would police be able to get my hold of my old whatsapp messages if i'm being harrassed?

[Whattothinkaboutit]

I keep getting random, unwanted texts from a locksmith i used a year ago. I put the chain on the door at all times now, just incase. I've ignored most of them and only replied to a couple in the past with 'no problem'.

I've just had another one- asking me how many children I have.

Thinking to report them to the police but my phone broke a couple of times in the past year so I don't have a message thread saved on my phone.

Or would it be pointless to show them just the latest one?

It started with 'you have lovely hair', me not replying,then an apology a few days later, to which i said 'no problem.' Then it was something saying they saw me and apologies for not offering me a lift, to which i replied, 'no problem it's only 5 minutes on the bus'. Then it was something about what time they were arriving in Scotland and it being a long journey or something. To which I ignored and they sent a message a few days later saying 'sorry i keep texting you'. Now this latest one about how many kids I have.

One clear course of action-

tell him to stop using your number and it is harassment , you need to be clear
block
as he is a locksmith get locks changed

any further contact then talk to police 101.

I would block the number and ignore if you get any further messages from another number then report it to the police.

If he works for a chain you can report him to his employer.

I’m sure they could, it’s whether they would. Looks like he’s been careful to not cross the line in what he’s sent so to speak. I’d be tempted to either block the number, and or reply to the latest message and say you’ve just bought this phone from a lady called (insert your name) and please remove this number as it no longer belongs to her. Or something like that to make him think you’ve changed your number. You’re never going to use his service again, so yes never going to find out! Block it after sending that too.

i know it’s expensive, but id get another locksmith to change your locks again - I wouldn’t be happy with the idea of someone who could have made a copy of your key being this stalker-ish…. That said, he’s likely to have access to lock picking tools so maybe that would be a waste of money.

if you want to be crystal clear to him, you could reply and specifically ask him to stop messaging you and to delete your number as it’s a breach of GDPR to save your number and use it for non work purposes.

Good luck, I too would be uneasy as you never know how it will escalate.

The police won't be able to do anything until you have told him clearly and I equivocally that you don't want any further communication from him. If he breaches that, then it's harassment.

This. Tell him clearly to stop contact.

Yes, you need to make it clearer that his messages are unwelcome. The polite ‘no problem’s and ignoring obviously isn’t explicit enough.

Hi X, please don’t text me again. Thanks.

Polite enough, clear, final.

If he continues you can tell him that ignoring your polite request constitutes harrassment and that you will be reporting him.

Thanks, I have asked a friend whose husband did a locksmith course if they would change the locks for me. Obviously the lock breaking thing worries me also, as in the past I was locked out of an old property and they got me in. I have used him three times, (adhd gets me locked out and one was a house move!) just been normal with him each time and grateful when he recommended a type of lock that prevents you getting locked out so easily, and it's since the third time he's been like this.

I'm not going to block it because I feel like I'd rather have knowledge if he was going to show up or something weird like that.

I will ask him to stop messaging me now.

he replied- 'ok sorry deleted'......well that was the strangest thing i've ever experienced.

Fingers crossed that is the end of it! Save copies of that text and any others you do have from before so that you can prove you’ve asked him to stop and he acknowledged receipt of that request. Hopefully you’ll never need it!

They might be able to, yes. Block him and make a report to their police on 101 or your force’s website. If he then makes further contact, report him again. Screen shot any contact past or future from him. Don’t respond to any more contact from him.

reported to police and it's been sent to their investigation management unit to review and assess.

I didn't realise how much this was upsetting me.

Don't suppose anyone knows what kind of lock might be locksmith proof?

You did the right thing reporting it to the police. You might not be the only woman he's texting.

It sounds like he’s taken the rebuttal well. I wouldn’t worry too much about further contact at this stage

Don't delete anything - he may pop up again in a few weeks. He clearly lacks boundaries. Archive the messages but make sure you keep evidence trail.

And when you get yourself locked out what are you going to do?

If you havent got one get a ring doorbell to put your mind at ease.

The worst possible job for a stalker to have, a locksmith.

Makes you wonder why he entered that profession.

Tungsten locks are harder to get into. Also some higher security locks marketed as anti pick. You can also look at digital or biometric locks, although pricier.

They can’t cut my door key in in the shop it has a code and they need to send off for it. Maybe you can get one like that? Also get a key lock box outside your house with a spare key in it. If you ever get locked out again you will have it as back up and then you can put it straight back in again after opening your door. I had to do this as I locked myself out a couple times. And my kid kept losing their door key,

Just block and delete the number.
Simples.

I wonder if he is the type to assume women are "sending a message" and thought noone would get locked out that many times and that you were trying to facilitate contact?
Obviously not the case, but would make it less creepy if he thought that as the reason for the contact.

Why does this bother me, I know for a fact I would get in a different lock smth and get the locks changed again..on the other hand why have you continued interacting if you just wanted a job done but then ended up talking on WhatsApp instead of blocking

Absolutely no need to be that unkind.

Who are you and how did you get in here?

How many message have they actually sent ? It does seem a slight overreaction to report to police