uk Personal safety & immediate danger someone on the fire escape • noise outside my window • footsteps on balcony outside • someone on the roof near me • scratching at the window • trying my window from outside • possible intruder on balcony • apartment window safety • flat balcony trespass • hear climbing outside window • suspicious noise on fire escape • someone outside upstairs window • unknown person near my window • break in attempt via window • someone accessing my balcony • rooftop access noise • inside and feel unsafe • night noise outside window

What to do if…
you hear someone on a fire escape, balcony, or roof area near your window while you are inside

Short answer

Stay inside, move away from the window, and treat it as a potential intruder until you can confirm otherwise safely. If you feel unsafe or someone may be trying to get in, call 999 (or 112).

Do not do these things

Don’t open the window, door, or curtains “to check”.
Don’t go out onto the balcony/roof/fire escape to investigate.
Don’t challenge or argue through the window.
Don’t stand at the window to film.
Don’t assume it’s “probably a neighbour” if you can’t clearly confirm that safely.

What to do now

Create distance and cover. Move yourself (and anyone with you) into an inner room or behind a solid wall, away from that window. Keep low if you’re close to glass.
Reduce your visibility. Turn off lights in the room nearest the window. Only close blinds/curtains if you can do it without stepping up to the window or putting yourself in view.
Quietly secure your side. If you can do it without returning to the window, lock internal doors, and lock any nearby external doors/windows you can reach safely. Use any secondary locks or window restrictors that are within easy reach.
Call the police.
- Call 999 (or 112) if you think a break-in could be happening, the person is still there and close, or you feel in immediate danger.
- Call 101 only if you are confident there’s no immediate danger (for example, the person has clearly gone and you’re reporting what happened).
If you can’t safely speak, use the Silent Solution (especially on a mobile). Still call 999 (or 112). Listen to the operator’s questions and, if you can, respond with small noises (like coughing or tapping). If prompted, on a mobile you may be asked to press 55 to show it’s a genuine emergency and be connected to police.
Give clear, practical details. Tell the call handler:
- your full address (building name/number, floor, flat number)
- which side of the building (front/back, facing courtyard/road)
- what you heard (footsteps, metal noise, rattling, voices), and whether it sounds like someone trying a window/door
- any description you can provide without going back to the window (number of people, direction of movement).
Use what you already have—without exposing yourself. If you have a door viewer, intercom camera, or an app showing communal areas, check from your safer spot.
If you’re in a building with concierge/security, contact them—after calling police if you feel at risk. Ask them to check access points (main entrance, stairwells, roof hatch) and preserve any CCTV.

What can wait

You do not need to decide right now whether you’ll make a formal statement, speak to neighbours, or complain to building management.
You don’t need to review footage, post on social media, or search outside for “proof”.
You can deal with repairs (locks, restrictors, alarms) later, once you’re safe and the situation has settled.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to freeze, shake, or feel unsure whether you’re “overreacting”. Treating it as real until it’s clearly not is a safety choice.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise the situation and reduce immediate risk. If there’s an ongoing pattern (repeated attempts, unsafe access routes), you may need follow-up support from police and/or your building manager later.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. If you feel in immediate danger, call 999 (or 112). If you’re unsure whether it’s an emergency, describe what you’re hearing and let the call handler decide the best response.

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What to do if…you hear someone on a fire escape, balcony, or roof area near your window while you are inside