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Do you lock your front door while you're in?
- Thread starter Mord
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99.999% of the time. My front door only has a deadbolt so I am in the habit of twisting the knob to lock it when I come in.
Home invasions happen all the time though it would be easy for anyone to just kick in a door on most houses. Leaving the front door unlocked just makes it too easy for someone to walk in.
Home invasions happen all the time though it would be easy for anyone to just kick in a door on most houses. Leaving the front door unlocked just makes it too easy for someone to walk in.
Where a people living where there are all these 'home invasions'?! 
I do think about my home being burgled, and take precautions if I go away for a while. However, violent/aggregated burglary is very rare, and I don't really think I need to worry about it.
I do think about my home being burgled, and take precautions if I go away for a while. However, violent/aggregated burglary is very rare, and I don't really think I need to worry about it.
What's the point of locking doors?
If a criminal wants to get in to your house, he's going to get in regardless of whether you keep your doors and windows locked or leave them open.
Now, if you're home, it makes even less sense to lock your doors...during waking hours, though. If the criminal knows people are there, they are less likely to want to rob you (during the day). During the night (when you're sleeping), however, it does make sense to lock your doors. Having locked doors while you are sleeping allows you to hear them break in...which will give you enough time to wake yourself and get a weapon ready to face the intruder (or hide and call the cops). If you're not home, you can either lock or not lock the doors...but the criminal will get in regardless of whether you lock them or not.
Now, if you have a car, you should never really lock your car doors. Your windows will just get smashed if they want in. So, keep it unlocked unless you don't care about the damage.
As a side note: This would be a perfect topic to add a poll. People may be more inclined to repspond if they can do so anonymously.
Edit: Now, if you have suspicion or have a high risk of someone coming in to your home, while you are there, then….yes, lock your doors. As when you are asleep, that will give you some time to prepare to defend yourself. However, If you are not at risk of facing an attacker, at any moment, no point locking the doors.
If a criminal wants to get in to your house, he's going to get in regardless of whether you keep your doors and windows locked or leave them open.
Now, if you're home, it makes even less sense to lock your doors...during waking hours, though. If the criminal knows people are there, they are less likely to want to rob you (during the day). During the night (when you're sleeping), however, it does make sense to lock your doors. Having locked doors while you are sleeping allows you to hear them break in...which will give you enough time to wake yourself and get a weapon ready to face the intruder (or hide and call the cops). If you're not home, you can either lock or not lock the doors...but the criminal will get in regardless of whether you lock them or not.
Now, if you have a car, you should never really lock your car doors. Your windows will just get smashed if they want in. So, keep it unlocked unless you don't care about the damage.
As a side note: This would be a perfect topic to add a poll. People may be more inclined to repspond if they can do so anonymously.
Edit: Now, if you have suspicion or have a high risk of someone coming in to your home, while you are there, then….yes, lock your doors. As when you are asleep, that will give you some time to prepare to defend yourself. However, If you are not at risk of facing an attacker, at any moment, no point locking the doors.
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My habit since years is to lock the doors, even when inside. In our new home we also have a security system which will be turned on for sure in night time.
Sometimes my wife kept the door unlocked; was always some time of discussion; but finally she agrees. She grew up in country side and had an open-door-habit. Changed that to fit the reality in cities.
Sometimes my wife kept the door unlocked; was always some time of discussion; but finally she agrees. She grew up in country side and had an open-door-habit. Changed that to fit the reality in cities.
I agree, and I disagree. It depends on how determined the crook is, and how much time is available. Generally, they're gonna look for a quick strike. So, if you can delay them, they'll move on.
No one is getting into my house quickly unless I let them. But, if they come with power tools and an extension cord, the locks won't stop them. You'll have to literally break in, no picking the locks. I have backup at each entrance. My system will fail me if there is a power outage. Then my garage door opener won't work, and I'm locked out. Keys won't help. I need to be able to get into the garage, and use the key on the inside door, which doesn't have a back up in place.
And yes, the door is locked unless we know someone is coming, and soon.
I do. Just a mental security thing. (And I imagine part stipulation of our homeowners insurance, since the front door is the only entry point... unless you are spiderman and want to climb hundreds of feet up to our balcony)
Also, because this big building has such uniformity in how all the hallways look I accidentally got off the lift on the wrong floor and unwittingly tried to unlock a door that wasn't mine. I was glad the door was locked because that could have been awkward!
A child on our floor occasionally likes to try to open the doors. His parents are irritating for letting him roam around like that but it's enough to make me glad the doors are locked. Children shouldn't see what we get up to in here.
Also, because this big building has such uniformity in how all the hallways look I accidentally got off the lift on the wrong floor and unwittingly tried to unlock a door that wasn't mine.
I was glad the door was locked because that could have been awkward! A child on our floor occasionally likes to try to open the doors. His parents are irritating for letting him roam around like that but it's enough to make me glad the doors are locked. Children shouldn't see what we get up to in here.
The doors are locked at all times, and windows are not left open if no one is nearby. At night we have an alarm on (and when we're not there at all).
I live in a fairly nice area, but there have been robberies when people were home with open doors or windows. I take no chances, and I yell at my husband and son when they forget to lock (they pretty much remember now, after the first few months of hollering).
I live in a fairly nice area, but there have been robberies when people were home with open doors or windows. I take no chances, and I yell at my husband and son when they forget to lock (they pretty much remember now, after the first few months of hollering
).
My front door has a yale lock on it (similar to the attachment although not exactly). That means as soon as the door closes.. it's locked from the outside and you'll need a key to get in. Safe and secure
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Do you lock/bar your balcony door, because people have been known to repel down a floor, or climb from an adjacent balcony.
Children shouldn't see what we get up to in here.
Now your just being a tease, but then I'm on the other end of that spectrum.
The balcony is locked but that's its default when it is shut anyway. A neighbour couldn't easily climb in (the balconies are not next to each other and built into [rather than sticking out of] the building (if you know what I mean) and if they had the nerve to try they would certainly be seen doing so. This is a busy area.
My front door has a yale lock on it (similar to the attachment although not exactly). That means as soon as the door closes.. it's locked from the outside and you'll need a key to get in. Safe and secure
That's our front door as well. So as soon as we close it is locked.
The french doors that open on to the back garden are really only locked when we're out for the whole day or so… but then again any prospective thief would have to scale a few garden walls and fences to get in to the garden. (Or they could just kick in the garden gate…
)Oh and the huge cat flap is always open. A medium sized adult could (and has) wriggle though it.
My doors stay locked 24/7. I have neighbors who don't lock their doors. I don't get it. Nice neighborhood, but still.
Your post kinda proves the point on locking your doors. If you're home at night, it gives you time to get your weapon. During the day, same thing.
I agree the average thief isn't going to break in when people are known to be home, but depending on the size / layout of your home. It's not always apparent if you're home or not.
As far as them getting in your car, same thing. There are different levels of thieves. Not keeping valuables in your car or out of sight is a better plan then not locking, that's likely what draws them to your car to begin with. Unless you have a flatbed truck, my car isn't moving. Unless you want to steal my stock items, good luck.
Do your best to protect against the best intrusion, you often take care of the lesser skilled.
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Always locked.
Always locked.
I live in a safe neighborhood on a dead end street. I always lock, even though I grew up not locking the car or the house. No point in inviting someone in your house.
Even if it's not for a robber, it could allow some random person in for whatever reason. Alzheimer, running from police, child prank. If you get in the habit of always locking your door when you're in, you won't forget to lock it overnight.
Even if it's not for a robber, it could allow some random person in for whatever reason. Alzheimer, running from police, child prank. If you get in the habit of always locking your door when you're in, you won't forget to lock it overnight.
I don't lock it when I'm home during the day. My son and his friends come and go quite frequently, and I have no problem leaving it unlocked. I do lock it when I'm not home, or overnight.
These arguments have the appearance of being reasonable but are built on a faulty assumption that there are only two kinds of people: those who have no interest in getting inside your house/car and those who will do anything to get inside. In reality, there is a broad spectrum of 'criminal intent.' Someone with no intention of breaking your car window to steal that Justin Beiber CD might decide it is worth the minimal effort (and lower chance of getting caught) to just open your unlocked door and swipe it.
Of course someone sufficiently dedicated to invading your home/car will succeed, but you're failing to recognize that there are opportunistic criminals out there.
That's the one time I do lock all the doors. My mother-in-law just likes to walk right in and it infuriates me; it's completely rude. If someone walks into my house without ringing the doorbell or knocking, they're likely to take an arrow to the knee.
I tend not to lock the doors during the day, but always at night, and our alarm has a "chime" function which tells me when and where a door or window has been opened.