Workmen and house security

jellie

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I'm afraid I disagree. It is valid even if direct or extreme.

I don't think it's as black a picture as that but, the worst possible scenario has to be pointed out to the OP, she then makes the choice or judgement not us.

The post I referred to said - "a builder in the house would just have a sneaky look at things because they saw them.... and maybe pocket something as it's small and unnoticeable."

This statement infers that this is what workmen do as a matter of course, which is simply not true.

cyclonebri1

jellie wrote: »

The post I referred to said - "a builder in the house would just have a sneaky look at things because they saw them.... and maybe pocket something as it's small and unnoticeable."

This statement infers that this is what workmen do as a matter of course, which is simply not true.

And that's exactly what I replied to;
Quote;

A sneaky look because they saw them?


That means something was left out for the builder to see and he noticed it

And maybe pocket something?, doesn't infer that every builder would at all, maybe clarifies it.

I'm not saying you are putting your own interpretation on what was said, but I am saying you are ignoring the fact that somewhere there is a builder, (or a neighbour ) that would.

jellie

I'm not ignoring anything. My objection is because the advice given was to lock things away, this being the only way your possessions will be safe. The inference is therefore that just because something is left out, a tradesman will pick it up and have a look at/in it. No doubt the odd one will, but making such sweeping statements is unfair. I think you'll find I'm not the only one who didn't like this comment, although Phill99's response was rather stronger than mine.

elsien

I must be particularly naïve then, because it just never crossed my mind to lock stuff away or that workmen might be trawling through my knicker drawer.
I guess I must have been operating on the "what I don't know can't hurt me" principle. And will probably now be paranoid the next time I leave people to it. Thanks guys!

Myser

If you are really worried, you could get a concealed motion detection camera and install it in the room where the tradesperson shouldn't be going.

When the camera detects motion, it will start recording onto a memory card. These cost around £20-£30 on auction sites and they can be concealed in various items!

Here is an example of one concealed in a clothes hook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03tw0mR7sxA

Note, legally you may need to put a sign up stating that video recording devices are present in an area.

adonis

Myser wrote: »

If you are really worried, you could get a concealed motion detection camera and install it in the room where the tradesperson shouldn't be going.

When the camera detects motion, it will start recording onto a memory card. These cost around £20-£30 on auction sites and they can be concealed in various items!

Here is an example of one concealed in a clothes hook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03tw0mR7sxA

Note, legally you may need to put a sign up stating that video recording devices are present in an area.

Whoever put this one up didn't worry about putting up a sign.

nickj_2

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I'm afraid I disagree. It is valid even if direct or extreme.

I don't think it's as black a picture as that but, the worst possible scenario has to be pointed out to the OP, she then makes the choice or judgement not us.

Yes, builders, teachers, labourers, doctors, there's a kinky 1 in every profession.

I only comment because I know females whose worst fear is the knicker drawer scenario, and please don't ask how I know.

Anyway, if all other options fail and you have to give the key to the builder just do as someone else said and use common sense.
Put stuff away, consider where they will be working and above all state the rules. Toilet access, which rooms they are allowed in and above all, make sure one person realises he is solely responsible for the operation.

I'm pretty sure that given an option every single builder/tradesman or woman would prefer not to have the house keys

i think all honest and decent tradesmen would prefer to have the keys , most of my customers who work work in london so are normally out of the house before 7-00 and don't get back til late . if i have to go and get materials how is that going to work if the person has let me in but then gone to work , i'm still there in the house on my own . some jobs i do can take a couple of months , people aren't going to take 2 months off wrok to watch over me

anyway trust works both ways , i would imagine for every dishonest tradesmen there's 10 honest tradesmen who are waiting to be be paid because the customer is dragging their heels with their cheque book .

cyclonebri1

The problem is Nick we only ever hear of extremes and you have to admit that does reflect worse on the builder than the customer, not being a trader I don't know how common it is to get a none payer, but I'm sure you would structure your own payment terms to ensure you kept the balance between work done and money is paid fairly even.

My own view would be that payment kept pace with materials and labour, the final or outstanding payment covering profit, very roughly that is.
That way costs have been covered and a none payer does hold up the next job, merely leaves you in the same position you started from.

Regarding cameras, it probably wouldn't even have to work to at least be a deterrent.

And to the OP, I don't know what the figure is for burglaries per household, is it once every 15 years per house on average, it's something surprisingly high.
But although I didn't mean to alarm you, once you are 1 of those statistics it can change your outlook and any naivety vanishes quickly as I pointed out before.

Go with the middle of the road answer and trust but don't leave anything tempting lying around. Not many folks can resist temptation in some form. :o:D:rotfl::rotfl: