Could an intruder have opened the shutter and climbed in the window?

[Brietta]

A lone elderly person or babysitter probably wouldn't answer the door or make any sound, especially if female.

I think it could be considered irresponsible to do so given the isolated and dark position of the door to apartment 5a.

[pegasus]

So between 9 and 10pm, you think an eldery person or a babysitter would not answer a knock on the door?
Or would they would go to the door not open it but say loudly "who is there"?

[misty]

So between 9 and 10pm, you think an eldery person or a babysitter would not answer a knock on the door?
Or would they would go to the door not open it but say loudly "who is there"?

I wouldn't, especially in a strange location or someone else's house.
Then again, I wouldn't have left my children alone either.

[pegasus]

I wouldn't, especially in a strange location or someone else's house.
Then again, I wouldn't have left my children alone either.

Going the door leaving it locked but asking from inside "who is there" lets whoever is there know someone is home. Keeping quiet runs the risk if it is a burglar he will take the silence as confirming everyone is out and proceed with entry at a window?

[misty]

Going the door leaving it locked but asking from inside "who is there" lets whoever is there know someone is home. Keeping quiet runs the risk if it is a burglar he will take the silence as confirming everyone is out and proceed with entry at a window?

I truly wouldn't expect a potential burglar to knock at my door before he tried to gain access through the window, especially a seasoned one. I'd be more worried that they wanted to rape me if they thought I was a lone female.
It seems the average Portuguese burglar is both polite & timid - unlike our UK gun-toting, crowbar wielding counterparts.

[pegasus]

"Never Pretend That No One Is Home
One of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that they should ignore the knock on the door especially if they don’t know who the person is. However burglars will often knock first before entering a house and if they think that no one is home, they will then break-in.
... It is very important to teach our children that when they are home alone or baby-sitting, they too should never pretend that no one is home. They should talk through a locked door, saying that the parents are unavailable."
http://www.homesafetyeducation.com/welcome/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=56

[misty]

"Never Pretend That No One Is Home
One of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that they should ignore the knock on the door especially if they don’t know who the person is. However burglars will often knock first before entering a house and if they think that no one is home, they will then break-in.
... It is very important to teach our children that when they are home alone or baby-sitting, they too should never pretend that no one is home. They should talk through a locked door, saying that the parents are unavailable."
http://www.homesafetyeducation.com/welcome/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=56

Sorry, but I disagree with that - and the cases used to highlight the success of the safety advice merely highlight how many young American children are left at home alone.
I was saying what I would do after dark, not during daylight hours. It also depends on the type of property & surroundings you live in.

[pegasus]

... the cases used to highlight the success of the safety advice merely highlight how many young American children are left at home alone ...

The ages of the children in the highlighted cases are  9  12  8  11  13  11.
http://www.homesafetyeducation.com/welcome/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=56

So you could say it highlights how many young children of ages 8 to 13 are left home alone

[pegasus]

The metal shutter has no lock and no bolt.

[pegasus]

Evidence that the window was probably unlocked
1. When closed it doesn't latch or lock by itself (photos).
2. Neither parent had ever pressed or checked the lock button (statements).
3. Others in group checked their windows after disappearance and found some unlocked (statements).
 

[Miss Taken Identity]

No scuff marks, no DNA...nothing. no one was entering that window at anytime. it is a red herring!

[pegasus]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/16/article-0-008627AB000004B0-316_468x317.jpg
The window of 5A child bedroom is the one with forensic red dust on.
To its right are the two windows of the only bedroom of 5B.
Of those 3 windows, which 2 were checked at at the 9pm external listening check?

[pegasus]

No scuff marks, no DNA...nothing. no one was entering that window at anytime. it is a red herring!

Agreed no-one went through the window, but someone opened it, and there were hand marks on the outside of its shutter.

[Miss Taken Identity]

Agreed no-one went through the window, but someone opened it, and there were hand marks on the outside of its shutter.

It was shown that the finger marks were from being opened from the inside. The window had kates prints. She may have looked out the window as a panic to see if she could see anything on discovering Maddie missing?

[pegasus]

It was shown that the finger marks were from being opened from the inside. The window had kates prints. She may have looked out the window as a panic to see if she could see anything on discovering Maddie missing?

She leaned and looked out the window which was already open.