Is it "necessary" to lock your door to your house, just to walk 2 blocks to get to the trash dumpster?

Question

I just feel the need to stay on the safe side when I go take out the trash. It's not 2 blocks away, but the distance is equivalent to 2 blocks, since it's on the other side of the apt. complex.

Some people think it doesn't make sense for me to lock my door if I'm just going RIGHT there. But it's not that close as RIGHT there. & 1 of my friend's coworkers tried to falsely accuse me of being paranoid.

But I would be considered naive & irresponsible if I were to leave the door unlocked, & then, @ the snap of a finger, I walk back towards my apartment, & someone is driving off with my laptop, TV, etc.

Answer 1

Walking that far would give someone plenty of time to come into your apartment and take whatever they liked. Or just come in and wait for you to return.

Some thieves and other criminals watch their intended victim's habits before striking. Someone like that would know if you didn;t lock your door and how long it would take you to come back. You are not paranoid; you are smart and safe.

Answer 2

It's definitely better to be safe than sorry.  And it's not only your laptop, t.v., etc., that you need to be concerned with.  You need to be concerned with someone entering your apartment and waiting your return to possibly harm you.   I'm like you, I always lock my doors if I'm going to be out of visual range of my house.  It's just not worth taking the chance.

Answer 3

Very wise -- better to be considered paranoid than robbed or raped.

Answer 4

I believe absolutely that it makes sense to lock the door.. even if you are only gone gor 5 minutes that would be enough time for anyone to break in and steal something they can make into money.. and in an apartment block it is easy to not get noticed.. people come and go... all the time... so it doesn't appear suspicious to see a stranger there.. I definitely would lock the door.  also never would leave a car uhlocked even if I was gone only for some minutes. those minutes are enough for someone to either  steal the car or to use it for a ''joy ride''

Answer 5

If you prefer locking the door, you can lock it. If I were you and had been home alone when I was about to get the trash out, I 'd lock it. If you live on your own, you "should" lock it to be safe -especially if you don't live in a flat

Answer 6

I lock my door any time I leave my apartment.  I do not think you are being paranoid, I think you are being sensible.

One, you don't want your stuff gone.

Two, you don't want to walk back in and surprise a stranger.

Answer 7

I always tell people, its a bad habit I have. I lock my door, for any and every reason. Having your car stolen before, and apartment broken into, sorta does something to you.

Answer 8

better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 9

Having worked with law enforcement, l say lock your door.

After you turn the corner, is an excellent opportunity for a thief to gain access to your place.

And may decide he wants to be a rapist today.

Answer 10

Locking doors are for peace-of-mind.

Either way is fine. Forget about the name-calling like 'paranoid'.

Answer 11

Yes, even if it's only for 1 second.

Answer 12

It is necessary and for anyone to tell you that your safety isn't has a problem. It does not take long for a pervert to get into your home and hide out and wait for you to come back from that dumpster and then do something awful to you. I would rather be safe than sorry later.