Trick or treaters letting themselves in

[Backaffyaspookybitch]

First off, I've had a hard day so I might be slightly narky.

My DS has been ill all day - loaded with the cold and a temp of 39. I've just picked him up from my mum's (been at work all day) and trying to get him into a cool bath and get some calpol down down him. He's just miserable and my DH is working away.

I put him in the bath and I hear the door. I know it'll be trick or treaters but I can't leave my son in the bath (he's 2) so I decide to just ignore it and see if they come back later.

Oh no. The door opens and in walks the boy from next door whom I do know accompanied by 4 or 5 other children! Their mums are standing at the bottom of my garden shrieking with laughter and encouragement.

These children were standing in my hall way shouting and laughing

I got my DS out the bath, ran down the stairs and I asked them to leave and closed the door.

I actually got a bit of a shock that they'd be so bold!

I never even gave them sweets

WIBU to ask them to leave?

[Purplebluebird]

I would be so pissed off at that! You shouldn't have to lock your door for fear that random people will come inside (I appreciate you maybe have to though). Yanbu!

[HeyOverHere]

Absolutely terrible of them, but I blame the parents! Not only have they not taught them better, but some of them were encouraging the bad behaviour! What if you and your SO had been having some Naked Adult Funtime on the sofa? I bet those mums would've been livid and try to somehow blame you, too. Horrid manners by everyone but you and your son. (I hope he feels better soon!)

[TaterTots]

Is it really that common to have a front door that you need to actively lock to stop people just walking in?

Yes. My first house was like that, as is my parents' apartment.

[Coulddowithanap]

I know plenty of people who don't lock their front door. Maybe it's as I grew up in a quiet village.

For the kids to let themselves in is just plain rude and shocking that the parents didn't stop them.

[BakeOffBiscuits]

They were extremely rude to just walk in. There's absolutely no excuse for that and hopefully they have learnt a lesson!

[IckleWicklePumperNickle]

An unlocked door is no excuse for coming into your house. I would have reacted the same. The parents are crazy for standing there laughing. My son would never go into our neighbours homes uninvited and he's in that age range.

[BakeOffBiscuits]

And we never lock our doors when we're at home. We live in a village so there's no need.

[SloanePeterson]

I always lock my doors even when I'm in. Basic stuff, especially with children in the house. I couldn't relax knowing the doors weren't locked. How often do you leave it unlocked when you're asleep? I know I'd forget to check so lock it as a matter of course.

[lljkk]

I'm confused why they knocked on OP's door if she didn't have decorations out. What would the point of that be.

[FannyWincham]

Completely off topic, but I have lived in many different houses in my life, and every single one of them has had a front door that is locked (i.e. You can open with a turn of a knob from the inside, but would need a key to open from the outside), as soon as you shut the door.

Is it really that common to have a front door that you need to actively lock to stop people just walking in?

Yes. Our last three houses have had this. So does my SIL's; I will never forget accidentally walking into her neighbour's living room once. It was raining heavily and I had my head down as I ran from the car, parked further down the road. NDN had exactly the same door and step and I burst into the living room to a sea of bemused strangers' faces.

They were very nice about it...

[GabsAlot]

oh dear fanny!

yes i have these doors at the front dh forgotto lock it once overnight i was livid

[Hulababy]

Definitely not on. Rude to just open the door and walk in. Being excited children is definitely not a good excuse in any way!

I would get into the habit of locking the door perhaps?

I lock the doors, even when in. We always do regardless of time of day. We now live in a three storey house and the living room is on the middle floor, so wouldn't want the downstairs doors unlocked as wouldn't hear them. But even before we lived here we did so.

It is not unusual, in any type of area, for opportunist thieves to try doors, open unlocked one and grab keys, etc. We live in a low crime, nice family area but it has been known. Police in the town my parents live in give out the advice to lock doors regularly - they are often after car keys.

[Hulababy]

Is it really that common to have a front door that you need to actively lock to stop people just walking in?

Our doors all have keys that need turned to lock the doors from either side.

[PikachuSayBoo]

Maybe the mums didn't realise the kids had opened the door and that you weren't kind of behind the door?

Just struggle to believe any adults would snigger and not bollock their kids.

Unacceptable.

[PigletJohn]

I have a feeling this was a plastic door, it is quite common for them to have "locks" that can be opened from the outside using only a doorhandle.

Not keen.

[JaniceBattersby]

We never lock our door when we're in. Neither do my siblings, my parents or my inlaws. In fact, we accidentally left the door unlocked when we were away for three nights at the weekend.

I think they were cheeky bastards OP. I would have been tempted to lock them in and see how their cackling mothers liked that

[Cocklodger]

To the PP who asked how common it is (to have a door that opens from the outside with no key)
I've lived in 10+ houses/flats in adulthood.
Only 1 automatically locked, for the others if you locked it from the inside, you couldn't get in, if you didn't however you could just walk in by pushing the handle down. The flat I'm in now has that lock but has extra locks on the inside, and if I'm out I lock it behind me so a total non issue. but IME it is quite common (surprisingly)
OP, YA so NBU.
I'd be raging and having serious words with the mothers when you see them again.

[jamdonut]

Fanny Wincham

Our front door is the lift the handle then lock type. We only lock it it at night, or when going out. If there's someone indoors it is left unlocked. Most houses round here are like that.

Luckily we've only had 2 knocks at t he door this evening...it's usually all over by 8:00pm. It drives our dog mad, so we tend not to 'advertise' that we have trick or treat sweets!

[LouisvilleLlama]

YANBU, but what's wrong with an unlocked door, from when we're awake to when we go to sleep, as long as someone is in the door is unlocked ?

[ZippyNeedsFeeding]

Where I live it's perfectly normal to walk into a house without knocking, or to knock and then walk in. I don't do it, but when I visit neighbours they are always telling me off for knocking and waiting.

My front door doesn't have a lock at all, and the inner door is only locked at night or if I'm out. If I lived in or even near civilisation, I'm sure I'd be more concerned about security. I certainly don't encourage my kids to just wander into the neighbours' houses. They could be doing anything!

[StrangeLookingParasite]

I'm amazed at everyone locking their doors when they are in the house.

I, on the other hand, am totally bemused that people just leave their door unlocked. I can't quite get my head around that.

[PlumsGalore]

I always lock my door having once had someone nip in the house and nick my bag whilst I was bathing the kids. Never knew anything until I came downstairs and saw the door ajar.

[LouisvilleLlama]

Because I don't expect to be burgled at any 4pm on a Wednesday with 4 people in the house and it's easier to just keep the door unlocked than keep unlocking/ locking it?

[buttercup54321]

You should have locked the door lol

[frumpet]

Have to say we don't lock the door if we are in , unless we are going to bed to sleep for the night , we also dont have a yale , although you do need to put a shoulder to the front door to get it to open

I think YANBU , there are a select few people who I am happy just walking into the house , if your NDN's son isn't one of them for you , then I would be slightly peeved too !