Lock the doors
@GardenGerty (160996)
United States
March 2, 2016 8:41am CST
I grew up near a large city. I have just moved from a small town to a very small town. I am alone all day here except for the cat.
I tend to lock the doors if I am sleeping or showering. I know it sounds paranoid. I do it anyway. We are less than a mile from two different high ways and I do not have any really close neighbors. It has been commented to me by a former tenant that he had stuff taken by people who took the opportunity to come off the highway. Not that I have stuff worth taking.
On the other hand I can be out front or out back and have the doors all unlocked. I prefer to have the two back doors open. I also like the sunshine and fresh air from that direction.
I guess I wonder how defenseless others feel when having their house unlocked? Sometimes if I am sitting at the computer I will have the front door open, so Princess can tell me she wants in, or out. If I am working in the back of the house I want the front locked up, though.
32 people like this
24 responses
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
2 Mar 16
We live in a safe neighborhood and I notice that many of my neighbors will go out and leave their garage doors open. I can't get used to being so trusting and keep my doors locked and garage door shut. Although I feel safe I wouldn't want to give anyone easy access to my house.
6 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I have heard that that is a very common way for people to enter a house to commit robbery, through an open garage door.
2 people like this
@just4him (317291)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty My front door is locked all the time. We don't use it. The side door however is always open.
1 person likes this
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
3 Mar 16
I guess moving to some new place is never easy. but I'm sure you will get used to it and stop getting so worried
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
If I am awake and dressed I do not really worry. Just if I am in a vulnerable situation. I can be out working in my yard and walk around the town just fine.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Mar 16
our front stays locked, got a few neighbor kids who can be odd, dont need one letting a dog out.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
Even if they did not mean anything wrong by it, kids can be careless.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty definitely, & I don't want ta kid to be hurt, a dog getting hurt, or chasing a dog around the neighborhood.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24492)
•
3 Mar 16
It has been my habit to lock my doors. I don't worry about my keys because they are always with me, like a necklace. I do not only worry about my safety but also of the valuables inside my room.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
Having things that others see as valuables can make people want to enter your home or room.
2 people like this
@rina110383 (24492)
•
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty Precisely, that's why it pays to be paranoid at times, especially if safety is at stake.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty Does this mean that you still have highwaymen?
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
There are probably people in town here who never lock, but I am actually the closest to the Highways, so I am going to continue to lock.
1 person likes this
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
3 Mar 16
It is best to be secure. The gates are lock when nighttime.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I would like a fence and gates, I think.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I do lock for sure when I leave. I lock often when at home as well.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty I will lock them sometimes when I'm home too. Although not always.
@celticeagle (168420)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 16
I think that keeping the doors locked is a good idea unless you are going to be outside. I also think it is important to do so if you have young children. I don't think it is that paranoid to lock the doors when you are going to be in the bath. You just never know and it is better to be safe than sorry. I had a guy just come walking in my apartment one night. Ugh!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
My other house had been apartments and I had people drive through the yard or come in the door looking for former tenants.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Mar 16
In our small country town when we were first married, I don't think we even had a front door key. Here, we lock up if we go away from the place - mainly because it seems silly not to - and our insurance would be void. And if Vince is away overnight I lock up. We are well off the highway but there is always someone that could be snooping around.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
Sometimes being away from the highway can make you more vulnerable. I definitely would lock the doors at night.
2 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
3 Mar 16
My house is rather small. So where ever I am, I have the front door open and I am fine with that. But once I go take a shower or go to lay down for the night, then I close up and lock the door tight. My neighborhood isn't the greatest. But even if I was in the middle of no where i think I still would do that.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
Your community is rather large and then you have the two interstates crossing there in town. Based on some people I have known, the middle of nowhere is not really safe either.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Mar 16
If I am home alone I lock the doors. It's not paranoid it's smart. I grew up in the Chicago area so we lock everything.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
Definitely. I remember when my first husband was at "A" school on the Naval Base. They even had to remove the sheets from the bed and lock them up.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I think that is easy to do if you do not use that door very much.
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
3 Mar 16
@GardenGerty There is flap for the moggies, so I don't even have to open it for them!
@41CombedaleRoad (5955)
• Greece
3 Mar 16
I also live some distance from others but I like to lock the doors if I am upstairs or sleeping. It is better to be careful even though you may not have much to lose, uninvited people are an intrusion into your life and you need to keep your privacy.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
2 Mar 16
Hi GG. I am of the thought that you are correct to lock up.
Having experienced an incident because of not locking the door, I cannot stress enough the importance of it, even in the country.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
That would make up my mind if nothing else did.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I have four entrances to my house, and cannot always see all of them, so most of them are always locked. Definitely if I go lay down, or am in the bathroom taking a bath or shower.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41780)
• United States
3 Mar 16
We keep our doors locked. I'd rather be the one to decide who comes into my home.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I agree. It is an easy precaution to take for safety.
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Mar 16
I think you are right, we all want to be safe. I am not really afraid, but I am cautious.
1 person likes this
