Delivery driver let himself into my house

[Wineatfiveisfine]

I WFH. A delivery driver knocked quite loudly on my door a few days ago. I got to my hallway within 10 seconds to find a very tall man in my hallway setting the delivery down on a table and taking a photo, as proof of delivery.

He said “hello, delivery”. I was too shocked to form a cordial response and just said “erm, why are you in my house?” He said “delivery, thanks bye” and off he went.

We’ve raised a complaint with said company - but they’ve said this is a common occurrence (!) and that they will speak to the driver, but it won’t be taken any further.

i was terrified to find a stranger in my house - but having googled, this seems to be a common occurrence!!!! How?!?!?

I would have been straight on to the police. Not only is that totally horrifying but I have pets in my house and if he had let any of them escape I'd probably be in jail now for murder.

Do you lock your door though?

I have an indoor cat who I would also be in jail for murder if someone let them out, so I would never leave my door unlocked incase someone did exactly that!

Yes people shouldn't walk in blah blah but the point is they would be able to, and if I don't want my cat to escape its up to me to keep her secure.

Definitely agree with you OP. I would be shocked as well and flipping angry. That said I live in a lovely safe village but being a woman at home on my own a lot, I assume the worst and keep my front door locked.

Baffles me as well. I paid extra to have a lock that automatically locks.

Not everyone lives in London. There is the alternate universe of the rest of the UK

No my doors are firmly locked. Always. Because of my pets but also because I'm by myself as a female. A friend of my late Mum's just used to open the door and walk into our house whenever she felt like it. It drove me mad.

We moved to our small town from London. We're currently living in an EOT. Our neighbour teased us (nicely) for putting a padlock on the back gate. Apparently no-one in Frome bothers with that level of security and he saw it as 'tell us you're from London without saying you're from London.'

I‘M not a delivery person but I completely agree with you! There’s some odd reasoning going on here. First, all of these people who are shocked and stunned to find a door opened; just lock it! Second, all those people saying that random people shouldn’t try the door, a delivery person isn’t a random person, they are someone you invited to your house for the purpose of delivering a parcel. If they have knocked first, what do you want them to do? Not deliver? There’s no pleasing some people. It’s not 1975 with minimal parcel
delivery, it’s 2025 and parcels are constantly on the road. Modern life depends on it. Maybe consider not ordering goods, locking the door or being constantly vigilant at home for the arrival of the van if it upsets you. That or a large parcel delivery box outside.

It's not, as far as I know, a crime for anyone to enter your house though an unlocked door.
If your pets did escape then you might well have a civil case against them, but as with almost all civil cases, you can't sue for something that might have happened.

Yes I live quite remotely in Scotland and found this. Nobody locks the door. My postie and regular delivery man are fine to come in with my consent (I have indoor only cats and they're careful not to let anybody out) but I've been quite upset by a stranger from DPD wandering in and leaving door wide open behind him.
Despite clear instructions including a photo of where to leave it....which was actually much nearer than coming into the house!

In the US the delivery people/mailman often just open the door and place the package just inside where my sisters live (major city). I was really surprised but door theft is maybe more common, and it’s the same guys who deliver.
I haven’t had that happen here - in fact they sometimes don’t even seem to try or knock once then scarper before I have a chance to get to the door.
But leaving your door unlocked is foolish - I have had a few friends who have had car keys/handbags knicked while they’ve been home.

It is safe here. It is very normal in small villages not to lock doors.

You invalidate your home insurance if you leave doors unlocked so that anyone can enter. My front door, once closed, needs to be opened from outside by using a key (you can exit the house without needing a key, though…)

If I need to go upstairs when home alone, the patio and back doors are closed and locked before I set foot on the stairs!

I am amazed at the number of people that don’t realise this!

Oh fgs well clearly he thinks it’s normal because his company agrees with him. You should lock your door if you don’t want people entering. As you can clearly see, some thinks it’s ok and some don’t.

Lots of people spotting that home insurance will be invalidated if doors are left unlocked. I think we’ve got that.

It’s also interesting, and more relevant to the thread really, to consider the employer’s liability insurance and occupier’s liability and the impact of trespassing on those issues. Opening a front door and even just putting part of your body through the opening, without permission from the occupier, is trespass, and would, as I understand it, invalidate employer’s insurance and free the home owner from occupiers liability. So if the delivery guy got bitten by a dog, or sued for damages for letting an animal out (just 2 examples off the top of my head), he’d have no recourse to sue himself or claim on anyone’s insurance. They’re trespassing and shouldn’t be doing it, and I would be astonished if the companies they work for are condoning it, because they would be opening themselves to liability not covered by insurance as well.

This topic comes around a lot. I can't believe people leave their doors unlocked.
The driver probably thought it was better than leaving it outside, but it wouldn't have happened if he couldn't open it.
Lock your door.

Lock your door. For a start your home insurance is not valid if your doors can be opened from the outside like this. Simple solution - keep em locked !

Not true

I find the answers on these threads crazy in a place like mumsnet, OP is upset about someone coming into her house without permission and for the first couple pages she gets "what were you wearing" tier answers. An unlocked door is not an invitation, if I needed something from someone or had a package delivered to my house by mistake, I wouldn't ever think of trying their handle

An unlocked door might not be an open invitation to all and sundry to come in but an order of a parcel is an invitation onto a property. How is it trespass to open a door and place a parcel inside? We’re not talking pulling up a chair and making a cuppa, simply popping the parcel down and being on their way. It’s no more trespass than a hand through the letterbox.

i guess this annoys me as if all companies instruct delivery people to never do this, I don’t get my parcel! Also, delivery costs will rise as multiple attempts at delivery are required. There’s a simple solution to opt out… I’m not going to repeat it as so many others have but you know what I mean!

It is confusing for them. Everyone in my street leaves their doors open if they are in because I ever hear the bell. All the delivery drivers try the door and just come in. If the door is locked they will ring the bell or put it in a safe space.
If you don't want them coming in then make sure your door is locked.
The onus is on you to keep your door locked or anyone could come in.

@Morningsleepin yes I grew up there it was they way that the postman would open the door and deliver post that would not go through the letter box. I tell my mum off for not locking doors now, although it is a very safe place she would not be insured if something did happen. I was shocked when I went to the mainland to college and people had their doors locked when they were in their houses.😀

Well, no, you're not seeking advice though. You have literally asked if you're being unreasonable. People are telling you that you're being unreasonable to not lock your door. Everyone agrees that it is totally unreasonable for someone to enter your property without your permission. It is also unreasonable to expect it to never happen if your door isn't locked.
I voted that YANBU because he should NOT have entered your home, and the courier firm really ought to take the matter more seriously.

The women here are trying to help you to protect yourself and your property in future by locking your door. We are not insulting you, or calling you stupid. You have missed OUR point. Please for the love of God, (and your personal safety) lock your door x

Cheeky b@#£=%d!! I'd of shat myself, regardless of doorgate that's bang out of line.

I don't care where I live or what the crime rate is.. i lock my doors no matter what. Exactly for this reason for a starters I've never known a delivery driver walk into a house I think its crazy!