Close and lock your doors.

[Doug M.]

I would say this in a more emphatic (potty fingers) manner, but I don't need the points. Think of a highly caffeinated R. Lee Ermey.

I regularly see reports of incidents occurring in which victimization is made easier because of complacency and a failure to recognize what bad actors are really like. It just boggles my mind. Will closing and locking your doors prevent all bad things? No. Will it make it less likely that you will experience bad things? Yes.

I'll admit, I like (and value) most animals much more than most people. A recent story from the west side of Washington (Black Diamond) reinforces my point, and might get people who are complacent about their own well-being to pay more attention because of the risk to their pets.

A man buying gas left his vehicle unlocked with the keys (and the family dog) in it. Utterly unacceptable. Period. Inexcusable. Period. The pickup was stolen, with the dog in it. The family spent more than a day frantic about their dog (the pickup can be replaced). It all ended up reasonably well. King County SO found the pickup, pursued it, and the offender died from being shot as a result of his violent resistance/attack on the deputies. (Yes, I do cheer that - we must celebrate the triumph of good over evil, not act as if this is a bad thing. American LE kills only a tiny percentage of the people who present a potential threat of death or great bodily harm to them, and to innocent citizens.) The dog was recovered safe, and should be ok, but he was obviously neglected during that time.

Having been a full time prosecutor and part time cop for most of my adult life, I am constantly frustrated and amazed at the number of people who make it easy to prey on them. Should we have to take such actions? No, only the criminal is responsible for their actions. However, failing to recognize the reality of these people is just plain stupid. I've probably said some questionable things to victims about their complacency, but I was not put on this planet to tell people what they want - I'm here to tell them what they need.

Make a resolution, from this moment forward: Make yourself, your family, your property unappealing to criminals. If you ever have a door unlocked except to pass through it, pay someone to give you a first rate butt chewing and a good bit of slap therapy.

 

[glenwolde]

We used to have thieves walk through the neighborhood trying car doors and front doors. My neighbor was having a small family party when a guy just walked in his front door. Saw the crowd and just turned around and walked off like nothing happened.

I failed to lock my car parked on the street once, came out and it had been rifled through. They got about $4.00 in change. They left my good jumper cables thankfully.

 

[Beauetienne]

Wise words that need repeating.

 

[CA Escapee]

This topic reminds me of a Denver, CO fire captain that was leaving one of their buildings. He was driving out of the driveway, made it to the street, stopped and devoted all of his time looking at his cell phone.

A certified 'round the bend loony Denver "resident" walked up, opened the passenger door, hopped in and started hacking on him.

Had he locked the door after getting in she would have been outside scratching up his paint instead.

Do you think he'll lock his doors from now on?

Bill

 

[Rustyt1953]

As Jeremiah Johnson said to Del Gue: "sound wisdom".

 

[GypsmJim]

I have had my car broken into 4 times in the past 51 years. Each time it was parked in what seemed like a secure location, and each time it was locked.

They got a camera, 2 radios and a Hurst shifter. If it has been unlocked they would have gotten a camera, 2 radios and a Hurst shifter. Instead I lost a camera, 2 radios a Hurst shifter..... and 4 windows.

After the last insurance payout my agent recommended not locking the car.

I still lock it!

 

[islamoradamark]

MY friend was working on my signal downstairs and I locked the downstairs door so we could go upstairs and work on the problem. He made a comment do you always lock the door we will be right back, I told him I would not leave it unlocked for a second.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Been my SOP for years. In the Army we always made sure our wall and footlockers were locked, the arms room, etc. I live in an apartment complex, I lock my front door when I go down to the Laundry Room. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Ziggy2525]

In my city, the thug behavior du jour is kids, probably 14 to 20, that walk down the street around 1 to 2 am looking for open car doors. Then when they find them (no shortage), rifling through the car. People post multiple surveillance videos of it pretty much every day on Ring and Next Door.

It’s probably more common in “good” neighborhoods than bad.

 

[DWalt]

In the last two years, we have had three car break-ins in our cars parked in the driveway. Doors were locked every time. We stopped locking the car doors, but never keep anything of value inside.

In one of the break-ins the door lock was messed up, fairly expensive to fix. The other two, no signs of how the doors were opened, but no damage was done to them. Nothing worthwhile was stolen in any of the break-ins. For sure, you should NEVER keep your garage door opener inside a car on your driveway.

 

[gonerydin]

I stopped locking my car at work after the second broken window.
My mother’s front door to her house received $2500 in damage from a break in that netted the thieves about $25 in loose change. Ironically they didn’t even try the back door that was unlocked. LOL
Pros and cons to every situation.
I lock my house at night if I’m home.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rastoff]

I stopped locking my car at work after the second broken window.

This is wrong thinking. Insurance will replace the window. More importantly, you have allowed the criminal to train you to help them. You can do what you like, but I'm not inviting the criminal to steal anything from me. Rather than give in, we should be taking steps to correct the aberrant behavior.


My father gave me some sage wisdom when I was small. He said, "The determined thief cannot be stopped. With enough time and planning, any security system can be breached. The idea is not to prevent any kind of thief, but to slow them down as much as possible. By doing that, the less determined thief will seek sport elsewhere."

I could live in a prison and drive an armored car. That will stop almost any thief. However, I don't like either of those things so, I compromise. I don't leave my doors unlocked and I try to keep my head on a swivel.

I don't like blaming the victim, but, friends, leaving the keys in your ignition is just stupid squared. I wouldn't do that out of habit, but I probably could if I have my dog in the car:

 

[Old_Cop]

Anyone remember the cars in NYC with signs in the rear windows "NO RADIO".

 

[Echo40]

Sadly, anybody naive enough to leave their doors unlocked and windows open is either too ignorant, too stubborn, or otherwise so hopelessly in denial in regards to just how evil people can be to ever listen to reason.

Seriously, I used to know folks like that, the sort who leaves their doors unlocked, their windows open, their car keys in the ignition, speaks loudly in public places bragging about some expensive new thing(s) they bought, and just about anything else you could think of to paint a target on their backs or make it as easy as possible for themselves to be victimized. Any words of caution that I ever gave to such people fell upon deaf ears, quickly dismissed/disregarded along with an insinuation of paranoia.
Fortunately, such folks who choose to live their lives with their heads buried in the sand are also characteristically the sort of fair weather friends who stop talking to you the minute you attempt to confide in them during a rough patch in your life because they just can't accept that life isn't just sunshine and rainbows, so I was never around to hear if their unsafe negligent lifestyle ever caught up with them, and I honestly hope that it didn't, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear that they had since been burglarized or something.

People like that can only learn things the hard way and you can only pray that it doesn't happen under dire circumstances in which it isn't too late for them to wise up.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no conspiracy theorist, doomsday prepper, or over-the-top cynic who suspects every person I pass by of villainy, but I certainly don't consider it safe nor advisable to leave my doors unlocked or my windows open because while not everybody is a criminal, they aren't all innocent either. I believe in being vigilant as well as diligent to minimize the possibility of falling prey to would-be criminals, that's all.

 

[italiansport]

I don't know what the insurance regulations are today but years ago I had my locked car broken into and a radar detector stolen. The insurance company paid after I was able to show them the door lock had been forced open.
Jim

 

[gonerydin]

Sadly, anybody naive enough to leave their doors unlocked and windows open is either too ignorant, too stubborn, or otherwise so hopelessly in denial in regards to just how evil people can be to ever listen to reason.

Seriously, I used to know folks like that, the sort who leaves their doors unlocked, their windows open, their car keys in the ignition, speaks loudly in public places bragging about some expensive new thing(s) they bought, and just about anything else you could think of to paint a target on their backs or make it as easy as possible for themselves to be victimized. Any words of caution that I ever gave to such people fell upon deaf ears, quickly dismissed/disregarded along with an insinuation of paranoia.
Fortunately, such folks who choose to live their lives with their heads buried in the sand are also characteristically the sort of fair weather friends who stop talking to you the minute you attempt to confide in them during a rough patch in your life because they just can't accept that life isn't just sunshine and rainbows.

People like that can only learn things the hard way and you can only pray that it doesn't happen under dire circumstances in which it isn't too late for them to wise up.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no conspiracy theorist, doomsday prepper, or over-the-top cynic who suspects every person I pass by of villainy, but I certainly don't consider it safe nor advisable to leave my doors unlocked or my windows open because while not everybody is a criminal, they aren't all innocent either. I believe in being vigilant as well as diligent to minimize the possibility of falling prey to would-be criminals, that's all.

Locks only stop honest people


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dockmurgw]

If I locked my doors I wouldn't be able to get back in...lost the key years ago. As for the dog thing...just being in a moving vehicle is a far greater risk. Killed by an inflating air bag, fluffy the projectile going through the windshield...all come to mind when I think of an even a minor collision.

 

[dockmurgw]

Sadly, anybody naive enough to leave their doors unlocked and windows open is either too ignorant, too stubborn, or otherwise so hopelessly in denial in regards to just how evil people can be to ever listen to reason.

Seriously, I used to know folks like that, the sort who leaves their doors unlocked, their windows open, their car keys in the ignition, speaks loudly in public places bragging about some expensive new thing(s) they bought, and just about anything else you could think of to paint a target on their backs or make it as easy as possible for themselves to be victimized. Any words of caution that I ever gave to such people fell upon deaf ears, quickly dismissed/disregarded along with an insinuation of paranoia.
Fortunately, such folks who choose to live their lives with their heads buried in the sand are also characteristically the sort of fair weather friends who stop talking to you the minute you attempt to confide in them during a rough patch in your life because they just can't accept that life isn't just sunshine and rainbows, so I was never around to hear if their unsafe negligent lifestyle ever caught up with them, and I honestly hope that it didn't, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear that they had since been burglarized or something.

People like that can only learn things the hard way and you can only pray that it doesn't happen under dire circumstances in which it isn't too late for them to wise up.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no conspiracy theorist, doomsday prepper, or over-the-top cynic who suspects every person I pass by of villainy, but I certainly don't consider it safe nor advisable to leave my doors unlocked or my windows open because while not everybody is a criminal, they aren't all innocent either. I believe in being vigilant as well as diligent to minimize the possibility of falling prey to would-be criminals, that's all.

I think i was just insulted! No matter, I get your point. But a lot of you guys need to consider that not all of us live where you live, and after reading some of these comments I say Thank God For That!! I did have gas taken from my barn one time. I went to fill up the mower and found the can empty and a $20 dollar bill placed underneath it...it wasnt enough of an inconvenience to make me go buy a lock, i just assumed it was someone that ran out of gas and decided not to call AAA. And yes, we even have self serve vegetable stands accross the region in the summer where you grab the vegetables and leave money in a box.

 

[REM 3200]

Make a resolution, from this moment forward: Make yourself, your family, your property unappealing to criminals. If you ever have a door unlocked except to pass through it, pay someone to give you a first rate butt chewing and a good bit of slap therapy.

Folks, Doug M. is right. Lock your house, even it you are at home.
It ain't the 50's anymore.

 

[Squarebutt]

My sister worked at a restaurant in Vermont during her college years. One day a carload of tourists pulled up, and as they got out the driver asked one of the locals, "Should I lock my car?"
"I would if I were you" came the reply, "or someone might leave a zucchini in it."