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Original poster

We left the door unlocked

173 replies

uhohdoor · 01/09/2023 21:09

I am so horrified that we did this, yet relieved nothing happened

We live down a nice enough street but it’s just off a main road, quite close to the junction. We went out for a meal tonight (for around 2 hours) and left the patio door unlocked with the key in. DH was last out of the door to get a parcel in that Evri had left around the back. Usually I would double, triple check all doors and that appliances are off, straighteners have been left safe etc. I do actually have OCD and checking is one of the traits. On this occasion I didn’t succumb to doing the checks, and actually didn’t do any checks at all.

Somebody could have stolen my car, or our house keys or anything from our house. How could we be so careless?

Do I need to let it go or should we take any extra precautions like changing the locks just in case? Please be kind - I’m hormonal and now this has happened I’m unable to think about anything else!

OP posts:
Teddypops · 01/09/2023 21:35

I rarely lock my doors.

I always lock my car but then the keys are in the hallway.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 01/09/2023 21:35

Admittedly we live somewhere secluded, but I've left my keys in the door overnight, the back door unlocked, DP's left the front door on the catch, etc, etc. Neither of us ever did anything remotely like this when we lived on a busy road in the middle of a residential estate!

Lantyslee · 01/09/2023 21:35

Let it go OP. I once went on holiday and left the key in the front door and a downstairs window that was big enough to climb through open. Nothing happened.

MerryBeard · 01/09/2023 21:36

I walk around our town a lot and always have done. I've lost count of the amount of times I've had to knock doors and tell people that they've left their keys in their front door. Once someone had left their laptop bag and front door keys were at the end of their drive. The best one was telling our local Neighbourhood Watch bloke that he'd left his hatchback up and his keys in the door of his car.

This must happen all the time, don't worry about it.

Findyourneutralspace · 01/09/2023 21:36

My car has keyless ignition. I was rummaging for ages in my pockets and bag the other day after I finished work, then spotted them on the passenger seat. It was in a public car park.

MargaretThursday · 01/09/2023 21:40

Dh has, on more than one occasion not just left the front door unlocked, but actually wide open too. I hate coming back when he's done that as I then have to check the house out for anyone hiding before I feel safe.
He left the back door wide open once when we went on holiday for a week too. He wonders why I always insist on being the last to leave...

We've had the car left with the doors wide open too.

We've never had anything stolen when he's done it.

Zanatdy · 01/09/2023 21:43

someone wouldn’t come in, take the keys and take a copy and return without taking a thing. 100%. I’ve gone out many times without locking up, not so much these days but it’s happened

bladebladebla1 · 01/09/2023 21:44

TeenLifeMum · 01/09/2023 21:13

We’ve done this a few times and the back door is regularly unlocked… but never on days dh forgets his keys.

😂😂 same

MrHopsPortal · 01/09/2023 21:45

We once left our back door unlocked over winter for the best part of 3 months without realising. It happens.

continentallentil · 01/09/2023 21:46

Chances of anything happening would be tiny. Let it go.

jazzyfips · 01/09/2023 21:46

My front door and patio doors are regularly left unlocked by my kids and very occasionally me. Nothing has ever happened and I doubt it would.

IseeNarcPeople · 01/09/2023 21:47

I'm also extremely OCD on leaving, not going into details but I am, but I have left the door unlocked whilst I'm asleep many times and have also left the keys in the door for the entire day. Brain fog.
Take a deep breath and think about it logically.
If a thief had come by whilst you were out, they would have robbed you then, not made a key copy then keep coming back at a later date in the hope you are out..again. Doesn't make any sense.
Hope this helps.

continentallentil · 01/09/2023 21:47

Lantyslee · 01/09/2023 21:35

Let it go OP. I once went on holiday and left the key in the front door and a downstairs window that was big enough to climb through open. Nothing happened.

Brilliant.

At some point I will absolutely do this.

Pressthespacebar · 01/09/2023 21:47

I never locked my doors, I’m 37 and been living alone since 20. If someone wants to get in they’ll get in whether the doors locked or not.

WandaWonder · 01/09/2023 21:49

It happens move on and stop blaming hormones which may help you address why you think like this

Fruitynutcase · 01/09/2023 21:49

Be careful though a burglar will try the door and if it's unlocked they can't be done for breaking and entering. I watched a program many years ago where a burglar said it was shocking how many people left their doors unlocked.

DiscoBeat · 01/09/2023 21:49

We went on holiday once and left the door literally open for a week. Nothing happened and it's not something I would recommend but 'what ifs' are not worth losing sleep over.

Isitautumnyet23 · 01/09/2023 21:49

I double check everything is locked and so does my husband, but in a rush (especially the days of young kids), we’ve left keys in the car ignition, patio doors unlocked and windows open on the ground floor of the house. I’d say we’re pretty security conscious too so we’ve all done it, dont worry!

I try and have a quick pause at the front door before we head out to think if ive been out in the garden/opened windows before work or goinv out, but theres always going to be occasions you forget in a rush. We do live in a very safe town, have neighbours out in the garden all the time (we have alot of retired people near us) and I know several friends that wouldn’t worry at all leaving doors/cars unlocked in our town.

Gymmum82 · 01/09/2023 21:51

I’ve gone out for the day and left my front door wide open.

Left the patio doors wide open and gone out more times than I’d care to remember.
Left the back door unlocked overnight and during the day and gone out.
Left my keys in the front door as recently as this evening.

Obviously I’ve been very lucky and have a terrible memory (thanks peri menopause) just move on. Nothing happened

Emeraldrings · 01/09/2023 21:51

In my parents last house they had patio doors at the back and there were so many nights they went to bed with the doors open. Nothing ever happened.
They did get better after a while but I don't think they were ever worried by it

Plantsarelife · 01/09/2023 21:52

You could install a blink or ring camera just for future peace of mind. They don’t cost very much.
I have one next to both my front and back doors and they are motion sensory so if anyone comes up close to the door I get a notification on my phone and a short recording.

BHRK · 01/09/2023 21:53

We forget all the time! Nothing happened, let it go

Clefable · 01/09/2023 21:53

I left the car door open, not unlocked, fully open for hours until a delivery man arrived and said 'Did you know your car door was open?'

Also in the fog of DD2 arriving and getting both kids out of the car, on several occasions I left the boot wide open and only realised when we returned to the car.

An unlocked front door for a few hours is the least of my worries Grin

Isitautumnyet23 · 01/09/2023 21:53

Just to add - have you got door cameras? Its a psychological thing really but we have one over the front and back door and makes me feel so much safer. I just think someone seeing it would be put off before they tried the door.

Idrankyourbananamilk · 01/09/2023 21:54

WhiteFire · 01/09/2023 21:17

I've done that one too.

Show quote history

Done it twice. Both occasions someone has posted keys through letterbox late in evening/overnight. Most people are decent.