Pensioners burgled after council fitted key safes outside sheltered homes (From Echo)
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Pensioners burgled after council fitted key safes outside sheltered homes
12:00pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in Local News By Jon Austin
FRAIL pensioners at sheltered housing schemes have been left vulnerable to burglars after bungling council bosses fitted key safes outside their homes which can easily be opened.
Two elderly women were left terrified after electronic safes outside their homes on the Afflets Court complex in Basildon, were ripped off and smashed open and intruders entered their home in the middle of the night.
The Echo can reveal that: *Pensioners warned council bosses not to go ahead saying it would lead to burglaries
*The safes, which cost £45 each to install, were not police approved models, but residents were falsely assured by the council they were
*Residents with the safes on other complexes across the borough have not been informed of the safety concerns
*Essex Police issued a warning about the flimsy safes in February, but the council still fitted them from June
At a heated meeting about the future of the safes held for residents at Afflets Court on Friday, around 30 pensioners said they had now removed keys from the safes Some residents demanded a return to the master key system and slammed Karen Butler, sheltered housing manager, for previously assuring them the originals were police approved.
The council scrapped a master key system in June, which meant care, emergency and council staff could enter all properties in the event it was needed.
Instead properties at sheltered housing schemes across the borough had electronic safes fitted next to front doors.
In the event of an emergency staff knew the code to press to get the key out and unlock the front door.
Rod Kendell said: “I am appalled you have left so many vulnerable people open to abuse. part of the problem is the safes were not properly installed in the first place.”
He said his insurance firm had told him he would no longer be covered unless they were fitted by social services and that he found a guide to hacking the codes online.
Mrs Butler said the council now had police backed studier models which would be issued to residents free of charge.
Anyone wanting the council to keep their key inside the complex would have the choice, but this would only be for those living alone.
She said: “Sheltered housing is not a care home, it is about independent living and choice.
We want to look to the future not the past and will come and see you individually about what you want to do and work with you.
But there will be no return to the master suite (key) system.”
She also assured tenants checks had been made to ensure they were still insured.
A council spokesman said the authority was unaware there were internet guides to crack the codes and residents at other schemes had not been informed to avoid scaremongering.
Comments(23)
Olivia2847
says...
12:23pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Ian P
says...
12:38pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Olivia2847 wrote:The first head should be that of Karen Butler.
Incredible ineptitude - hope heads will roll!
Nebs
says...
12:46pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Ian P wrote:How much is she paid to be head of sheltered housing?
Olivia2847 wrote:The first head should be that of Karen Butler.
Incredible ineptitude - hope heads will roll!
Eric Whim
says...
12:53pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Nebs wrote:too much
Ian P wrote:How much is she paid to be head of sheltered housing?
Olivia2847 wrote:The first head should be that of Karen Butler.
Incredible ineptitude - hope heads will roll!
Mixed Pickles
says...
12:57pm Tue 13 Nov 12
edgun
says...
1:33pm Tue 13 Nov 12
edgun
says...
1:35pm Tue 13 Nov 12
shallotman
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1:36pm Tue 13 Nov 12
jolllyboy
says...
2:35pm Tue 13 Nov 12
firedog
says...
4:44pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Devils Advocate
says...
5:20pm Tue 13 Nov 12
We want to look to the future not the past and will come and see you individually about what you want to do and work with you.
But there will be no return to the master suite (key) system.”"
That says it all really. "About independent living and choice, except if you choose the master suite keys?"
As for firedog, I don't claim expertise, but. when your responsibility is the safety of others, you do not have room for mistakes. your sarcasm does nothing. The main reason for Karen Butler's higher pay is because of the higher responsibility. She failed to protect her charges. She should be sacked for that.Mistakes are not part of her remit.
firedog
says...
5:32pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Devils Advocate
says...
6:30pm Tue 13 Nov 12
firedog wrote:Yes I am afraid so, but they would be only those with massive payments for the responsibility they have, which they fail to fulfil.
I never said she was right, but I have yet to meet anyone who has not made a mistake,so you would sack a lot of people.
But conscientious working people I could and would forgive. They are the true creators of wealth, not the greedy money grubbers who think all they need do is command, not command respect!
Almeda11
says...
9:00pm Tue 13 Nov 12
They have stupid little cycle paths that start just before Avenue Rd, Southen, go around the corner in that Rd, just for about 100 metres, then suddenly come to an abrupt end, how the Europeans, with their great cycle tracks everwhere, must be laughing at us.
And outside Nazareth House, London Rd, has anyone really looked at the sign? lt has one arrow point North, and says " North", yet another one pointing South, also saying " North" !! Unbelievable that it was even allowed to be passed, but then nothing that Southend council do, or are allowed to get away with really surprises me --- but the biggest joke of all is that they think they are so CLEVER, And, always right, of course!!
Alphababy
says...
11:03pm Tue 13 Nov 12
EssexBoy1956
says...
7:14am Wed 14 Nov 12
Ian P
says...
7:22am Wed 14 Nov 12
Almeda11 wrote:I guess that Almeda11 is a further pseudonym for Jayman. The article is about failings by Basildon Council, but this post takes the opportunity of having a go at SBC anyway.
Typical Council stupidity, half of then can`t even spell properly. They have stupid little cycle paths that start just before Avenue Rd, Southen, go around the corner in that Rd, just for about 100 metres, then suddenly come to an abrupt end, how the Europeans, with their great cycle tracks everwhere, must be laughing at us. And outside Nazareth House, London Rd, has anyone really looked at the sign? lt has one arrow point North, and says " North", yet another one pointing South, also saying " North" !! Unbelievable that it was even allowed to be passed, but then nothing that Southend council do, or are allowed to get away with really surprises me --- but the biggest joke of all is that they think they are so CLEVER, And, always right, of course!!
InTheKnowOk
says...
9:47am Wed 14 Nov 12
EssexBoy1956 wrote:That's not gonna help the carer/nurse get in though is it? Some of these old folk that live in residential accommodation still have people in to assist them with daily needs,
Stupid idea anyway. My old Nan always had a spare key on a piece of string tied round her neck. She didn't need a fancy key-safe! The council should be encouraging residents to be a bit more responsible, rather than wasting our money.
Devils Advocate
says...
10:02am Wed 14 Nov 12
EssexBoy1956 wrote:Our money? What, you go round robbing them or something?
Stupid idea anyway. My old Nan always had a spare key on a piece of string tied round her neck. She didn't need a fancy key-safe! The council should be encouraging residents to be a bit more responsible, rather than wasting our money.
From where do you get the idea that any of the money involved in any sheltered accommodation is "Our money?"
You knew about your Nan's key, perhaps, instead of making these statements you should learn a little about how old people finance themselves. And as to the "Fancy key safe" the introduction of these was basically because they got rid of the majority of wardens.
If your "1956" refers to your birthdate, then you didn't spend your time caring for your elders did you?
equalitycampaigner
says...
12:26pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Almeda11
says...
1:01pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Ian P wrote:Well your guess is wrong! l don`t need pseudonyms thank you, can do it all on my own.
Almeda11 wrote: Typical Council stupidity, half of then can`t even spell properly. They have stupid little cycle paths that start just before Avenue Rd, Southen, go around the corner in that Rd, just for about 100 metres, then suddenly come to an abrupt end, how the Europeans, with their great cycle tracks everwhere, must be laughing at us. And outside Nazareth House, London Rd, has anyone really looked at the sign? lt has one arrow point North, and says " North", yet another one pointing South, also saying " North" !! Unbelievable that it was even allowed to be passed, but then nothing that Southend council do, or are allowed to get away with really surprises me --- but the biggest joke of all is that they think they are so CLEVER, And, always right, of course!!I guess that Almeda11 is a further pseudonym for Jayman. The article is about failings by Basildon Council, but this post takes the opportunity of having a go at SBC anyway.
And so what if l mentioned Southend BC, in case it escaped you l was making a COMPARISON, and most councils, wherever they are, are pretty much the same.
Slimo80
says...
6:20pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Eric Whim says...
12:08pm Tue 13 Nov 12