neighbour opening front door?

[topaz22]

not sure how to feel. we have just moved into our first house about a month ago.

i just came home from work and noticed there was delivery note saying a parcel was with a neighbour. i thought i'd get it later and went upstairs to get changed and run the bath. i heard someone knocking on the front door but wasn't ready so didn't answer. couple of minutes later i heard the door open so looked to expect dp and saw neighbour stood there!

the previous owners told us he has dementia so i didn't want to go mad but just gave me a big shock im pregnant too so felt abit funny with a stranger coming in. obviously going to keep the door locked from now on.

how would you feel?

[daisypond]

I don't quite get how you can enter a house without the key. Even if our house isn't locked, you still need the key to open the door from the outside. There isn't a handle you can turn or press to open it.

[topaz22]

it's not a yale lock it has a handle on either side of the door. so if it hasn't been locked with a key you can open it from either side

[AmeliaJack]

topaz it's not reasonable to walk into someone else's house but it does happen.

It's the work of a minute for a thief to slip in grab you car keys and walk out again. They then come back after dark for the car. It has happened several times in our area (which is lovely and very safe)

[gillybeanz]

There are several of these threads atm, why don't people take their security seriously.

OP, specify on the delivery where to leave your parcels, you can't expect others to take them in. Under the circumstances you knew your neighbour had a parcel, you should have got it immediately.

It's not a case of thinking it's acceptable, but protecting yourself.
The man has dementia it's not his fault. He obviously thought he was doing no harm.

[OzzieFem]

In Australia we were told, "in the good old days", australians never locked their doors, and in summer would sleep on their verandahs.

Now we have not only locked doors but also added security doors in front of them. Security screens at every window and increasing numbers of houses displaying security shutters on every window. The last house I bought twelve years ago had security screens on all windows, security doors in front of laundry, kitchen and front door which are all kept locked plus a security alarm. Despite this I have had windows smashed on four separate occasions and one attempted burglary where a small child was put through a broken kitchen window and inner doors were unlocked from inside to facilitate entrance. This failed as locked security doors require a key to open them and child had to get out same way they got in empty handed.

Exceptions to this general rule that occur have been (mainly on summer evenings) houses with locked screen doors and while the house door is left open there is usually a dog on the other side.

[legotits]

I'm a non locker.

I don't lock my car either.

No clue why, I did try and learn to lock up as routine but it doesn't sink in.
It drives everyone crazy, I get constant bollocking

[TheHoneyBadger]

totally with the person who asked all the 'lock your door' people if their children never play out? if i had to get up and down every time my son popped in for a different ball/scooter/gun/whatever i'd be exhausted and very peed off!

do people's kids not play out?

[RedHelenB]

Never lock my door apart from at night and when I'm out. I couldn't live in Australia if you have to live like that. Mo mention at all of security shutters on Wanted down under!

[mytimewillcome]

I think you need to change your door to one that only opens with a key. I thought most people had doors like that.

[BigPointyStick]

My pils never lock their doors until night time. Until I got a key cut they'd nip to the shops and leave it open incase we arrived when they were out. I grew up in the city so have always locked doors. It makes me very uncomfortable when staying and I surreptitiously move my handbag around the house with me if we are going upstairs or whatever.

[BackforGood]

I'm amazed at the number of people who have a front door that isn't locked from the outside.
This week I'e read about someone walking in and stealing car keys. Someone being upset that trick or treaters wallked in. Now this. Previously there have been threads about MiLs or other family just walking in.
I don't think I know anyone who would leave the door unlocked, and I can't understand why anyone is then surprised when someone walks in

[AmeliaJack]

Back I haven't lived in a house with a Yale lock for that last 20 years.

Most modern PVCU doors are fitted with locks that need a key as far as I can see.

[Dixiechickonhols]

This is the second thread today with people complaining about people letting themselves in. I can't understand why you don't keep the doir locked when you are in. On our estate Facebook page they keep reminding people as there have been opportunist thefts especially of car keys then returning at night to take the car. I couldn't believe people wouldn't lock the door but it obviously is common.

[Dixiechickonhols]

Mine plays out. If I see her coming back (can see her mates house from the kitchen) I open the door or she can knock/ring. She doesn't come constantly in and out though.

[legotits]

I avoid that by having the shittiest car.
The diesel light is constantly on, they wouldn't get far and if they filled it up it would double it's value.

I think those of us who don't lock have old style neighbours who know everything that goes down.

Like me.

[IreallyKNOWiamright]

I always lock my door. Even if I am downstairs.

[kali110]

BipBippadotta how awful!

TheHoneyBadger yep my parents would get up or give me a key.
I don't think the op is wrong at all i've said this on the other thread also, people should not be going into others houses uninvited but i would always lock the door ( or have a yale lock).

[Scholes34]

Golly. Back door always unlocked here until we go to bed. Unlocked if I pop to the shops too. Teenagers' friends wander in and out without knocking. They're very polite and always take off their shoes before venturing into the house.

[user1477282676]

YANBU but doors need to be locked. I had a neighbour do this...she was in all fairness a friend as well as a neighbour but I found it shocking! I didn't know here THAT well!

[user1477282676]

Scholes my DD has a friend in a family like yours. Each to their own but the problem is that the Father, only last night told me they've been having things go missing.

A GoPro is the latest thing...before that it was odd bits of cash that he wasn't certain about and now he thinks the phone that went missing a month ago wasn't "lost" as he thought but that whoever took the GoPro also took that.

He says some of his son's friends just come in and he's now trying to instigate door locking but his family is so used to leaving it open, they keep forgetting!

[thecapitalsunited]

Even if you have a UPVC door you can still get a lick which needs a key to open from the outside. My parents have one. The guy who fitted their door told them that most people don't bother because it's a more expensive option but the locks which open from both sides are really only intended for back doors not front doors.

[witsender]

I left the keys in the ignition overnight the other night, spent bloody ages looking for them too. I have just locked the door though, courtesy of this thread.

[browndollXo]

@Chinlo what area is that never known police to do that haha interesting lol

[coddiwomple]

people saying lock your doors - sorry to not expect strangers to walk into my home. i wouldn't like to live near you if you think opening someone's door is reasonable if it's unlocked


I live in a area where your handbag is likely to disappear if you leave your front door opened.

Once you have children, you never lock your door unlocked because you don't want them to escape.

[coddiwomple]

do people's kids not play out?

yes, but in the garden, not in the street! When they are old enough to go to the park on their own, they are old enough to have their own key.