Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Should I report this?

296 replies

secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 08:15

At 7:40am we had someone ring our doorbell no less than 10 times and bang on the door. We assumed it was something serious so shot up, put clothes on and went downstairs.

In that timeframe, we heard them try our door handle, bang the door and ring the doorbell several times again.

It was a fucking delivery driver dropping off a parcel.

I checked the security cameras and he did indeed try to see if our door was open.

In what world is this acceptable? Why would you try to see if our door is unlocked? All lights were off and blinds closed because we were asleep!

I'm half tempted to report this. Would you?

OP posts:
Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 13:14

@Brefugee if you don't like my comments then you don't have to comment either. Have a good day!

OP posts:
CatamaranViper · 14/12/2023 13:16

In all fairness, I'll leave the front door unlocked if I'm coming and going (ie packing up the car for a trip or something), or I'll leave it unlocked if I'm expecting someone to come and know that I might not be near the door when they do (like if a friend is coming round and I'm putting DS to bed). After having my car nicked by someone trying my front door and leaving with my keys means I won't do this again, but there are many reasons why someone might leave their front door unlocked and still not expect someone uninvited to walk in.

Brefugee · 14/12/2023 13:21

secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 13:14

@Brefugee if you don't like my comments then you don't have to comment either. Have a good day!

they are mightly amusing. Except the insulting ones.

As I said, I'm bored and this is hugely entertaining.

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 13:22

@Brefugee and you're still going? Crazy.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 14/12/2023 13:29

stop being rude.

I am fascinated by British house doors, though. Over where i am they can't be opened from the outside, so this obsession with locking them when people are at home used to confuse me mightily.

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 13:31

@Brefugee why don't you stop?

Our door is a handle system, so you can open it via the handle if is unlocked. They're a new style of door seen frequently.

The old style traditional style where you needed a key and then you pushed it open aren't seen as much.

OP posts:
MassageForLife · 14/12/2023 13:35

Why does everyone assume the driver was intending to 'walk in'.

Be was most probably going to leave the parcel by the door and leave. He wasn't going to walk through the house...

Projectme · 14/12/2023 13:37

Going against the grain, I agree OP. I had a delivery driver do this a few years ago; he opened the front door, left the parcel in the hallway (he'd either chucked it in or had to take a full step into the house for it to be where it was), take a photo and shut the door/leave. I was upstairs, I didn't hear a thing.

Came down to find a parcel in the hallway. I was a bit confused as I wasn't waiting for a parcel, until I had a text from my DS saying 'thanks for taking in the parcel' and DS sent me the photo that the delivery driver had taken of the parcel in the hallway.

Initially I thought, 'what a bloody cheek!!!' but then I realised how vulnerable I was, in the house alone with the door unlocked, with delivery drivers feeling that they could do this. In that respect I agree that just because a door maybe unlocked, doesn't give a delivery driver the right to try the handle. (Doors always kept locked now!)

And don't get me started on the strength of the door knocking! Some of them bang the glass or the knocker SO hard it's a wonder the door doesn't break! 😂I think they go to a special door knocking school!!

Megifer · 14/12/2023 13:38

"That’s not the same is it? Being ok with someone delivering a parcel inside your unlocked door isn’t the same as being ok with someone stealing your stuff."

You are quite right, it's not the same.

Megifer · 14/12/2023 13:42

MassageForLife · 14/12/2023 12:47

The safety issue would only be if you left your door unlocked. There's no safety issue trying a locked door.

Show quote history

Of course theres a safety issue if someone deems it a threat to their safety. Which many people would, including those who are mentally vulnerable, but who gives a shit about those.

IsThisOneAvailable · 14/12/2023 14:07

I'd be 😲 if someone tried our door too tbf.

And so would they if our dog was nearby at the time as he WOULD bite

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:09

@IsThisOneAvailable and then you'd be in the shit for your dog biting someone.

Helloooo safety issue!

But of course because I have an imaginary dog, my point wasn't valid. Confused

OP posts:
Brefugee · 14/12/2023 14:18

And your imaginary dog was behind the locked door so the point is very moot indeed.

TBH i wouldn't be happy about someone trying my door - right up to the point where i realised it was our postie (oh, OP, was s/he wearing shorts?) leaving a package.

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:18

@Brefugee no they were not in usual uniform. It was parcelforce via Royal Mail and they were in a white van.

OP posts:
MassageForLife · 14/12/2023 14:20

Megifer · 14/12/2023 13:42

Of course theres a safety issue if someone deems it a threat to their safety. Which many people would, including those who are mentally vulnerable, but who gives a shit about those.

Show quote history

Explain to me how someone that is intending no harm trying a door handle of a locked door, a safety issue?

After I was in a car accident, I would be shaken up by rubbish being blown across the road in front of me. Just because I was 'triggered' by it, didn't make it unsafe.

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:20

@MassageForLife because they're trying to open the door to a house that isn't theirs???

OP posts:
Brefugee · 14/12/2023 14:22

but you knew it was locked?

MassageForLife · 14/12/2023 14:23

secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:20

@MassageForLife because they're trying to open the door to a house that isn't theirs???

But it's locked. So where's the safety issue?

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:23

@Brefugee I don't know if you're purposely trying to start an argument.

I didn't lock the door before bed last night, I assume my husband did.

Even if I did, and I knew it was locked, it's still fucking weird someone assuming they can try to open my door.

OP posts:
Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:25

So what I understand from the majority is as follows...

Because the door was locked it's not an issue.

If the door was unlocked, my fault for not locking it.

It doesn't matter because it's a delivery person or someone appearing to be one.

I should be grateful because they're on a lower wage and have a time limit per parcel.

It's Christmas.

Brilliant.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 14/12/2023 14:25

I'm not trying to start anything. But I'm baffled that you experienced more than a fleeting worry about someone trying the handle on a locked door prior to discovering that it was a parcel. For you. That you were expecting.

The only really awkward thing is that you were woken early on a day off. That sucks. Have a nap. Naps are great

Brefugee · 14/12/2023 14:26

it's probably a good idea to lock a door, that can be opened from the outside, before you go to bed. You ought to think about that though, because at the least, next time you get a parcel your cat might get out.

Original poster
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:27

@Brefugee I wasn't expecting a parcel, I didn't have a dispatch email.

Thanks for assuming it's a fleeting worry and not something more personal why I don't want or don't like the idea of someone attempting to open my door, locked or not.

You're clearly getting a kick out of this.

OP posts:
secretsanta23 · 14/12/2023 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Flickersy · 14/12/2023 14:30

No, it's not acceptable for a stranger to try and get into your house (except in the event of an emergency, which this wasn't).

It doesn't matter how much he's paid or how busy he is. That's not an excuse.

Nor does reporting him mean he'll be sacked on the spot and on the street with starving kids at Christmas (some of you are rather melodramatic). In the real world, he'll get a bit of additional training unless he does this repeatedly and gets reported for it repeatedly.