[mooneymini]

In the last couple of months, my family at home have been noticing weird things happening.
We catch people wandering up the drive at night, and just recently in the last few weeks its got weirder.

The other day, my mum went shopping, leaving my little brother at home as its the school holidays. About 5 mins later, someone apparantly came up the drive, knocked on the door a while and started making funny noises through the letter box.

The dogs are acting strangly too, last night I was woken up by 1 of our dogs barking strangly, she hasnt done it before. It was at 12:15am, and then I woke up again really suddenly at 4am by all 3 dogs barking madly when they would usually be sound asleep. I went to calm them down, and turned a couple of lights on an off around the house and then tried to get back to sleep.

Never had this before, its kinda worrying. Got hardly a wink of sleep after that. Something makes me think its the minis on the drive.
But then again, surly something would have happened by now.

Oh well, just wanted to get it off my chest

[bascule]

Wow, that would freak me out! Have you spoken to your local speed enforcement agency oops I mean Police?

Or you could try a couple of these Security Lights £8.99 each may well be a good investment.

All joking aside, this kind of thing is serious, you'll never know what they want till they do something bad, either that or you have to make your house look so unappealing that they go elsewhere, not nice for the people elsewhere I know but that's life here these days

[Paul]

I don't think the MINIs would knock on the door and make strange noises through the letter box to be honest.

Does sound worrying, do you have a webcam or anything like that you could set up out the window to keep an eye outside?

[KPKalle]

Probably just ghosts. I shouldn't worry

[geist]

A place were my wife used to work, was isolated down a rural lane and had a similar thing happen. I strongly suggested PIR Security Lights covering the lane in front of the house and on all sides. Seemed to do the trick

It does sound like someone is doing a bit of a recce, for whatever reason.

Great for when you get back on a dark night to the house and also criminals will think twice as there is a chance of being seen/caught. I know that these are getting cheaper, but if the budget can rise to it possibly purchase some form of video camera surveillance for the front and/or front door.

Also report it to the Police and they maybe able to get someone to pop round and give you some advice. If they turn up in a Marked Car, then that may be enough to deter anyone trying something unsavoury
Or by a big dog like a rottweiler

[T15 Matt]

At least your dogs are doing their job

[Tracie]

As well as the PIR lights, you can get from B&Q ..a device which you fix in your driveway and an alarm goes off in the house whenever someone walks past it..pretty much like a doorbell..its very small and no one would notice it.

[118]

that's not nice to think that someone could be watching you or your house

[mooneymini]

yea, its really weird. We always leave the curtains open downstairs anyway, and the kitchen lights on. But just recently i have been shutting them, just from feeling like im being watched.
I have a webcam, but my computor is right round the back of the house, very hidden away, so i dont think it will catch much.
We do have security lights, but the bulbs went about 6 years ago and never bothered with them since!
hehe, (i bought a bulb for one the other week but havnt braved myself to fit it yet, and everyone else has been rushing about being busy)

[silverwolf08]

that's kind of weird about them making noises through the letterbox. i'd think if they were scoping out your house, they'd want to be quiet about it.. maybe the incidents aren't related?


who knows.. maybe you should take up archery or something just to be safe

[cooperblack]

as you know the security on modern cars is so good now the thevies are now breaking into houses to get the keys or sticking rods through the letter box to fish for the keys to cars that are left on the driveway at night, the best thing is to take all of your keys upto bed at night including house keys and put them somewhere safe in your bedroom my wife puts her keys under her pillow my Mini keys go in the safe

[Batgirl555]

Mooney - I wouldn't discount this, it sounds like a pretty classic case of someone casing your house to see when you're home and learn your patterns. I'd definitly replace those security lights, get timers for your lights, and shut the shades. If you feel like you're being watched - odds are you are (unless you're parinoid and dilusional, which I know we're all a bit nutters over our cars - but that's about the extent of it).
And the prowler would want to make a lot of noice with the letter box to see if you were home - they were testing, easier to rattle around a bit and see if you come to do the door rather than breaking in and finding out the hard way the homeowners home.
And call your police - just give them a heads up, they can send an occasional partrol car your way just to keep an eye on things.

[MINI-Morgan]

Not meaning to scare or anything but it does sound like a classic scout for stealing keys from your house. The noises through the letter box is to see if the dogs are allowed free movement around the house or not. If the dogs dont come to the door to investigate the noise they know that when your out the dogs wont be stopping someone entering your hallway where sadly quite a few people keep their keys.

I have to agree with the PIR Flood lights and if you have it leave a video camera near a window so you can quickly record the activities outside when the flood lights come on. If you can get a face or even better a number plate the police will be laughing.

I'm afraid as quite a few Mini owners on Mini2 have discovered the Mini is too secure for criminals to even bother to try and break into the car when your house is much easier.

A few things to do/remember when owning an expensive high on the list to be stollen cars:

1) Better home security (House Alarm and 5 point door locks)
2) Buy a safe and hide in a good location
3) Security Lighting is always a good idea
4) Tracker for your car is a good to put them off pretty quick(Even the stickers are a help)

Bear in mind most cars are stollen when your not even home as its only the gangs that have the balls to break into a house that actually has people in. Just remember you can hurt them as much as you like with that 5 Iron or baseball bat if "You are afraid for your life and they are blocking your exit"

I still wouldnt mind catching the idiot that tried open my old MCS door with a screw driver

[Veron781]

This sounds so scary. I'd def let the local police know of any concerns you might have.
Other idea's listed so far are excellent too.

Awful you feel like this in your own home

[Phirefly]

Quote: Originally Posted by mooneymini

Removed for security reasons!

Is this for real???? why not post your address too and really finish yourself off

[colink]

One of my friends has just had his car nicked off his driveway. He was in the kitchen with his partner eating dinner then heard the front door slamming. They ran to the hall and heard the car reversing from the driveway. The crooks had hooked the keys through the letter box, opened the front door, grabbed the car keys and hot footed it. Cool as you like.

The police actually recovered the car - well, they caught it in a high speed chase (120+ mph), rammed it up against a bollard and discovered tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs and guns in it They cheerfully told my mate "not too worry, you should get your car back in a couple of weeks" Yeh, like you'd want that car back

Take all the advice you have been given on this thread mooneymini - not just coz there are MINIs at stake but because being burgled, or having your home 'breached' is the one of the most horrible, sickest experiences you can have.

[mooneymini]

thanks for all the advice.
Never thought anyof this until the last couple of weeks, so some changes will definatly be made.
Living in a little village where not much happens has got us feeling a false sense of security. Have already talked through with things of what will happen in future.
I just know that any efforts made, can easily be forgotten just once, and that once something bad will happen. Its just life. But the effort will be there...

It will be nice to know that when im away, that whoever is in the house will be safe. As it seems we are all too naive here

Why dont u just get a doberman and leave it outside, that will scare them off

[mooneymini]

now that would get the rspca round like lighting! I will start letting the dogs roam the house at night. If anyone gets in, they will be knocked over and licked to death!

Quote: Originally Posted by mooneymini

now that would get the rspca round like lighting!

No it wont, as long as it has a kennel and water ur be ok