AIBU to think this is nuts? Police breaking/entering into homes?

[RoseRedder]

Firstly this is on the BBC website so I'm guessing this must true/truish?

It says

*Police enter homes as break-in warning

6 November 2013 Last updated at 21:53 GMT

South Yorkshire Police have adopted an unusual tactic to help warn people about the risks of burglary - by breaking in to homes themselves.

Officers attempt to enter unlocked houses, and leave a balloon to alert the residents about the ease of their entrance.

Joe Inwood reports.*

This can't be right can it? Does this mean the police can now enter your home without a warrant if they can get in somehow?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24842680

I saw this on the news. From what I saw they were only entering homs were the door was left unlocked and people were in. It was to show them how easily they could be burgled if they didn't secure their locks.

I don't believe they can enter a house for the purposes of searching etc. without a warrant.

Think they have been targeting student areas where there's been a huge amount of burglaries, leaving a balloon to show they need to start locking doors etc. Not wandering around having a cuppa.

I can't see anything wrong with them warning people, although there is a risk that someone in the house might be balloon phobic or allergic I guess.

They do this in our area. Try the front door, if it opens shout out for the householder (and when they come point out that a burglar could have been away with the bags/car keys in the hall) and if no-one's in, or in the garden, leave a balloon in the hall with a note saying how foolish you've been. I don't think they ever go into the house, as such.

Personally I've always thought of it as an innovative crime reduction technique. Lots of the theft/ car thefts round here are caused by 'quick raids' into the homes of people who are in but left their front door unlocked.

Oh and we're not a student area, just a 'naice' suburb. So nice that you do feel safe to leave the door unlocked. It's not a high crime area either - but this type of 'pop in and grab' is the most prevalent crime there is.

When we were moving house a nice policeman wandered into my kitchen just to check we WERE moving house and the van parked outside wasn't just clearing us out.

Thought it was very good of him myself. Although I doubt thrives would be going after a yucca plant which is what he passed on his way up the stairs!

Brilliant idea IMO.

I think that its great,a good eyeopener to what could be.

I wonder what would happen if they found anything illegal going on in the house.

Or if the people in the house reacted by defending their home?

I think it's a brilliant idea.

If they started collecting evidence/searching through your stuff then yes they should have a warrant etc., but otherwise fine.

@ "balloon-phobic". Only on MN

I'm sure if they went to some student's houses, they'd already think it's been burgled.

No different from them going round a uni campus putting carboard hands in all the open windows they could reach.

Also I think another (possibly Liverpool) police service has already done this - just went along the street trying all the front doors. If they found one open they woke up the owners to tell them.

One sat night last year I was cooking and heard a knock on the door. Police there who tell me that I was cooking, x factor was on the tele, cat was on sofa in front room as was laptop and car keys were in the hall! They had opened front door and found all that out! They were very nice about it! And we are a lot more careful now!

That's why you need a dog. Cats aren't good security.

I think it's a great idea. DS2 has started at Sheffield Uni and I warned him about leaving his window open. He looked at me like .

A balloon or a pair of cardboard hands might make more of an impression than me!

My friend is allergic to latex...freaks out if she sees a balloon...

Lol, i was going to say that stone but you beat me to it !!

I'm trying to think how I'd respond if I came downstairs to find a random balloon bobbing around my hall. I think I'd assume I'd eaten too many of those mushrooms again.

Who can enter your home.

www.yourrights.org.uk/yourrights/privacy/power-of-officials-to-enter-your-home/index.html

A lot of people can.

It's quite shocking that there are enough people who leave their doors unlocked for them to be able to do this!

I wonder what would happen if the people had a dog and it attacked...