Mandurah mother Vandana Chopra was enjoying an average, peaceful Friday night at home with her family - she was in the kitchen and the rest of the family was scattered throughout the other rooms.
However, the next day when her husband noticed their security camera had been moved, Ms Chopra checked the footage and what she saw "filled her with fear".
The footage showed a man lurking in Ms Chopra's garden while her family had been sitting inside unaware. The man stands with his phone torch on for a long while, and after noticing the camera, walks up and attempts to cover it.
"It was terrifying," Ms Chopra said. "If you can't feel safe in your own home, where can you feel safe?"
The man stole Ms Chopra's daughter's school bag from outside - the bag had the school emblem on the front. "There wasn't anything expensive in the bag. But it had lots of memories and special things to my daughter in it," she said.
Ms Chopra said what left her the most shaken was that he had been lurking just outside of the area while she and her family went about their business.
"My children were sitting in the living room watching a movie. The only thing separating us from the man was my roller shutters."
The incident prompted Ms Chopra and her family to upgrade their home's security system, including building a higher fence that can't easily be scaled.
"I went around and told all of my neighbours to be vigilant," she said. "What if someone had their door unlocked? I don't want people to be living in fear like I am now."
Ms Chopra has reported the incident to the police and has provided them with security footage.
Anyone with incidents to report is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
