How safe would feel with the key in your front door overnight?
Aug 4th, 2006, 09:51 AM
#1
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How safe would feel with the key in your front door overnight?
Just noticed that my key has been in the front door lock since I got home late last night.
Good news - I still feel perfectly safe.
Wondered how freaked other Fodorites might be if they did the same...
Good news - I still feel perfectly safe.
Wondered how freaked other Fodorites might be if they did the same...
Aug 4th, 2006, 09:59 AM
#3
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More than once, I've stepped out to get the paper in the morning and found that I'd left the door unlocked (although not with a key in it). Doesn't freak me out.
I still remember growing up in the Ohio countryside in a big old house and we had no keys and no way to lock the house. I was probably 11 or 12, when we were going away for two weeks and had heard that there had been a robbery a few miles from us, so Dad had to get somebody to come make keys for the doors. We had even gone on vacation before that with the doors unlocked. Ah -- that was a different era.
I still remember growing up in the Ohio countryside in a big old house and we had no keys and no way to lock the house. I was probably 11 or 12, when we were going away for two weeks and had heard that there had been a robbery a few miles from us, so Dad had to get somebody to come make keys for the doors. We had even gone on vacation before that with the doors unlocked. Ah -- that was a different era.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:00 AM
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I have left the garage door open several times- I'm single and live alone and so far nothing taken from garage or house - scares me to death when I do it - guess I have just been lucky- no matter how safe your community is- an open garage door is an open invitation.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:00 AM
#5
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My neighbor sometimes forgets to close his garage door at night. I don't worry about his safety, but think it's a total waste of energy since all that cool AC air goes right our the door!
We rarely use our front door and recently realized that our youngest son didn't even have a key to the new screen door we put in. Had to get him one before our trip just in case the power went out and he couldn't get in the house. We're good about keeping doors closed, but I wouldn't "freak out" 'cause I got a trusty bat under my bed and I know how to use it!
We rarely use our front door and recently realized that our youngest son didn't even have a key to the new screen door we put in. Had to get him one before our trip just in case the power went out and he couldn't get in the house. We're good about keeping doors closed, but I wouldn't "freak out" 'cause I got a trusty bat under my bed and I know how to use it!
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:02 AM
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It has been very hot here on Nantucket this week -- 85 degrees one day!
We close the front door because we don't have a screen, but we have left the three back doors open day and night since Tuesday, whether we are here or at the beach or store. It's one of the reasons we like living here. You can get burgled, but it isn't very likely.
We close the front door because we don't have a screen, but we have left the three back doors open day and night since Tuesday, whether we are here or at the beach or store. It's one of the reasons we like living here. You can get burgled, but it isn't very likely.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:04 AM
#7
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I've left the garage door wide open on many occasions, including once in the last month. My family and I are fortunate to live in a county that averages less than one murder a year and very little in the way of violent crime.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:05 AM
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Hi starrsville, I have done that! It didn't freak me out but it reminds me that my late MIL did that just once and a creepy man walked into her house about 11:30pm while she was watching TV. She screamed and screeched so loud he ran away, lol. It could have been a disaster though.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:07 AM
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I'd feel a little weird about actually leaving the key in the door, but leaving the door unlocked doesn't bother me.
I spent a summer living with a family in Massachusetts that left the doors unlocked all the time (I never even saw a key to the house) and left the keys in the ignition of the cars in the driveway. That was an eye-opening experience!
Joanne
http://www.vacationing-with-kids.com
I spent a summer living with a family in Massachusetts that left the doors unlocked all the time (I never even saw a key to the house) and left the keys in the ignition of the cars in the driveway. That was an eye-opening experience!
Joanne
http://www.vacationing-with-kids.com
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:08 AM
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I would freak out, but I'm paranoid like that.
I went to college in a small town and a lot of people I knew came from places where people even left their cars unlocked. The one girl said that it was not uncommon to leave your car keys inside the car, with the doors unlocked!!
I went to college in a small town and a lot of people I knew came from places where people even left their cars unlocked. The one girl said that it was not uncommon to leave your car keys inside the car, with the doors unlocked!!
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:11 AM
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My husband and I once left our patio door open for almost a week. Totally forgot about it. We've also slept with the garage door open more than once. We wouldn't do it on purpose, but luckily we must be in a good neighborhood! 
I know someone who, for years, has left his car unlocked with the keys in the ashtray. Now THAT'S a good area.
I know someone who, for years, has left his car unlocked with the keys in the ashtray. Now THAT'S a good area.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:12 AM
#13
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I've done it several times. As a matter of fact, when I can't find my keys, my husband now tells me to "check the lock". It doesn't freak me out. If someone wanted to come in and get me, it would be easier to break a window.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:13 AM
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In MI, there are probably 30 homes within the lake region and I don't think half of them lock their doors at all.
The people across the street from me in IL leave their 3 car garage door open, even in winter. They have been robbed.
I could never go to sleep without checking the doors. Where I live now is safer than most places in my county.
When I sleep at my parents house, I never sleep.
The people across the street from me in IL leave their 3 car garage door open, even in winter. They have been robbed.
I could never go to sleep without checking the doors. Where I live now is safer than most places in my county.
When I sleep at my parents house, I never sleep.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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Wouldn't bother me at all. Actually, we've done that a lot lately and just laugh about it....We, too, live in a community where cars are usually left unlocked, and running in the winter time during trips to the store.
What about if you realized you left the front door wide open the whole night...The other night I went to bed before my fiance and specifically said to him "don't forget to close the door and lock it". Well, he went out to the living room before me the next morning and reported back that the door had been left open all night. I just said "You're kidding me? I knew there was a reason I told you not to forget it". Lot of good that did--he still forgot it Either way, it didn't really bother me.
When I'm home by myself, though, I worry a little more. There's a bunch of drunks who hang out at the lot next to our house because that's where they park their trucks from their tree cutting business. They're harmless and I've known most of them my whole life, but still...get wind that a hot chick like me home is alone and who knows what could happen
What about if you realized you left the front door wide open the whole night...The other night I went to bed before my fiance and specifically said to him "don't forget to close the door and lock it". Well, he went out to the living room before me the next morning and reported back that the door had been left open all night. I just said "You're kidding me? I knew there was a reason I told you not to forget it". Lot of good that did--he still forgot it
Either way, it didn't really bother me.When I'm home by myself, though, I worry a little more. There's a bunch of drunks who hang out at the lot next to our house because that's where they park their trucks from their tree cutting business. They're harmless and I've known most of them my whole life, but still...get wind that a hot chick like me home is alone and who knows what could happen
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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That won't happen to me, since we never lock our doors, either. I keep a spare houseky in the garage in case I get locked out accidentally.
I did leave my key in a hotel door overnight a couple of years ago. The cleaning staff pointed it out in the AM. I'll always feel safe at the funky but charming Murray Hill East Suites in NYC, probably one of the few hotels left that even uses keys anymore.
I did leave my key in a hotel door overnight a couple of years ago. The cleaning staff pointed it out in the AM. I'll always feel safe at the funky but charming Murray Hill East Suites in NYC, probably one of the few hotels left that even uses keys anymore.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:23 AM
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My DH has done this many times and now that my DS is a driver he came home and failed to lock the front door - probably left over from not being the last one in bed before. He knows better now. But the oddest thing is before we went on vacation we were running around doing all our errands. (When I'm out during the day I do not lock the door to the house from the garage and therefore do not take the house keys with me.) DD and I went out after DH and the door got locked. Well in anticipation of our vacation DH had removed the hidden keys from their outside locations and he did not take keys wiht him as he did not know we would leave the house. We came home (it was 110 degrees that day)and he was pretty mad when he found out we didn't have keys. While he was on the roof checking 2nd floor windows I took my least favorite credit card and swiped it between the door jamb and lock of one of our door and bingo the door opened. It took about 1 second. So keys or no keys it's pretty easy to get into our house. While DH cooled off inside the house I was at Home Depot purchasing a deadbolt!
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:23 AM
#19
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I can go one up on all previous responses - I don't even have a key to my front door - I keep giving it to one of the kids who loses it, etc.
We always go in thru garage door with clicker in car - and door to house from garage is usually unlocked. When it is not, there is a key well hidden.
If I get home and the power is out so the garage door will not open, I have to try to remember where I hid a key outside. If there is snow on the ground, I am in trouble. So most of the time it is just easier to leave it unlocked.
I have this theory that if someone is going to break into my house, it is not going to be thru the front door - s/he will go thru basement window or slider. And no one is going door to door trying front doors to see if they are unlocked - houses are too far apart and neightbors way too nosey.
We always go in thru garage door with clicker in car - and door to house from garage is usually unlocked. When it is not, there is a key well hidden.
If I get home and the power is out so the garage door will not open, I have to try to remember where I hid a key outside. If there is snow on the ground, I am in trouble. So most of the time it is just easier to leave it unlocked.
I have this theory that if someone is going to break into my house, it is not going to be thru the front door - s/he will go thru basement window or slider. And no one is going door to door trying front doors to see if they are unlocked - houses are too far apart and neightbors way too nosey.
Aug 4th, 2006, 10:30 AM
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I was home in my apartment on a weekday one afternoon when the doorbell rang. I was working from home and definitely not expecting any visitors. I went to the door and slid the chain over before looking out the peephole. I could see that it was a UPS delivery man, so I opened the door a bit but still had the chain on. He leaned in a bit and said, "M'am, your keys are in the door." I was SO embarrased...
