Does this look like someone has tried to break in?

Just noticed a gap in my kitchen UPVC window frame. Not sure if it was there before. Also a very small mark on the window frame. The window is top hinged so if someone has tried surely they’d have tried from the bottom as can’t really see how the window could be opened at the top like that.

Or could it be that the window has just been opened too hard?

This is coming off the back of a burglary 2 months ago where the car and my bike got taken. Just collected replacement car on Saturday.

Looks like they took everything…… including your pictures

Trying to work out how to post them…

https://postimages.org

Its hard to see who may be in the frame when you can’t see the frame

Irate laptop owning picknicker has finally worked out where you live. Does your windowsill smell of piss?

I’d say yes.

Looks like someone has made a half arsed attempt to prise it open.

Probably a Scouser.

This is coming off the back of a burglary 2 months ago where the car and my bike got taken.

I’d bet that was their first, unsuccesful attempt to gain entry before they found a better way in. It’ll have been like that for two months and you just didn’t notice

Open the window and see if the hardware which will be sliders on either side look sprained in anyway? With top hung after time if it’s used regularly they can become a bit baggy. How old are the windows?

10 years or so

I don’t think it looks like someone has tried (particularly hard) to force the window as the uPVC on the opening sash looks undamaged. A better photo or closer inspection might reveal more.

Is it one of those turn and tilt windows thats not been shut properly?

It’s remarkably easy to dent those UPVC profiles with a screwdriver.

Although not 100% sure, I’d expect any object used as a lever to try to pry that window open would leave more of a witness mark than that.
The contact point left by a crowbar for example would probably leave an obvious mark in the frame.

Have a look at the hinge mechanism….our (vertical hinged) bedroom window recently had this baggy appearance at the hinge edge.
If you look at the hinge itself, there will be a small metal edge feature that gets captured by a plastic tab in the corner of the hinge to pull it in tight against the seal as it gets close to being completely closed.
On ours this was worn, so the hinge wasn’t being pulled in. New hinges sorted it.

Hinges on one of our upvc windows gummed up and then bent the next time it was opened – it now looks like that.

I’d say have a look at the hinges.

Those UPVC hinges are a funny open/close hinge and even when the windows are closed the hinge doesn’t alway seat properly… and you have to go around the outside and push the hinge to get it to close.

Mine do it, it’s a PITA.

So before thinking “oh, shit” go check the hinges first.

Thanks chaps, I’m beginning to think that it’s just got caught whilst being closed as there is no significant marking anywhere else on frame which there surely would be had someone attempted to prise it.

I think I’m probably being a little paranoid as a hangover from being burgled.

Is there a screw in line with the “railway track” mark (top pic)? Looks more like clumsy fitting with a cordless drill
Has the DG unit blown on the opener? Quite a bit of condensation (bottom pic), maybe

Mine did that. Scrape the crap out of the hinge and give it a blast of GT85.

I surprised nobody has noticed the lack of ip rating of the socket below the window…. the one right next to the outside tap. Looks like the cover has become detached?

J

Time to get the finger prints dusting kit out 🧐