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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

102 replies

RoseRedder · 11/11/2013 11:05

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

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 12/11/2013 08:55

"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."

I am in Liverpool, we have had that in the area I live in, high crime rate, shootings, drug dealing etc, but very few burglaries. Over the firework season we have had to have Matrix vans parked up, patrols aren't enough, just to set the scene.

The area that burglaries are prevalent in, fifteen minutes away, didn't have this "pilot scheme" Hmm

So it was thought that this wasn't about safety, more about catching people in possession of drugs/stolen goods, especially as there were arrests made. Those that deal from their houses, or have "runners", usually leave the doors unlocked.

A lot if children were found "Home al

Birdsgottafly · 12/11/2013 08:56

Sorry, a lot of children were found Home Alone, as well.

I think this scheme is about a few issues, not just safety.

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 09:08

Its nothing more than an exercise to show people that they can take steps to keep their possessions at less risk.Its not blaming the homeowner,noone would blame someone for someone elses choice to commit a crime.People say the police do nothing to support people yet heres an example of them trying to work with people to make a small difference yet they come under criticism again.Ill quite happily accept a security assessment from the police and a lecture because thetes a chance itd save my possessions ans save me the trauma of a crime.

hellokittymania · 12/11/2013 09:15

I think it's a great idea. Students are very naive (as are other people) and I'd rather have the police breaking in over a burglar carrying a knife.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 12/11/2013 09:22

My next door neighbours were burgled last week.
They broke the back door in. More damage not less.

unlucky83 · 12/11/2013 09:34

A few years ago - my uncle aged 72ish was lying in bed in the middle of the night with his window ajar...
A bungalow - a small window at the top of a big pane type - you would have to be very small and thin to get through- even if it wasn't locked ajar (as it was) and it was highly visible from the main road.
He heard someone rustling around outside, pushing the net curtain to one side etc...he was a petrified...
It was the police pushing a letter through warning him about the dangers of burglary through opened windows Hmm
As he said - lucky he no longer slept with a shotgun next to the bed (as they used to do on the farm)...
(And lucky he didn't have a heart attack - he had a weak heart anyway)

MadeOfStarDust · 12/11/2013 09:34

where are you supposed to put the keys after locking yourself in? I find this locked doors thing to be a bit scary - I guess I'm a bit claustrophobic....

I accidentally set fire to the kitchen blind a couple of months ago (the frying pan had got too hot and there were flames everywhere) I would have panicked like hell if I'd had to get a key and unlock the door to get out..... with the children...

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 09:41

So so the door doesnt get damaged in a burglary and to reduce damage to the door people should choose to leave it open????imo a locked door CAN be a pretty useful deterrant Confused
I lock my door and carry my keys in my pocket as i too am claustaphobic

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 12/11/2013 09:44

I lock the door and leave the keys in it but my door is upvc so no windows to smash and grab/unlock.

BackOnlyBriefly · 12/11/2013 09:44

You don't actually have to lock yourself in. I have the sort of lock that can be opened from the inside with a handle.

I do leave all the windows open. I'm not going to hide in a fortress and I have been burgled so I am not imagining myself to be immune.

For what it's worth they came in via the roof in my case so the door made no difference.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 12/11/2013 09:47

Ive just remembered there was a time when i kept all the doors and windows locked. I was anticipating a baliff visit. Horrible feeling having to lock us all in like that.

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 09:55

Im sure its ok to leave the door unlocked if youre in the same room.i think this is getting pedantic

Dinnaeknowshitfromclay · 12/11/2013 10:00

My dog would bite the policeman and probably not on the balloon! What would the consequences be for the poor stripey mutt then, I wonder? :(

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 12/11/2013 10:17

Limited
It was more they'll break in anyway if they want to so why live your life in fear and extra hassle.

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 11:05

Not really hassle to lock your door and windows to be safer is it?im sure they know that thieves can knock doors down its preventative not a solution.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 12/11/2013 11:06

I like to have fresh air and my children like to play out.

Mrsb999 · 12/11/2013 11:09

They used to do this 12 years ago when I was at Uni in Sheffield. They'd try the front door then shout to see who was in then pass on crime prevention info.

ballinacup · 12/11/2013 11:16

I think they should stick big, penis shaped stickers onto the crotch area of drunk/passed out girls in town centres of a weekend.

After all, if they can leave a penis there, surely a rapist could?

Oh no, wait, that's horrific victim blaming...

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 11:26

Its just getting silly now,why link it to rape?is it anything to do with rape.If people are pedantic enough to think that the police are saying lock and barracade yourself in your home then clearly they dont understand what they are being advised.If you want yo leave your door open,leave it open?its not the end of the world,its your choicetheyre doing their job whether you want to do it is up to you,its your stuff and if youve got insurance run the risk just be warned its quite a shake up when it happens to you.You cant argue with common sense,or so you can....

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 11:31

It amazes me that people dont want to take sensible measures fir security.if you are not near a door then why wouldnt you lock it?obviously if youre in and put and its an active area in your house dont.simple?

Galena · 12/11/2013 11:38

They did this round here. We were sitting watching TV and there was a ring at the doorbell around 9-9:30pm. Answered the door and it was a policeman who asked if we had heard him open our door? We hadn't. Turns out he'd just opened the door (not entered the house) and then shut it again and rung the doorbell. Made us realise that where we'd assumed we'd hear if someone came in, we hadn't heard him and he could have taken anything in the hall - keys, bags, etc.

Now we lock the door as soon as we come in!

BackOnlyBriefly · 12/11/2013 20:51

'advised' is offering you a leaflet. Coming in your home is an invasion.

Latara · 12/11/2013 21:28

So.... let me see.... to get a (hopefully) fit uniformed man to enter my home all I have to do is sit there with the front door open? Grin

LimitedEditionLady · 12/11/2013 21:55

Well i hope they just dont go to anyones home who wont appreciate it!

BackOnlyBriefly · 13/11/2013 11:34

Maybe people who want this could email the station and say "I'm unable to decide for myself if I want the doors and window open or not. Will you send a grown up round to tell me what to do"

That way everyone will be happy.