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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Secret panic button behind bed...

137 replies

Prinstress · 07/12/2018 21:15

My DP just dropped into conversation his parents have a panic button hidden behind their bed that sets off an alarm and alerts a private security firm... He reckons its standard in every house on their estate Confused

They live in a nice 4 bed detached house but it's not a gated community or anything naice nice... AIBU to think this is a bit weird and not something most people have?

OP posts:
Caprisunorange · 07/12/2018 21:17

It’s not massively uncommon. I have had it in an old house (but, we never renewed the contract with the security firm) and a friend of mine has it in his (admittedly £3m central London townhouse) so I wouldn’t be surprised by it but don’t think it’s common

gamerchick · 07/12/2018 21:18

It isn't but I don't see the harm in it if it helps people feel secure and safe.

Original poster
Prinstress · 07/12/2018 21:19

Oh I definitely don't see the harm, it just seemed surprising to me!

OP posts:
Whataboutbobbo · 07/12/2018 21:20

We had one and was installed 35 years ago....so not a new thing even.

BedraggledBlitz · 07/12/2018 21:20

Theres a bright red button beside my bed that seems wired to telephone line. I bought house from an elderly lady so assumed it was a care call button in case medical emergency. I've tried pressing it. Nothing happened.

Security button sounds bonkers.

Shoxfordian · 07/12/2018 21:20

Bit strange
What if they accidentally pressed the button during sex?

Artesia · 07/12/2018 21:20

We had one in our last house. Was in bed feeding DS3, when he was about 4 days old. DS2, who was 2.5, managed to set it off and 4 minutes later we had 3 men in bullet proof vests, brandishing tasers, in the driveway. Was suitably mortified when I shuffled out, DS3 still clamped on feeding, DSs1 and 2 hanging off my legs, to tell them it was a false alarm! Blush

OhTheRoses · 07/12/2018 21:20

We have one linked to our alarm/security system.

Sparkles07 · 07/12/2018 21:21

We have had one in every house we’ve owned with an alarm system. But we’ve never paid to have it monitored, so pressing the button would set off the house alarm but no outside compnah would be contacted. Think it’s normal to get one with a house alarm.

Peaspleaselouise · 07/12/2018 21:21

We have one in our house (nice but not extravagant detached on cup de sac). All houses on the development do (built 20 years ago). It’s part of the burglar alarm system but we don’t have it active.

TeenTimesTwo · 07/12/2018 21:21

I think we've got one that sets our alarm off, but it is inaccessible how we have the furniture so it's not much use...

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 07/12/2018 21:22

We had one that came with the house as part of our burglar alarm. We didn’t set the alarm during the night though so if 27 masked men came in in the night it wouldn’t have worked!

Got a new alarm now. Didn’t bother.

Walnutsandsquirrels · 07/12/2018 21:23

I used to have this when I was married - ExH had a business that had a lot of takings in cash which he would bring home if he couldn’t bank it. Toddler DS pressed it on two occasions which didn’t go down too well.

Bombardier25966 · 07/12/2018 21:23

They're often installed by the police where there someone has a known threat against someone. In that case they will be programmed to dial the control room.

Definitely not bonkers.

ImExhausted · 07/12/2018 21:23

Some people live in another world :)

Racecardriver · 07/12/2018 21:24

I’ve never seen this but only houses I have lived in with security systems have been brand new.

Loz90333 · 07/12/2018 21:24

OP my parents live on an estate of about 30 houses, all the houses have a panic button in the master bedroom. Never used it once!

recently · 07/12/2018 21:25

We don't but we have a safety it's in our shower....which rings a bell in the lift of the building. Confused

recently · 07/12/2018 21:26

It's = cord

FannyAndMoonFace · 07/12/2018 21:27

We have them, as do my parents. I think it's pretty standard in our area.

Thedukes · 07/12/2018 21:29

Have never heard of it. I think it would be a good idea for a woman who might be in danger from her husband, if she could manage to conceal it from him.

Your toddlers remind me of this

ShesABelter · 07/12/2018 21:32

I work for Fire and Security company. Lots of people have panic buttons linked to a monitoring company with a police response yes.

milkmoustache · 07/12/2018 21:34

One of my neighbours noticed lots of panic buttons in their very modest two up two down. Turned out that it used to be one of Salman Rushdie's safe houses.

Flowerpot2005 · 07/12/2018 21:34

To be honest, what someone does in their own home to feel safe, is no business of yours. It's that simple.

babysharkah · 07/12/2018 21:35

Always had them as part of our alarm system thought it was pretty standard.