Police enter unlocked homes
 

...and tweet photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-35400694

this is the heartwarming story of national security and protection, where if we leave our homes unlocked, the police can break in to expose our security flaws, then tweet about it.

Without a warrant, they are trespassing. Nothing will be done about it unless one of the people who live in those houses say something about it, though.

They didn't break in though they walked in which anyone could do, only the owner will be able to identify the pics, I think it is quite "heartwarming" that they are trying to prevent burglaries and delivering the message to owners to take a few seconds to check the door is locked. Unlocked properties would also be difficult to claim insurance in so a double whammy for owners, the only issue for me is that they let themselves open to a claim against themselves for theft

There are a few reasons they could enter without a warrant, one of them is if they have reason to believe the place is being burgled.

Well, if there was anyone I wanted to break into my home, it would be the police tbh

Yes. I like a man with his own handcuffs.

Oh Livia don't tempt me!

An Englishman's home is his castle. Might not be a very secure castle if its unlocked but its not appropriate for the police to stroll in and take pictures just to make a point.

I'd rather a copper came in and took pictures than a scumbag came in and took my telly. Not sure I agree with this as an anti-crime message, but I see where they're coming from.

Why not? I'd rather they did this than put a note through the letter box or even worse ignored it, it's not like they rifled through the homeowners knicker drawer

Yes Stand On Me


Copper

Yes thats the Point

Believing it's in the process of being burgled is one thing - going around testing doors to see if they're unlocked and then going in to prove a point, is surely another.

Finding an unlocked house empty might raise suspicion it's been broken into.

The police get criticised a lot, I'm actually surprised they wanted to do this rather than leave the places alone and let them get turned over.

Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

I'm not saying that they had bad intentions or that they should be punished or anything, I'm just saying that the rules on entry into a private residence exist for a very good reason and selectively allowing those rules to be ignored is a slippery slope.

A note through the letter only reaches that family, using social media gives the message more impact.

Agreed. If I found a note like that through my letterbox then I'd appreciate their vigilance. If I found them strolling around in my living room I'd think they'd overstepped the mark.

Back in my first year at Uni I was on the ground floor and once left my window open while I popped to the shop. When I came back campus security had put a leaflet through the window saying to be aware that leaving it open left it open to intruders who could have easily entered. That was fair enough and I got the message, I wouldn't have needed for them to climb through the window and take a picture.

I don't think they should be trying doors either. Will the next thing they do be to try to open the door with a bit of force, or open a window?

I bet if they "just happened" to find something dodgy at the same time, they would try and make that stick too. Its a slippery slope, and a step too far.

I agree with this and surely the police risk being accused of stealing something.

I wonder how it would stand up in court if someone was burgled and managed to produce a dated picture on twitter of a police officer standing in their hallway saying, "another unlocked door"

I don't think the police should put themselves out at all for anyone. It doesn't matter what they do, they get sh1t for thanks. Personally, if you're stupid enough to leave your home unlocked then the police should only turn up if you ring them.

People are worried about the police stealing something? LOL... I give up.

This^

Once the cheeky bastards have crossed your doorstep without permission or a warrant then they've crossed the line.

I rarely lock my house up, no need round here

:hee:

A slippery slope to what :facepalm: this wasn't in the police manual of being a copper, it's two people who stepped outside the box ticking exercise that policing has become to raise awareness of people forgetting to lock their doors, they stepped into the hallway, what If they posted their pamphlet and someone was lying dead in the hallway, more outrage, another situation where the police can't do right for doing wrong.

An unlocked home IMO doesn't increase the risk of burglary. If people wanted to be in, they would be in, all an unlocked door does is save you having to shell out for a new window too :laugh: