To secure our home against a possible burglary, we multiply the means and the tricks. Unfortunately, some received ideas have a hard tooth. Many people firmly believe that keeping the key in the lock protects against burglary and prevents thieves from sneaking into the house at night. It turns out that this habit can play tricks on you. We will explain to you why this action does not protect you as effectively as you thought.
Lock the door – Source: spm
Myth or reality ?
Upon entering the house, we instinctively lock the door with the key and thus leave it in that position. On the one hand, it is an automatic reflex, on the other, it is a well thought out act. After all, when the key is in the lock, it is impossible to open the door from the outside, even with duplicate keys. But, is it really fair to believe that burglars would have no way of circumventing this mechanism and would not be able to open the door in the end?
Does the key in the lock really protect us from burglary?
It is important to understand how locks work. Most keys have a distinctive shape with a tab that fits perfectly into the lock: this is what allows you to turn the whole mechanism and open or close the door. But, when you leave the key in the lock, the whole system remains in the unlocked position. Unexpectedly, it just happens to be a great help for burglars looking for an easy way into your home. Because, it is enough for the thief to perform a simple rotation to force the lock and thus unlock the door from the outside. From now on, you will think twice before leaving your key in the lock!
Burglar at home – Source: spm
Fortunately, there are other security measures to consider in order to more effectively secure your home and keep it safe from burglars.
Here are a few :
- It’s important to get into the habit of locking the door even if you’re only going out for a short time.
- Never leave your keys (even your car keys) in a visible place right at the entrance.
- It is also not recommended to keep a wallet or other valuables in the lobby.
- So change this bad habit of hiding your keys under the doormat, a flowerpot or any other hiding place around the door. Even the most novice burglar knows exactly where to look.
- If you live on the upper floors, beware of scaffolding installations, as many burglars use this tool to gain access to the house. Also close windows and blinds that could facilitate access for a person on scaffolding.
- Even if it’s very tempting, try as much as possible to share as few clues as possible of your whereabouts on social networks. When you openly post that you’re away from home and you’re on a trip, you’re letting everyone know that your home is empty and vulnerable.
And precisely, when you are on vacation or on the move, make sure to pretend that your house is not “abandoned”. So ask a neighbor to pick up the mail and advertising flyers lying around your door. Cover your tracks by leaving a few curtains open or a small lamp on. Enlist the help of a friend or family member to drop in occasionally to water the plants. And of course, if you can equip your home with surveillance cameras, it’s a great way to scare away potential criminals.
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Via SPM