Do you lock your door when you’re in the house?

[patienceandprudence]

Inspired by another thread (no prizes for guessing which).

I was surprised that people lock their doors sheen inside the house. Granted, we live in a small house, but it’s in a ‘bad’ area. We never lock our door when someone’s in, except at night if someone remembers. I’d say we leave it unlocked while out a good 30% of the time so if the kids come back or someone drops by to visit they don’t have to wait outside.

In my area this is the norm, and most of the time if you knock you’ll just be called in and told to walk right in next time. We tell anyone the same, even the regular delivery-people know that they can open the door and put the parcel in if it’s open.

Always locked unless using the door.

I used to live in a really sleepy town in Yorkshire, very low crime rate. My friend took her kids to school, came home and jumped into the shower without locking the door, whilst showering she saw a man watching her from the doorway. He scarpered when she screamed. There's a reason such a thing as opportunist criminals exist.

We always lock ours. Wouldn't dream of leaving it unlocked.

Doors always locked . Live in a nice area but still reports of dodgy shit going on.

We live on a busy street with the front door straight on to the pavement. I lock the door once everyone is in or when it gets dark whichever happens first. I do have a very big very barky dog (yet to be tested as to what he would actually do if a burglar came in the house) though which gives us a certain feeling of security.

Both doors always locked every night and if there is no one in the house through the day it's locked. I'm in a generally safe area but would never leave it unlocked. My dogs are my life and I keep them safe and I also feel a lot safer sleeping at night with it locked.
I think it's naive to assume you are safe leaving it unlocked

I do. I live alone and it's child's play to open it from the outside if it's not locked.

I made sure my new front door had an automatic lock.

Never lock our doors if we are at home, even at night a lot of the time. Even when out the back door is unlocked.

Of course!

Maybe I’m not so concerned because we don’t have much to steal. There are 2 TVs, one older than my adult DD, phones which everyone has with them… they can take my bag but good luck getting any money!

I do when I’m alone with the kids but not if DH is in no.

I have two very small children and was assaulted many years ago so I think I’m more cautious than most. In fairness we live very rurally, in a very nice area, with both a ‘village watch’ and ‘street watch’ which are super active. Half our small village are retired and the other half WFH and that seems to just consist of walking their labradors 15 times a day. Everyone is watching around here.

I like to think we aren’t an attractive target but you never know.

Yes I lock the front door.

Mostly to keep ILs out. Who happily turn up unannounced and uninvited at any given time and try to let themselves in.

Yes both doors always locked when in the house

We always lock them at night but don’t in the day. Have realised this is crazy, particularly as our car keys are near the front door so will be locking it from now on.

Yes, didn't used to, someone came in as we watched TV and took a couple of bags, they got v little, but a pain to replace bank card, driving licence, glasses etc. I was annoyed but it shook up dc, so always lock since then

Mine has a latch which means it locks automatically. I live in an urban area so would lock it if it didn't.

@patienceandprudence

Maybe I’m not so concerned because we don’t have much to steal. There are 2 TVs, one older than my adult DD, phones which everyone has with them… they can take my bag but good luck getting any money!

Try living in an area with an arsonist on the loose for several months. Stealing stuff is not the only risk. We actually have quite a few things , but they're replaceable. Finding the place destroyed or burned down.. not so much.

That's awful!! I always tell me fiance to lock the door when he's leaving in the morning before me. I shower and get ready for work when he's left so I get so upset if he leaves it unlocked.

Always.

I live in a 'naice(r)' area of SE London than the OP in the other thread, and I'm insulated from the road, but there was someone lurking in the shared garden with a torch only a couple of weeks ago. I don't think they were one of the neighbours. My open window and curtains aren't easily visible from the direction they came from, and as soon as they spotted the lights were on the torch went off and they disappeared whilst I fetched the hatchet.

I don't even go to the bathroom for 5 minutes without shutting the window. The trauma of being invaded aside, I can't imagine my insurance company would cough up if there was no forced entry.

It's not just about thieves..

Our door is always locked. No one ever thinks they'll be targeted until they are.

My sister's friend once had a home invasion- got tied up in the living room while they ransacked the place. I'm more worried about attempted burglary while I'm in the house than when I'm not!

I always lock it when am inside of course. I Have a small child I don’t want her abducted or something

@patienceandprudence

Maybe I’m not so concerned because we don’t have much to steal. There are 2 TVs, one older than my adult DD, phones which everyone has with them… they can take my bag but good luck getting any money!

Silly possessions aren't the only reason to lock your doors. Your safety is the main concern, surely?

@patienceandprudence

Maybe I’m not so concerned because we don’t have much to steal. There are 2 TVs, one older than my adult DD, phones which everyone has with them… they can take my bag but good luck getting any money!

But burglars won't necessarily know that until they've got in! And sadly some like to vandalise just for the sake of it.

Personally doors are always locked whether we're in or out, night and day, and we live in a fairly quiet area