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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To lock the car doors in a crowd?

105 replies

ShatterResistant · 10/01/2015 19:26

Please help me settle a "discussion" with DH. We were driving home this afternoon, in the dark, with 2 under 2 in the back. On the way, we passed a football ground, just as the crowd were coming out after the game. The traffic slowed right down, as there were people all over the road, although they weren't rowdy at all. I instinctively leaned down to push the central locking button, and DH said, what are you doing? When I explained that I was locking the doors, just in case, he didn't get it at all, and said I was being paranoid. Was I? I mean, in case of what, I don't suppose I really know. Car jacking? Opportunistic baby kidnapping? Very unlikely, I know, but POSSIBLE, right?! I should add, I'm not generally paranoid, and it's not something he habitually accuses me of. Also, he is a football fan, so I think he thought I was doubting his people, but I would do it in any crowd. So, who is right?!

OP posts:

IvanOsokin · 10/01/2015 19:48

With my current car, the doors lock automatically as you drive off but that wasn't the case with my old car and someone opened the door as I was driving through central London once. Gave me a massive fright, although they didn't manage to take/do anything. They just shut it again. Weird.

IvanOsokin · 10/01/2015 19:48

So no, you are not being unreasonable at all!

Athyrium · 10/01/2015 19:51

Blimey, on most subjects I come out as paranoid, but here I have to say that I think the risk is soooo small that no, it wouldn't occur to me to lock the doors. Intrigued as to why I differ on this one!

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 10/01/2015 19:52

YANBU. I'm quite large and I won my last fight (in Y2, but you remember the basics) so if somone got in there would be a bit of a kerfuffle. That sort of thing leads to paperwork.

Madamecastafiore · 10/01/2015 19:52

It wouldn't occur to me to do so but apparently our doors lock when you switch on the engine anyways.

Tyzer85 · 10/01/2015 19:52

I don't lock my car doors whilst driving, I never have.

CaurnieBred · 10/01/2015 19:56

I always lock my car doors when I am in the car alone or with DD: doesn't matter where I am. I feel uncomfortable if they are unlocked. If DH is in the car I only feel uncomfortable in certain situations and ask him to lock them.

ChickenMe · 10/01/2015 20:00

I always do and anyway, in this case, so what if you were to lock? How does it affect your DH if you lock?! Just DHs having to be right.

My male colleague was driving late at night and some crazy drunk woman tried to get in the car and then became highly abusive when access was denied.

mausmaus · 10/01/2015 20:02

and I'm locking the car doors when driving away from relatives as they have the tendency to open the door to tell us something really really important just as we are about to drive off.

KatoPotato · 10/01/2015 20:03

It's a good habit to get into if your car doesn't already. Far from being negative he should be pleased you're being proactive in keeping yourself safe!

Bartlebee · 10/01/2015 20:04

I do it on the odd occasion I find myself in Luton. It feels very dodgy there.

102030 · 10/01/2015 20:04

It wouldn't cross my mind to lock my doors in the UK unless I broke down somewhere dodgey at night time.

I always used to lock my doors when I lived in a country which is known for car jacking and car robberies.

bigbluebus · 10/01/2015 20:07

I always lock the doors if I am driving by myself at night and stop at traffic lights. I unlock them again as soon as I move off though as DF always taught my to leave doors unlocked incase you were in an accident, so someone could get you out.

I was sitting in a supermarket carpark 12 months ago waiting for DBro to arrive in his car so I could hand something over to him (we were mid way between our respective homes). I hadn't spotted DBro arriving but the front passenger door opened ....... and a woman got into the passenger seat. Made me jump - and her too, as apparently we had the same car as her and her husband had waited in the car whilst she went shopping. She got in thinking it was their car and that I was her husband sitting in the driver's seat . Could have been at lot worse I suppose - she was very apologetic.

Hasn't made me lock my doors all the time though - just in dodgy areas or at night.

Original poster

ShatterResistant · 10/01/2015 20:07

Haha mausmaus! I bet he'd approve of locking them under those circumstances!

OP posts:

Frusso · 10/01/2015 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReallyConfusedDotCom · 10/01/2015 20:09

I was attacked by someone who got into my car once while at traffic lights. Very scary, but luckily thanks to some school girls calling the police and a traffic warden catching her she was sentenced to 5 years in prison for having an adaptd sports gun.

Always best to keep the doors locked, most people would leave their house front door open.

Original poster

ShatterResistant · 10/01/2015 20:09

Hmm, bigbluebus, the accident thing is a very good point. It's trickier than I thought!

OP posts:

BitOutOfPractice · 10/01/2015 20:09

I do if I'm in a dodgy or quiet area on my own

TheFairyCaravan · 10/01/2015 20:12

YANBU.

We've got 4 cars in our family, every one of them has the central locking set to come on as we pull off. Mine is set to only open the drivers door with one blip of the key, if you want more doors open you have to blip it twice. At least I know when I get in on my own no one else can jump in as well, unless they are getting in on my lap!

MinceSpy · 10/01/2015 20:13

Our local police service actually tell us to lock our car doors and put valuables in the boot/out of sight. My car automatically locks all doors at 5mph but I'd push the central lock if not. It's keeping yourself and the family safe.

We had a horrible series of thefts from cars at traffic lights locally and we live in a naaice area!

BoomBoomsCousin · 10/01/2015 20:15

We have automatic central locking. Hate it. I switch it off as soon as it comes on. I'm much more likely to be in an accident than to be car jacked.

mausmaus · 10/01/2015 20:18

wrt to accident a police officer told me that car doors are relatively easy o open from the outside with the proper tools awailable to first response. if the doors are warped though they won't open locked or not. then they need heavy cutters etc...

MrsCampbellBlack · 10/01/2015 20:19

My car has auto lock too. My handbag sits on the passenger seat and never goes on the floor

I think locking the doors is just an instinctive thing really and very sensible.

GemmaTeller · 10/01/2015 20:21

I always lock my car door, daytime or nighttime (and I live in a 'nice' area)

ShadowSuperNova · 10/01/2015 20:27

YANBU.

One of my colleagues was carjacked near our work a few years ago - late at night and he was alone in the (unlocked) car. The carjackers forced him out of the car at knifepoint, cut up his hands a bit in the process, and tried to run him over as they drove off.

And another time, I was driving home late at night after a meal out in a local area with lots of pubs and restaurants, with a friend in the passenger sea. I stopped at a traffic light, and a pair of drunk women tried to open my car doors. I think they'd mistook me for a taxi. Luckily I'd locked the doors so they couldn't get in.

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