UFO
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We were 8 days into our https://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forum...national-travel/69874-bavaria.html?highlight= trip when we got a call from neighbours saying our house had been broken into. We decided to head home as this is a trip we can pick up again anytime. Started in the morning in Germany, drove through Luxembourg, Belgium and France and were home in England that evening - 5 countries in one day.
Some damage where they broke in. Side gate was locked but they lifted it off its hinges - duh - hinges now pinned, broke in through the wooden conservatory door, tried to jemmy the sliding patio door and either while doing this or on purpose broke they glass and they were in. Ripped the rather old alarm box off the wall - the external bell would have sounded for a short while. They walked away with nothing, probably looking for cash and jewellery, which we don't have.
I will be beefing up the security; better lock on the side gate, three more PIR lights, replacement doors will be higher spec and an alarm with an auto-dialler which will call the neighbours when we are away. Our neighbour is also improving their lighting and installing cameras, which will benefit us to some extent.
We have had the van for 9 years and it is parked on the drive in front of the house (there is nowhere else to park it). We have often thought that it must be pretty obvious when we are away because the big white box is not there. There is a limit to what we can do to make the house look lived in. Lights on a timer - the intruders turned the lights off, park the car in front of the garage where the van normally is, but I don't think there is a lot else we can do.
This incident won't stop us travelling in the van for long periods.
Some damage where they broke in. Side gate was locked but they lifted it off its hinges - duh - hinges now pinned, broke in through the wooden conservatory door, tried to jemmy the sliding patio door and either while doing this or on purpose broke they glass and they were in. Ripped the rather old alarm box off the wall - the external bell would have sounded for a short while. They walked away with nothing, probably looking for cash and jewellery, which we don't have.
I will be beefing up the security; better lock on the side gate, three more PIR lights, replacement doors will be higher spec and an alarm with an auto-dialler which will call the neighbours when we are away. Our neighbour is also improving their lighting and installing cameras, which will benefit us to some extent.
We have had the van for 9 years and it is parked on the drive in front of the house (there is nowhere else to park it). We have often thought that it must be pretty obvious when we are away because the big white box is not there. There is a limit to what we can do to make the house look lived in. Lights on a timer - the intruders turned the lights off, park the car in front of the garage where the van normally is, but I don't think there is a lot else we can do.
This incident won't stop us travelling in the van for long periods.
