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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell you to change your locks

199 replies

Palomb · 05/07/2017 14:01

If you have euro type barrel locks on any of your doors they are not secure. We were burgled last night for my husbands car. The scum that did it snapped the lock on our back door with a tool you can buy on ebay for less than a quid. We were asleep in the room above with the windows wide open and didn't hear a thing.

All out locks are currently being changed to anti snap locks. They are only £40 each. We had no idea lock snapping was even a thing.

Also, while I'm being bossy, if you have more than one car don't have all the keys on one key ring. I have to get all the locks changed on my car and it's going to cost £500+ this is not covered by my insurance. Keep your keys seperate. You can only drive one car at a time.

OP posts:
JayneAusten · 05/07/2017 15:36

Thanks for the info. Here's a thread that I wouldn't mind the Daily Mail lifting. They could do a shock/scare headline that they so enjoy, cos it would actually be true for once.

Original poster
Palomb · 05/07/2017 15:41

This is the new anti snap and the key for it.

Agree renthe daily mail. Fat chance though, those cunts are only interested in making people's lives worse not better.

To tell you to change your locks
To tell you to change your locks
OP posts:
Roughlyroughrough · 05/07/2017 15:42

We've been burgled and it's really horrible. They easily forced open the kitchen window and this was a new build with UPVC windows.

Sending hugs OP.

Roughlyroughrough · 05/07/2017 15:44

Personally I wouldn't leave my car keys out for the scrotes to lift. I always take my keys upstairs at night. If they actually broke in here our dog would bark and the alarm would go off.

fluentinsarcasm · 05/07/2017 15:48

I was burgled last week ,mid afternoon. Smashed through a full toughened glass door, in full view of 4 overlooked houses.
Upturned every room looking for BMW keys, finally found spare (master key was put out of sight)
Still putting things back together, so upsetting.
Car was found 2 days later and still with Police. They can keep it as far as I'm concerned, I'll never drive it again after those scummy bastards have been in it.
The Police did mention the locks and Laminated glass, which is now fitted.

Original poster
Palomb · 05/07/2017 15:51

Yes better they get the keys without turning the house upside down to find them :(

It is really horrible. Sorry to everyone else who has been through it and thank you to all who have been kind.

I hope they don't come back. The room
They came in through had several laptops, iPads, tv and consoles in but nothing else was touched.

OP posts:
Madonna9 · 05/07/2017 15:54

I'm sorry to hear this, such a horrible idea that people are walking around in your house...

I have a friend who is a cop and he always takes the keys upstairs with him. However, reading the other posts this is quite a contradiction to what the police is advising.

FastWomanStanding · 05/07/2017 15:58

The other reason to leave your keys near the door (but not reachable through the letterbox) is to avoid being locked in, in the event of a fire.

BMW6 · 05/07/2017 15:58

Dh often leaves car keys in the car door overnight by accident. We live in a fairly bad area for drugs. Our car has never been stolen all those times...........

This must mean we have a crap car doesn't it Smile

morningconstitutional2017 · 05/07/2017 16:05

Not much help I know, but apparently there is a burglar alarm system available which goes off if someone breaks a window. One of my ex neighbours (two houses ago) got one as he had a cat - but he had to do a hell of a lot of research before he found it. So they do exist.

BlueSunset · 05/07/2017 16:11

There's no way I would leave my car keys out in plain sight! I place mine in a drawer in my bedroom.

deste · 05/07/2017 16:15

We had a break in last September and a huge amount of stuff was taken. We got nothing from the insurance because we were underinsured. Half of the things taken were not mine and I told them I wasn't claiming for them but it made no difference.

Original poster
Palomb · 05/07/2017 16:25

How much would you like waking up to a man rummaging through your bedroom vs waking up to find the car gone is the question you need to ask yourself I suppose.

I know why I'd prefer.
I

OP posts:
thecapitalsunited · 05/07/2017 16:27

If you have the kind of car which is likely to be stolen to order then definitely leave them somewhere obvious for mr burglar to take. Otherwise he's going to come upstairs and make you give up the keys. You don't want a violent car thief upstairs in your house with your kids. Some of these people will have no scruples in threatening your kids.

If you have a more normal car you are probably ok taking the keys upstairs.

Luncharmstrong · 05/07/2017 16:31

Disagree about leaving keys in sight. That's mad. Hide keys. Get an alarm . That's what our local police advise

Popchyck · 05/07/2017 16:36

Sorry this happened to you, Palomb.

I hope you'll be able to sleep a bit more easily now you've got the new, safer lock on. Flowers

nogrip · 05/07/2017 16:39

How horrible for you OP

I left the back doors open when I did the school run today because the heat has swollen the frames and I couldn't even close them let alone lock them.

Fortunately all was well on our return (not very helpful comment)

BonfiresOfInsanity · 05/07/2017 16:43

You've just made me invest in 3 new locks! Sorry about your break in but thank you for the advice.

MuddlingMackem · 05/07/2017 16:44

I thought the reasoning behind taking your car keys to your bedroom is so that thieves can only take what they can carry in their arms, not what they can carry in your car.

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/07/2017 16:46

Personally I wouldn't leave my car keys out for the scrotes to lift. I always take my keys upstairs at night. If they actually broke in here our dog would bark and the alarm would go off.

And then what?

As I and several PP have said, if you have a top end luxury car then they will get your keys and if that means threatening you or your kids then so be it. They are not going to go to all the effort of breaking in to get your BMW or Audi or whatever, and then say "Oh. we had better leave as the alarm is going off and the dog is barking". They take these cars to order, they are not going to be put off by your alarm, its a very lucrative business.

But if you are happy to have a potentially violent man in your or your kids bedroom at night, then of course keep hiding your keys.

PerkingFaintly · 05/07/2017 16:49

Yikes, really hadn't thought about the risk of someone breaking in for a neighbour's car.

Thank you for this thread, and Flowers to all the people dealing with such a horrible experience.

ShoesHaveSouls · 05/07/2017 16:52

Are these the doors which you have to lock shut, and lift the handle to lock? Is it just that type?

nosleepforme · 05/07/2017 16:53

oh yes, this looks like a multi-lock key. they're fantastic. they are extremely hard to break into! i have a multi-lock key and a bolt with a thick metal door. they are not new though, my parents have had this in their house since i was a little girl. when i was younger, someone did try and break in but all they managed to do was scratch the door.

TinselTwins · 05/07/2017 16:54

And don't keep your car keys anywhere near your front/back doors!

speaking as someone who has been burgled while sleeping upstairs, DO leave your car keys in plain sight! fuck the car, when you're being robbed by a drug addict (as we were) you won't want them to have been in your home for any longer than necessary to get what they want! I now leave all our wallets in the same basket in the hall as our car keys - give them what they want it's so much safer than being confronted by a lunatic who is angry because they haven't found what they were looking for!

BitOutOfPractice · 05/07/2017 16:55

Sorry you've had this experience OP

These anti snap cylinders are sometimes advertising at 3 star locks, PAS 24 approved or Secured by Design locks. Sometimes they are called Anti-Bump locks

I did have to smile at your comment "I'm not really firing on all cylinders today. though OP - I beg to differ with your lock puns! Grin