to think we DO live in a world where we can leave the bavk door open

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

There's been an article in (forgive me) the dailyfail about a baby who's finger was ripped of my a fox that got in the house. I shall not link you to it- long story short, back door got left open, fox came in and attacked baby.

Whilst I.can understand that if you live in an area where there are a lot of foxes/fox attacks then you do need to be careful but many people have commented on saying that anything could have happened, baby could have been snatched etc.

Please tell me I am not living a deluded life thinking its okay to leave your back door open whilst your in the house?!

[fanjobiscuits]

I left my back door locked and bolted and a man with a crowbar tried to get into it. We live in a nice generally safe area and he didn't get in. But I certainly won't be leaving it open.

[lazybastard]

I don't even open the windows wide, and they are only open when I'm in the room. Even then they are locked in the slightly open position.

I'm shocked at how many people feel safe with the doors open.

[Punkatheart]

I think it invalidates your insurance, doesn't it?

I wouldn't dream of leaving my back door open. Locking up the house at night is second nature. I couldn't sleep if I had my back door open (not a euphemism). Surely that's common sense? Particularly if you have children - when you get more protective...

[Birdsgottafly]

"In the summer it's the norm to leave the doors open until you go to bed isn't it"

I have a German Shepherd, most people, in my area, have breeds that "guard", otherwise the doors couldn't be left open.

[weegiemum]

If you live in rural western Scotland you can't leaveyour door open because of that most ferocious of beasts - the midgie!!

[DontEvenThinkAboutIt]

It would definitely invalidate my insurance.

[HeyToodles]

Id say no but only because I left my back door open in summer, when I walked through into the kitchen there was a man raking through my drawers and cupboards! Very scary considering I had a very young dd in my arms

Luckily he ran out when I screamed very loudly.

Its all objective though if that hadnt have happened I would still be leaving my back door open, now its double locked!

[ComposHat]

The midges, the midges, I'm no gonnae kid ye's,The midges is really the limit,Wi teeth like pirhanas, they drive ye bananas,If ye let them get under yer simmit!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Bloody hell, TSC - what happened?

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Shit, glad they're all ok.
Yup, I lock up thoroughly. My front door is only unlocked when someone is actually walking through it. And would never go upstairs without shutting (locking) doors and windows, if they've been open for air. Luckily the upstairs ones are able to be left open loads, so we don't stifle.
It's a shame though, as I grew up in rural scotland; houses and cars were left unlocked. My DCs will never know that trust or freedom.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Doors open could lead to mice inviting themselves in.

Doors unlocked. Hmm. Front door locked at night and if Im in without DP. If hes here Im not too worried.

Back door unlocked if dog is out. No one is getting in past him. Locked at night.

[KobayashiMaru]

I can't imagine locking all the doors and windows just to go upstairs! I sometimes go out and leave the door unlocked, if I'm just popping out. Safe little village with very nosy neighbours, plus nothing worth stealing.

[ComradeJing]

Our door is open all the time!

[TapirBackRider]

Keep our doors locked at all times - previously had a bloke with a knife at my (locked) back door; I refuse to take any chances.

[SucksToBeMe]

Tapir, that's horrible

I agree its area dependent too, I now live in a big town and everything is locked. But I did live in a static caravan and never locked my doors/windows even when I was out, and even left the keys in the car (by accident ) It was strangely the safest i ever felt as there were only 8 other caravans with families. We all knew each other, and I actually miss it. Now I couldn't tell you who my neighbors are.

[ChestyLeRoux]

Yeah I have doors pen often 24/7,even when on my own.I have family in north east they ave to have alarms,cameras and even chicken wire on their fence! Never seen anything like that before just wouldnt need it here.

Would go out here in any skimpy clothing too and
have never even felt slightly scared.

[LtEveDallas]

I live in the arse end of nowhere on an estate that has NEVER had any crime. I still lock the doors at night.

During the day the back door is unlocked but closed and the front door has the chain on. We never lock the cars though.

DH has the habit of leaving the front door unlocked when he goes out. Drives me mad.

[mariefrance1]

My elderly parents leave their front door wide open all summer to 'let the air in.'

[mariefrance1]

And when we moved into my house 6 hours ago the exdh put in an alarm and a huge front gate that he enjoyed locking in a nightly ritual. Since he left I have not used the alarm nor touched the gate. But then he was suspicious of everyone.

[marriedinwhite]

Always have the back door open in the summer when we are in the house. But to get in a burglar would have to scale several high fences, to come to dead ends each way or possibly he could scale the ladder to a big dirty river with his booty. Not one for the faint hearted burglar.

We don't see foxes but regrettably always have rat boxes down although only once has one found its way in. Yuk - the downside of living near a river.

[EasilyBored]

I leave the back door open in the summer, but we have a fenced in garden and I'm always downstairs (burglars would have to walk past the conservatory and patio doors to get in the back door. I do have a ferocious cat who would defend the house by crying loudly and running himself all over any intruder if needs be.

Can I admit to being a bit that a four week old baby was asleep in a cot in a different room? At that age don't they just sleep on your lap or in a basket by the sofa/bed?