Why Would Anyone NOT Lock Their Doors?

[va32h]

On the "do people just walk in your house" thread, several people apparently do not keep their doors locked, hence people just walking in their house.

And recently, there was a vicious murder in our area, and the police noted that the victim did not usually lock her doors.

Okay - why would anyone purposely leave their doors unlocked? Even if you live in the safest city in the world, what possible harm could come from locking the door anyway? What benefits are there to having unlocked doors?

 

[yearbook50]

When you live out inthe middle of the country and you have two big dogs that will hurt anyone that they do not know.

 

[Bob Slydell]

We don't lock our back door. It's inside our garage, so most of the time, our garage door is down and there's no other way of getting inside our garage (e.g. there's no side door to the garage).

 

[golfgal]

Comfort level. In our old town a lot of people left their keys in the ignition of their vehicles no matter where they were (home, downtown, etc). The only time people ever had problems with break-ins (home or car) was the week of the county fair.

 

[Poohbear123]

My DM never locked her front door....but than when some neighbors started getting break ins, it was locked. This was a simple door, with glass windows that opened with a crank. (Jalousie door). My house now, has 3 locks and an Alarm System.

 

[lovmy2girls]

Sitting here at the computer and the doors are not locked. Why? Maybe its that feeling of safe because nothing has ever happend. Sadly, when its to late, thats when you lock your doors.

Sad that in todays society, you have to keep your doors locked at all times.

 

[becka]

That was my reaction too. I am almost OCD about keeping my doors locked. My DH will go get the mail or something and leave it unlocked and it drives me crazy. I guess I just don't want to take any chances even if the odds are slim that anything bad could happen. Not to mention that it slows down my kids if they are trying to sneak outside.

Of course I also lock the doors in my car when driving and some people think I am crazy for doing that.

 

[lindakmonty]

I know what you mean. I always lock my doors and double check them. We live in a very nice area...but that doesn't keep bad people out. dh will leave all the windows open and that drives me crazy..I like having everything closed and locked! Better safe than sorry!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I always keep my doors locked and double check them.

But- I believe that's a personal preference. Comfort level like someone else said.

 

[caitycaity]

i also think it is weird that people don't lock their doors. then again i have lived in and around a major urban area for the past 10 years so...

i also lock my car doors as soon as i get in.

 

[Allison]

Our doors are locked when we aren't at home and at night but not when we are home during the day. Our 3 kids are going in/out all day so it wouldn't be feasible to keep them locked then.

Growing up though I lived on a farm and in a very rural community. We didn't even have keys to lock our house and everyone just left their cars unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

 

[cinmell]

I always lock my car doors and my house is always locked. My future sister in law calls my house Ft. Knox.

 

[NMAmy]

Our doors are locked when we aren't at home and at night but not when we are home during the day. Our 3 kids are going in/out all day so it wouldn't be feasible to keep them locked then.

Same here.

 

[MushyMushy]

Big mean dog.

 

[va32h]

When you live out inthe middle of the country and you have two big dogs that will hurt anyone that they do not know.

Okay - but what benefit do you derive from having your doors unlocked? How would locking them be potentially harmful to you, in the way that leaving them unlocked could be potentially harmful to you.

I anticipated that people would say "oh I live in safe community" or "I have a big dog". Well, fine. But that still doesn't explain why you would WANT your door unlocked.

I might leave the door unlocked to go get the paper, or mail, or water the lawn, but I wouldn't sit at home all day with my doors unlocked, just for the heck of it. There is absolutely no benefit to have an unlocked door, and even a minimal risk is enough for me.

 

[Poohbear123]

I always lock my car doors and my house is always locked. My future sister in law calls my house Ft. Knox.

Mine is refered to as Ft. Knox, cause DH has a BIG safe in the bedroom, or The Dungeon, as our window shades are always DOWN to keep the sun out, and the house cool.

 

[MushyMushy]

I bet I could walk into half the houses in my neighborhood right now.

 

[azgal81]

I think it depends on where you live but even if you live in the safest town something could happen. It seems like for most of the crimes that do occur the vitims leave a door/window unlocked. I have always wondered why this was how could someone be so clueless I guess they felt safe.

I am paranoid about locking all my doors and windows. I have mutiple locks on my windows and doors they are always locked even during the day. I also have alarm sensors on them all. Yes someone could still get in my house but it will not be easy. I would hate if something were to happen to me and later someone says if only she took the time to lock her door/window she would be alive today.

You just never know!

 

[TeresaMc]

We lock the door at night and if noone is home but as long as someone is home they are unlocked. We have a minor league pro hockey team here and are friends with alot of the players, they come and go alot. Most of them just knock and announce themselves as they walk in the door.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I feel a debate starting to form.......