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 lock front and back doors if we go out and when we go to bed. The keys go onto a hook. The dogs would probably frighten a potential burglar away they bark if someone even passes by the end of our drive. If doors not locked it would invalidate household insurance.

I can’t imagine going to bed and not double locking all external doors and locking all windows except in bedrooms that are in use. It would invalidate my insurance if I left anything unlocked. The front door is always locked and Unless I can see the back door, it’s always locked during the day. Our side gate is always locked, the alarm is always set if we go out. And we’ve got CCTV following minor vandalism to our cars.

It was in the daytime and someone was home, so not sure it is that unusual?

Unless some insurance policies have a clause that windows must be closed when you are not in the room?

Our doors are locked overnight and when we are out. The keys are left in.

I live in outer London and if I’m in and awake I never lock my doors. If I’m asleep they’re all double locked. We also have glass garden doors and glass in the front door. Our security is shit tbh. Don’t have the money to fix it right now though

I live in outer London and if I’m in and awake I never lock my doors. If I’m asleep they’re all double locked. We also have glass garden doors and glass in the front door. Our security is shit tbh. Don’t have the money to fix it right now though

I live in outer London and if I’m in and awake I never lock my doors. If I’m asleep they’re all double locked. We also have glass garden doors and glass in the front door. Our security is shit tbh. Don’t have the money to fix it right now though

our front door is always unlocked other than bedtime. Our house layout is alot different as most UK homes though as most of our "living" space is outdoors. Basically front door opens into a very large room with living space, dining space, kitchen , laundry and toilet room. Big sliding doors to covered outdoor living/ dining and pool and grass for the mutts to destroy. We have two big dogs, also we live in a gated community at the very end of the road so the security cameras are actually focused right on our house . Security motorcycle patrol every two hours , but i still feel very unsafe leaving any door open overnight. Burgled 25 years ago in Canada, since then never felt safe overnight.

I have no idea what double lock means?!

Front is always locked.

back is mostly unlocked in the summer.

obvious all locked up when going out or to bed

new front door is a thumb turn which I love! No key hunt or locking someone out.

Deadlock on top of Yale. Sounds like your new front lock acts as both.

Only lock doors at night.

Oh I get you! Never had a Yale but my aunt did.

Our front door is always locked as we hardly ever us it. We live in a bungalow and everyone parks around the back including visitors. Back door only locked when going to bed.

Yes, my mum lives in a low crime rate, small friendly town. Someone walked in the unlocked front door and took her car keys and stole her car. It’s just safer to have the doors locked and stops me forgetting when I go to bed. We have a thumb turn lock so will never be trapped if we need to exit.

I live in London, my doors are locked at all times !

You’ve never had a Yale?! That’s the most basic front door lock. You must have had a Yale or similar at some point.

No, not during the day when we are home. At night it is always locked. We live in a very quiet area with only a couple of neighbours

The front door is always locked, key usually not in the lock otherwise someone will get locked out. Back doors often open during the day if someone is home, unless it’s cold out, but gate into the garden is locked and key removed.

No, never lock any door. We live about 500m from the next house on a dead end track and have six dogs that go mental whenever a butterfly farts.

It would be a brave burglar indeed...!

Most upvc or composite doors have internal deadlocks, not yale locks, and it's quite possible for someone born in the 80s never to have had a wooden front door.

Yes always

No insurance company would pay out for a burglary when someone had left a window open.

Not one.

Exactly.

Ha ha. I promise you I haven’t! Mostly had UPVC doors or mortise locks in wooden door

I live in a tiny hamlet. I never lock my doors, except at night when I just put the chain on the front door.