Police wake man at 3 a.m. to warn of unlocked door

[Saggy]

 

LAKEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — A Lakeville man says he feels violated after two police officers woke him up at 3 a.m. to tell him his door was unlocked.

 

Their surprise visit was part of a public service campaign to remind residents to secure their homes to prevent thefts. Usually, officers just leave notices on doors.

 

But they went further in Troy Molde's case on Thursday. Police entered the house where four children under 7 were having a sleepover, and then went upstairs to Molde's bedroom.

 

The officers told Molde his garage door was open, the TV was on, the keys to his truck were left in the ignition and the door to his house was ajar.

 

A police spokesman says the intrusion was justified because the officers' initial door knocks went unanswered, and they wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

 

He says the kids inside — Molde's two sons and two nephews — were afraid to wake their dad, so the officers went upstairs.

 

I'm not sure what to make of this. On one hand, if everything the officers are saying is true, they would all be signs of a home invasion, and they'd have every right to go in. However, that just sounds really suspicious. An open garage door, keys in the ignition, and leaving his door open? Kind of sounds like they were just saying that after being caught going inside for whatever reason.

 

On the other hand, the guy sounds like a drunk. I mean, whose kids are afraid to wake them up in such circumstances? A drunk's? I wouldn't be surprised if he came home drunk, and forgot his keys in the car and forgot the close his garage or house door.

 

 

Anyway, I thought it was a rather weird story. A pretty pointless one too, I was kind of wondering why it was in the news.

[WorldwidePants]

Or he is stupid.

[TenaciousD.]

Why could they not just close the garage door/lock car/post keys through door along with a message?

[Mafia Drive Gunner]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

[Runey]

This proves that being a police officer is a lose situation, because no matter what a cop does, some f*cking nimrod has to take issue with it.

[Saggy]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

Well, I know if the cops came upon my house with the keys in my ignition and everything else, I'd hope they checked out my house for signs of trouble too. However, I read other publications where the man swears he had closed the door. Though he didn't address whether he locked it, left the garage door open, or if he left the keys in his ignition.

 

Tough break for the cops.

[greebo-man]

I dunno why you would leave a note saying 'this door is unlocked'

Just seems like an advertisment for potential robbers.

[Mafia Drive Gunner]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

Well, I know if the cops came upon my house with the keys in my ignition and everything else, I'd hope they checked out my house for signs of trouble too. However, I read other publications where the man swears he had closed the door. Though he didn't address whether he locked it, left the garage door open, or if he left the keys in his ignition.

 

Tough break for the cops.

Yeah I know what you're saying Sag, but even if the cops did come into the house and had to open a door, that means it was unlocked. They were just looking out for him.

 

And because they went through an unlocked door, and didn't force entry, so what? Unless the guy has something to hide, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the cops coming into his house, as long as they don't mess things up purposefully.

 

And by what you say, it sounds as though the bloke has no idea what he did, because he never really clarified anything going by what you said.

[Statutory Ray]

And because they went through an unlocked door, and didn't force entry, so what?

It's still unlawful entry. I leave my doors unlocked 24/7, but that doesn't mean it's legal for anybody, even cops, to come in whenever they wish.

[Mafia Drive Gunner]

But they were doing it as part of a community protection campaign, so I guess the line is blurred. But as I said, the guy sounds as if he really had no idea what state he left the house in the night before. The fact that he had some kids that weren't even his highlights his ignorance for his own and the children's safety.

[Runey]

Personally, I think he should be thankful it was cops instead of a crackhead or robber.

 

But I'll say it again, in today's world, it doesn't matter what police officers do, someone's going to say it's wrong.

Edited June 21, 2008 by Runey.

[Saggy]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

Well, I know if the cops came upon my house with the keys in my ignition and everything else, I'd hope they checked out my house for signs of trouble too. However, I read other publications where the man swears he had closed the door. Though he didn't address whether he locked it, left the garage door open, or if he left the keys in his ignition.

 

Tough break for the cops.

Yeah I know what you're saying Sag, but even if the cops did come into the house and had to open a door, that means it was unlocked. They were just looking out for him.

 

And because they went through an unlocked door, and didn't force entry, so what? Unless the guy has something to hide, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the cops coming into his house, as long as they don't mess things up purposefully.

 

And by what you say, it sounds as though the bloke has no idea what he did, because he never really clarified anything going by what you said.

Well, first of all you seem to be misreading my point. I'm just saying that for all intensive purposes, I think the police were probably earnest in their actions.

 

However, the idea that, "You shouldn't be upset, if you had nothing to hide," is kind of not so agreeable to me. If those officers intentions weren't earnest, who knows what they could have done. I mean, if there was no one around, and they knew the guy was passed out, do you think the cops are above looking around for sh*t to steal? Perhaps they are just dirty and and wanted to find an excuse to go inside and try to invade the man's privacy, perhaps search for contraband, or hell, it's even possible they would plant contraband there. The point is I'd rather not have cops in my house due to the potential for abuse of authority and over-policing, and I'm sure most other people would too. I just don't buy that, "If you've got nothing to hide, you won't mind," mentality.

[Mafia Drive Gunner]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

Well, I know if the cops came upon my house with the keys in my ignition and everything else, I'd hope they checked out my house for signs of trouble too. However, I read other publications where the man swears he had closed the door. Though he didn't address whether he locked it, left the garage door open, or if he left the keys in his ignition.

 

Tough break for the cops.

Yeah I know what you're saying Sag, but even if the cops did come into the house and had to open a door, that means it was unlocked. They were just looking out for him.

 

And because they went through an unlocked door, and didn't force entry, so what? Unless the guy has something to hide, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the cops coming into his house, as long as they don't mess things up purposefully.

 

And by what you say, it sounds as though the bloke has no idea what he did, because he never really clarified anything going by what you said.

Well, first of all you seem to be misreading my point. I'm just saying that for all intensive purposes, I think the police were probably earnest in their actions.

 

However, the idea that, "You shouldn't be upset, if you had nothing to hide," is kind of not so agreeable to me. If those officers intentions weren't earnest, who knows what they could have done. I mean, if there was no one around, and they knew the guy was passed out, do you think the cops are above looking around for sh*t to steal? Perhaps they are just dirty and and wanted to find an excuse to go inside and try to invade the man's privacy, perhaps search for contraband, or hell, it's even possible they would plant contraband there. The point is I'd rather not have cops in my house due to the potential for abuse of authority and over-policing, and I'm sure most other people would too. I just don't buy that, "If you've got nothing to hide, you won't mind," mentality.

Sorry about this guys, at the risk of creating a quote train, but it appears there is a few people in this topic and my point may be missed if someone else posts in between mine and Sag's post.

 

Sag, I don't mean to create an argument, so I do agree on what you say, that their intentions were good, and to check the man's safety, and if that is the case, then the guy should be grateful, as Runey says, "That it wasn't a crackhead or robber". As long as their are no signs that the cops were in their to create a crime scene or cause malicious damage, there should be no need for the man to speak out. He seems to be caught in a state of mind where the cops were in his house to do something or other, but they really were just in there as part of their campaign.

 

But I still believe the guy is in the wrong for leaving his and the children's safety at risk.

 

As for you, Statutory Ray, leaving your doors unlocked 24/7 is really just asking for trouble. It might not make it legal for them to enter, but why give them an easy chance to? A thief is always going to walk straight into an unlocked house, whereas if the house was locked and there was a chance they might get caught before they even walk in the door, they would be more likely to re-assess.

[Hayden]

That's f*cked. Seriously, you can make it look like the cops had the right of way but what they did was illegal. Unless invited or legally warranted they have no right to enter your home. End of story. So what if he left his door ajar, that doesn't give the cops the right to come in. My house is never locked.

[stretch.]

If a cop believes that a crime has occured it becomes a possible crime scene meaning they're allowed to enter doesn't it?

 

It's like a cop passing a house with a wide open window in a neighbourhood where there have been some burglaries, which is the kind of state the neighbourhood has been conveyed as.

 

Now if that was my house, I'd want the officers to check everything was kosher and there wasn't some guy rooting in my unmentionables.

[Don Garcia aka NjNakedSnake]

That man left his keys in the ignition, garage door open, and the tv on?

 

Did he leave a trail of priceless artifacts leading up into his house too? A sign on the garage door that reads, "Burglars Enter Here"?

 

Ridiculous.

[Hodgey.]

Sh*t id rather have a cop wake me up at 3 am to tell me this than a gun weilding maniac whos gonna kill me. If he feels violated by the police so what they were just doin there job and protectin him. He should be grateful to them.

[Icarus]

If a cop believes that a crime has occured it becomes a possible crime scene meaning they're allowed to enter doesn't it?

 

It's like a cop passing a house with a wide open window in a neighbourhood where there have been some burglaries, which is the kind of state the neighbourhood has been conveyed as.

 

Now if that was my house, I'd want the officers to check everything was kosher and there wasn't some guy rooting in my unmentionables.

The law probably varies from country-to-country. In Canada, if I recall correctly, if an officer has probably cause to search, enter a place, et cetera, they can do it without a warrant.

 

If it happens that the issue gets taken to court, the officer has to explain the circumstances for probable cause and it usually has to be quite a compelling reason, otherwise, you have a case of violation of your Charter rights.

[Star-Lord]

 

A police spokesman says the intrusion was justified because the officers' initial door knocks went unanswered, and they wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

 

This is why they enter the premises they can go inside and do what is called a "Protective Sweep" where they look around to make sure no one is hurt or unconscious caused by a stroke,heart attack. This procedure can be done without a warrant as long as their's "Probable Cause". Ej; Leaving the keeps in the ignition would have them believe the driver left in a rush, By not answering the door the Police became more suspicious and if they heard the kids inside the home that would make matters worse as their safety could of have been in harms way, specially when they knew for a fact that there were people in the home. Only doing their jobs

 

[doesntcheatGTA]

 

A police spokesman says the intrusion was justified because the officers' initial door knocks went unanswered, and they wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

 

This is why they enter the premises they can go inside and do what is called a "Protective Sweep" where they look around to make sure no one is hurt or unconscious caused by a stroke,heart attack. This procedure can be done without a warrant as long as their's "Probable Cause". Ej; Leaving the keeps in the ignition would have them believe the driver left in a rush, By not answering the door the Police became more suspicious and if they heard the kids inside the home that would make matters worse as their safety could of have been in harms way, specially when they knew for a fact that there were people in the home. Only doing their jobs

I agree. The police officers were just doing their job. I would actually kind of like it if a cop told me my door was unlocked. I wouldn't forget to lock it though.

 

This wouldn't be a problem in Canada, where they don't lock doors anyway.

[Girish]

The cops do one good thing and this is what they get? Please let them do their job. I believe they are working for your own safety. If one cannot appreciate something good, atleast don't criticise.

[YourNeighborhoodKiller]

I personally think this is a good thing that the police came.

 

You don't know what the consequences can be if they hadn't.

[Rebel]

I think they did a good thing. I know if I left my door unlocked when I went to bed ( even though I never would, I'm very up tight about crime happening to me) I'd want the police to tell me about it. At least they were actually doing some good for once and actually around.

[TFatseas]

The cops should be tried for Home invasion, just because they are cops they shouldn't be put above the common man. They have no right to enter his house without a court order. It is unlawful entry.

 

And besides, thats just stupid, good chance that one of those cops would be dead.

 

"Door knocks went unanswered." No sh*t, its 3:00 in the morning.

Edited June 21, 2008 by TFatseas

[Struff Bunstridge]

When I lived in a shared house, me and the guys got hammered and went to a barbecue; turned out we'd left the door unlocked, and slightly ajar. We all got heinously drunk and I left at about 2 as I had to work the next morning. I got home, my key didn't fit, and I wandered out into the street to make sure I had the right house. I did, so I went back, and noticed a note sticking out of the letterbox. Turns out someone had alerted the police to the open door, they'd come round and appointed a locksmith to change the locks. The note said we could call a number and the police would come round and drop off our keys. No real hassle until two weeks later, when we got a locksmith's bill for 110 quid. I wrote them a snotty letter telling them if they continued to demand it, I'd have them done for trespass, and that was the end of it. Cheeky f*ckers.

[doesntcheatGTA]

When I lived in a shared house, me and the guys got hammered and went to a barbecue; turned out we'd left the door unlocked, and slightly ajar. We all got heinously drunk and I left at about 2 as I had to work the next morning. I got home, my key didn't fit, and I wandered out into the street to make sure I had the right house. I did, so I went back, and noticed a note sticking out of the letterbox. Turns out someone had alerted the police to the open door, they'd come round and appointed a locksmith to change the locks. The note said we could call a number and the police would come round and drop off our keys. No real hassle until two weeks later, when we got a locksmith's bill for 110 quid. I wrote them a snotty letter telling them if they continued to demand it, I'd have them done for trespass, and that was the end of it. Cheeky f*ckers.

How much is a Quid?

[Struff Bunstridge]

Sorry, a quid is an English pound. Bloody extortionate.

[Titanfan]

Hmmm... I think I would have been pissed. I know I need police to keep the order but I have seen times in my town were they have been just total dicks.

 

If I woke up to a cop in my bedroom, for no reason at all, or any stranger I would be like get the f*ck up out my house you f*cking weirdo.

 

 

[Swarz]

When I lived in a shared house, me and the guys got hammered and went to a barbecue; turned out we'd left the door unlocked, and slightly ajar. We all got heinously drunk and I left at about 2 as I had to work the next morning. I got home, my key didn't fit, and I wandered out into the street to make sure I had the right house. I did, so I went back, and noticed a note sticking out of the letterbox. Turns out someone had alerted the police to the open door, they'd come round and appointed a locksmith to change the locks. The note said we could call a number and the police would come round and drop off our keys. No real hassle until two weeks later, when we got a locksmith's bill for 110 quid. I wrote them a snotty letter telling them if they continued to demand it, I'd have them done for trespass, and that was the end of it. Cheeky f*ckers.

Yep.

 

The British cops have an obligation over insecure premises. Basically, if your neighbour calls the cops and says 'officer, my neighbours have left the house and their ground floor window/door is open', and the cops turn up and the premises is deemed to be insecure, they'll arrange for the premises to be made secure.

 

If it's a broken window, it'll be a simple carpenter who'll stick a board over it. In Struffs case, it was a lock change - and yep, the bill gets sent to the homeowner.

 

Can't they just walk away and leave it insecure?

 

Nope, cos if the place gets burgled after the cops have attended guess who'll get the blame.

 

Like others have said... lose-lose situation.

[Saggy]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. The cops did the guy a favour. And it does look as though they thought there might have been a home invasion. To go in and check that everything was ok was part of their duty.

 

Ungrateful bastard.

Well, I know if the cops came upon my house with the keys in my ignition and everything else, I'd hope they checked out my house for signs of trouble too. However, I read other publications where the man swears he had closed the door. Though he didn't address whether he locked it, left the garage door open, or if he left the keys in his ignition.

 

Tough break for the cops.

Yeah I know what you're saying Sag, but even if the cops did come into the house and had to open a door, that means it was unlocked. They were just looking out for him.

 

And because they went through an unlocked door, and didn't force entry, so what? Unless the guy has something to hide, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the cops coming into his house, as long as they don't mess things up purposefully.

 

And by what you say, it sounds as though the bloke has no idea what he did, because he never really clarified anything going by what you said.

Yeah, that's the idea I get. He sounds like a blithering drunk, and I'm sure there was actually probably tons of offenses they could have arrested him for, but didn't.

 

I remember my friend Brad telling me that a cop ran through his trailer because they were looking for someone, or someone was in some kind of trouble or something, while he was smoking a bunch of pot, and had a lot of it around. The cop apparently just took the weed from him, and left.

 

You know what he says to me? "I'm going to take them to court to get my bong and weed back." At least this guy isn't as f*cking clueless as my friend Brad. Kind of a different scenario, but still, I wonder if this guy is feeling genuinely violated, or if he just feels a little weird that police came into his house and sh*t.