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uk Personal safety & immediate danger hear movement outside home • noise in yard at night • someone in my garden • footsteps in driveway • movement in alley behind house • prowler outside house • suspicious noise outside window • rattling gate or fence noise • car doors outside my house • someone on my property • outside motion sensor alert • doorbell camera alert at night • worried someone is casing house • unknown person outside at night • hear banging outside house • late night driveway sounds • someone near back door • heard voices outside home

What to do if…
you hear movement in your yard, driveway, or alley while you are safely inside

Short answer

Stay inside, lock up, and move to a safer position away from doors and windows. If you think someone is trying to get in or a crime is in progress, call 999.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t go outside “just to check”, even if it feels quicker.
  • Don’t open the door to challenge anyone or “see who it is”.
  • Don’t shout through a window or reveal where you are in the house.
  • Don’t grab a weapon and go looking; it can escalate and you can be mistaken for a threat.
  • Don’t waste time posting on social media or messaging group chats first.
  • Don’t assume it’s “probably nothing” if you have a clear reason to feel unsafe.

What to do now

  1. Secure the house in place. Lock external doors, close and lock accessible windows, and if you have an alarm, set it (or set it to “home” mode).
  2. Move people to a safer spot. Bring everyone (including pets) into one room upstairs or an inner room, away from ground-floor doors/windows. Keep the hallway/entry area clear.
  3. Reduce easy targets (without exposing yourself). If you can do it quickly without going near windows or the front door, move car keys/handbags/valuables away from doors and ground-floor windows. If that would take you into an exposed area, skip it.
  4. Turn on light strategically. Switch on indoor lights and, if you can do it without going near windows, turn on outside lights (or use an app for smart lights). Avoid standing silhouetted at a window.
  5. Look and listen safely. From a protected position (behind a wall, not in the window), check any camera/doorbell feed you have. Note what you can: number of people, direction of travel, and any vehicle details you can see safely.
  6. Call the police using the right number.
    • Call 999 if you believe someone is attempting to enter, you can see suspicious activity on your property, you hear active attempts to force entry, or you feel you’re in immediate danger.
    • Call 101 (or report online) if it seems suspicious but is not an immediate threat (for example, a brief noise with no sign of an entry attempt).
  7. If you can’t safely speak on a 999 call:
    • On a mobile: call 999 and listen. If you don’t speak, you may be prompted to cough/tap or, if prompted, to press 55 to confirm it’s a genuine emergency so you can be put through to the police.
    • On a landline: call 999 and stay on the line. Follow any operator prompts as best you can.
    • If you can speak safely, speaking is usually the fastest way to get help.
  8. If someone starts trying to get in: get everyone into the safest room, lock it, place solid furniture as a barrier if possible, and call 999 (or stay on the line if you already called).

What can wait

  • You do not need to go outside tonight to “confirm what it was”.
  • You do not need to decide right now whether to install new security devices or change locks.
  • You can deal with neighbours, community group messages, and saving/sharing any CCTV clips later—after you’re calm and safe.
  • You do not need to make a perfect judgement about “emergency vs non-emergency” before calling if you feel threatened.

Important reassurance

A sudden noise outside can trigger a strong fear response even when you’re physically safe indoors. Choosing to stay inside, lock down, and get help if needed is a sensible, safety-first response.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance for the next minutes to hour. Follow-up actions (reports, cameras, security upgrades, neighbour coordination) can come later.

Important note

This guide provides general safety information for the UK and can’t assess your specific risk. If you believe you’re in immediate danger, call 999.

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