Do you lock up your house including windows when you go out?

[annsni]

We were at my ILs a few weeks ago and it was a GORGEOUS day with low humidity, a wonderful breeze and cooler temps after having a record breaking summer. It was time for us to go to dinner and my MIL said to my FIL "You close the windows in here, I'll get the den." Both my husband and I said "Leave them open!! Let the nice air in!" and they wouldn't do it. I said that I left my windows open at home so that the house could finally get aired out and they were shocked!! "You leave your windows open when you go out?? Even on the first floor??" Yep!! We do!! Sure, we lock the doors but the windows? Unless it's going to rain, we leave them open in good weather. Then I remembered that they even lock the house when they are out gardening because my MIL locked herself out of the house numerous times where we had to go over with the key to get her back in. Of course she wouldn't give a key to a neighbor for fear they might steal something!!

Oh - she said "Well, you must live in a better neighborhood than we do." Yeah, they lived in one of the nicest neighborhoods around for years and just 3 years ago moved to a retirement community that is well watched by security. LOL

So, do you lock up when you go out? I'm talking under regular circumstances and not going away on vacation. Going to school, going to work, going out for the day, etc.

Thanks!!

 

[StefanM]

As a victim of two break-ins, I always lock EVERYTHING. Of course, that doesn't stop a burglar, but I don't want to leave any "low-hanging fruit."

 

[mcdirector]

We lock everything we don't forget to lock.

 

[Jim1999]

We don't even have locks on our doors. We, however, live on a 100 acre estate in the country. The only entrance is a 1/4 mile lane through 19 acres of hardwood trees. We have also had as many as 18 dogs in or around the house and a mean goose for 22 years...lol.

The only danger around here is our daughter who may borrow a tool.

We did have to put a padlock on the front door when we went away for three weeks for insurance purposes.........we hung the key on a nail beside the door in case someone wanted to get in.

No fear here.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Tom Bryant]

Lock everything even when we are going out for a walk. I hate that we have to, but we do.

 

[Steven2006]

We lock everything, and while doing so wouldn't keep a professional burglar out if he wanted in, it will keep out the amateurs and teens.

 

[SolaSaint]

We lock when we go out, but our Doberman keeps anyone away. He does a good job at that.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Depends on where I'm going, what time of day it is and how long I'll be gone.

If I'm only running down the street to buy milk I might not lock the door. If I'm going to be gone all day, the whole house gets locked. If its night, I lock the door period.

However, I have 4 dogs. You'd be amazed at how many folk are scared of my big dogs, when its the little one that would bite their leg off and chew on the bone. Poor thing, no one wants to dare the big dogs so she can have he chance. LOL

 

[SaggyWoman]

Usually, I lock everything. Unless I just am running out for a minute, and I am still in the community.

As far as the windows go, I really can't remember if all of them have the locks cocked or not. hheeee. I need to check that. But, if i have the windows open, I don't usually close them to go out...... but the season here to keep the windows open for long is not very long. I would, though.

At this time I feel very safe in my neighborhood. I have accidentally left my doors unlocked at night. I have left my back door unlocked and open on purpose so my cats could go out on the porch.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

I lock my doors at night (but only after a family massacre 5 miles away) and if I'm going to be away for a few hours. I leave them unlocked if I'm just running a quick errand.

Windows never get locked, except in the winter when I don't plan on opening them for several months, and that is not for security, but for cutting down on the heat bill.

If it's nice weather, the windows stay open, even if we are going on an overnight trip.

No one steals around here. The house is safer than my car (which I DO keep locked). It gets vandalized at least once a year. :tear:

 

[Gina B]

Everything locked and alarmed and at night the alarms are set to trigger from the inside as well as the outside.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I don't think so. It's been so long since our home was unattended or unwatched, I'm not sure I remember.

Besides, whenever we have guests over, we always have to ride out to the highway to meet them because you can't even tell that the road that leads to our house is there.

I agree with the others that even a lock won't keep a good burglar out, but how a burglar would find our house in the first place, I can't imagine.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I live in a locked, gated community and rarely lock my door, and I never open windows.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

I find it interesting that so many in rural areas are always locking their doors and windows. For about six months a year (from October thru March), we can usually leave most of our windows open so we can enjoy the weather -- no need for the a/c or the heat during that time.

 

[billwald]

Lock doors and usually turn on the alarm. The neighborhood is going down hill. The Wife and I agree we should move She wants her dream house, I want a paid off house.

 

[Alcott]

Yes-- as far as that goes. A few years ago my central A/C went bad and for a couple of years I had a technician charge it in May. But it would lose all the coolant by August. I had already gotten a small wilndow unit for my bedroom, as it seemed 'overcool' to keep the entire house A/C'ed for hours when I only needed one small room cool. So when I found out it was the coils and would cost about $1200 to replace them, I bought an A/C for the den, which has worked well and kept my electric bill at $40 to $70 a month. Most houses like mine that I have been told about, cost more than $200/month June through September.

Back to the question... with 2 wilndow units, I have nailed blocks to keep the raised windows from being raised further by any potential intruder. Otherwise, I do lock all doors and windows, ordinarily keeping the windows locked all the time. A few weeks ago, when there were tornados in the area and I had 3 stops to make on the way to work, I forgot my cellphone, which was in the overnight charger. So that day I considered what I need to check before leaving the house and, taking a page from flight training, made it into an acronym: DIG-COST=>

D...doors-- be sure they are locked
I... internet-- be sure it is disconnected
G...glasses-- make sure I have my bifocals and sunshades
C...cellphone-- make sure I have it with me
O...oven-- toaster oven (my only working overn), check that it is off
S...stove-- check that all burners are completely off
T...temperature-- be sure A/C (or heat) is off or reset

While that may not be a complete list of all things to check, it covers what I know I may overlook if not for some 'artificial' reminder.

 

[Melanie]

Absolutely paranoid about security....having been buggled three times so I am completely over it. Lock everything, the insurance companies treat you as if you framed the whole thing....totally distressing.

 

[abcgrad94]

We lock up. I even keep the door locked during the day when I'm home, simply because we've had people try to "walk in!"

 

[Gina B]

We lock up. I even keep the door locked during the day when I'm home, simply because we've had people try to "walk in!"

We're more concerned with locking it while we're here rather than while we're away. The material things I care about most aren't valuable to anyone else and the artwork on the wall contains more peanut butter than Picasso so I think we'll survive if anyone robs us while we're out and about. :laugh:

 

[annsni]

TOTALLY strange thing happened today that made me think of this thread (and my posting on Facebook). Hubby and I got away for 3 days without the kids. The big girls (18 and 20) stayed home to go to school and work and the two little ones (7 and 9) went to Grandma and Grandpa's. Today as we were driving out to see a lighthouse, we got a call from our 18 year old who was at school. She said that she got a call on her cell phone with our home number on the caller ID and the message (she was in class so she couldn't pick it up) was just muffled voices in the background. The thing was, no one was home at the time of the call!! She was totally freaked out which I understand. So I told her to not go straight home when she was done with school but to stop up at church and see if any of the big guys would come home with her to check things out but after I got off the phone, we decided to call our local police to see if they could check out the house. They did and all was fine - all the windows and doors were secure. See why I thought of this thread??

But all was fine. We're home and everything is where it's supposed to be. But it made me think....