Burglary attempt at my French home left me terrified
Columnist Cynthia Spillman offers some advice on improving security
Potential intruders can be deterred by strategies such as alarms and lights
Natali _ Mis/Shutterstock
Dear Cynth
My husband was recently away on a business trip, leaving me alone at home. I am not in the best of health and do not speak French fluently.
At 01:00, somebody tried to break into our house. I was absolutely petrified and, at first, stayed upstairs in my bedroom, hoping that our dogs’ barking would scare them off.
However, a short while later I heard banging on the front door, as if the intruders were trying to break it down. I do not know what possessed me, but I turned on all the lights in the house and let the dogs out the back, locking myself in again afterwards.
A short while later, the dogs returned to the door. I let them in and there were no further disturbances. I did not sleep a wink for the rest of the night and I am now absolutely terrified of staying alone in our house overnight.
This is a nightmare situation, as my husband has to travel frequently.
I am so sorry to hear about this upsetting experience.
It sounds as though your dogs saw the intruders off, but that is no consolation given that you are now terrified of staying alone at night.
I suggest you speak to the local police to find out if there have been other attempted break-ins in the area.
They may come round to the house to have a look. You do not mention any damage, but you may find it reassuring to have a chat with them and hear their suggestions for improving your home security.
To that end, I strongly recommend that you install a burglar alarm. There are many reliable brands and you can consult friends and neighbours for their recommendations.
Failing that, ask your insurance company which brand they advise. Having an alarm can also lower your premium.
Another suggestion is to disguise the fact that you are home alone, for example by leaving the lights on downstairs when you go to bed.
Several apps now allow for electronic devices to be controlled remotely, so you can turn on the TV or lights for a couple of hours each night to more realistically suggest there is a person awake in another room.
Posters warning of the presence of a guard dog, or installing a fake security camera, are also good deterrents.
Do you have a friendly neighbour you could call when you need to hear a reassuring voice, or to check out sounds of a disturbance outside? People are usually only too happy to help.
Whatever you do, feeling safe in your own home is essential so please take action to diminish your fears. Do not, however, put yourself at risk by confronting burglars.
