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Bank left unlocked for 19 hours
11:02am Wednesday 6th February 2008
Comments (47)SECURITY fears were sparked when a father and his five-year-old son discovered the door of a bank near York had been left unlocked all night.
The front door of HSBC, in Market Place, Easingwold, had been unlocked for more than 19 hours when it was discovered by Daniel Pettigrew and his son, Oliver.
Mr Pettigrew was visiting the cash machine in the wall outside his local branch on a Saturday lunchtime when his little boy discovered the front door was unlocked. The bank had closed for business for the weekend at 4.30pm the previous day.
A spokeswoman for the bank said there had been a "malfunction" with the catch on the door.
Mr Pettigrew said: "Oliver vanished and then appeared again while I was at the cash point. He said Dad, the bank's open'.
"At first I thought he was joking and I said yeah, right'. But it was.
"When I realised the bank was empty and the service times said Monday to Friday. I phoned 999."
Mr Pettigrew, who is director of his own York-based training consultancy, walked right into the bank and saw computers lying on desks, which he claimed could easily have been stolen.
He and Oliver also walked right up to the door of the vault where money is kept.
Mr Pettigrew, of Dawnay Lane, Easingwold, said: "There was the big safe, right in front of us. I wish I'd taken a picture of it.
"There were computers and walkie talkies lying around in there. Anyone could have stolen them.
"The hard drives were there too. In the current climate it makes you wonder if anyone could have got the database with bank customers' details on it.
"There were no alarms going off or anything like that. If it hadn't been for Oliver that door could have been left open until Monday."
They stood guard at the bank until police officers arrived.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed officers had received a call from Mr Pettigrew.
He said: "We received a call from a member of the public who said he was standing in the middle of the bank and the bank was supposed to be shut. He said there was no one around.
"We tried to contact HSBC and spoke to an out-of-area call centre.
"Police attended and found there was no sign of any break-in. The bank sent a representative from their security company."
Mr Pettigrew said: "Nobody even phoned us to say thank you. When I phoned the regional department and spoke to them about it, they didn't even know it had happened.
"They then sent Oliver a letter, saying he had saved the day. They offered him a book token, but I told them he had always wanted his own bank card and asked if they would open an account for him.
"They opened an account and put £10 in it. The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the amount. We could have saved the bank thousands of pounds and yet all they gave him was £10."
A spokeswoman for HSBC, which made profits of about £11 billion in 2006, said there was no danger to bank customers.
She said: "Basically, what happened was there was a malfunction with the door catch. Once the door was pushed open it would have alerted the police anyway.
"It was very sweet of Mr Pettigrew and his son to do the right thing and alert the police and we opened an account for him to say thank you."
She said the doors were all part of a CCTV network and linked to London, so security would have been alerted once the door was opened.
"There would have been no danger to customers in terms of cash or information being stolen. Obviously we don't want any security issues, but sometimes these things can happen."
Security breach fear
A HUMAN rights watchdog has hit out at the potential security breach.
Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, said it was an "extraordinary state of affairs" which could have exposed thousands of customers to a "grave risk".
He said: "It is sadly to be expected in a way.
"I cannot believe that a bank would not have procedures in place to make sure all exits are sealed at close of business.
"This is a situation I have never encountered before.
"It is a failure on multiple levels - on the human level and on the technical level and what it does is expose thousands of customers to a grave risk.
"It could be that the computers are part of a central control system and are password protected, and contain no information locally, in which case you don't have the same level of threat.
"But if they are just password protected then someone could have gained access to the whole central resource of data."
Your Say YourYork Press
i am the stig, in my car says...
11:08am Wed 6 Feb 08
"The hard drives were there too. In the current climate it makes you wonder if anyone could have got the database with bank customers' details on it.
Customer details would be accessed through a secured network, all the harddrives would contian is the opertaing systems.
"They opened an account and put £10 in it. The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the amount. We could have saved the bank thousands of pounds and yet all they gave him was £10."
I dont think you should be paid to do the right thing. The bank did the right thing by opening the account and crediting the account with £10.
sarahj, york says...
11:17am Wed 6 Feb 08
Allsorts, York says...
11:24am Wed 6 Feb 08
She said: "Basically, what happened was there was a malfunction with the door catch. Once the door was pushed open it would have alerted the police anyway.
"It was very sweet of Mr Pettigrew and his son to do the right thing and alert the police and we opened an account for him to say thank you."
She said the doors were all part of a CCTV network and linked to London, so security would have been alerted once the door was opened.
"There would have been no danger to customers in terms of cash or information being stolen. Obviously we don't want any security issues, but sometimes these things can happen."
Well the police don't seem to have been alerted by the door being pushed open but by Mr Pettigrew's 999 call. A crook would have computers etc away within a minute or 2 anyway, no doubt before the police had time to get there to stop them.
Is it just me or does anyone else find the banks spokeswoman really very patronising?
werdna, york says...
11:25am Wed 6 Feb 08
sarahj wrote:1000 penny sweets, a five year olds dream!
what can you do with a tenner?
sarahj, york says...
11:29am Wed 6 Feb 08
i am the stig, in my car says...
11:30am Wed 6 Feb 08
sarahj wrote:4 Pints
what can you do with a tenner?
1 Cinema visit
1 KFC bargin bucket
2 Blockbuster rental
1 Top Gear DVD
9.8 Litres of unleaded
and many other things.
A £10 reward from the bank was both generous and enough.
sarahj, york says...
11:31am Wed 6 Feb 08
tight twots.
franky, York says...
11:36am Wed 6 Feb 08
So much for good samaritans...
bjc, York says...
11:38am Wed 6 Feb 08
Obviously we don't want any security issues, but sometimes these things can happen."
Is it just me or does anyone else find the banks spokeswoman really very patronising?
Quote | Report this post
Unbelievably so !
The bank was left wide open therefore it was vulnerable to theft.
In the current climate of id theft and the recent court case involving the theft of millions, I'm so pleased you find she finds the security of one of their branches to be such an irritation ...tch!
sarahj, york says...
11:42am Wed 6 Feb 08
A tenners an insult.
i am the stig, in my car says...
11:47am Wed 6 Feb 08
In the current climate of id theft and the recent court case involving the theft of millions, I'm so pleased you find she finds the security of one of their branches to be such an irritation ...tch!
I like to see the local chav's try and get into a bank vault.
OK, maybe they could have had off with a few computers, but they are hulled out and have no other value that to operate HSBC systems, and then only when connected to a password protected encypted network.
If I see a crime and report it, I dont expect to be paid for the effort.
franky, York says...
11:47am Wed 6 Feb 08
Like I said, where's the community spirit of just doing the right thing and being a good samaritan in a case like this gone? Today it's all "what's in it for me, me, me..."
sarahj, york says...
11:55am Wed 6 Feb 08
i am the stig, in my car says...
11:58am Wed 6 Feb 08
sarahj wrote:I agree they were out of order by not calling to say thank you.
I think if the bank had have called and thanked them, Which they should have,That might have been enough.
But rememeber this, the police would have had to hand of the details of the informant to the bank, but would breach data protection.
So maybe the bank would have called, but they never knew who to call.
sloppy joe, says...
12:08pm Wed 6 Feb 08
regarding the computers. most banks dont use dumb terminals but full pc's running a thin client or terminal services client. the network will not be encrypted usually either.
Rich, Here says...
12:14pm Wed 6 Feb 08
They opened an account and put £10 in it.
After the usual DPA checks i hope... Don't want him turning to a life of crime!
TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land says...
12:16pm Wed 6 Feb 08
sarahj wrote:I waited in the car this morning politely allowing a mother and her young daughter cross the road at a busy junction. You old softy I hear you cry! But no - I now realise what a fool I was and that I am entitled to be paid a significant reward from the aformentioned pair! Anyone got the number for 'Claims 'R' Us'?
They hung around waiting for the police why shouldn't they get a reward.And why did they have to call to get a response. A tenners an insult.
Gardener, York says...
12:22pm Wed 6 Feb 08
franky, York says...
12:26pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Press watcher, says...
1:06pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Are you for real? The story is being followed up by the BBC and ITV as we speak, it will be in the Yorkshire Post and every single national daily tomorrow. Bank on it!
Lou, York says...
1:11pm Wed 6 Feb 08
i am the stig, in my car says...
1:17pm Wed 6 Feb 08
He should be happy in the knowledge he and his dad did the right thing.
He should not be dissapointed that he was not rewarded with a ton of cash.
disbelief, york says...
1:31pm Wed 6 Feb 08
bjc, York says...
1:40pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Lou wrote:What has that to do with the story?
Shame is the kid does not go to a local school, ,look at his sweat shirt - 4 wheel drive taxi no doubt.
TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land says...
2:12pm Wed 6 Feb 08
i am the stig wrote:Absolutely.Plus if his old man feels he deserves a further reward for doing the right thing then he should dig into his own pocket rather than whingeing to the Press.
It appears the kid has been told to look dissapointed in the photograph. He should be happy in the knowledge he and his dad did the right thing. He should not be dissapointed that he was not rewarded with a ton of cash.
equaliser, york says...
2:46pm Wed 6 Feb 08
i am the stig, in my car says...
2:52pm Wed 6 Feb 08
why do police reward there officers for doing their jobs and hold lavish nights to commemorate them for doing what they get paid for? ever thought of that you sad lot, and the tax payer pays for this night as well.
A very bitter person.
The police officers reward officers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help people like you.
Considering the nature of the job they do, I'm happy for my taxes to be used for them to boost morale and reward bravery.
Press watcher, says...
3:04pm Wed 6 Feb 08
front page story, my ars...yawn
front
Apart from the national interest that will surely follow, explain why this "non-story" also happens to be the best read on here. You wouldn't recognise a decent story of it bit you on the "ars..", as you so eloquently put it.
Voice of reason, York says...
3:53pm Wed 6 Feb 08
They hung around waiting for the police why shouldn't they get a reward.And why did they have to call to get a response.
A tenners an insult.
I think if the bank had have called and thanked them, Which they should have,That might have been enough.
So which one is it?
Are the bank tight, or is a "thank-you" enough??
Personally I think the fifteen minutes of fame will keep them going more than a "thank-you" or a tenner!
exYorkist, USA says...
3:59pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Idontreadthepress, York says...
4:56pm Wed 6 Feb 08
What was the emergency, I leave my door unlocked and no-one calls the police.
Glad to know that while old grannies are being mugged that the police are busy checking banks are locked.
ex-con, york says...
5:42pm Wed 6 Feb 08
franky, York says...
6:31pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Press watcher wrote:Bit touchy about differing opinions?
Can't believe the Press ran with this as today's front page sensational headline story...
Are you for real? The story is being followed up by the BBC and ITV as we speak, it will be in the Yorkshire Post and every single national daily tomorrow. Bank on it!
Strange that a paper that emphasises how "local" it is also gets excited at the sniff of any item "going national" as well. Bit hypocritical to have it both ways...
And doesn't mean that comments here about this being an overly sensationalist story aren't valid.
franky, York says...
6:39pm Wed 6 Feb 08
Press watcher wrote:Ah, you lot can be funny.
Posted by: disbelief, york on 1:31pm today
front page story, my ars...yawn
front
Apart from the national interest that will surely follow, explain why this "non-story" also happens to be the best read on here. You wouldn't recognise a decent story of it bit you on the "ars..", as you so eloquently put it.
It is only best read by virtue of the fact it has most comments - each comment added counts for 2-3 views, thanks to that "click to continue page" that brings you back.
Not to mention readers that are drawn to the stories with the most comments - I know I am. It's a simple equation of most comments = most viewed, which you can check on any day's edition.
And sorry to spoil what seems like the Press' ultimate wet dream, but many of the comments here actually dismiss any national significance you lot think this story might have had!
gail sykes, selby says...
12:03am Thu 7 Feb 08
gail sykes, selby says...
12:09am Thu 7 Feb 08
gail sykes, selby says...
12:15am Thu 7 Feb 08
annette Lamey, Canada says...
6:29am Thu 7 Feb 08
There is not much honesty in this world today. The father did the right thing by the bank. What kind of a bank leaves the doors unlocked? It must be run by a complete idiot. The bank should admit it was a moronic thing to do and they should have shown some appreciation toward the boy and his father in some form or another.
AdmiralN, York Centre says...
9:15am Thu 7 Feb 08
gail sykes wrote:This is not strictly true, Computer systems are designed in such a way that whatever security is enforced is there for the taking, its a bit like having 10 locked doors to get into a room, and having a thousand different keys. If you can figure out which keys to use... youre in!! me and some friends would be able to take a banks computer and get all the information off it no problem, even easier if you can just walk in and grab them. Maybe the guy should have given me a call.
There is no way that anybody who entered that bank could have got any info what so ever. The computers are locked and it is not as simple as looking on the hard drive for info.Does anybody think that the banks would leave the computers wide open for anybody to steal them and access all the info so easily.
AdmiralN, York Centre says...
9:15am Thu 7 Feb 08
gail sykes wrote:This is not strictly true, Computer systems are designed in such a way that whatever security is enforced is there for the taking, its a bit like having 10 locked doors to get into a room, and having a thousand different keys. If you can figure out which keys to use... youre in!! me and some friends would be able to take a banks computer and get all the information off it no problem, even easier if you can just walk in and grab them. Maybe the guy should have given me a call.
There is no way that anybody who entered that bank could have got any info what so ever. The computers are locked and it is not as simple as looking on the hard drive for info.Does anybody think that the banks would leave the computers wide open for anybody to steal them and access all the info so easily.
AdmiralN, York Centre says...
9:15am Thu 7 Feb 08
gail sykes wrote:This is not strictly true, Computer systems are designed in such a way that whatever security is enforced is there for the taking, its a bit like having 10 locked doors to get into a room, and having a thousand different keys. If you can figure out which keys to use... youre in!! me and some friends would be able to take a banks computer and get all the information off it no problem, even easier if you can just walk in and grab them. Maybe the guy should have given me a call.
There is no way that anybody who entered that bank could have got any info what so ever. The computers are locked and it is not as simple as looking on the hard drive for info.Does anybody think that the banks would leave the computers wide open for anybody to steal them and access all the info so easily.
Voice of reason, York says...
9:22am Thu 7 Feb 08
AdmiralN, York Centre says...
9:54am Thu 7 Feb 08
Voice of reason wrote:Oops, sorry, my computer is on a go slow this morning so i just kept on clicking!
OK AdmiralN - we got you the first 2 times!!
Voice of reason, York says...
12:42pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Oops, sorry, my computer is on a go slow this morning so i just kept on clicking!
Easily done sir. This site doesn't help sometimes either!
jaycee, york says...
1:36pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Old Mother Hubbard, York, England says...
9:35pm Sun 10 Feb 08
What was this bloke hoping for? A cheap plug for his own business? I don't think that will work. Who would entrust their business to someone so patently lacking in discretion and commonsense?
Oliver Pettigrew outside the HSBC bank in Easingwold
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MichaelRutherford, York says...
11:08am Wed 6 Feb 08
Disappointingly for the story, some of my friends work for HSBC and that is indeed the case: no information is kept locally.