With possessions rifled through and your property turned upside down, it’s a shock discovering your property has been broken into.
The feeling of violation makes you feel unsafe in your own home.
This is what happened to first-time tenant Gemma Duff, who was shocked to find her flat had been broken into whilst she was out with friends over the weekend.
The 23-year-old arrived home to her flat on Court Street in Dundee after spending a couple of days in Edinburgh.
She came back to find her flat turned upside down, her bedroom window open, and a number of her possessions stolen.
“It is a real invasion of privacy — I felt shocked when I came back to it,” said Gemma.
“They stole my laptop, my Hudl tablet, camera and they stole a bracelet which I had got for my 18th birthday.
“I came back at about 2pm on Sunday and was just really upset — I just looked at everything then phoned the police.
“The fact they have rifled through everything that I own is quite unsettling.
“They came in through my bedroom window which they pushed down from the top.
“They also tried to take my TV but it looks like they couldn’t fit it through the window.
“I’m still a bit shaken from the experience.
“This is my first flat which I moved into over a year ago.”
Forensics from the police arrived at the flat to analyse the crime scene. Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and are appealing to anyone with information on the crime.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland is appealing for information after thieves broke into a property at Court Street, Dundee sometime between 11am on Friday November 6 and 2.30pm on Monday November 9.
“They made off with computer equipment and jewellery.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”
Gemma believes the flat was broken into on the Saturday night as a neighbour she spoke to said the window in the back of the close was only open on the Sunday morning.
One resident, living in the same close, said: “It was quite surprising to find out as it’s the first bit of trouble I’ve came across since I moved here a few years ago.
“The window was definitely closed on the Friday and Saturday — it always has been closed.
“I did find it strange to see the window was lying open when I was taking the dogs out for a walk on the Sunday.”
Imran Saim, a shopkeeper on Court Street, said he noticed a police presence outside the flat.
He said: “There was a police presence outside the flat on the Sunday afternoon.
There were few police cars outside which stayed in the area for a while.”
Gemma’s run-in with crime comes after it was revealed by police the percentage of solved house break-in cases increased.
The number of theft by housebreaking incidents in Dundee that were solved was up 5.1%, compared with 2014.
However, the number of theft by housebreaking attempts had also increased, with 262 incidents being reported this year, compared with 245 in 2014.