Need To Do Something. But what?

pulliptears

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

pulliptears,

That's also the reason I went for the thumblock option. My mother stays with me occasionally, and she also had a habit of leaving the key in the inside lock.

You can buy replacement eurocylinder locks with the thumblock option, and they are very easy to fit (a couple of minutes work).
The real cheapies are best avoided as there is generally quite a bit of slack in the mechanism and they feel as if they won't last long.

If you do decide to change it, this site will tell you all you need to know.
http://www.practicaldiy.com/carpentry/euro-lock-cylinder-replacement/euro-lock-cylinder-replacement.php

2 issues I've been made aware of with these locks that are worth considering...

If the lock is in a windowed door you can break the glass, pop in a hand and open the door. Something that couldn't be done with a key turn system.

Taking the above into account, OH tells me that they were told when fitting doors (he worked for local authority and specified this type of thing) that thumb locks could invalidate insurance policies if entry is gained as above.

Something to think about anyway.

shaun_from_Africa

But I would have thought that if someone smashed the glass and put their hand in to turn a key that was left in the lock, then the insurance wouldn't pay out either.

All my insurance states (and I realise that this may well be different with other insurers) is that to be covered the property must have locks that are approved to British standard 1303, and there must have been forced entry into the building)

birkee

It's quite simple really....
the doors is not well aligned with it's frame, and you are trying to pull it into correct alignment when lifting the locking mechanism.
Get the Council to get it realigned, and it should lift far more easily.

xsunnysuex

pinkteapot wrote: »

Double check that the door can't be opened from the outside. We have the same kind of door but, unlike everyone else's we know, you can literally walk in from outside unless the door has been locked with a key from the inside (even if the handle has been lifted up from the inside). Now our friends know that they just walk in when they come round. We have to remember to physically lock our door at night. I've never known another door do this, so your mum's is probably fine, but get her or someone else to check.

Yes, that's exactly the door she has. You just litterally have to turn the handle to get in. Unless she locks it, her house is open to anyone.

Dave_C_2

In this case I would seriously consider involving the police. The local police will have a crime prevention officer who should be more than willing to help out. After all someone entering your mum's house without permission is committing a crime.

Obviously someone needs to "lean" on the council to get them to get their collective fingers out.

pinkteapot

Ouch - so it's completely unlocked overnight as well as when she is out?

Agree with Dave_c re a call to the local police station.

Your mum's house insurance won't be valid if there is a break-in (via the door) when she is out.

pinkteapot

birkee wrote: »

It's quite simple really....
the doors is not well aligned with it's frame, and you are trying to pull it into correct alignment when lifting the locking mechanism.
Get the Council to get it realigned, and it should lift far more easily.

If OP's mum has bad arthritis this may not be enough. Even a freely moving handle requires some strength to lift it...

birkee

pinkteapot wrote: »

If OP's mum has bad arthritis this may not be enough. Even a freely moving handle requires some strength to lift it...

Can't disagree with that!

George_Michael

After all someone entering your mum's house without permission is committing a crime.

Not any more I'm afraid.
If someone walks into your property without causing any damage, all they have done is to trespass, which is not a criminal offence in its own right.

This is why it's so hard to get squatters out of people's property and why the police won't get involved.
(Trespass is only a criminal offence in a very few instances, namely airports, railways, government property and one or two other places)

Dave_C_2

George_Michael wrote: »

Not any more I'm afraid.
If someone walks into your property without causing any damage, all they have done is to trespass, which is not a criminal offence in its own right.

This is why it's so hard to get squatters out of people's property and why the police won't get involved.
(Trespass is only a criminal offence in a very few instances, namely airports, railways, government property and one or two other places)

OK, maybe I should have added "and stealing stuff" to my 4:58 post.