Do you always lock your home/apartment/etc doors?

[kdonnel]

This image has been floating around reddit for a few days.



I have no idea where the data comes from, could just be made up.

My doors are always locked, not because I make an effort to lock them, but because the electronic locks I have default to locked.

Plus I apparently live in the state either most security aware or security paranoid depending on your viewpoint.

Are your homes doors always locked? I assume the intent is locked even if home, not just when away.

 

[soccerdad72]

The door from our garage is never locked, but we don't have a side door to the garage, so as long as the garage door is closed, there's no way to get into the house that way. Our front door is usually locked, although we occasionally leave it open when we're home. Our sliding glass door off our deck is usually left open - mostly because the lock on that door is tricky and doesn't seem to want to stay locked.

 

[MsChristy12]

Yep all doors always locked as soon as we are inside. I've never left doors unlocked, not a natural thing for me.

 

[proudmomof4]

My hubby works for the police department locally, our doors are always locked unless we are in the yard or garage working on something.

When he first started at the police department, he would wake up every night and do rounds of the doors and windows to check the locks. He saw some crazy stuff happen and didn't want to take chances, so it is now a habit for all us to lock doors behind us.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah they are locked, the window locks are also always engaged when the window is closed. Whether home or not. I don't personally worry about someone coming into my house but it's second nature to do so and a precaution.

However, overall what people tend to not do because they have a false sense of security within my neighborhood and neighborhoods like mine are related to their cars when parks on their driveway or street. The overwhelming stats reflect that cars are not broken into by means of breaking a window or using a device to get the door open but by simply opening the unlocked vehicle. Many Ring videos reflecting people driving up and testing cars parked outside. In some situations (though not common) that unlocked car is used to open the garage door and then steal the cars within those by means of a garage door opener left in the unlocked cars.

I do know my next door neighbor used to leave his back door unlocked because he told us while our house was being built that the other neighbor next to us one of their daughters has what was formerly called Asperger's and one day walked into their house from the back in the wee hours of the morning and sat in their kitchen startling them when they woke up and came downstairs to see her there. I think after that he started locking his doors more.

My aunt, who lives in a neighboring city, long time ago had a person who got into her house via her unlocked front door and slept on her couch. After that she locked her doors more.

FWIW the survey was done by Vivint and only 40 people per state were surveyed which is far too low to draw any conclusions from that particular study (I know other ones have been done over time). You also need to know the demographics of those surveyed. Over a 1/5 of my state's population lives in just my county alone, the vast majority of the state is rural with some counties having less populations than my neighborhood. It makes quite a difference when you're talking about the habits of people.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

House locked any time no one is home. Although, if I'm walking the dog I might leave it unlocked. Overnight, normally locked, but sometimes forget the front door (in sun room). During the day while someone is home - if winter shut & likely locked, if summer the screen doors might be shut (no locks) or might be propped open to give the dog access to the yard.

My senior pitbull doesn't bark & casually welcomes unknown visitors, but maybe enough people see me walk him to give them pause to break into the house. If not, it's not like they're going to be doing any grand theft, I don't have much for valuable possessions.

Garage 50/50. Car 100% of the time locked, everywhere.

 

[lynxstch]

Mine house doors are always locked as I live alone now. My screen doors have keyed locks, so even if I'm in the yard I can keep them locked while I'm outside. Sheds are locked, as is the car.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Yes, everything is locked at all times even when I'm home.

I live in a cul de sac and all of my neighbors have Ring cameras so I guess by default my house is "safe" since all of them show my front door as well. Does feel a little weird though.

The overwhelming stats reflect that cars are not broken into by means of breaking a window or using a device to get the door open but by simply opening the unlocked vehicle. Many Ring videos reflecting people driving up and testing cars parked outside. In some situations (though not common) that unlocked car is used to open the garage door and then steal the cars within those by means of a garage door opener left in the unlocked cars.

This is a huge issue in my area. I've been hearing a lot about how people's cars are being broken into when they're parked on the street. It happened to one of my friends last week but her car is in her apartment's parking garage.

 

[Moliphino]

The doors are locked at night, but not necessarily during the day when we're home (I don't go around and unlock them, but might leave it unlocked after I've taken a dog out or something). I also leave the back door unlocked when I take my dogs for walks and don't carry keys.

 

[DVCjj]

Everything locked always.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I always locked doors, because I grew up in a big city where crime was more prevalent. When I moved to the small suburb I live in now, my aunt wasn't locking her front door, and I was horrified. I convinced her to start locking doors, and windows as well. We live in a very safe area, but I just feel better with the doors locked. We also have Ring cameras now as well after some cars were broken into in our neighborhood.

 

[Oneanne]

I recently moved from a very small town and while living there didn't lock the door during the day while at home or when I was going to be out-and-about, plus the car automatically unlocks itself when I'm close by, so I never used to have to get my keys out. I now live in a highly populated urban area, so the front door is always locked and I always seem to be juggling keys.

 

[CynBeth]

Everything locked always.

Same here..

 

[Ronaldo17]

Yep, always locked including the garage.

 

[MsChristy12]

My aunt, who lives in a neighboring city, long time ago had a person who got into her house via her unlocked front door and slept on her couch. After that she locked her doors more

That's very creepy!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That's very creepy!!!

I remember her telling us what had happened and even as a kid I got the goosebumps especially as I had stayed overnight at her and my uncle's house every once in a while *shudders*

 

[easyas123]

No, and we need to get better about it.

 

[slo]

Yes
Yes
and Yes!!!!

Last year we had a strange women swimming in our pool, and thank goodness we have a ton of cameras around our house so we knew to call the police.

Even before that we are always locking everything. I even lock out storm doors when I have the main doors open to let some fresh air in. I don't want anyone just walking into my house.

I can't imagine leaving my house unlocked - the thought of that scares me.

 

[Minnie1222]

Locked and armed with cameras pointing at all common spaces. We even have signs letting guests know that they're under surveillance. That still didn't stop someone from stealing my masks before the Covid shut down.

 

[Meriweather]

Always locked whether we are in or out of the house.
Except if we are around the pool in the back yard and then the French door is unlocked.