to look after her fish while she was away, and locked the door behind me, but aftter a couple of hours the burglar broke into the house--would i be liable for damages, since i had the key??? Any sort of help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
2007-07-03 07:42:19 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
If the owner of a house is not liable for breaking and entering into their own properties, I would assume that since the owner trusted you enough to give you the keys, you have the same rights to the house as the owner did, with due respect to the responsible limits you both agreed and they expect from you while you are inside. Therefore unless it can be proved that you broke in, (ala arson by owners who burn their own properties), you cannot be held liable for the burglary. It would be a different story if you carelessly left the door open and the burglar gained easy access because of your negligence.
2007-07-03 07:58:11 · answer #1 · answered by Desert_Prince 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you locked the house and took all necessary precautions you wouldn't be liable. It would be obvious if the burglar actually broke in or not, because there would be evidence of broken windows or kicked in doors which would prove the house had been locked. Just having a key doesn't make you liable, slipping up and not locking the house WOULD!
2007-07-03 14:47:46 · answer #2 · answered by kj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No
but are you sure you locked the doors?
Im sure the cops will investigate you as being the theif as well, so prepare for that, but if you have done nothing wrong, no worries.
If you did NOT lock the door behind you, you need to own up to that, however you still should not be liable, as you did not steal anything or INTENTIONALLY let someone in the house to burglarize it.
2007-07-03 14:46:35 · answer #3 · answered by teamlessbear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as it can be proven the door was locked when the burglars broke in, you're in the clear. The easiest way to tell is if there's some kind of damage to the door, like if they kicked it in or broke the window or something. If the door is totally intact, it's blatantly obvious it was unlocked when they got there.
Though I'm a fan of facing the music and paying the price for mistakes, if you did leave the door unlocked and the cops haven't yet arrived, you can always quick run over there and kick the door in. ;) Just make sure you wipe your footprint off the door.
2007-07-03 14:45:09 · answer #4 · answered by P.I. Joe 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Even if you left the door unlocked, and they could prove it you wouldn't be liable. You really don't have any legal concerns.
They'd have to show complicity with the burglars for there to be any chance of a problem.
Now, if the burgler is your cousin, boyfriend or best friend you might want to talk to a lawyer. If you don't know who it is, then I'd say you're safe.
2007-07-03 14:46:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone "broke" in, the police should be able to find some kind of forced entry and would indicate that on the report how entry was made. You can always take pictures of any damages and give them to the owner when they get home. Just make sure you have a police report on file and hopefully you did it at the time the incident happened.
2007-07-03 14:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by KittyKat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, especially if the burglar damaged anything on his way in (windows or door frames), because that would prove you hadn't left the door unlocked. I hope this is all hypothetical, and your friend isn't really trying to sue you after you did her a favor by watching her fish while she was gone!
2007-07-03 14:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by Beardog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you wouldn't, unfortunately because since you were the one that locked the door and the burglar broke into the house---you are responsible for the damages. accidents do happen but damages have to be paid. im pretty sure your friend can understand
2007-07-03 14:49:23 · answer #8 · answered by Spek 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be unless you can show proof that someone else broke in!
I would hold you releable! sence you had the key..
who's to say that you didn't steal some stuff and make the door look like someone broke in!
Hence i don't house sit for this reason!
i watched my cousin get sued because of the same stuff and he didn't do it! but his charator said he did! past recorded...
2007-07-03 14:46:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Broke in? Does the burglar also have a key?? Not if she trusted you and the thief left evidence of his presence there.
2007-07-03 14:45:24 · answer #10 · answered by CAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋