When you are at home do you lock the door?

I always keep doors locked. Even when I’m in the bedroom online I lock the door behind me. Anything could happen! I don’t really live in a bad neighborhood, but I know that most murders and rapes happen in random places. Not just the “bad cities”.

If I’m alone, doors are always locked. Not a bad neighborhood or anything.. I’m just paranoid.
Even if everyone is home, I’ll still lock myself in my room for privacy.

I do out of habit, not because I’m scared to get robbed. We’ve never had anything like that happen in my neighborhood. “Never” meaning during the 20 years of my life

I keep the front door unlocked for my neighbor, who’s also a close friend. I keep my back door locked and bolted just in case I have any unwanted traffic from the sketchy alley behind my house.

never in daytime- front door at night. we even leave both back doors open for the dog if it’s warm. i think i’m in a no crime neighborhood., tho my house had one lonely egg splatted on it in the summer.

Yes. Always. Ever since living in my college dorm, I got all paranoid about people walking in and stealing me.

I did last night after 10:00, but that was the first time since last Halloween.

Pretty much never. I don’t even have a key to get in here. Mine got bent and I haven’t bothered to replace it. And I live in a kinda shitty neighborhood too.

Yeah, pretty much. It’s a big house and I could be somewhere else in the house and have no idea what’s going on by the front door or one of the other doors. (Usually my parents or someone else is there, but I have been alone or just me and my sister sometimes). It’s just realistic. I live in a nice neighborhood with low crime, but it just feels better to have it locked, especially at night. No, we’ve never been robbed, but there’s no reason not to lock the doors. It’s not that hard to use a key. This isn’t small-town America where people just walk in the front door; they can knock.

As for my college dorm where I am currently living, I better lock it when I’m not there. I’ve already had both of my bike lights stolen and had to replace them and laptop theft is one of the most frequent forms of theft in colleges. Don’t want to risk it. If I’m in the room, then I can leave it open like it is now.

Only after I go to bed. And anyone reading this that knows where I live, I have a vicious dog that will bite you if you come in.

I live in an apartment and the door is always locked, someone did try and kick our door in when we were at home once, they had already kicked the neighbours door in and found an empty apartment (they were due to move in the next day). We currently live in the city centre of Leeds so like any city centre it is generally safe because there are always lots of people about but it also has it’s problems, we are moving soon (hopefully) been here nearly 5 years now and it’s time to leave, city centre living seems to have a shelf life.

No, I don’t. We live in a small town & no one ever bothers anyone. The only times I lock the doors during the day is when I’m alone here & am going to go get in the shower. Other than that, they’re unlocked & the inside doors are open. At night when I shut things up, I lock everything down, of course.

At night, yes – during the day no.

always. Only time they’re unlocked is when they’re open.

Yes—it’s a habit my mom (and grandma) drilled into me at a young age. As soon as I get in, I turn around and lock the door. It stays locked until I leave.

The only person who I might leave it unlocked for has a key.

I feel much safer, especially at night (college town! drunken idiots!) with the door locked.

When I come home at night
I lock the door real tight
People call me on the phone ,I’m trying to avoid
But can the people on TV see me
Or am I just paranoid?

When I’m in the shower
I’m afraid to wash my hair
‘Cause I might open my eyes – And find someone standing there
People say I’m crazy
Just a little touched
But maybe showers remind me
Of Psycho too much

Locked and Deadbolted 100% of the time. You learn quickly after you’ve been robbed in the past.

Yes.

I live in NYC.

Of course. I grew-up in the barrio, it’s just habit. Actually, I’m obsessive about it, even when I’m in the car.

Always locked, but not out of insecurities or my neighborhood. It’s because the locks themselves… we have to physically twist the lock and press a button for them to stay unlocked, so we just keep them locked.

Back and side door, always. Front door, only if I’m home alone and asleep. Lights are always on throughout the house, day and night.

Yes. I think it reflects on my experience with humanity and the unavoidable fact that it is unpredictable.

It is so hot here I don’t even close the door much less lock it! I also have my 4 legged intruder alarms running around.

I always lock my door. Always, no matter where I live.

I have 4 dogs, 2 of them very big & scary-looking. I keep the doors locked anyway when I’m home alone as there is a homeless shelter about a mile away, which the county uses as overflow for the jail at times.

I live in a perfectly safe neighborhood. I lock the door because it keeps my two-year-old in.

Normally I never did, even in big cities and dangerous neighbourhoods I’d leave the keys on the door, or leave it half-open to get air in the summer etc. I figure if someone really wants to break in, they’ll find a way, and your average amateur won’t dare come in if he sees there’s someone there. I lock when I leave of course, because I don’t want someone figuring out the place is empty and sneaking in while I’m away.

In my current home the door doesn’t even lock properly, and normally you could just push it and come in. All my friends knew that trick and I’d told them they could come in and wait for me if we were supposed to meet and I was late. Or too lazy to go downstairs to open. Now that lock is completely broken anyway, and it won’t close properly.

This was how I always was. But ever since last year and a series of events I’ve become paranoid. Not only do I bolt the door now (as I said, it won’t lock, but there’s a pair of heavy bolts on the inside that make it impossible to open without the use of explosives), but I also booby-trap the place when I’m away for more than a day, and double-lock from the outside.

And yes, all this (the first phase) does reflect on my personality. It took 6 burglaries (plus 1 in my car and 1 at my workplace though) and an attempt against my life for me to change my life-long habit. I was finally persuaded that perhaps people are not all that nice after all.

People, always lock your car door when you are driving also.

Yes. Always. I’m paranoid.

I need no stinkin’ locks !

“May my house be safe from tigers.”, I say, every time I enter my house.

It has worked for many years !

Locked. Always. And because of the neighborhood. There’s been a string of not-so-great things happen. Earlier this semester my bike got stolen off our front porch, my roommate’s side view mirror (on her car) was broken off, our pumpkins were recently smashed (pre-halloween night, I might add), among other things… I’m starting to see why so many people have fences on this street.

depends.if im alone, yes i’d lock the doors.but if im not alone-with fam for example- i usually not locking the door

We live downtown so unless I want a crackhead to visit me for tea- the door is locked.

My doors are locked most of the time. Definitely after I go to bed, or just head for the shower. No one needs to see me naked unless they sign an agreement first.

Ever since a neighbor kid came into my house uninvited several years ago, and $180 disappeared after that day, I prefer to keep the doors locked. I couldn’t prove he took it, but I know I didn’t misplace it. Also, if you find your way into my house, through a locked door, I can assume you are up to no good. I’m a pretty good shot, I hope you are pretty good at avoiding bullets. If you are too close for me to get off a shot, I know enough self-defense to have you down on the ground choking to death on your own blood.

I’m not some sort of bad ass, but I will protect myself by whatever means possible. If that means killing a burglar, well that’s what it means.

I lock because it’s the city.

Always lock.

My own insecurities.

I don’t understand why always locking is considered paranoid or insecure? why isn’t it just prudent? What’s the big deal, just lock it, how much effort does it take? You have the key you can get back out, you can let people in if you want the in.

@JLeslie: This is very true.

We always keep our door bolted and the chain on the door. Ever since someone broke into this house and stole jewelry amongst other things. Dirty needles and a spoon was found used in the camper out back so yeah, we lock up tight every night.

@cprevite that’s not being insecure. It’s just being safe for you & your family.

I just don’t get why people seem proud of not locking. I have a relative by marriage who says, “if you think bad things are going to happen they will.” Like she judges me for locking my door, or not wanting to drive alone at night on Danny Thomas Blvd in downtown Memphis in my Porsche (claim to fame the first car jacking happened there supposedly). Also, statements like after we were robbed we started locking. Not picking on anyone, many have said this, why do you wait until a bad thing happens? Did you think before it could never happen? Or, did you feel superior to “paranoid” people? Or, was it just habit? I’m just trying to understand?

Yeah, like I’d let complete strangers into my house and take my stuff. Yeah that’s real smart

In my case, I just never think of locking my doors until I leave or am ready to go to bed.
I live in a very low crime area, but that’s not to say something will never happen to me. So I guess I could be labeled as irresponsible.

I don’t lock the door after I come home and sometimes forget to lock it before going to bed. Of course there are a security gate and a security door on the first floor.

About 5 years ago the police came for a welfare check, I was in the hospital already and broke open the door. It took about 4 days before a new door could be installed and nothing in my apartment was bothered.

The only time anyone broke in (at another place) the door was double locked and he removed the kitchen window.

@chyna, there really is no such thing as a low crime area, unless you live in some sort of gated community complete with armed security guards. Crimes of opportunity happen in the oddest of places, even in the nice quiet suburbs. Even rural areas are susceptible to the criminal element.

@Psychedelic_Zebra I know and I do need to work on being more safety conscience. I just don’t see the bad in people.

If I am inside the doors are usually locked. Sometimes I’ll leave the back door open and the screen closed. I always lock everything down before going to bed. When I was a kid we slept with the windows and doors open all summer long, Then came the Night Stalker, a serial killer who never broke into houses – just walked through unlocked doors. That was one frightening summer in Southern California. For me the party was over after that.
@Psychedelic_Zebra where I used to live one of the most gruesome murders in recent history happened in a house that was in a gated community with guards

I am so not paranoid, I just like to be realistic. I live in a safe neighborhood but why risk it? Like @JLeslie I look at it as taking charge of my own safety.

I agree with @JLeslie! Why do people brag about not locking their door? Maybe it’s true that if bad things are going to happen, they will. But why invite the bad things? Better safe than sorry. Right?

yes, all the time.

Depends on why you are asking this question…

@ItalianPrincess1217 I’m not sure how answering this question honestly constitutes “bragging” but whatever.

@ItalianPrincess1217 @JLeslie “Bragging”? Question and answered-how does an answer you don’t agree with translate into bragging?

When my front door is closed, it’s locked. So in cold months it is always locked. In warm months I usually keep the door open if I’m home. If I go out I close the front door. I never lock the screen door.

In the back we have a sliding glass door that I don’t use much, and a regular back door. The regular back door has two locks, one on the door knob and a deadbolt. The one on the knob doesn’t work; it keeps the handle from turning, but you can still just push the door open. I never bother with the deadbolt if I’m in the house since I use the door a lot. To lock it from the outside requires a key, so I don’t trouble myself.

@galileogirl

I think they’re saying that because people feel that it is a privilege almost to be able to leave the door unlocked almost as in “I live in a quaint perfect little town where we don’t need to lock doors”. That’s just what I think; I’m not saying I agree with that sentiment. Additionally, this question is worded so that it seems those who lock their doors are “insecure” as in, truly it isn’t really needed, and the secure confident people who have realized that are the ones who don’t lock, even though that’s not true.

Basically, I think it’s fine if you don’t feel like you need to lock your doors, but those who don’t are not “paranoid” or “insecure”. I’m not so sure anyone was really bragging, though, unless they actually do feel that they’re “superior” for not doing it, but who would feel superior about something as trivial as door-locking? :\

@galileogirl I was asking why people don’t lock their door, and that it seems like they are proud of it to me, but I was not sure of their motive. As I mentioned my relative seems to think she is better than me, judges me as paranoid and ridiculous. Of course I realize not everyone is her, so that is why I asked, just to understand, not to prejudge or make assumptions. When I wrote the question originally, it did not really have to do with living in a safe place as @DominicX suggested, I had not thought of that, but maybe that is a part of it that I did not think of?

When people say I have never been robbed, or I didn’t lock the door for a week straight and nothing happened, I have no idea what that has to do with today?

It seems to me it is more effort to remember to lock your doors at night than to just be in the habit of locking every time you walk in our out. I can’t tell you how many times I have locked my husband out, and he me, by accident, because we were working in the yard and one of us came inside—it is so automatic we just do it even when we don’t mean to. But I guess if it is your evening routine it is just as habitual maybe?

I lock my front door if I am not expecting visitors. The back door that leads into my garden is unlocked if I am at home so that the dogs can go outside when they wish but I lock that before I go to bed obviously. Where I live is not a bad area at all but like @pinkparaluies said, it’s not just the “rough areas” that bad things happen so I’d rather be safe than sorry!

It’s family culture.

I lived near my grandparents’ house when I was young. We never knocked on the door when we came to visit. You were expected to walk right in if you were family. If the door was locked it meant they weren’t home. It’s that way with my all of my dad’s siblings. I have an aunt that lives close by and we always walk right in when we go to visit. If a family member comes to visit I don’t blink an eye if they walk right in.

@phoenyx interesting. But what if you didn’t live near family? I assume you would still leave your doors unlocked.

Probably. Depending on the neighborhood my wife might lock the doors though.

@phoenyx You do see there is some illogic to the whole thing. Because family might drop by she is less worried a stranger will walk in. But the two don’t really tie together.

@phoenyx My family do the same.

I’m not worried a stranger will walk in. It’s so unlikely I don’t even think about it.

@chyna & @galileogirl If you read @DominicX ‘s post, he basically explains what I meant by saying that people “brag” about not locking their doors. I am just trying to understand how people can be so easy going about it. Especially if you have children in the house. I really don’t think any random stranger will just stroll into my house one day either, but I’m not going to risk it. What if one day someone DOES try to break in, and lucky for them, I left my door unlocked? I’d kick myself in the ass for that one. I would just rather be safe than sorry. Locking my door is such a simple, quick, and easy step. I’d be silly not to at least TRY to prevent a burglar from entering my home.

@phoenyx I do plenty of illogical things myself, I was just pointing it out.

I live in a quaint, upscale ‘burb. Damn Tootin’ I DEAD bolt my doors, lock my cars and keep valuables out of plain sight.

There are often theft rashes in my area…Can you guess why? Because people like to brag about how safe our little village is, and about how they never lock their homes or cars. Often in a year there will be a month of car thefts and another month of home “break-ins” where all the criminals have to do is enter and remove belongings.

They last car theft ring went around hitting cars at noontime and after school…all the cars were running with either laptops or iPod, iPhones-etc still inside of them.

Personally, I think people that regularly leave their cars/doors open are inviting criminals in and are creating an atmosphere for crime rings to desire coming into an area.

@Spatzielover no matter how often I leave my car unlocked overnight nobody takes it! More’s the pity. My village has better cars in offer though.

@Mat74UK Keep up he good work! someone’s liable to need a getaway car at some point, and yours will be the nearest to take.

@Mat74UK My mom used to hope they would steal our Ford LTD years ago. She hated that car.

My fiancé not only doesn’t lock his car but he also leaves his keys in the ignition. When I nag him about this he simply responds “If someone steals this piece of shit, they obviously needed it more than I do.”

It makes me sad that there apparently are so many more people in the world today, as opposed to yesteryear, who have this sense of entitilement or what ever it is that makes them feel it is okay to take what belongs to someone else. What sort of mentality has evolved that allows people to have a conscience that allows them to act like that and still look at themselves in the mirror. There are many things other people have that I would like to own myself, but I would never sneak into their house and take it for my own. Why is the world turning into this sort of place?

@rooeytoo It is sad. I think a significant portion of theft is drug related, but I don’t know the percentages.

@Mat74UK I used to have an old 72 Chevy C-10 pickup truck that I always joked that if anyone stole it, they’d bring it back and give me $50 to get the radio fixed.