Hello
Sorry to hear about the break-in. It's horrible, but consider yourself lucky as you and the family were not in as this kind of break-in leaves a bigger impact on the family.
We made a mistake years ago buying an end-of-terrace house in london, masses of garden and a rear access. My mistake was to make it look like the best house in the street, new plush windows, roof, desginer driveway for three cars, half height wall with 12 foot sliding agates all made of good steel and finished off with a very expensive door. We also had newsih cars. The crooks tried to break in 3 times damage front and rear doors but never managed to get in then about 7 years ago they came in via fronet door as we never double locked in case of fire, had the door chain on, the crooks easily opened the lock via big screwdriver forcing the lock and cut the door chain, it was May and light around 06-00, I was asleep as we used to get uo 06-30, heard heard a big bang, it was our front door that was pushed on to the hall table and then light alarm warning and I thought i was dreaming and then the alrm went off - me and my OH got up, I shouted police coming, looked down and saw door open and went down cautiously.
We then noted the slding part of gate was opened and bifold gate was forced and the idiots did not know how to open it - it was the alarm that saved us every time. We moved soon after that and moved to Kent and made sure our house was not the best on the road and have invested in a DIY alarm this time, son installed, we have not used the nifra red sensors as they can on occasions trigger a false alarm, but we have used 8 magnetic sensors and alarm will alerts us, our son via mobiles and we have elederly/retired people in our close and imediate neighbours to the front and sides and police would be alaerted if alarm went off, so far so good. Btw, as we have three cars, one of the cars is usally left at home, now its the new GLE, i have a key on me and one in the wall safe, and wall safe cut into brick and on the shared wall.
We did consider ADT, but monthly fee ads up. No cameras just a reliable alarm as most of these inbred crims usually run when they hear the alarm, thankfully.
I would also never buy a corner house as attracts fools and crims.
We try not to leave keys and money downstairs but have read that another member here leaves his on the third stairs so crims if they get in can pick key and go and leave family in peace.
Things that deter the inbreds, good alarm, security lighting, closed/secured doors/windows and autmatic lights on/off and if you have a bell, remove it as inbreds ring to see in anyone in, but are hesitant to use the knocker as this alerts neighbours
About 2 years ago a friend of the family noted noise on his drive in the middle of the night the bloke opened his window and saw three blokes around his car with the bonnet open and he said "what the ..... are you doing." They told him close the window and shut up or we will come inside and within moments took the car away.
I wish you and your family all the best and with your alarm and cctv, I'm very certain they won't bother you again.
