ᐅ Attempted break-in without damage

Hello everyone,

I noticed a draft in our bathroom and found that one corner of the window no longer seals properly. I can grip the corner with my fingers and pull it forward enough to see a finger outside. The bottom corner doesn't move at all. There are no visible damages or signs on the window, seals, or anything else. The only issue currently is that the window doesn’t close properly at the corner that should open. When closed, I can slightly lift the window by pushing up on the handle. It could also be that someone leaned on the open window. Since it’s a smaller window in the bathroom, that seems rather unlikely.

Now we’re wondering what is more likely. Has someone tried to open the window (burglar-resistant with mushroom cams), or did someone probably "hang" on the window while it was open? Hmm...

Windows usually open inward. How is this forum supposed to know if one of you has hung onto one of your windows? Is the window on the ground floor? Is it large enough to allow a break-in?

What answer are you expecting to hear? "Yes, it was an attempted break-in" or rather a "No"?

What exactly would that change?

M. Gerd schrieb:

Since it’s a smaller bathroom window, that’s rather unlikely.

No, it’s actually more likely if it’s not visible from the street.

M. Gerd schrieb:

Has anyone tried to open the window (burglar-resistant with mushroom cams)?

Probably not, because otherwise there would be some sign of levering. Wooden window? Plastic window?

M. Gerd schrieb:

It could also be that someone leaned on the open window.

So someone from your household? Then round up your family and see who confesses 😀

Cool, in our case you would call the police and report an attempted break-in, so the police (as experts in this case) can inspect it.

Maybe someone here is familiar with this topic and knows, for example, that a break-in does not always leave traces and that the damage pattern can indicate an attempt.

They are plastic windows, and since neither my wife nor I were involved, I rule out the family? The children are too young ;-)

If I had noticed anything, I would have called the police, but there is simply no visible sign, and since I couldn’t find anything conclusive online, I decided to rely on the community ;-)

The window faces the street, but since it’s a new development and we don’t have neighbors opposite or next to us yet, it is conceivable.

M. Gerd schrieb:

Maybe someone here is familiar with the topic and knows, for example, that a break-in doesn’t always leave traces and that the damage could indicate an attempted break-in.

See #3, me.

M. Gerd schrieb:

The window faces the street,

This point almost rules out a criminal act. Combined with the new development area and COVID-19 restrictions, even more so.

M. Gerd schrieb:

They are plastic windows

...with mushroom head locking mechanisms... this requires quite a bit of brute force using a prying tool, which would definitely leave marks on the plastic (on the outside, for example on the window frame) before the sash itself is damaged.

Take another look at the door hinges or on the outside for any signs of tampering.

M. Gerd schrieb:

Since neither my wife nor I were involved, does that exclude the family? The children are too young ;-)

Yeah, yeah... everyone says that...

In the case of a new build, I’d suspect a warranty issue related to a defective window.