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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:
NumberTheory · 01/09/2023 22:23

I live in a big city and rarely lock my door. Have on a couple of occasions left it wide open all night, once with my laptop in a bag just inside the door and visible from the street. Still nothing. Got broken into once. The door was unlocked, but he broke the latch on the window and came in that way!

Chances of someone taking your key, making a copy and putting it back in the lock are vanishingly slim. Domestic burglary, unless of super high end housing, is a crime of opportunity, generally undertaken by people without much in the way of executive function skills that such a plan would require (if they could plan like you’re suggesting, they’d probably make more money in a regular job).

Dontbesuspicious · 01/09/2023 22:23

I've left doors unlocked many times, nothing has happened... there was even afew weeks that a door was completely broken but noone entered.
The crowning glory of door stories is when we set out on a day trip to the beach (over an hours drive away) returned at 8pm to find the front door and porch door wide open.
No we had not been burgled, we'd just left our house wide open all day (including the other car and car keys visible)
We laughed at our idiotic behaviour and to this day I blame the kids for removing most of my sanity.

VikingsandDragons · 01/09/2023 22:28

We went out last week and left the front door literally wide open. We got a call from a friend who had stopped by my house to collect something I'd left in the shed for her and she asked if we wanted it closed, but it had been well over an hour at that point! I'd say easily 1/3 of the time the back door isn't locked overnight/when we're out and I've currently lost my own house keys....

NoBiscuitsLeftInMyTin · 01/09/2023 22:31

We live in the sticks and everything is often left unlocked and cars/vans even with keys in them. If someone wants to break in then they will and cause far for damage - I’ve clients who ring me for a call out and I’ve been to site, gone in, fixed the issue, PC/IT/wireless/CCTV/all sorts and they ring me a week later to see when I’m coming only to be told I’ve been and solved it as they don’t bother either. Big benefit of country living. It’s handy for the post/couriers as well - as long as they’re not on the rob!!

Ironically I lived in Selhurst south London 30years ago and went on a works night out, lost my keys, turned up at my bed sit 48hours later ( a real MAD one with substances I’d never seen before), called a lock smith to meet me at home only to find I’d left my keys in the door - with my car keys which was parked outside (this was before the event and had never done that before/since/after) I do think we’re all a little paranoid and assume there’s people trying all of our door locks every mins when they’re unlocked.

Hibiscrubbed · 01/09/2023 22:32

But….nothing happened?

MoiraRosesBaybay · 01/09/2023 22:34

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.

I’ve often heard it said that a lock will only stop an honest man.

Echio · 01/09/2023 22:36

Well currently my front door is dropping off its hinges and I can't lock it at all! It cannot be fixed and I don't have money to replace it. I make a silly little thing of pretending to lock it but am not actually too worried - I think the chances of something happening are extremely slim. I live in a small town.

Thecomfortador · 01/09/2023 22:38

I've left the car key in the ignition over night before. Also was found to have left the key in front door as well. Also left the old ford fiesta unlocked on Cheetham Hill Road in Manchester one evening and it wasn't even touched the next morning. I'll catch on one of these days and start locking stuff.

Throwaway11 · 01/09/2023 22:39

I regularly go out and leave the back door and/or garage locked. I also can’t count the number of times the postie nipped into my old workplace (a few minute walk from our and on his route) and handed me my house keys which I’d left in the outside of the door…

Echio · 01/09/2023 22:40

NoBiscuitsLeftInMyTin · 01/09/2023 22:31

We live in the sticks and everything is often left unlocked and cars/vans even with keys in them. If someone wants to break in then they will and cause far for damage - I’ve clients who ring me for a call out and I’ve been to site, gone in, fixed the issue, PC/IT/wireless/CCTV/all sorts and they ring me a week later to see when I’m coming only to be told I’ve been and solved it as they don’t bother either. Big benefit of country living. It’s handy for the post/couriers as well - as long as they’re not on the rob!!

Ironically I lived in Selhurst south London 30years ago and went on a works night out, lost my keys, turned up at my bed sit 48hours later ( a real MAD one with substances I’d never seen before), called a lock smith to meet me at home only to find I’d left my keys in the door - with my car keys which was parked outside (this was before the event and had never done that before/since/after) I do think we’re all a little paranoid and assume there’s people trying all of our door locks every mins when they’re unlocked.

Edited

A fellow country-sider here until recently. I've always had a very lax attitude to locking - never locked at night, prefer to feel I can 'get out' than the chances of someone coming in.

The one thing I would say is vehicle theft and tool theft is pretty big in the countryside, much more than home break ins. My brother had all his tree surgery equipment taken from the back of his truck (his fault for leaving it in there but obviously quite unnerving it happened), and we regularly get posts on the facebook page (which covers 2 villages about 1000 households) of people getting things like quad bikes or farming tools stolen.

Throwaway11 · 01/09/2023 22:41

My teenager also regularly leave the back door not only unlocked but wide open. We’re yet to be robbed.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 01/09/2023 22:41

I had a new tv delivered from curry's. Had slimming world taster that night and went to borrow a mixing bowl of someone. Stayed there for about an hour having a chat and cuppa before heading back home ready to make my stuff for taster night. Got back to realise not only had I left the outside flat door ajar (thankfully off street view). I had also left my flat door wide open. I have absolutely no flipping idea what entered my head to even leave in the first place without checking everywhere was locked up. Normally my doors are locked even when I'm in even if I'm only back inside briefly. Oh and the tv was still sat there on the living room floor in its box

TeenLifeMum · 01/09/2023 22:42

Actually dh locked the garage for while we were only holiday. It was so annoying when I tried to get in and couldn’t.

Dungeonsandwagons · 01/09/2023 22:43

I live in London and have come home to an open door a few times. Don’t give it a second thought beyond ‘must check that next time’

FlamingoFloss · 01/09/2023 22:45

You need to let it fgo. Nothing happened and all
is well

Tickyandtackyandjackiethebackie · 01/09/2023 22:45

I have done this loads of times, left windows open and my key in the door. Nothing has ever happened.
I'm also always forgetting to lock my car. It is old and small so I doubt anyone would be interested in it 😄

Esgaroth · 01/09/2023 22:46

Obviously it's better to lock doors but realistically you are highly unlikely to be burgled if you do forget. It's not that common.

ManchesterGirl2 · 01/09/2023 22:47

This is your OCD talking. The chances of a thief being on your street and happening to try your patio door, the 2 hours that you left it open, are miniscule.

If you have true OCD, it can spiral into a really serious condition, and basically ruin your life as it becomes hard to get anything done without constant checking. I would say the risk to your happiness from untreated OCD is far greater than the risk from an occasionally unlocked door.

WtP · 01/09/2023 22:51

ManchesterGirl2 · 01/09/2023 22:47

This is your OCD talking. The chances of a thief being on your street and happening to try your patio door, the 2 hours that you left it open, are miniscule.

If you have true OCD, it can spiral into a really serious condition, and basically ruin your life as it becomes hard to get anything done without constant checking. I would say the risk to your happiness from untreated OCD is far greater than the risk from an occasionally unlocked door.

Very well put @ManchesterGirl2

Metalhead · 01/09/2023 22:51

DH has left his keys (including car keys) in the outside of our front - twice! 😱

Illbebythesea · 01/09/2023 22:52

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!

Changing the locks? What do you expect happened & burglar got a key cut in the 2 hours you were out? God… I’m not being horrible but the fragile mentality of some people on here absolutely baffles me. How do you get through life?!

Walesagogo · 01/09/2023 22:53

DH left the car unlocked recently. Didn't realise until saw all the crap that had been in the glove compartment on the front seats and the driver door slightly ajar.
It happened but nothing taken except some odd change prob about £1.30 for car parking. They didn't like my taste in music as they left the cds!
Anyway, prob no one noticed as it was your patio doors OP. Let it go, be grateful nothing was taken and ....breathe!.....
Let it go.Lesson learnt for next time.

RainyDuvetDay · 01/09/2023 22:54

I did similar a few weeks ago. I'm always really careful with checking everything is locked and secure before I go out but when I got home from a long dog walk I realised that I'd left the patio doors unlocked.

I wouldn't worry about changing the locks if there's no sign that anyone has been inside your house. I'd just be extra vigilant to check everything is locked before going out in future which is what I'm doing now too 😄

Crucible · 01/09/2023 22:55

My DH once left the keys in the front door all night long. In full view of the road. Nothing happened! You're fine OP. All is well.

Peskytooth · 01/09/2023 22:56

OP the chances of someone happening to try your door when left unlocked for a couple of hours are negligible. Logically you know that. The issue here is how it’s making you feel and is it going to exacerbate your OCD? Get some help if you feel things slipping.