What I wish we'd known and set up before our home was burglarized: the ring video doorbell, safety systems we've set up, and more………
Some of you may remember that our home was burglarized back in the fall. Honestly, I wasn't really ready to share the full story until now. It still creeps me out more than I'd like to admit. But, I DID want to share what we learned, what we've implemented, and what we wish we'd known BEFORE someone broke into our house.
One random Tuesday afternoon, I returned home after a day of teaching. Luckily, I was alone. I decided to head home to get a quick workout in after school before picking up Lydia from daycare. And while I can't explain exactly how I knew…..I knew something seemed OFF in our house. All the doors were locked (the deadbolt was not on our front door, but we often forgot to use it….so that didn't seem all that strange). Nothing big was missing. But I just had a WEIRD feeling. I walked around the house, and then convinced myself I'd been watching too many scary movies.
As I changed into my workout gear, I removed my wedding rings (I always take them off at home)…..and moved to set them in my ring bowl that I keep on the dresser in our bedroom. It wasn't in it's usual spot. In fact, my jewelry box wasn't either. But nothing else was misplaced. I also noticed a package addressed to me sitting on our bed. I walked around the house again. Nothing missing. I even (figuring I was probably paranoid) checked all the closets for creepy weirdos. Nothing.
I assumed my husband had been home (he has time off in the middle of the day from graduate school some days). He's constantly complaining that I leave too much stuff on my dresser…..so I figured he must have been cleaning. I even called and left him a voicemail asking where he put my ring bowl.
I worked out, and then left to pick up Lydia. My husband called back as we pulled up in to our driveway. I explained that I knew it sounded nutty….but that I felt like someone had been in our house. I'd even called the housekeepers to be sure they hadn't come a day early. My husband insisted I was just being paranoid. I mean, what would I even tell the police? That I FELT like someone had been in our house? He also told me he hadn't been home. He hadn't moved my ring dish, and he hadn't picked up any packages. When I got home, I used the post office tracking system, and discovered that package had been delivered that day after 10 am. Nothing made sense.
As I continued to talk to my husband on the phone, he had me check his home music studio. Everything still there. His last suggestion? Our dresser drawers where we kept important paperwork like our passports, birth certificates, and a few valuable family heirlooms.
THEY WERE GONE. As I walked around the house….I realized small things were missing. IPADs. An older laptop. A camera. Nothing big.
The police came. They showed me scrape marks where someone had forced our front door open. Told us that they'd picked up the package on our doorstep to appear familiar to us in case anyone was watching. They gave us a TON of suggestions about how to prepare our home so that we could try to protect ourselves from future issues.
What I Wish We'd Known Before Our Home Was Robbed: Items to Buy and Use
Shop all Items:
Ring Video Doorbell: The Ring Video Doorbell was the responding officer's number one recommendation. He told us he had one at his own house. This doorbell automatically begins recording when there is ANY movement at your door. Ours is set to start when someone enters the driveway. That recording goes into a cloud storage system. It also alerts you in the Ring Doorbell App on your phone. From knowing that packages have been dropped off to seeing who is at the door, I LOVE the Ring Video Doorbell. It's also easily recognizable and will deter anyone who doesn't want to be caught on camera.
< shop the doorbell – this is the BEST price I've seen it for! >
Wyze Cameras: We installed extra smart home cameras at our patio door and our side door. These Wyze cameras are a GREAT price and also live stream to your smartphone.
Safe for Valuables: Let's say someone DOES enter your home. If we'd had our family heirlooms locked in a safe, they wouldn't have been able to access them. Paperwork is replaceable…..but those items? Aren't.
< shop the safe we bought HERE >
Lifelock System: After our passports, birth certificates and social security cards were taken…..we were pretty worried about identity theft. We used a membership with Lifelock to monitor our personal information, and it gave us a TON of peace of mind.
Do you have a Ring Video Doorbell at YOUR house? What home security system have you used?
We want to,get a ring doorbell. So many neighbors have them and even all,of my family
I feel,now as if we don’t get one our house will be a target because our neighbor has one and that could push a burglar away to a nearby house that doesn’t have one.
We LOVE ours! I highly suggest it!
We are going to get a ring doorbell as soon as we hook up internet. A couple of my friends have them and its awesome. Sorry your house gor robbed never a good feeling at all.
You’ll love it!
I sadly can imagine. I was robbed last Black Friday. Only it wasn’t in my home, it was in my car. I was pistol whipped and shot at…THANK GOD the bullet missed me entirely. Also, even more thankful nobody was in my passenger seat or they would have been shot for sure. However, since this day, I live in fear. I have a house too. I am going to buy this ring doorbell. I feel like it will make me feel so much safer. Sorry to hear what you and your family went through. I also learned a lot that day. Stopped carrying cash, starting paying way more attention to my surroundings and when I get in the car now I immediately lock my doors.
oh my gosh, that sounds absolutely horrible! I’m so sorry that happened to you!
Dang girl. Creepy AF. Glad no one was home!
Me too!
Small point. A robbery or to be robbed is what happened to Lyndsey R. It is when you are present , feel your life is threatened and items are taken from you or your home by force. A burglary is when you are not home and items are taken. In law enforcement speak, you were burglarized and not robbed. As Lyndsey can tell you, a robbery is a very different and terrifying experience. Thank you for sharing your experiences so we can learn.
Thank you so much for this info! I just changed the title!
Wow, I can’t imagine how scary that must have been for you and your family. I think all of these precautions listed are great ideas and investments for your safety! Thanks for sharing.? I’d love it if you checked out my blog: https://emilyryannblogblog.wordpress.com/
So terrifying! Our house was broken into mid-day 4 years ago 2 days before Christmas. It’s so violating. We have a security system now but I definitely want Ring! Sorry this happened to you. It’s such a horrible feeling.