Secure resolution

Secure resolution

September 29, 2022

29 September 2022

A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.

Issue: Group home

A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.

When we contacted staff at the responsible agency, they confirmed another resident had been able to get into the teen’s room by exploiting a weakness in the home’s electronic key card system. They said they don’t usually financially compensate young people for damaged items, but we asked if they would be flexible in this situation, given the inadequate security of the locks. The agency later confirmed it would replace the youth’s laptop, and were working to repair the locks in the home.

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