Windows open at night?

[mommaU4]

I could never sleep with the windows open. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, it just wasn't smart and we always locked them.

We recently lived in northern MI for 3 years and I have a lot of family out there. They would always tease me because my house would be locked up tight like a fortress, while they would have windows wide open and doors unlocked. I just couldn't do it.

Now we live in Vegas and not only is everything locked up tight, I have the alarm on every night. Still don't feel safe at all. So many robberies and home invasions.....

 

[aprilgail2]

I figure that no one would try to climb in the front of the house, where my bedroom is, so I keep them open. All the windows are closed downstairs though.

The other day I was leaving my house and I look actoss the street and the teenage son must have forgotten his key- he jumped onto the fence, then up onto the roof and lifted the screen out of the window and he was in- took less than a minute for that kid to break into the front window- All I thought about was "wow at night someone could be in that house in no time without anyone seeing"- I do keep my ground floor windows open but we have the saftey latch that only opens the wind about 2 inches, I prefer to use the A/C though even now since I like sleeping with the temp between 60-62 in my room.

 

[DixieDolphin]

When I lived in an upstairs apartment, I left my wide windows open ALL the time. All year round. Only closed them if the wind was blowing rain in. And even then I sometimes left them open. But, then again, I didn't have A/C at the time... so you kinda had to have the windows open or you roasted in FL.

But living on the first floor, at night I usually only open them about six inches and then put the window locks on. I've only been nervous a couple of times, usually shortly after hearing gunshots or fights or whatnot nearby. I'll close them if that happens.

But most of the time, I'm pretty confidant. My dog is huge and sounds wolfishly ferocious when somebody is at the door or walking in the bushes outside my window. He may be a wuss, but he sure doesn't sound like one.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I am glad that we live in a 2 story home. I can open my windows on the top floor while we sleep. I would never be able to sleep with windows open on the bottom floor.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

During the summer, we have just about every window in the house open. I've never been concerned about someone coming in, I've been more concerned about the dog going out

 

[momto2girls]

I could never sleep with the windows open. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, it just wasn't smart and we always locked them.

We recently lived in northern MI for 3 years and I have a lot of family out there. They would always tease me because my house would be locked up tight like a fortress, while they would have windows wide open and doors unlocked. I just couldn't do it.

Now we live in Vegas and not only is everything locked up tight, I have the alarm on every night. Still don't feel safe at all. So many robberies and home invasions.....

That's me too! After living in Tampa, FL for years and then Baltimore, MD, I don't feel safe unless my house is locked up tight at all times. We now live in Ohio and it is much safer here, but old habits die hard. We never, ever leave our doors unlocked and I only open windows on the first floor if DH is home and we close and lock them at night. We also have our alarm on every night.

 

[mnasmom3]

We NEVER sleep with any window in the house open or unlocked. I might not think twice about it normally, but I had a traumatic experience as a teen that ruined it for me. At around 4:30 in the morning, my dad was leaving for work one summer day. He let the dog out the back door and then went out the front door to leave. He heard the dog barking and turned around to go tell her to hush up. When he turned, he saw a man standing over him swinging a broom handle down on his head. They got into a scuffle and the guy took off. Of course, this was all heard by my whole family who were now wide awake. My mom called the police and they discovered that this guy had one of our side windows out and was seconds from entering our house....while my parents and 2 kids were in the house. I've never ever slept with a window open since that day. This happened in an upper middle class *safe* neighborhood.

 

[jenm2878]

We leave the windows upstairs open all the time during the summer, and the downstairs windows are open while we are home and awake. Honestly, the only reason I close/lock the downstairs windows when we're not home is that I'm afraid my cats will try to go through them. They get very excited if another animal is in the yard and I'd be afraid of losing them while we're at work.

I grew up (and still live) in Ohio suburbs. I've never been afraid of open windows and refuse to start now. My parents always lived in ranch houses and my brother and my windows were always open as well.

 

[ozarkmom]

Never gave it a second thought. We have always lived in areas where it is safe to keep our windows open at night--heck most people don't even lock their doors even.

Same here.

 

[eh24fan]

I only have the downstairs windows open when we are home and awake. At night I only open the upstairs windows that don't have a porch roof below them. I'm paranoid and I know it. I LOVE open windows though.

 

[wishspirit]

I do, but we have a lock on it which means we can lock the window at 2 inches, so no one can get in. We don't have AC (no point in the UK, it rarely gets hot enough) so we open windows at night when it gets hot and put fans on. Even though i live second story on a mian road, i am just to nervous about it!

The only time i will ever open a window at night fully is when my DBF stays over, then i feel safe enough to keep the window open.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I'm another one who's glad it's warm enough to leave the windows open all the time - especially at night when sleeping. In fact, I believe all or most of our neighbors leave their windows open all night, too. Just about every one I know leaves their windows open unless it's raining or the A/C is on.

I've never been afraid of open windows and refuse to start now. My parents always lived in ranch houses and my brother and my windows were always open as well.

Same here.

 

[darlak]

I never leave my windows open at night. It has nothing at all to do with any safety concerns though. Heck, most of my windows are proably unlocked at any given time and I rarely ever lock my doors.

I never leave my windows open at night because it's almost always very humid here and if I slept with the windows open, my hair would be so big the next morning that I wouldn't be able to get through my bedroom door! I usually wash my hair at night, not in the mornings.

 

[daisax]

Bedrooms are upstairs -- have a window open at least slightly year round except when the temps get below freezing.

Downstairs the windows are about 8 feet off the ground, so I leave them open. I also have a large dog.

Criminals also will case a joint and if they see dog bowls or leashes or paraphenalia they keep going. Even if it's obviously a small dog, small dogs raise alarms just as well as big dogs, and it's better to find a house without any dog at all.

 

[sunsprinkle24]

We live in a very small town with practically no crime. But I still can't have them open while we are asleep. Even if I have them open during the day/early evening, at bedtime they are closed and locked.

 

[PatsGirl]

Windows and doors wide open at all times when the weather is warm It drives my parents crazy but because of where I live (the seclusion) I argue that if someone breaks into my home (not much breaking I guess if they can just walk in ) they were already set to do it. No one passes the house unless they know it is there and have already "canvassed" it. My other argument is that it would cost more to replace the slider than anything I own inside the house

Lately though there has been a few very disturbing incidents involving home invasions coupled with violence within a 10 mile radius and I'm rethinking my attitude...

 

[tink_n_pooh]

We have a ranch and leave our windows open. Heck we've even gone to bed and forgot to lock the doors.

I just noticed you are from Vernon I'm a Sussex County girl.... well recently relocated to Blairstown but I won't tell if you don't

The only thing I have worried about at night while sleeping with my windows is the bears And I remember once waking up with a very wet pillow, from the rain of course