UPDATE:
Just got back from interstate, so pardon the delay in updates.
Between my post and the latest update,
- On Fri night, my housemates went to the police who said that because the man didn't conceal his face, it's likely he was not up to something dodgy. Also patrols wouldn't be stepped up on weekends?
On Sat morning, a housemate got to answer the door! The guy said he was from Uniti internet and said our house qualified for it, and asked if housemate was renting or was the landlord managing the bills.
Housemate: I'm renting. You've been around for the past few days, yea? We've got cameras.
Man:Yes, I came yesterday too.
Housemate: You were here before that too?
Man: No. That was someone else.
Later, housemate also checked if he was going to be coming back, and he said no.Well, all's well, sort of, for a number of reasons - e.g. if he was really going to break in, he wouldn't be coming around for three days. We're mostly more at ease, except that:
He had been coming around for 3 days (in the exact same attire, and more than once per day), but said he's only been coming for 2 days.
He wasn't wearing a badge or any company paraphernalia.
He said our house qualified, but I checked on Uniti website which said it didn't. I rang Uniti and the customer support said their contractors have vague details of the neighbourhoods, so they would have seen my house as qualifying when it is actually blocked by a couple of structures. The website has more accurate info. So that's weird - if I'm the contractor, I'd just use the more accurate info via the website. And if the ipad doesn't have data…then how is Uniti expecting me to be convinced they have internet expertise/access?
Anyway, I'm walking away with your tips richer, and I'm sure my house will be safer than what it was 4 days ago. Thank you!!
In the last two months I've been in Melbourne, my manager was burgled and I learnt about someone who is suffering from a head injury from a home invasion years ago, which is why I'm taking this very seriously. Only interested in helpful responses, please. Thanks for understanding.
Thursday - 12pm: Camera got a man tapping on his ipad coming to the door. Instead of ringing the doorbell, he reached out and tried the screendoor. Waited and left.
5pm: He returned a second time, and did the exact same thing. He heard our dog then walked away, pausing, and left.
Friday (today) - At three different times (spaced hours apart, and again during office hours), same guy came back and did the same thing, but rang doorbell once this time.
It's odd that a salesperson or someone doing survey would try to open the door instead trying the doorbell, so I think he has dodgy intentions.
What we have:
- Camera recording
- Sticker near door saying house is under surveillance
- Large dog barking
But guy continued returning, so these haven't been deterrents for him.
What we are doing:
- Will share video with police tonight
- Will talk to neighbours and ask them to look out for our house, and to check their own cameras if their house have been targeted too.
- Will have some protective equipment in our bedrooms
But it feels like we can't actually do anything to definitively prevent a break-in, and I can't accept the idea of being a sitting duck! Any other ideas?
Get insurance