Would you sleep with your door unlocked at night.

[CallMeKate]

I live in small town America, my door is always unlocked. Weather permitting, the door is open for ventilation, and a good breeze is coming in now. We have our share of meth heads here but they've never bothered me.

I live in small town America, too, and my door is always locked.
Unless I forget overnight. This used to be a beautifully quiet neighborhood
with a lot of (most) elderly neighbors... but it's changing over the years, and
it's sad to watch it (and hear the noise when it used to be so silent.)

 

[Myrtle]

Mine is a middle class neighborhood of families, a few elders and other adults without children. I remember the days of not locking doors but mine are locked and my alarm system is on at night and whenever I'm out. Things have changed and not for the better. This is the new normal.

 

[ElCastor]

No crime, that I am aware of around here. Usually locked during the day, but always at night. I have a beware of dog sign on a gate for a little extra insurance.

 

[Alligatorob]

What's a "manhole?" and why should it be in a bathroom @oscash? Manholes in a street, but within a bldg?

It does sound like an interesting apartment, doesn't it?

 

[timoc]

Would you sleep with your door unlocked at night.​

I haven't got a door on my tent.

 

[Macfan]

Ditto what Wren said, locked day and night! Don...

 

[Della]

Single person living alone without dog in dense urban region = ...(guess)

You should get a dog David. No one should live completely alone.

I keep the house dead bolted all day. Then every night about nine, after I go to bed, my husband goes out to the bars and leaves the door unlocked because he can't be bothered to carry a key.

 

[Balzac]

Locked 24/7. We live in a relatively good area but an elderly couple (in a ground floor apartment) had a break-in a few years ago one night while they were asleep inside. Our block has a communal entrance area and there were rough sleepers/homeless in there some years back. Even though the main building now has asturdy door, it only needs someone to leave it open for some reason. You never know who might be around...

 

[Old Salt]

I am so fortunate to live in a relatively crime free area and a secure apartment building. In the past I have occasionally forgotten to lock the door after my daughter's visit and it would stay unlocked for days! I never had cause to worry about that oversight! Even now I would leave it unlocked on purpose without a moment's hesitation! Foolish? Maybe, but there has not been one single case of property crime in my building since I moved here eight years ago!

 

[Balzac]

I haven't got a door on my tent.

But about the tent: do you sleep with it zipped or unzipped?

 

[Jules]

Locked 24/7. If we’re working outside and the garage door is open because we’re coming a going, the door into the house is locked. There’s a keypad lock so it’s not a nuisance opening it.

The alarm is set every night or if we go out in the daytime.

 

[Jules]

‘Manhole’. I’m guessing this means an access into the ceiling from the hallway or within the apartment. Where I worked there were central foyers from the elevator on each level and then a looked door. They also had those removable ceiling tiles. If someone wanted to they could have easily broken into the locked area by going through the ceiling tiles.

 

[Tish]

No way.

 

[oscash]

What's a "manhole?" and why should it be in a bathroom @oscash? Manholes in a street, but within a bldg?

We have a different interpretation here in Aust. A manhole is the square in the internal roof of the house where someone can get into the roof to do electrical repairs or check for leaking roofs. I have one in my bathroom and one in the garage.

 

[oscash]

‘Manhole’. I’m guessing this means an access into the ceiling from the hallway or within the apartment. Where I worked there were central foyers from the elevator on each level and then a looked door. They also had those removable ceiling tiles. If someone wanted to they could have easily broken into the locked area by going through the ceiling tiles.

Correct Jules.

 

[Ruthanne]

I have but it wasn't intentionally

 

[Naturally]

Home or away, the front door is always locked.
Ever hear stories of someone stumbling into the wrong home or apartment?
It happens and sometimes people get hurt. One thing that won't happen here.
BUT ... I never bother to close the bathroom door.
Just me and the dog and he's seen me before.

 

[StarSong]

My doors are locked and deadbolted all day. Security screens on doors are also locked and deadbolted. Nighttime and when we go out - even for a walk around the block - monitored alarm system is set. Internal and external cameras are active 24/7 and send notifications to my cell phone.

At any time I can pull up the app for 7 days of history plus live feeds of what's happening in and around my house even when on the other side of the world.

Are we maybe a little over the top with security? You bet. We try to make our home an unattractive target to opportunists.

A neighborhood friend had security bars put on all his windows. When I asked him why, he shrugged and said, "I'm in the insurance business and see burglary claims every day. They drug, kill or pepper spray dogs, smash windows to get in, carry police band radios to make sure they're well gone before help arrives, and most are in and out in under ten minutes."

The bars have a quick-release mechanism inside in case of fire or emergency.

 

[JustBonee]

I have but it wasn't intentionally

I have also, and then there's the time I left my keys in the door overnight ... on the outside.

 

[Sassycakes]

I always have my doors locked and even have sirens on my windows. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Ruthanne]

I have also, and then there's the time I left my keys in the door overnight ... on the outside.

I've left my keys in the door too...lol...great minds think alike

 

[Old Salt]

My doors are locked and deadbolted all day. Security screens on doors are also locked and deadbolted. Nighttime and when we go out - even for a walk around the block - monitored alarm system is set. Internal and external cameras are active 24/7 and send notifications to my cell phone.

At any time I can pull up the app for 7 days of history plus live feeds of what's happening in and around my house even when on the other side of the world.

Are we maybe a little over the top with security? You bet. We try to make our home an unattractive target to opportunists.

A neighborhood friend had security bars put on all his windows. When I asked him why, he shrugged and said, "I'm in the insurance business and see burglary claims every day. They drug, kill or pepper spray dogs, smash windows to get in, carry police band radios to make sure they're well gone before help arrives, and most are in and out in under ten minutes."

The bars have a quick-release mechanism inside in case of fire or emergency.

I hope that I don't sound condescending when I say how deeply sorry I am for all of you who are living in conditions where you have to be so cautious, always expecting a home invasion, or a B & E, when you are out! Does this lawlessness extend to the countryside as well? I am truly stunned because, city or country I have not ever felt threatened, and can't imagine anyone having to live in an atmosphere that must be so hard on the nerves! Especially for seniors who live alone! Please, please, don't take this the wrong way, it is not a judgment of your city or society, just honest sadness that you can't live your lives with a bit less stress!

 

[Jules]

They drug, kill or pepper spray dogs, smash windows to get in, carry police band radios to make sure they're well gone before help arrives, and most are in and out in under ten minutes."

That’s something I never thought of. It makes sense.

Most of the break ins around here are crimes of opportunity.

Our neighbour closes up every window covering really tight. It’s obvious when they’re away.

 

[Myrtle]

I hope that I don't sound condescending when I say how deeply sorry I am for all of you who are living in conditions where you have to be so cautious, always expecting a home invasion, or a B & E, when you are out! Does this lawlessness extend to the countryside as well? I am truly stunned because, city or country I have not ever felt threatened, and can't imagine anyone having to live in an atmosphere that must be so hard on the nerves! Especially for seniors who live alone! Please, please, don't take this the wrong way, it is not a judgment of your city or society, just honest sadness that you can't live your lives with a bit less stress!

I'm curious about your area, Old Salt. I'm not asking for exact location but could you say generally what country, state, city, rural, small town?

 

[Devi]

I hope that I don't sound condescending when I say how deeply sorry I am for all of you who are living in conditions where you have to be so cautious, always expecting a home invasion, or a B & E, when you are out! Does this lawlessness extend to the countryside as well? I am truly stunned because, city or country I have not ever felt threatened, and can't imagine anyone having to live in an atmosphere that must be so hard on the nerves! Especially for seniors who live alone! Please, please, don't take this the wrong way, it is not a judgment of your city or society, just honest sadness that you can't live your lives with a bit less stress!

I think you're taking this wrong and misinterpreting what's being said.

It's not a matter of it being particularly dangerous where we are. Almost nothing bad has ever happened to us, no matter where in the U.S. we've lived.

But feeling safe does not always equate to being safe. No doubt you've heard or read of instances of something bad happening, for instance robbery or some type of violence, where the people commented about what a nice neighborhood it is and how could this happen here?

Wisdom is planning ahead and ensuring you're protected. Just sayin'.