House doors, why do we lock them?

[Edorf]

So, I was really bored yesterday and started thinking (OH MY GOD!). Why do we actually lock the doors to our houses when we're going out? I mean, if someone wants to rob your house it's not likely they'll just walk away if the door isnt open. When people rob houses they usually have tools to break in to your house, and I very much doubt they'd even check the door before breaking in.

Short: Why do we lock our house doors?

 

[delet]

"Locks keep honest people honest"

A lock will only do its' job to keep those who aren't seriously considering it away. If you're seriously considering breaking into a house nothing will stop you.

 

[Mr. Cuddles]

well, I think it's an insurance issue, if you lock your door then the theif has to cause damage to get in, if you leave the door unlocked, your house isn't as safe as it could be and insurance probably won't pay out.

I think....

 

[Edorf]

"Locks keep honest people honest"

A lock will only do its' job to keep those who aren't seriously considering it away. If you're seriously considering breaking into a house nothing will stop you.

I very much doubt people will go up to your house, check if the door is locked and then walk away again ^^

 

[Tourette]

Why make the burglars and the opportunist thief job easier by leaving them unlocked .

 

[Hobo Joe]

Many would-be burglars actually just walk up to the front door(s) and windows to see if there's a possibility of easy access and if not they walk away. The more determined among them however wouldn't bother checking and would just get in regardless.

 

[delet]

"Locks keep honest people honest"

A lock will only do its' job to keep those who aren't seriously considering it away. If you're seriously considering breaking into a house nothing will stop you.

I very much doubt people will go up to your house, check if the door is locked and then walk away again ^^

I think it's more true with cars than houses, but it still stands true. A lock will only ensure that those who don't actually plan to break in won't be tempted to break in.

 

[BoxCutter]

To deter the lazy thieves.

 

[Paksenarrion]

I like to leave the door to my house slightly open and all of the lights turned off, except for a single source of light streaming out of the open door. Once a would be thief is curious enough, they see a fairly empty house, the furniture covered by cloth, and a lone television set sitting at the far end of the hallway.

If they're not unsettled by the surroundings, the television suddenly turns on, static filling the screen.

...and etc.

 

[afaceforradio]

So, I was really bored yesterday and started thinking (OH MY GOD!). Why do we actually lock the doors to our houses when we're going out? I mean, if someone wants to rob your house it's not likely they'll just walk away if the door isnt open. When people rob houses they usually have tools to break in to your house, and I very much doubt they'd even check the door before breaking in.

Short: Why do we lock our house doors?

Because smashing a window gives them more chances of being caught, whereas just walking through an open door won't turn a single head.

Besides, with better quality windows being produced nowadays (double glazing, less easily broken glass etc) it literally helps stop unwanted people coming in.

 

[Stoic raptor]

Every post above this one has the right answer

 

[Tharwen]

"Locks keep honest people honest"

A lock will only do its' job to keep those who aren't seriously considering it away. If you're seriously considering breaking into a house nothing will stop you.

I very much doubt people will go up to your house, check if the door is locked and then walk away again ^^

But if not locking houses became the norm, people would get used to the idea that they could just go into any house whenever they wanted and a lot more stuff would be stolen.

 

[RatRace123]

We have to lock them, it gives us peace of mind, and only the really serious burglers would be prepared to break and enter. Neighboorhood punks however, could easily get to an unlocked house and take what they please.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

For insurance to say you weren't basically inviting people in. And also because some burglars only use simple tools that open the door from the inside (as would be required). Locking prevents this and most burglars will go somewhere else at this point.

Well that's how I got robbed.

 

[hcig]

Because if we didnt lock our doors, young boys wearing funny clothes would run in, smash all our pots, and steal our money from them.

 

[goldenjester]

"Locks keep honest people honest"

A lock will only do its' job to keep those who aren't seriously considering it away. If you're seriously considering breaking into a house nothing will stop you.

I very much doubt people will go up to your house, check if the door is locked and then walk away again ^^

No, but they'll have to break a window or door or something to break in, which leaves evidence. In fact, a lot of the time, criminals will go through a neighbor and look for cars missing from driveways. If they're gone, they'll check to see if the door is unlocked. If it is, they can walk in, no turned heads. The easiest kind of theft is the kind where no one suspects theft...

EDIT: Oh, and your home security system doesn't work when the door's unlocked.

 

[Ranorak]

What else am I to do with this Shield-Key.