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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To break into my own house? Help!

32 replies

Skyupsky · 19/12/2022 01:58

Hi everyone long time lurker here but never posted before so please bear with me.

Been at hospital with 9 month old DC being treated for croup since 5pm. DP finally went home about 1am( got a lift) and left me with car so I could get home presumably tomorrow with DC.

Doctors just told me happy to discharge within the next hour, can’t get a hold of DP who will be soundly asleep at this point and I know he will have put the door chain on (like the chain latch?)

DP has hearing issues and I am now panicking I will drive myself and DC home and won’t be able to get into the house due to chain being on door! What if he doesn’t hear me shouting up or ringing the bell?

I’ve been Googling ways to try and undo the chain from outside but says I need a rubber band or string or something and I just don’t have any of these things. Has anyone managed to stick their hand in and unlock a chain themselves before?!

help!

p.s. I’m sorry if I’ve posted in the wrong place!

OP posts:
CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:02

Send him lots of text messages.

CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:03

Call the friend who gave him a lift home.

CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:04

If these don't work you should break in or call the police.

3luckystars · 19/12/2022 02:04

Can you ring him before you leave?

CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:05

NO-ONE SHOULD BE SHARING WAYS TO UNLOCK THE CHAIN ON A SAFELY SECURED DOOR!

ChopSuey2 · 19/12/2022 02:06

I have no idea about getting the chain off. If you have thin bendy arms, maybe it's possible? I got my arm through a letterbox to knock off the cover for a lock you could open from the inside so I don't think things are always that secure (not sure that's a good thing!)

Is there a chance your partner has left it off, knowing you might be coming home? Does anyone have a spare set of keys?

If you go home and start trying to get in, he may well wake-up. I definitely wake up to quiet noises when they sound suspicious even though I can sleep through almost anything.

EarringsandLipstick · 19/12/2022 02:08

This is really strange.

Surely it was a possibility you might come home tonight? He must have anticipated this and a) had phone within hearing distance for him or b) has not put on chain.

All you can do is keep calling him, and make some noise when you get home, and hope he will hear.

Kinneddar · 19/12/2022 02:10

CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:04

If these don't work you should break in or call the police.

The Police aren't going to be able to do anything that the OP can't do herself

fallfallfall · 19/12/2022 02:14

stay in the hospital overnight as you can't get in the house till the am. sign all the papers so you can leave when ready to do so.

JennyWI · 19/12/2022 02:23

kick the door, it should break the chain. You will need a new chain and possibly have a hole in the wall!

Skyupsky · 19/12/2022 02:30

just to clarify I am not looking for ways to break in, Google can tell me that, I was just asking if anyone had done it before for reassurance. It was his brother that gave him a lift I’ve messaged the family group chat we have but nobody has read my message presumably all asleep.

We both assumed we’d be in until morning as finally got assigned a private room at hospital. Didn’t think they’d assign a room and then say we could leave a couple hours later.

I have a key, it’s just the chain that’s the issue. I think I’ll just need to continuously ring the door bell and shout up through the gap and hope he hears me. Failing that I’ll definitely try kicking in the door and breaking the chain.

failing that… come back to hospital?!

Tried ringing him a hundred times, think his phone is on bloody silent. Imagine something bad had happened to our DC?!

OP posts:
FangedFrisbee · 19/12/2022 02:35

I mean you could go back to hospital but you absolutely wouldn't get a bed again. Sorry. I'd just break in. The police won't care you broke into your own house.

ChopSuey2 · 19/12/2022 02:43

I broke in (more got in without actually breaking anything than actually broke in) many times as a teenager when I got locked out. My sister once did it and someone called the police 😂They asked her to prove she lived there by showing a bill, which she obviously couldn't because she was a teenager. I don't know how she proved it, probably picked up a photo. I wouldn't worry about the police being an issue or anything.

Andypandy799 · 19/12/2022 02:45

I know with col it may not be feasible but I’d ring a 24 he locksmith. They will have you back in sage and sound in under a minute

Andypandy799 · 19/12/2022 02:46

24hr and safe and sound

CircleofWillis · 19/12/2022 02:48

just to clarify I am not looking for ways to break in, Google can tell me that, I was just asking if anyone had done it before for reassurance.
The trouble is that while reassuring you, they are likely to tell you the ways in which they successfully got past a chain. It might not be the information you are looking for but someone else may make use of the information with malicious intent.

Thighdentitycrisis · 19/12/2022 02:53

In your position I would wait in the hospital until morning. It’s freezing out and why bring unwell baby out to wait in the car while you try and rouse your DP,

sashh · 19/12/2022 02:54

Go home, if you can't get in then I agree with getting a locksmith. It won't be cheap.

It might be easier to break a window.

Or could you go to his brother's? I know you'd be disturbing someone but at least you wouldn't be outside with a poorly baby.

Skyupsky · 19/12/2022 04:14

Hi everyone thanks for your suggestions.

Thats us home - I broke the chain.

DP still sound asleep!!

thanks all.

To break into my own house? Help!
OP posts:
sashh · 19/12/2022 04:34

Well that chain was certainly protecting your house.

Glad you are home, hop your baby is better and you manage some sleep.

everydaysabeginning · 19/12/2022 04:46

What @sashh says! Get well soon little one

Martialisthebestpup · 19/12/2022 05:29

sashh · 19/12/2022 04:34

Well that chain was certainly protecting your house.

Glad you are home, hop your baby is better and you manage some sleep.

OP got in because she has the front door key! Chains aren’t meant to stop you from being able to kick the door in.
They are there so you can open the door, decide you don’t want to let the weirdo outside in, and securely close the door before they push it open further and push past you into the house.
A peephole or a camera does the same job but more effectively because you don’t have to open the door at all to see outside.

Valeriekat · 19/12/2022 14:39

Why aren't you really cross with your husband? He is an idiot for putting the chain on.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 19/12/2022 14:41

fallfallfall · 19/12/2022 02:14

stay in the hospital overnight as you can't get in the house till the am. sign all the papers so you can leave when ready to do so.

That's unnecessary bed blocking.

SweetyGreen · 19/12/2022 14:44

Valeriekat · 19/12/2022 14:39

Why aren't you really cross with your husband? He is an idiot for putting the chain on.

Yes, this

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