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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:
Wrongsideofpennines · 01/09/2023 21:54

I went out this afternoon and asked my husband if he wanted me to lock the back door. He said he would bring the washing in and lock in when he went to work in 10 minutes. Came back about 90 minutes later and the back door was wide open (with the washing still on the line). Thankfully we don't think anyone has been in but I was furious. Is nothing is missing now then there is no need to change the locks.

weirdoboelady · 01/09/2023 21:55

I once left the car on an (admittedly side-) street with the passenger window open, a purse on the passenger seat.........

It was still there the next day.

Another time (at least 15 years later) a neighbour arrived at the front door with a purse (the same one) which I had dropped in the street. I was heavily into matched betting at the time and it contained over £1000 in cash. My almost hysterical offers of a reward were graciously refused.

(Most) people are better than we generally give them credit for.

Barleysugar86 · 01/09/2023 21:56

I once left my room keys in the lock on the outside of the door all night in a guesthouse in thailand!

I think you have to be very unlucky to get caught out on the one offs.

Hooplahooping · 01/09/2023 21:56

I live in a semi rural part of Surrey - literally never lock my front door unless I’m going to be away overnight…!

whynotwhatknot · 01/09/2023 21:57

i went out once day time and left te key in the bloody door-was still there when i got home nothing taken

donkra · 01/09/2023 21:58

I once left the back door open all weekend while we were away. In Zone 2 London. Absolutely nothing happened. I've also definitely left my keys in the front door overnight. Nothing happened then either.

Let it go.

Sickoffamilydrama · 01/09/2023 21:59

Only last weekend DD was last out of the house when we out for a day trip she said she locked the door but she clearly didn't.

Still not as bad as when the door was left wide open one time 🫣

TeenLifeMum · 01/09/2023 21:59

To be honest, I do try to lock up but our old neighbour was a retired chief inspector who showed us how easy it is to break in to most homes and said, making it hard for thieves means they just do more damage. If they want to get in they’ll get in. Not exactly reassuring but true.

JaniceBattersby · 01/09/2023 21:59

The last time I locked my back door was the first week of August when we went on holiday.

There aren’t actually that many burglars in the world. The chances of someone trying a door and finding it open, and the occupants not there, are very small.

Zampa · 01/09/2023 22:04

Two recent examples of our household idiocy;

The keys I left in our front door all day today (whilst I was out).

The car key in the door of the car all day, left in the station car park, whilst my husband travelled into London.

All was fine but this is why we don't have nice things.

We left the door unlocked
We left the door unlocked
Butterflywings2 · 01/09/2023 22:05

I accidentally left my patio door wide open and went shopping yesterday, hasn't crossed my mind again

WtP · 01/09/2023 22:05

Years ago I left the front door slightly ajar all day when I went to work & have often left the patio door unlocked when out.
Best one was a case of wine on the front doorstep for 6 days while we were away that was untouched!
New neighbours are very attentive though and sent a WhatsApp message when my Nephew was staying while away that the light was on while we were away 😊

notacooldad · 01/09/2023 22:07

I would have rolled my eyes at myself and moved on immediately.

Winnading · 01/09/2023 22:07

I think nearly everyone will have done similar at some point. It is a reminder I think to check for the next few years until you do it again.
I once left my entire key bunch in the front door.
I came back from a two hour hike, went to the back door, panicked cos I had no keys, thought shit I've been all over a sodding forest for two hours, how the hell will I find them, how much will a locksmith cost, how long til partner can get home to let me in. Wandered to the front to make a phone call and wait for partner, to see my keys in the front door. The relief was immense.

Few years later, partner left our front door wide open all night. To be fair, he was very very upset at his parent dying that day.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 01/09/2023 22:08

I left my front door unlocked for over 6mths. Very rarely used it and had a tradesman over to look at the canopy over it. Clearly we never locked it as months later I was leaning on the handle, chatting, and it opened.

Let it go. Nothing happened, just be glad it didn't.

My mum's neighbour left theirs unlocked and someone walked in while they were there. Grabbed a couple of handbags and legged it when the neighbour walked into the room.
It does happen but it's probably rare.

SweetcornFritter · 01/09/2023 22:14

My son used the conservatory door to go into the garden at Christmas and it wasn’t until April that I realised he never bothered to lock it when he came back in. I survived 4 months in an unsecured house, I’m amazed I wasn’t murdered in my bed or at the very least robbed of everything I own.

IcedBananas · 01/09/2023 22:16

‘Alls well that ends well’ is the mantra here. These things happen. It’s human nature. Check the doors once each before you leave from now on but other than that forget about it.

mathanxiety · 01/09/2023 22:17

Yes, let it go.

I know OCD complicates things, but if you like, take a look outside once it gets dark, and you'll see there's nobody lurking around ready to pounce.

MoiraRosesBaybay · 01/09/2023 22:17

Lilithlogic · 01/09/2023 21:18

I once left my keys in the front door, a passerby knocked to let me know, I was very grateful

I’ve done that before, and I’ve been the ‘passer by’ a couple of times too.

This week I left my house keys in the garden in the shed padlock over night. The back door has been left unlocked a couple of times too. Once, when we lived in Brighton, we left the front door not just unlocked but open for an entire working day!

Howtosolveit · 01/09/2023 22:18

Whenever I can't find my keys in the morning it is because I have left them in the front door, on the outside, all night long. It'll be fine OP.

StampOnTheGround · 01/09/2023 22:20

Our patio door is often forgotten about and left unlocked - let it go OP. I did go to work once and left the front door unlocked for around 10 hours haha

Crabsticksandham · 01/09/2023 22:20

Bless you OP.
OCD is not easy and is easily misunderstood.

I have a story that will cheer you up!

My mum went out for for day and left the kitchen door unlocked. She came back and had been robbed. However...they had broken in via the locked conservatory doors.

If they had tried a bit harder they could have saved themselves some effort 👌

These things happen.

Okaaaay · 01/09/2023 22:20

Crikey - clearly a minority but we go out regularly without locking anything!

BabbleBee · 01/09/2023 22:21

I left my car door wide open with my purse and passport on the dashboard. It was on my driveway on a reasonably busy road for a few hours. I only noticed because I begrudgingly took the bins out…

ShouldGoToBed · 01/09/2023 22:21

I left the spare car key on the roof of the car all night recently, with the car full of camping stuff. Parked in the road, on a street in London where people regularly check all the cars at night for one that’s been left open by mistake. We got away with it. All these stories are making me feel much better!