To think it's ok to leave the door open for 15 minutes each weekday?

For the time being just before your meeting put the key under a flowerpot or something by the door.

He can come back later, got to a friends or wait outside for 15 minutes if he won’t carry a key or open an unlocked door! Your work comes first; I would look into a key safe.

On my normal street, on an estate nowhere near a main road there is an alcoholic woman who lives a couple of streets away who lets herself into any house she feels like. She will take anything she likes the look of or demand money from you.

My friend lives on a private road, every door handle was tried at school run time in the afternoon by two men who were caught on all their Ring door cameras and one woman was in, saw it and called the police, they were known to them as burglars and knew they would be back. They waited and arrested them.

On an estate I used to live on all door handles tried and things nicked from the hallways, usually handbags but also a set of keys and they took the car. The response was we live in a nice area and the police said yes, and this is why they travelled here to take your things. The police actually went round door to door trying all the door handles and if it was unlocked they opened the door and shouted hello, police. Told them people had had things taken from their halls so lock your fucking door.

@ILoveMyGonk My sons had one of those retractable key rings sewn into their bag so they could not lose it nor could they leave it in the door. Sometimes their bag had a loop it could be attached to. I used to check it to make sure it was still in good condition.

I assume because he’s the one thinking OP shouldn’t leave the door open and instead has to interrupt her work to open the door.

I was in the bath one morning and heard a really loud banging noise, grabbed a towel, ran downstairs to find a man trying to force his way into my home through one of the back windows, phoned 999 and police arrived within minutes, he then fought the police! it was terrifying and only about 10 30am . I never ever leave any door or window open but I do live in a shit hole area due to not being well off

Negligent for sitting in your house with the door unlocked? I don't think so.

I have never locked my door if I’m in, I didn’t even realise it was a thing until I met DH.

Rural upbringing though, although it meant no one would have heard me scream

Yes this! If we’re in our doors are unlocked. I do have a barky dog though who’d tell us if someone was on the property.

certainly in your situation op I’d expect ds to carry a key if no one wants the door unlocked.

Same. It has never occurred to me to lock myself in the house.
Where on earth do you live to have to do that?

I would never ever leave my door open but I live in a shit hole area and have even been approached by beggars while locking my front door. I have really dodgy neighbours too who would steal anything that isn't nailed down. Your son needs to start carrying and being responsible for a door key. My child had one from about age 13, I was a single mum and sole breadwinner whose work day ended well after their school day so they got in a couple of hours before me. It is good for their development and sense of responsiblity.

What would happen if someone else rang your doorbell during the meeting ?

Ignore it? I ignore mine if I'm doing something I can't easily leave. (If I'm expecting someone, I don't start something I can't leave.)

DS can carry a key or he can wait, or he can pop into the library or a cafe or or a shop or stay at school if he doesn't want to wait on the doorstep.

we are another family who don’t lock door when we are in. That’s bonkers. What are you all thinking will happen?!

I think they sound a bit insane!
he’s refusing to carry a key?? He’ll have to wait outside then. Time for him to grow up a tad! I expect after day 2 he would be willing to carry a key 😂

Statistically the odds of you being burgled in those 15 minutes are very very very low. More likely your neighbour would notice and shut the door for you thinking it was a favour!

Your son needs a key. It’s madness he won’t carry a key at his age honestly. Stop opening the door for him. If he’s old enough to go out the door alone, he’s old enough to come in it alone!!! A key box would help but I think he should carry a key.

There must be some dodgy areas. I’ve never locked my door when I’m in and not once has anyone other than family entered. The stats for burglary indicate that 94% are after 6pm.

Where are you getting this from, admittedly I haven't read every Google result but in the ones from the main insurers I can't find any reference to locking yourself into the house every minute you're in

I'm assuming you work in insurance as you say it will be deemed negligent, can you explain why this isnt mentioned anywhere thats easy to find

Why do you need to wait for dh to get a key safe? Can you not get one yourself?

Sorry 12 year olds

Why cant ulyou just order a keysafe and put it up yourself. Why do you needed to discuss it. Just order it. Put it up outside and show DS how to use. Stop constantly talking about it with DH and just get ut done.
your DS has the following options

Take a key with him
Use the key safe
Stand outside

Gosh! Wherever do you all live?
I unlock our doors at 7 in the morning to let the dog out and we lock them about 10 before we go to bed 😃
Obviously lock if we go out

You don’t think a 15 year old needs to start taking responsibility for themselves?

I don't agree that it would be really bad to leave a meeting for 30 seconds. Your son can wait at the door quietly for a few minutes until there is an opportune moment to discreetly excuse yourself. You can mention it at the start of the meeting. I am sure no one will bat an eyelid.

Come and see where I live, I can't even put washing out unless I am in the back of the house and can watch it, have given up having a hanging basket as it just gets knicked and there is no way I can put a Christmas wreath on my door as it would be there for about 5 minutes. I never answer the door after dark and while I would like to get a video doorbell I am pretty sure it would be robbed or vandalised. All part of the joy of living in a run down inner city area and it is not that unusual

Wouldn't bother me at all, we have a very squeaky front gate and I can glance up from where I am sat to see who it is.

Can you move your wfh to sit somewhere where you can keep an eye the door? Alternatively hid a key under a plant pot for 15 mins rather than leaving door open which may be visible from the street.

All seems like a lot of effort when DS could have a key attached to his bag though! Something like this perhaps https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retractable-Badges-Carabiner-Recoil-Lanyard/dp/B08W9S98GJ/ref=asc_df_B08W9S98GJ

Borrow a dog or leave key with a neighbour…

No, sort your own issues and stop involving others! For heavens sake, tell the 15 year old to sort not losing a key.

Don’t most 15 year olds have keys, because mummy isn’t always waiting on them?

My kids have their keys on lanyards attached inside their school bag, tied to an inner pocket zip. The keys can't get lost so aa lomg as they have their bag, they can get in.