concerned.

Even just some dummy (fake) bell boxes and cameras are a good deterrent, just make sure they don't look like dummy items. A seasoned scrote will know.

I have a working alarm on my house. Someone still decided to break in, set the alarm off, steal an expensive mountain bike, 2 laptops, watch, mobile phone, digital camera, GPS, etc.

I think they were in and out in a few minutes (if that). My neighbours heard a loud bang (the PVCu door standing up to a bit of abuse), and the shop over the road heard my alarm going off, but no one did/noticed anything. It was only when I got home and noticed my front gate was open. Walked into the house, alarm beeped as normal (as the thieves had closed the patio doors they eventually exited via, so it had re-armed itself.

Edited 5 October, 201015 yr by mbames

I have a working alarm on my house. Someone still decided to break in, set the alarm off, steal an expensive mountain bike, 2 laptops, watch, mobile phone, digital camera, GPS, etc.

I think they were in and out in a few minutes (if that). My neighbours heard a loud bang (the PVCu door standing up to a bit of abuse), and the shop over the road heard my alarm going off, but no one did/noticed anything. It was only when I got home and noticed my front gate was open. Walked into the house, alarm beeped as normal (as the thieves had closed the patio doors they eventually exited via, so it had re-armed itself.

This horrendous story ^^^^ basically confirms what I've suspected for some time now.

House alarms are virtually a waste of time if you're out, and looked upon as just a bloody nuisance and false alarm by neighbours.

I have that outlook on them I'm sorry to say, and don't even bother looking out of the window now.

Only use is if you can set then to cover certain parameters whilst you are actually in the house watching tv/sleeping, and that is why I bought these cheap (£5) but probably effective 'door opening' alarms.

If they'd been fitted last Thursday morning, scummy chummy scroatbag would probably have simply legged it without any further hesitation.

Edited 5 October, 201015 yr by Mr Ree

Just recently my in laws were victim to a burglary while away for the weekend and now their insurance provider has insisted they have an alarm fitted. Although as said above what use are they really, if fewer and fewer people actually look should one go off.

Just recently my in laws were victim to a burglary while away for the weekend and now their insurance provider has insisted they have an alarm fitted. Although as said above what use are they really, if fewer and fewer people actually look should one go off.

Crazy.

I'm seriously thinking about gettin a dog now tbh.

Best alarm ever I'd have thought.

It was on the agenda earlier on this year, for companionship for me when I'm out in the hills walking, but couldn't find the one that I was looking for locally.

Crazy.

I'm seriously thinking about gettin a dog now tbh.

Best alarm ever I'd have thought.

It was on the agenda earlier on this year, for companionship for me when I'm out in the hills walking, but couldn't find the one that I was looking for locally.

Best get two dogs - one to take for a walk on the hills and a really hungry killer dog to leave in the house when you are out

My neighbours on one side have dogs, and on the otherside an alarm. I have a side gate though, which at 7foot tall was not enough to prevent someone clambering over it. It now has a double row of 6 inch nails as nice little present for any unwanted hands

Best get two dogs - one to take for a walk on the hills and a really hungry killer dog to leave in the house when you are out

My neighbours on one side have dogs, and on the otherside an alarm. I have a side gate though, which at 7foot tall was not enough to prevent someone clambering over it. It now has a double row of 6 inch nails as nice little present for any unwanted hands

Whilst I totally agree with your measures, and would consider them myself too tbh, you'll probably find that you're in breach of some ridiculous law (H&S probably :( ) leaving you wide open for prosecution if some little runt hurts himself on them.

Laws are stacked up against decent folk defending themselves unfortunately.

I cannot actually discuss a couple of 'precautionary' measures here on an open forum that I'm considering putting into place, in case this most unsavoury episode repeats itself in the future, for fear of retribution/prosecution from the do gooders and human rights brigade of our sad society.

Whilst I totally agree with your measures, and would consider them myself too tbh, you'll probably find that you're in breach of some ridiculous law (H&S probably :( ) leaving you wide open for prosecution if some little runt hurts himself on them.

Laws are stacked up against decent folk defending themselves unfortunately.

I cannot actually discuss a couple of 'precautionary' measures here on an open forum that I'm considering putting into place, in case this most unsavoury episode repeats itself in the future, for fear of retribution/prosecution from the do gooders and human rights brigade of our sad society.

I attended a recent "blue light roadshow" where the local police, neighbour watch, security companies, etc attended. I mentioned what I had done, and everyone was in agreement that what I had done was ok, however I might potentially get into trouble. However the way I see it, if your hands are 7 foot off the ground, then can't by accident - the only reason would be if your trying to climb over.

As it was a few days after I was broken into, I had an honeysuckle bush next to my front door (next to the side gate) which "fell" off wall one night (I was in town for a few beers with my mates). Odd how it had been there for 10+ years before hand and been fine. I think someone had already had a sample , but less nice for me thinking someone had come back for a second helping :'(

cctv is an idea I like, but I wonder if the cameras say "there is something worth protecting in the house" - like a carrot waved infront of a donkey. Plus it annoys me I would have to shell out £300+ for a half decent unit and a £150ish per decent waterproof nightvision camera.

Edited 6 October, 201015 yr by mbames

There is a small amount of justice in the world, as I posted elsewhere in the past -a friend hadn't deadlocked his front door, and some low lifes opened it and stole his Astra, his Wife's Corsa and his 42 inch telly while their retriever (who'd been trained not to bark) slumbered in the kitchen. They also got all the paperwork for both cars, as they were both due to be taxed the next day. They also got his briefcase. Luckily, they didn't realize at the time that his briefcase held the keys to his Porsche Boxster, which was in the garage.

Nobody was ever caught, but what was believed to be the same gang stole a Civic Type R from a nearby village a couple of weeks later, and they spotted a Police car parked by the roadside as they drove away at speed. The driver panicked, spun and crashed killing one person in it, and injuring another. A third ran away.

I've got a small but noisy dog (a Tibetan Terrier, who wouldn't harm a fly but has a bark several sizes bigger than her, and lets rip if a man three streets away f@rts in bed), an alarm that's on when we're out (We and our neighbours keep an eye out for alarms going off) and composite front and back doors that are ACPO approved. The front door lock is so weird that most people can't open it WITH a key. We were replacing the doors anyway, and these were around a couple of hundred quid more than UPVC.

I'm not saying the house in impregnable, but I hope that anyone who's looking for an easy job will go elsewhere.

Phil