Should I worry?

[357wheelgunner]

I'm at home tonight with my 3 year old daughter and german shepard, my wife is working.

When I'm home I keep the deadbolt unlocked and the "hotel lock" chain thing locked. An hour or so ago I heard the door move but I figured it was the dog messing around. She was kinda pacing by the door whining a bit which she does all the time. I just checked and the hotel lock is fully extended, like someone tried to open the door but the lock caught it.

Do you guys think it was something to worry about or some kind of accident due to all of the doors looking alike?

Forgot to add we live in a $1000 a month apartment in an extremely wealthy area, everyone who lives here has to pass a criminal background check and I have never heard of any crime issues. It's all old people or yuppies that live here.

 

[Donut]

When I read, "we live in a $1000/mo apartment" My first thought was, "Oh, he lives in a not-so-great area." Then I read your location.

I really hate Southern California's cost-of-living.

Would your dog have done more than whine if someone had tried to open the door? My dog goes nuts if anyone walks on the porch, let alone touches the security door, but she won't bat an eye if the door opens due to wind. Could it have not been shut all the way?

 

[357wheelgunner]

She probably would have barked a bunch, or maybe just tried to lick the intruder.

 

[YammyMonkey]

I would be concerned & would keep the deadbolt & chain engaged. That's what I do at home even though the chain is little more than a noisemaker. Forgot it was engaged one night, went to open the door using no more force than normal & popped the chain out of the slot.

If it was someone looking for easy pickings they may have found a med-soft target. I'm sure crime in high-rent areas pays better with less chance of back-alley or back-woods justice coming back around.

Use the deadbolt.

 

[migoi]

As long..

as your namesake is close at hand, I would think the goblins would have to worry more.

migoi

 

[hso]

It's improbable that there was any real threat and the fact that you live in a screened apartment building reduces your potential for a problem, but you've not told us if there's a doorman for the building or if there's anything that stops anyone from coming in. You've not told us if they ban teenagers or anyone between the ages of 12 and 27 that might have friends that can't be trusted. Tenants may be screened, but guests aren't and juveniles won't have a record that can be checked. With that in mind -

I keep the deadbolt unlocked

Then what's the point of the deadbolt? Why have a door at all and not just a drapery over the doorway? The door chain won't stop anyone determined or even in a hurry if it's not screwed in with deck or drywall screws.

Or, would you want your wife and child to be at home without you with only the door chain on and the deadbolt not in use?

 

[Fawkes]

It's already been stated, but lock that deadbolt right now, mister!

 

[katonk]

I'd lock the deadbolt from now on too...HOWEVER....I had a neighbor accidently think he was on his floor (3rd) and tried to open mine (2nd)...he had another flight to go...

 

[Gocart]

DEADBOLT. Seatbelts. Fire Extinguisher. Life Insurance. Spare Tire.

Get it?

 

[HuntingAintHuntingNoMore]

Just because someone passes a background check doesn't mean that they're not bad, just that they haven't been caught. Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownsby were found about 7 miles from my house. The main suspect had no serious run ins with the law. Trust no one.

 

[longtab]

Remember that locks only keep honest people out.

A buddy on my team told me a story last summer when his sister (living in Buffalo, NY) was home one afternoon she got a knock at the back door. Thinking it was the neighboor kid she opened the door only to be grabbed by the throat and choked-slammed onto the kitchen island by an intruder. Her boyfriend and son had left for the store only minutes prior. She instinctively cried out for her boyfriend. The intruder/would-be-rapist hesitated, perhaps thinking the boyfriend may have been home. This gave my buddy's sister the time to grab the butcher knife she was preparing food with. The intruder turned and bolted...

Deadbolt the door... and barricade the door with a door brace either store bought or improvise. Just safeguard your most precious things... your loved ones.

 

[Hook686]

Yesterday, 11:28 PM #11
HuntingAintHuntingNoMore
New Member



wrote:

... Trust no one.
__________________

Somehow this slogan strikes me, as a very sad state of affairs, for the "American Experiment".

Too bad this country squandered so much on sand box alterations.

 

[Exmasonite]

You mentioned the screened living community...

Aside from that, is there any other "security" for the community? Gated drive, fenced community, etc.

Because if it's just a background check to move in with no subsequent followup, then all that's done is 2 things:

1) Put a big target on your homes

2) Lulled you into a false sense of security

The first is a relation to the second... if you feel safe and fallen into condition white, a criminal is going to have some REAL easy pickings in that area.

So, could be nothing or could be something...
Plan for something, be glad when it's nothing.

 

[roo_ster]

Use the deadbolt, especially when you are home.

It might not keep folks out, but they'll likely have to make more noise busting through it than the little chain-thingy.

 

[Jack19]

It's all old people or yuppies that live here.

Trust me, old people and yuppies steal too.

However, it's possible that the door just wasn't latched. Any problems with the locks?

I would HIGHLY recommend installing industrial grade deadbolts if the landlord will allow you to do so. I have Medeco locks at my home and while they are expensive, I like them MUCH more than the crap from Home Depot.

http://www.medeco.com/

Or, hang a target from a range trip on the outside of your front door.

 

[kmrcstintn]

yep...keep the deadbolt locked...if you have a legit visitor, it only takes a matter of seconds to undo the deadbolt; better safe than sorry...

I used to live in a so-so neighborhood and had a few 'after hour visitors' that got my apartment mixed up with 'their friend' who lives upstairs...one time the jerk was pounding and yelling thinking that his 'friend' forgot to unlock the door...he was a bit shocked when he heard my voice instead of a 'familiar' voice and started apologizing really fast and asked me 'not to call the cops' and that he made a mistake...made me wonder what was going on up there sometimes, but the occupant worked swing shift at a wheel and tire plant and wrote it off as one of the guys that worked the swing shifts with him...

I do my best to remember to secure all locks when I enter my domicile; I have only forgotten a few times (I must have been really tired and in a daze) and 'woke up' really fast when I realized the door was completely unlocked...

 

[UglyGlock]

we live in a $1000 a month apartment in an extremely wealthy area, ... It's all old people or yuppies that live here.

sounds like a prime target then. I'd keep the door locked.

 

[highlander 5]

If you can remove the screws in the strike plate that are usually very short and replace the strike plate with one that looks like a box you may have to widen and deepen the hole for the strike plate to do this.The strike plate I used has 2 holes drilled in the box. Once the new strike plate is in place use 3' deck screws to secure it to the door frame. An intruder might get in but he's gonna work awfully hard to kick the door in and by the time he gets in he'll be to pooped to put up a struggle Oh BTW dump that chain they're useless

 

[CWL]

At least you learned your lesson, use that deadbolt next time!

Most thieves are opportunists, if they find an unlocked door or open window, they help themselves. If it wasn't the wind or your 3-year old opening your door, then the chain probably was enough to deter an opportunistic criminal.

Even the most useless of dogs can figure out the diference between a friend or foe in an emergency.

 

[Bezoar]

IT could have been a gust of wind inside the building that opened the door, or someone testing doors to see if there was anything of value in easy reach/sight of the doorway, or it could have been your local friendly rapist/child molester checking to see if daddy had left the wife and kid home alone.

I have no idea who said this but "expect the worst of everyone around you, prepare for even worse conditions then that, and youll always be safe"

Deadbolts work, even a crappy one from home depot "7pin cylinder lock minimum, will give you enough tiem to get that gun out. The hotel chain is just a gimmick for mental reassurance like carrying life boats on the Titanic was..

 

[jeepmor]

If someone breaks that chain and comes charging into your house what would happen.

1. Dog would attack at best. Alerting you is more likely and hopefully slowing any assault that may ensue.

2. You have your pistol on your hip at best. Likely, it's in your bedroom...might as well be a mile away at that moment when you may need desperately need it right freakin now!

Conclusions from this are easy, lock the deadbolt. Your and your child's life are worth more than that pot metal chain secured into wimpy (likely particle board or MDF) wood.

Particularly since you mention a lot of retired or elderly residents. Meth heads are a problem in the PNW and they target these types of living communities often because elderlies are easy to overcome in regards to physical confrontation and they typically have many more meds around than most pre-retired folks. Meth heads at this level of criminal activity are dangerous and volatile individuals that do not operate on common sense. The drug has them in a neurotic state already, usually a psychotic state when they operate at this level of crime. Let your 357 reason with them, because words won't work.

In all likeliehood, if your hallways look like many apartment complexes of this modern day, a neighbor was preoccupied and not paying attention and stopped at your door instead of theirs. I've done this in motels myself, and had the same happen to me. Talk to your neighbors, get to know them. You don't have to be best buds for life, but you can all agree that none of you wants a break-in to occur.

I'd talk to the nearest neighbors and see if it was one of them. Maybe it was a prowler, maybe is was a neighbor. Without discussion, you'll never know.