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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To no the lock my door?

284 replies

FutureMrsRanj · 08/02/2017 23:34

Imagine this has been done to death but have just seen another thread where the op is being to,d to lock her door, is this normal? In the day? I don't think I know any door lockers but maybe I should start in case of burglars, I did wonder when reading a thread this evening as DC were asleep upstairs and I don't think I would hear from sitting room if someone quietly wandered in through front door, ddog would either greet them enthusiastically or carry on snoring

OP posts:
Trainspotting1984 · 09/02/2017 18:46

What difference does it make lol? If she's says aviva you're not exactly going to have the details of every policy they've issued to hand to prove her wrong are you?

MsJamieFraser · 09/02/2017 19:11

It isn't a local insurance policy, it a bank police however it a bank for a whole area.

However my policy isn't unusual, for this county its pretty standard.

My companies policy (I manage thousands of properties) is not invalid if a person is in their own home when a criminal decides to break the law, they pay out.

MsJamieFraser · 09/02/2017 19:16

I love that if I did say who my insurers are, google warriors would try and dismiss it Hmm

Dh bike policy paid out when our shed was broken into a few years ago, dh keeps his expensive bikes and work equipment in there, we did not have a lock on it, because A, we live on the back of acres of land then with a highway, and B, we had CCTV installed.

Iamastonished · 09/02/2017 19:44

"What doors do some people have that you close and they don't lock when you close them??"

Doors without Yale locks, clearly. Our doors have 5 lever mortice locks, which insurance companies prefer, as they are more secure than Yale locks.

LolDeLol · 09/02/2017 19:48

MrsJamieFraser
I love that if I did say who my insurers are, google warriors would try and dismiss it

You are too cynical. Sad My house insurance is coming up for renewal and my current policy is quite strict about door and window locks. I would like a less strict policy. I would actually pay more for the privilege. I understand that individual policies can differ and that new policies tend to be stricter than exsisting policies.

I would love to hear of any policies available to new customers that allow doors and windows to be left unlocked or that don't ask for reasonable precautions to be taken. I can't find one.

mummytime · 09/02/2017 19:52

My door has two 5 lever locks, one is a Yale substitute but far more substantial, the other is a mortice lock type. We just got them done when we had to replace the yale lock.
I live in a very safe area, but would still not dream of not locking the doors, although the back door is often unlocked/open during the day for the cats - but only if someone is in, and I would notice someone coming that way.

I can understand not bothering if on an island where getting away would be tricky.

MagicMoments22 · 09/02/2017 19:54

We always lock our door. If we were upstairs or in the kitchen/garden someone could walk in and nick all our stuff and we would not be covered by our insurance. We live in a nice area but still wouldn't risk it

LolDeLol · 09/02/2017 20:00

Dh bike policy paid out when our shed was broken into a few years ago, dh keeps his expensive bikes and work equipment in there, we did not have a lock on it, because A, we live on the back of acres of land then with a highway, and B, we had CCTV installed

Blimey that's really good. Was the bike still insured because it was locked with an approved bike lock rather than being in a locked shed?

Trainspotting1984 · 09/02/2017 20:03

LolDeLol

Why? You would like to leave your doors / Windows unlocked but lock them at the moment because your insurance company tells you too? so you're looking for an insurance company who will allow you to leave everything unlocked?

Yeah right

MsJamieFraser · 09/02/2017 20:15

well if it wasn't insured they would not have paid out... and because they did... which I have said in my comment, answers your own question.

I'm not cynical, just MN at its best, in wanting to prove everyone wrong... the comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, as there have been a few posts of people asking who their insurers are when OP has said there policy is valid with their doors not locked when inside the property.

SandyDenny · 09/02/2017 20:17

I cant believe people dont know that there are different types of doors. How can you not know that?

Bringmewineandcake · 09/02/2017 20:22

Reasonable precautions is deliberately vague to take into account those people who would act recklessly and negligently because "the insurance will pay for it". It's rare for an insurer to decline a claim on the basis of a lack of reasonable precautions alone. At the insurance company I work for (and no I'm not saying who) it's more likely to be a secondary factor rather than the main cause for declining a claim.
SOME policies will only cover you for theft in the event of force and violence or deception being used. SOME policies will not have that requirement.
I've worked in insurance for 12 years now and have yet to come across a policy that specifically says your door must be locked at all times. That's not to say they don't exist though. Making forced entry a requirement is a simpler way of dealing with the matter.
I don't lock my front door when I'm home, although I do put the chain across if I'm going upstairs and I'm the only adult home. That's more to protect my kids rather than preventing a potential burglar.
Narky I don't know why you're getting such a hard time Wine

LolDeLol · 09/02/2017 20:27

Train
Why? You would like to leave your doors / Windows unlocked but lock them at the moment because your insurance company tells you too? so you're looking for an insurance company who will allow you to leave everything unlocked?

I don't want to leave my doors unlocked but I would like to still be covered if a door or window is accidently left unlocked. I'm really good at locking up but my kids aren't. I pay a lot for my home insurance and would be gutted if they wouldn't pay out simply because someone forgot to lock a door.

You can chinny recon all you like but I'd still love to know of any insurance company that offers this flexibility.

Roomba · 09/02/2017 20:29

I always, always lock my doors even when I'm in. Tbh this isn't even due to a fear of burglary (did once accidentally leave front door wide open all day when I went to work, nothing taken!) - more a fear of someone coming in when I'm there.

I once had a pretty scary looking guy walk straight in the back kitchen door, shouting for his mate. Turned out he'd got the wrong house, and actually wanted four doors down, who was the local heroin dealer at the time. He was very apologetic when I squealed and said he was in the wrong house, but still. I also had two massive bailiffs just walk in unannounced a month after I moved in, thankfully due to the previous owners!

Since those events, I am paranoid about locking up. My kids laugh at me for hurrying them in so I can get the door locked quickly! I'm the same about locking the car as soon as we step foot out of it, after my sat nav was stolen while I got the kids into the house. We were approx three feet away from the car, I even chased the lad up the road but he was speedy!

celtiethree · 09/02/2017 20:38

Why do people immediately jump on a thread and assume what applies to them applies to everyone else. I live in house where my doors do not automatically lock and I wouldn't want them too. They are not locked as soon as I go in, they are locked when we go to bed.

Because of this thread I have just checked my terms and conditions and theft or attempted theft where force is not used is definitely covered. If I was replacing my policy I would look for similar I wouldn't tie myself into a policy where they stated I had to lock my doors when in the house. Anything that states 'reasonable precautions' I would assume was a get out of jail free card for an insurance company and I'd shop around for a better policy.

LolDeLol · 09/02/2017 20:39

I've worked in insurance for 12 years now and have yet to come across a policy that specifically says your door must be locked at all times

I don't think anyone on this has claimed to have policy that says that.

LolDeLol · 09/02/2017 20:40

Typo 'on this thread'

HoratioHornbag · 09/02/2017 20:40

I always lock my doors. There is no point in risking it when it's so easy just to lock them. I'm quite security conscious though. I never answer the door to anyone I don't recognise, or am not expecting, unless I have company with me. The thought of just having the doors unlocked freaks me out.

TwentyCups · 09/02/2017 20:42

Have you ever woken up to find a stranger in your bedroom?

I have.
Now I lock every door every time I've walked in through it.

Bringmewineandcake · 09/02/2017 21:08

loldelol no but some very vocal PPs have been equating that action with the reasonable precautions requirement as if that was the case.

BestZebbie · 09/02/2017 21:15

One of the issues with unlocked front doors is also car theft - a burglar takes two steps into the hallway, lifts the bunch of keys from the side table/key rack, and then drives the family car off the drive. No-one in the house is any the wiser until they hear the car firing up.

selfishcrab · 09/02/2017 21:20

I lived in a nice house, lovely area, felt safe.
One day some man walked into my house, walked through to my kitchen, picked up my car keys and stole my car.
DS and I were sat in the lounge and didn't hear a thing until a neighbour came round to say the person driving my car had hit the drive wall!
I've moved equally good area but I lock doors and so do the kids!

Iamastonished · 09/02/2017 21:25

"lifts the bunch of keys from the side table/key rack,"

This happened to a friend of mine, which is why I never leave car keys lying around.

piginboots · 09/02/2017 21:33

OP are you in the UK?

I only ask as you mention 'larceny' which hasn't been an offence here for decades.

Sorry if I've missed something - haven't RTFT.

starfishmummy · 09/02/2017 21:37

Even though the pils were burgled by someone coming in through an unlocked door they still don't lock it. We have arrived, walked ll through the downstairs and found them both in the garden, totally surprised that they hadn't heard us.