House Burgled - Door Wasn't Locked

fleetingmind

Got burgled last Thursday and they caused some damage to my front door which i had to get temporary fixed but will need to be replaced.

The insurance companies door and lock company have come out and they said that the door wasn't locked when it was broken into as there would be more sign of damage.

The door was shut and the handle pulled up so they would still have to have broken into the house. They are saying that the 5 leaver wasn't locked.

I always lock the door so not sure if I have just not done it, it's not locked properly or it was and the door company are not correct.

Would the insurance company still pay out?
On my letters from Sainsburys unde rlocks it states 'reasonable'.

onetreehillgrrl

Insurance companies don't like to pay claims at the best of times, so if they are saying that the door was not locked properly, you could have a fight on your hands. It is between you and the insurance company, and I don't think anyone on here can advise on how successful your claim might be.

My own door is not locked by merely pulling the handle up. Shut yes, locked no. I have to turn the key, which then enables the lock at the top and bottom of the door to operate.

Good luck

JasX

I'm always paranoid about that and when I renewed this year specifically had them knock the type of lock i had down to a simple yale type latch only which added about 50p to my annual premium.

Not sure where i'd stand as I do have a non BS / kite marked 3 pin 'bolt' type lock but don;t use it every day.

If a better lock is fitted, not used but not explicitly listed on the policy do these companies still put up a fight?

huckster

The question is.

Why would the burglars have damaged your door if it was not locked?

Can you post what type of lock was on the door (make, model and the BS kite mark shown on the plate)

What is your door made from?

From the sounds of it, they are saying it was on a latch and not with the lock engaged.

lisyloo

Why would the burglars have damaged your door if it was not locked?

Don't some doors shut (but not lock) in suck a way that they can only be opened from the inside. Therefore they had to damage it to get in.

fleetingmind

huckster wrote: »

The question is.

Why would the burglars have damaged your door if it was not locked?

Can you post what type of lock was on the door (make, model and the BS kite mark shown on the plate)

What is your door made from?

From the sounds of it, they are saying it was on a latch and not with the lock engaged.

I don't have that infor to hand a si'm at work. It is a 5 lever PVC door. When you shut the door it is 'locked' and cannot be open from the outside without a key. To then put the lever locks you have to pull up the handle and lock with a key either inside or outside. If it is not locked with a key you can pull down the handle outside or inside and it disable the 5 leaver locks. But the door is still shut and not able to be opend from the outside.

The door was forced so much that the door didn't fit the frame. The local builder had to put screws in the door to pull it back in (Which has now damaged the door) so it would shut and could be locked with new locks.

huckster

lisyloo wrote: »

Don't some doors shut (but not lock) in suck a way that they can only be opened from the inside. Therefore they had to damage it to get in.

Which is why I have asked for the lock details. Normally you have to turn the key to engage the lock.

huckster

fleetingmind wrote: »

I don't have that infor to hand a si'm at work. It is a 5 lever PVC door. When you shut the door it is 'locked' and cannot be open from the outside without a key. To then put the lever locks you have to pull up the handle and lock with a key either inside or outside. If it is not locked with a key you can pull down the handle outside or inside and it disable the 5 leaver locks. But the door is still shut and not able to be opend from the outside.

The door was forced so much that the door didn't fit the frame. The local builder had to put screws in the door to pull it back in (Which has now damaged the door) so it would shut and could be locked with new locks.

So the door has been forced from its frame. With UPVC doors you have shoot bolts at different point around the door, but some are better than others. Sounds like the door you have should be replaced with something offering better security.

Do the local Police have a team advising on security matters. Can they visit to offer an opinion as the likely cause of the break in and offer advice about how to protect your property. With this information you could then speak to your Insurers about this and ask them to get a loss assessor out to look into this.

fleetingmind

huckster wrote: »

So the door has been forced from its frame. With UPVC doors you have shoot bolts at different point around the door, but some are better than others. Sounds like the door you have should be replaced with something offering better security.

Do the local Police have a team advising on security matters. Can they visit to offer an opinion as the likely cause of the break in and offer advice about how to protect your property. With this information you could then speak to your Insurers about this and ask them to get a loss assessor out to look into this.

Police have not been out and probably won't. had a load of calls though.

huckster

You should have details of your neighbourhood police team with contact numbers. In most areas they have these. If not contact your local Police station to chase this up.

This sounds like a definate break-in, so I cannot see why the Insurers assessor has said the door was not locked. Perhaps the security on the door was not the best, but unless the security was not up to the Insurers requirements, then I cannot see why they are not proceeding with the claim. Suggest that you speak to them about making a compliant and getting another assessment.

kaya

you dont need to damage a door to break into a property, the insurers know this, ill pm you two words to look up on youtube and tell the insurance company, i better not post them on here or the pc brigade will lynch me