Quote:
Originally Posted by meierlde
Looking around the web, it appears that a final ladder on a fire escape is triggered with a release device up on the final landing (otherwise anyone could pull the ladder down and get into the building thru less guarded entrances).
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Seems unlikely, but it does happen.
My parents lived in such a building in Brooklyn back in the 70s/80s, and had a neighbor two floors above them who habitually lost his keys when overindulging at the local tavern. Something like once a month, he would access the fire escape that way (I think he climbed on a trash can or something and jumped for the ladder). He always left his fire escape window unlocked so he could get into his apartment that way. This was a low crime part of the city, but still seemed pretty bizarre to me.