House doors, why do we lock them?

[Tallim]

my front door only locks about 3 out of 20 times so i its really hard to lock mine anyway.

My old flat had a door like this, the frame warped or something and the latch didn't always line up properly. Luckily it was a small contained block of apartments, only about 6, and it had a main front door to the property.

Still worried me when I came home and found my door open.

 

[SpaceCop]

I like the clicking sound it makes. *K-CHUK*

 

[Vigilantis]

Basically everyone has given a reasonable answer to this question, its kinda obvious really.

OT: I know a guy who doesn't lock his door, and yes people walk in all the time (literally night and day) and yes things have been stolen. However a semi-happier ending to this tale...he now sleeps on the couch next to the door and has a rifle pointed at anyone who comes in at the odd hours of the night ^_^...old people are awesome.

 

[Stone Wera]

Three words. Polar... Bear... Ninjas.

EDIT: I was ninja'd by someone with a bear for an avatar talking about bears breaking in and stealing food.
Ninja'd by a bear (avatar).

MY GOD IT'S ALREADY BEGUN!!

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

If you don't lock them all kinds of nasty shit will get into your house. Like spiders, robbers, gangsters, and worst of all....Americans.

Its why my glass is bullet proof and my door quadrouple locked.

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?

I heard in england 90% of thefts are opertunistic thefts, the thief goes around, looks for empty houses, probes the defences and picks out the easy targets. Its how car thefts happen, it really is to defend against that. Thieves are smart, they go for the easiest pickings regardless of reward. Why rob a rich dude when a poor guys left the door open? The second they see your security is above par they move onto the next potential target looking for forgetfull or niave home owners who leave their security lax. Some random chav with a screw driver and a crowbar (for cars) is more than likely the culprit,these things are very rarely planned.

 

[Pegghead]

Well in answer to your first statement what would professional thieves with fancy tools be doing at a suburban home when there are plenty of banks to rob.

With that in mind most schmoes who hit up houses aren't professionals and only do it if the opportunity is present i.e an unlocked door.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

To make sure random people don't just walk in, like in Pokemon. Seriously, I walk into anyone's house, no matter the time. They could be doing anything! Anything at all, and I still charge in there. It's worse in Legend of Zelda when I run in, smash all their pots and steal their money, WHILE THEY'RE WATCHING ME!

Okay... umm... We lock them to make sure that people can not get in easily. The front door is obvious, and the more locks, the harder it is to get in. Then the alarm goes off and then I get my cricket bat.

Calumon: Pow! Right in the Kisser!

 

[JEBWrench]

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 I know from first-hand experience if a door is unlocked, it's Christmas. And with enough patience, you'll find one. Less evidence, and it's quieter!

 

[teqrevisited]

Mostly to keep thieving buggers out. But of course there's always another way in. Windows etc.

Reminds me of when I went to stay with my great aunt up near Dunbar; nobody there locks their doors. You'll get neighbours walking in for a cuppa & a chat every so often.

 

[Sallix]

Because if a door is open, it's not doing it's job as a door.

 

[Withall]

Seeing as I just got home from being locked out of my own home (and as a result, had to figure out a way of breaking in, just to GET HOME), I realized: "Huh. Locks and doors are to keep unwanted people out".

A lock (or security system) is only a way of making sure that ONLY the persons intended get in gets in easily. Everyone else can get in, it just is ALOT harder to do so easily and cleanly if you don't have the right keys.

In short: a lock keeps those who aren't welcome away cleanly and silently. Those who don't get the message, must be loud and messy to force their way in.

 

[Treblaine]

Because a lock can mean the legal distinction between "breaking and entering" and mere trespassing.

A lock is significant discouragement to thieves as it slows access and breaking the lock or window announces their intrusion both from sound and is instantly apparent once anyone arrives at the crime scene.

Like say you have a house near a road and you have your mobile or laptop on a table, a desperate drug addict walks by, needing money for a fix and sees your valuables through a window. They will test the door and if unlocked simply walk in, drab the valuables than walk out. You could have just have popped out for a minute or be in another room, your items would simply be missing and it would take a while to confirm a theft, especially to the police who'd like think you're just an idiot who lost your mobile down the back of a sofa.

Sure, a big burly bruiser could smash a window or kick your door in, but it is a noisy and uncertain proposition. Crims want easy pickings, just grab it and go, they REALLY don't want to get caught in the act.

Also lol at Michael Moore's "Canadians don't lock their doors" he tested the doors of houses where PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY INSIDE AT THE TIME! No locks their door when inside and awake. Better comparison would be how many doors unlocked late at night or when they leave to the shops.

Actually, there was a campaign by the WA Police recently called "Burglar Beware" and one of the main security tips it gave to home owners was to lock their doors and windows because that is how must robbers get in.

must... resist... O... Rly...

 

[Jack_Uzi]

I don't know how it is in your country, but if your sh!t got stolen out of your house without any evidence of breaking and entry (by a forced lock), you insurance don't pay up.
When I'm at home and go to sleep, I don't lock them. Because you need the proper key to get in. If it was their intention to get in anyways, that lock won't stop them anyway.

 

[AnAnemicTurtle]

Why wouldn't you lock your door? There's no reason not to.

 

[Treblaine]

Mostly to keep thieving buggers out. But of course there's always another way in. Windows etc.

Reminds me of when I went to stay with my great aunt up near Dunbar; nobody there locks their doors. You'll get neighbours walking in for a cuppa & a chat every so often.

if they "never" lock their doors... may I ask if they have locks on their doors then WHY do they even have locks on their doors?

I never buy the bullcrap that "there was a time when we used to leave our doors unlocked" considering how long lock-makers have been in steady business I'm going to say that was never true. OK, you don't need a lock when you are occupying a residence and are awake, but if asleep or leaving your home unattended... everyone locks that shit up.

 

[Nemu]

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

Exactly.

If they want my swag, they need to EARN it, dammit.


Otherwise, it's just a peace of mind issue.

 

[CakeDragon]

If you don't lock them all kinds of nasty shit will get into your house. Like spiders, robbers, gangsters, and worst of all....Americans.

Can you imagine an American robber-gangster spider?? That's the reason I keep my door locked (or it will be from now on).