Do you lock your front door?

[BuildingHope]

Hi I've an ANCIENT front door desperately needs replacing, some lovely new bifold doors with my extension and I always leave the keys in the locks of the new ones even when locked. I never double lock my front door - which you can't from the outside anyway, it's just Yale..

I just realised yesterday [I promise I'm not normally dim] that basically unless the front door is double locked it's perfectly possible to smash the glass and just reach the front door lock albeit a stretch. Ditto the bifolds but if you broke the glass you could basically walk in regardless.

It occurred to me because I was thinking about switching the front door out for a stable door I already have in the garage, but the reach to handle is easier with smashed glass. I would always be a bit wary of locking myself in and not being able to get out in a fire etc in the night.

What am I missing... or perhaps overthinking, or locks do funkier things these days? Do you double lock stuff overnight?

Just curious really

We just have ours on the Yale lock during the day but lock the bottom lock overnight or when the house is empty. We recently had to help when a friend got locked out thanks to a Yale lock. All the locksmith needed was a couple of sheets of thin plastic and he was in the house in literally seconds without anything being broken or smashed. We used to be lax with locking the bottom lock at home until we saw how easy that was for someone to get into a Yale lock.

Yale lock only and often have the front door open to let breeze flow through. I live at the end of a cul de sac so only two neighbours would even be aware the door is open.

Check your insurance policy. You may find that leaving the keys visibly in the lock invalidates or restricts the policy, ditto not double locking when you leave the house empty.

All the doors at the back of the house have to be locked if you don’t want them opened from the outside. The front doors are the type which need a key to open them from the outside if pushed shut but needs the extra key turn to double lock. I have the keys for each nearby but out of sight and out of reach of any windows.

Some here but I leave the key in the front door slightly pulled out so a key still works from the outside. I am guilty though of forgetting to re lock the front door after my grocery delivery - I carry on putting stuff away while the delivery person lets themselves out! When I go out, I remove the key and put it on a small table next to the door but not in front of a window.

I also have a key safe tucked away down the side in case I lose my key when out.

My back door key is kept on a near by windows sill but hidden by frosted glass from outside ( also a very small non opening window) and my patio door key is kept in a little pot on the window sill. I only open this door if I’m sat outside or in the lounge due to my neighbours very friendly cat!

I am very bad though about locking the windows, I like to throw them open most days and can’t be bothered locking them! Luckily this is not a requirement of my insurance company - I do read the small print very carefully when I renew the policy.

Obviously. It's breathtakingly irresponsible and silly to leave your doors unlocked, even when you are in!

Yep. No insurance company is going to pay out if you try to claim for a break in, and you had left the doors unlocked! It's NOT an urban myth. THEY WILL NOT PAY.

Then I’m “breathtakingly irresponsible”! Laughi

and rather excited to have that label!

Yes locked. Why would you not?

Locked at night only. Got a dog who barks if anyone comes to the door!

Are you sure about that? The small print of my policy only mentions securing the doors and windows etc. when no-one is in.

My insurance company paid out when a burglar got in through an unlocked and open window, because we were in at the time. I don't think they expect you to sit in your house with everything locked!

Front door always locked, with the key in unless I am going to bed, or obviously if I go out I take the key with me.

Back door locked if we go out or go to bed. Take the key out.

We live down the end of a dog leg lane so nobody really walks past the house.

No. I have a very, very large slopmonster of a dog who protects her territory and that includes me. I bloody love that loyalty. Also don’t live in a high crime area.

Insurance is strange, regardless of what they ask, that doesn't always mean you have to use it. They ask what locks you have but you have to check the conditions of insurance to find out whether they have to be in use.
I remember having a load of clothes stolen off the line and that was all covered, turned out things were covered anywhere on the property unless they were inside a vehicle.

No they wouldn’t, because there are no signs of forced entry

As I said above, I was burgled with no sign of forced entry (window was open) they still paid out.

Leaving your doors unlocked is so irresponsible - one poster saying they’re willing to take the risk! It’s not only possessions that are at risk it’s your personal safety. Though it’s unlikely, there is the risk of some unhinged individual taking advantage of an open door for opportunist theft or personal harm. Why make it easy for them? We keep doors locked all the time and keys are taken and put in a drawer in the bedroom at night. Why would you risk your safety and that of your family? You’d never forgive yourself if anything happened.

Always. All my external doors have thumb turn locks so no need for a key from the inside. Also have a massive, soppy dog who loves everyone but who would absolutely eat anyone who tried to break in, whilst also making enough noise to raise the dead.

Exactly. But if you have no regard for your safety or personal possessions carry on.

This is very rare! What is the name of your insurance company?

Joining you in the "breathtakingly irresponsible" camp!

When I lived near the centre of a market town, in a terraced house with another door just inside the front door, we several times forgot that the front door was wide open all night, with just the internal door (no locks) between us and the outside. All was well.

All is well until it isn't...

On my local FB group there’s often recordings from ring cameras of people trying random doors, and sometimes just walking in (off their face on whatever substance). So yeah, damn right I lock my front door! (Back door not so much an issue as garden is secure).

We always lock our door. I knew someone who didn’t and had a random druggie come in and went upstairs before she knew what was happening. Please don’t leave key in UPVC door, if you became ill or fell, no one with a key would be able to get in, much safer to not leave the key in the lock.