No Forced Entry - Am i stuffed?

baxxy

Hi
I got home last night at 6pm to find my house had been robbed.
They had stole TV, Wii, Cameras, Ipods, Loads of DVDs etc and even snapped my sofa in half!!!

However, all doors were still locked, all windows were still shut and there were absolutely no signs of any forced entry.

I'm convinced when i left the house in the morning everything was still locked!

So how could they get in my house?
This is not a scam, and I think the police think i'm genuine, but in there report it clearly states that there was no sign of forced entry and all doors were still locked.
The forensics guys came round and again couldn't see any sign of forced entry, although he thinks a possible way someone has got in is by sticking there hand through the letter box and grabbing the key from the other side of the door.

However, again this has not gone in the report as it was a throw away comment.

Where do you think this leaves me from a home insurance point of view?
I haven't phoned them yet as i'm waiting for the crime number, but i'm worried they may say i'n not covered and unfortunately i can't find my full written policy.

WHat do you think?
If someone had got my key via the letter box ( the key would be about 10 inches from the box and they would need very skinny arms ) Would this still be classed as force entry or would the insurance company say it is still negligence?
And would this need to be proved?


As if being burgled is not stressfull enough, it is even worse when there is a prospect that my insurance won't even pay out. ( groupama)

Does anyone have advise on how to play this with the insurance company??

Thanks in advance.

dacouch

Which Insurer are you with ?

Do you have upvc doors by any chance with Euro locks ?

Ms_Chocaholic

The first thought that springs to my mind .... how long have you lived there? Could the previous owner (whether tenant or owner) still have a door key and have gained access that way

lisyloo

the key would be about 10 inches from the box and they would need very skinny arms

Or a "grabber" device that's sold to old people to help pick things up when they can't bend down.
I don't think it would be rocket science for someone to get your key from your description.

Does anyone have advise on how to play this with the insurance company??

There are no options about how to "play" it.
The police report says there is no signs of forced entry.
You have no options here.
If you lie you will make things worse.
I wouldn't personally offer up any damning information, but they will get it anyway.

geri1965_2

OP, are you sure there was a set of keys hanging up within reach of the letterbox and if so, are they missing?

I have it somewhere in the back of my mind (no doubt some people with better knowledge than me can either confirm or contradict) that the act of a burglar turning a key in the lock without permission is classed as "force".

Soubrette

geri1965 wrote: »

OP, are you sure there was a set of keys hanging up within reach of the letterbox and if so, are they missing?

I have it somewhere in the back of my mind (no doubt some people with better knowledge than me can either confirm or contradict) that the act of a burglar turning a key in the lock without permission is classed as "force".

I was thinking this too Geri - for the police officer's point to be valid there would have to be a set of missing keys (or at least one missing key) as presumably the burglar would have locked up behind him.

The other option would be a key on the floor where he or she had posted the key back through the door after locking up behind him.

lisyloo

Some doors lock on their own without a key don't they?

For example a Yale lock.

baxxy

The insurer is Groupama , I've been with them 3 years ( with no claims ) and was set up with them when i was with my financial advisor choosing my first mortgage.
My premium is £41 per month.

I did a google on them last night and most people rate them 2 out of 5 which is not looking promising, although i think that was more around their customer experience rather than paying out.

I don't think it was the previous owners, they seemed ok and it was 3 years ago when they moved out.
The street has also been targeted lately and the houses either side of me have been robbed in the last 12 months so i think it's just local scum.

Regarding the key, I always left it inside the lock so it was easy to open and lock. I don't think someone put their hand through the letter box and turned the key, i think they probably just grabbed it out of the lock and pulled out of the letter box and tehn opened the door from the outside.

The crazy thing is.. after they robbed my house, they went out of the back door, locked it and then posted the key back through the door.... why would they do that?

lisyloo

they went out of the back door, locked it and then posted the key back through the door.... why would they do that?

Probably habit.
Alternatively they might have been seen and wanted to act "normally".

Personally I think leaving a key where someone can reach it from outside is negligent, but it's not my decision.
In these cases it comes down to how good your insurer is going to be.

dacouch

So is there a history of break in's using the same method of entry in your area ?

Was the key that you think you left in the lock definately on the floor near the letterbox when you discovered the break in ?

Were you at home when the home was broken into ?

baxxy

Yes, key was definately on the floor when i got back, i never leave it like that.
The other burgularies have been definately forced, for example doors Kicked in or smashed window via the cellar - Never thought i wish i had that evidence!!

Again, if you looked at the door, you wouldn't think your arm could fit through the letterbox, mine defiantely can't, and they would also need some kind of tool to grab it, so not sure it's fair to say i was negligent.

I'm going to be out of pocket about 2k ( 3K if i claim for my broken sofa) , is this a large insurance claim, and does it make a difference on whether they are going to be reasonable depending on the size of claim?

Thanks all for input so far.