Keeping my back door locked when I'm in?

[trashpony]

Unfortunately the security gate's a no go - my door opens outwards

I am going to get them on the window that they broke to get in and on my bedroom window which means I can open that at night.

My garden's enclosed except for the side passageway (semi-detached). We are going to get some trellis put over the gates to deter the burglars.

I just can't believe the cheeky feckers climbed over when they must have seen windows open upstairs and my door open so there was obviously someone in at our place

 

[Guineveretoo]

Indeed-I feel so sorry for trashpony with a baby to deal with and all but not be able to keep a door open but sadly such is reality. It's good you feel safe in London but I know I didn't due to freaky experiences there such as I mentioned above. It does depend on neighbours and area as well.
I hated constantly feeling nervous. Even when I moved to Bath, was terrified on my own at night, not helped by a series of my doorbell and phone ringing randomly at about three am on when I was on my own.
In retrospect was prob students and wrong number but at the time, knowing I had faulty locks and knew no neighbours or anyone nearby to help me, stayed up clutching mobile and sweating in fear. Until I discovered the soothing sounds of Radio four on all night. But it made me have news related nightmares!

I used to have similar fears in one of my houses in Cambridge, but am really glad that I feel safe in my house in London. You are quite right about the neighbours making a difference. I could even phone the neighbours if I felt the need to during the night. Not that I have ever needed to, but it helps to know that they are there, as it were.

They also watch over me a bit, and are always saying things like "oh hello, I thought you had emigrated" when they haven't seen me for a while (like, when I work several late nights in a row), which is kind of annoying, but also helps me to feel cared about.

I also listen to Radio 4 during the night (although it becomes the World Service at 1am!), for the soothingness of it, but not because I am scared of possible burglars.

Anyway, I hope trashy and her baby feel safer and content.

 

[trashpony]

Ahh thanks guin2

Now for a rant - have just had an email from my impossibly stupid upstairs neighbour saying that she doesn't think putting some trellis on top of the gate should come out of the house fund as my garden 'is not a shared space'. She's also questioning that I claimed from the buildings insurance for the repair of the windows that the burglars damaged

 

[moomoo]

I leave my back door open all the time if I'm in the house but I have a dog who tells me if a leaf blows in the garden, never mind an intruder! I also leave my front door unlocked and friends just walk in when they visit.

But I live in a small community and of my immediate neighbours, no house is empty all day, every day and we all look out for each other My husband was much more security conscious and was convinced that people would stare into our house from the woods behind us although he was the one that left his door keys in the front door of our first flat when we went away for a week (they were still there when we got back)

Trashy, if you are at all worried - keep the door locked when you are not in the room, although leaving a radio on may be a deterrant to anyone taking a random snoop around. I don't know what sort of area you live in so it is difficult to comment, but you need to feel safe in your own home.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Fuck me.. all this misery. I live in Zone 3 London and always forget to leave my backdoor and car locked.

Although, in fairness, we live in a quiet, lovely, peace and lovey bit of London. I won't say where for fear of immigrants, but it's fucking great..

According to Mr Met, the lowest crime rates in London round my way. And it's not posh.

 

[han]

I won't say where for fear of immigrants, but it's fucking great..

Oh please tell us! Where is it? Sydenham ?

 

[han]

Forest Hill ?

 

[trashpony]

Oh please tell us! Where is it? Sydenham ?

Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dulwich
Posts: 11,679

But really I expect it's Tulse Hill

 

[Looby]

Just to be really dull and practical, a lot of insurance policies will not pay out if windows and doors are open, even if you're in the house.
So if I left my lounge window open, went for a bath and I was burgled through that window it would probably invalidate my policy.

Ive just realised this thread is 24 hours old.

 

[Lisarocket]

I live in a 3rd floor flat in a house (in London) and i put the chain on the front (flat) door at night. Mind you we were burgled once and they kicked the door off it's hinges. Now we've got a London bar, Birmingham bar, hinge bolts and 3 locks

Them fuckers are never getting in ever again...

 

[trashpony]

Just to be really dull and practical, a lot of insurance policies will not pay out if windows and doors are open, even if you're in the house.
So if I left my lounge window open, went for a bath and I was burgled through that window it would probably invalidate my policy.

Ive just realised this thread is 24 hours old.

It may be 24 hours old but that's a very good point and I think that may apply to my policy - I just thought it meant if you weren't actually in the building at the time

 

[ChrisFilter]

But really I expect it's Tulse Hill

It's between the two, equidistant between West Dulwich Station and Tulse Hill station.

My drunken post came out all smug sounding, but that isn't what I intended.

 

[Nixon]

We've been very lucky like that,thank god.But I wouldn't leave my back door open.Just because I always think it's safer shut and I don't want to worry.

Hehe you know what Sydenham's like