Snowy Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 If you don't, then please think twice! Our family has had a very nasty wake up call! Last night my sister in law and her family (hubby, teenage daughter and daughters boyfriend) were sat watching TV, about 11pm, when 4 men in balaclavas dashed into their house, threatened them and made them hand over all their keys. They then ran off, taking sister in law's car on their way The family has assumed it was safe to leave the front door unlocked because they were all in. Naturally they are all very shaken up (please send some positive vibes and prayers their way). I'd hate to see anyone else caught out like this. They live near Bolton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 OMG! How terrifying! Poor things, gosh I really hope they are ok, what a wake up call! I always have the front door locked but not the back, but now, well I'll be thinking again. Give them our very best wishes *hugs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 That is awful Sending positive thoughts and prayers to your sister in law and her family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Oh my goodness what a terrible ordeal, I hope they bounce back ok from that We dont lock our door no, really we should know better - in Bristol we kept the door locked all the time as it was direct on to the pavement and a surprising amount of people used to try the door handles in the evening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 oh my word I hope they are ok I hope they dont suffer too much from it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FORENSICA Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Scary!!! We lock for the night but never when we are at home. Perhaps we should reconsider. Poor your family. Hope they will get over it soon, however as I know myself I would have nightmares for months to come and probably considering getting an Alsatian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Sorry and shocked to hear that Snowy Hope they are all ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 That's terrible . How frightening for them all . I'm glad it was just a car that was taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespiritbutterfly Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Poor things, what a terrible thing to happen. Positive virbes are being sent as i type their way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 How awful for them, I sometimes lock the door when I am on my own, perhaps I should more often. Best wishes to your sister in law and her family. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 How awful, hope they are able to get over it in time. Thanks for the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Snowy what a terrible thing to happen. I'm one of those people who do lock my doors, and usually check them before I go to bed. What have the police said about this? Have there been similar occurrences? My thoughts are with your SIL and family. I'll be warning others about this too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Hope your family are getting over their awful shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 How awful I hope the're all ok Yes I do lock my doors when I'm in, admittedly not necessarily because of the threat of someone coming in but because my DS used to try and escape and we've never got out of the habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 What a terrible ordeal for them We do lock our doors as we have no neighbours, but sometimes Carl will be out with the animals and I will be inside .......back door unlocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Crikey, I'm sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyhen Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 How terrible for your poor family I`ve just been and locked our door, it`s normally open during the day, and has been this evening as we`re waiting for ES to come home from a party. I hope they manage to put their ordeal behind them, with time. Sue x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 We do lock the door most of the time, but the back door is sometimes open because there are always chickens on the step I know someone that the same thing happened a few years ago. The dad was asleep in the front room watching tele with the kids asleep upstairs, a few of them went in, one watched the dad, the others took things then the left. They only realised when the mom had got home! It shocked a few people at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 How awful for your family, Snowy, I do hope they get over this but it's bound to leave them feeling very uneasy. My front door only opens with a key, so it's always locked, but the back door is usually locked after dark. That said, it's open now as I'm upstairs in the study, because I'm trying to persuade the cat to go out more and she hasn't got the hang of the cat-flap yet - it's behind a bolted gate though. I've been burgled a couple of times, including someone coming in downstairs while I was asleep upstairs (thankfully) and it made me very wary, but I've probably relaxed a bit since I moved here. Thanks for the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 What a terrifying experience for your family. I hope they're all feeling okay but I should imagine it will take a long time for them to feel comfortable about their security again... I must admit that we are very lax about locking our doors- whether we're in during the evening or spending the day at the bottom of the garden... We live in a quiet hamlet, at the end of a track and it's just something that we don't really consider. If OH is out for the evening, I do lock the doors and draw the curtains too if it's dark. It's made me think though .... Best wishes to your family... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Snowy I'm sorry to read this We always have our doors locked, with the key removed as well so it can't be grabbed through the letter box. Out back patio doors are designed so they can be locked open with about a 10cm gap, to let air in. I very often leave this door like that, but move the key well away from where it could be grabbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Oh how awful is this - not safe in our own homes - we tend to lock the front purely as if we are out the back we cannot hear anyone in the house, but cats are out and in so tend to forget about the back door - will be more vigilent from now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 What a totally nasty thing to happen - its seems there is more desperation to get money by any means now, that theives and hoodlums are being so brazen . My eldest Bro was burgled at 1am in the morning - young lads stealing cars basically. The dog barked a couple of times - then barked again - only on the 2nd did he investigate. By then they had nicked the car - and drove the wrong way down the A1 in Stevenage, losing control and writing off the car after several rolls Ironic thing is - the dog barking was thought to be "oh he's heard a cat in the garden", especially as he did not make a big deal of it - he would have done if they had gone into the kitchen. He had been burgled years ago - a young girl shoved her little brother through a tiny bathroom window I usually have the patio door open - especially in the summer, but do lock ALL the doors when home alone with the kids. This kind of crime really makes me angry though - what right does anyone have to help themselves to your hard earned possesions, let alone with added violence and threat Best wishes to you and yours Snowy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 That's awful, I hope they are feeling less shell-shocked soon. I do keep doors locked most of the time, except the patio doors behind a bolted gate when it's hot outside - though the kids are less vigilant and have been known to walk out leaving me upstairs and all doors and windows wide open. We are also careful not to leave keys where they can be seen, let alone reached from a window or letterbox - a gang went around the area a few years back using a long wire hook to pick them off hall tables and the like. They made off with keys and cars, sometimes the owners didn't know until the next morning when they found car missing and keys gone, so had to change all locks immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 I keep my doors locked at all times. I put bolts on too when I'm inside & also a chain. We also have a camera up. You just can't be too careful can you? I'm so sorry to hear of your family's incident - absolutely terrifying! I hope for all their sakes they are having some sort of counselling. You don't get over something like that so easy. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
