[FinLady]

I'm generally home alone in the morning. Today I'm off from work, but usually go in on the afternoons anyways. DH left early, and he locked the front door behind him.

I am soo glad he did. We have a screen door that you can hear when it opens. That didn't surprise me. When a package is delivered or a sales guy comes around, they have to open it in order to knock.

The surprise was that someone tried to open my door! Scared me to death, but went to see who was there anyways. By the time I got to it and looked out the spyhole - they were gone.

I used to think we were semi-paranoid keeping our front door locked most of the time. Now I'm so glad we do. I'm a little shaken up by that reminder, but nothing happened.

[shiney sue]

A could reminder where you live now a days,no place is perfect,and sadly
the crime rate is raising everywhere...My grandmother many years ago,
use to say in desperate times,a man will steal to feed his Children..
It's wrong but people are loosing ther homes,jobs,all the things our
president assures us over and over how good our economy is. I'm glad
your huband though ,to lock the door you are well,but today we
must double check,and don't forget the car doors. Hugs to all Sue

[DM]

Hi~ Yikes~ I lock my doors all the time when I'm home alone, esp when I'm going to take a shower/bath. These are definitely different times from when we were kids'. The folks never locked the doors, even at night.

It's a scary world out there.

[Tootsie]

When I was a kid, like many 'oldies' here, we always left the doors unlocked! Sometimes in the hot summer time we would leave the door open so that cool air would come in through the screen door.

In these times I wouldn't think of doing that, but fortunately I have AC. Wonder what people do that don't have AC?

We live in a rural area. My mailbox is a way from my front door. Sometimes when I go out there I think that someone (with intent) could slip into the garage or even the front door.

I don't ever purposely leave my back door (to the deck) unlocked.

I know it sounds paranoid, but I have been robbed (many years ago) and I know thieves are bold.

Better safe than sorry I guess.

Tootsie

[Kitty]

I'm glad you're OK. It's so scary to think of all the "what if's".

I bought a storm door that locks so that I have two separate locks on the front door.

If the garage door is open I make sure that the door leading into the house is locked.

I hate being this way but we really have no choice these days. The ONE day I left the garage door to the house unlocked wouldn't you know my police officer son comes waltzing in with a lecture for me to keep my doors locked!

[Bannet]

How ScareySo glad you had your door locked.

I always keep my doors locked too! I live in the country where it is nice and quiet and I do feel safe, but I always watch what is going on around me and make sure everything is locked up tight.

I'm a chicken

[Riverwild]

Good Reminder!

I was on my way to the meet and greet that some of us had in New England. I was with some people from this board. I had a call on my cell and answered it. ( I never turn on my phone except when I am traveling!)

It was my brother, who was at my house, looking for the keys to my boat motor. He couldn't get an answer at the door, called the home phone and got no answer, and decided to call my cell. I was in another state and this little #$%^&* proceeded to lecture me on not having something blocking my windows where my AC units are, so they couldn't be opened!

He had opened the upper window, popped out my AC unit, put it on the ground and tossed my neice through the window to unlock the door so he could get the keys! All of this took less than 5 minutes.

He took out the AC unit and locked the window, went to my garage and put the AC unit away. The garage is a separate building, but the door handle is broken so he got in there too.

I was ******, both at my brother AND the old man, for letting things go without fixing.

I got home, put a reinforced padlock on both sides of the bottom of the garage door, reinforced the back of the garage door with a 12 foot 2X4, screwed the padlocks backwards to the door so the screws could not be unscrewed, using case hardened 3 inch steel lag bolts.

I also drilled holes in the upper and lower casements of the AC windows where the window hits when the upper windows are open for the units. I got steel bolts to slide in there when the units are in the windows. This stops the window from being opened from top or bottom, or popped out.
I also put a screw through where the AC unit hooks over the window opening and can slide a screw in on both sides of both units so they cannot be pushed in through the window.

I lock my windows and doors all the time. I have motion sensor security lights with 150 watt double bulbs on every side of my house and on my garage. My yard lights up like a prison yard every time something moves!
I also have guns and they are always loaded and ready. I have a hard wired driveway alarm that has 2 sensors and covers the entrance to my yard from one end to the other.

We also have key lock storm doors. The old man hates them and so do I sometimes, but when it counts, it's another layer of protection that gives you time to deal with whatever or whomever you have to deal with!

This all may sound overdone but when you live in a rural area, you need to be able to take care of yourself until help arrives in 30 minutes or so. Being proactive and taking care of the little things like this buys you time if something nasty comes along.

(PS...I hope you called the cops and didn't go outside to look around! )

[DM]

*standing up and clapping* You freakin rock, RW.

You should be a prison guard. Bet no one would escape.

I love stories where WOMEN take charge and learn to protect themselves.

ME? I'm a wimp!

[clouds z]

locks tend to prevent breakins and crime

[TheSleeper]

Same as Tootsie, I live in a rural area and some people have driveways 1/4 of a mile long, into the woods and the home is not visable from the road.

Home, Garage, and Barn break ins are the most common crime in this area, all kinds of people riding around, looking around to see what hours people are at their homes, what sort of toys the use on their land.

Most popular theft items seems to be 4 wheelers and dirt bikes, also some farm equipment and septic tank airators. Homes under construction also seen to be a favorite. If you got it, someone will try to steal it!