Post # 57
Member
241 posts
Helper bee
I grew up in a very safe, surburban-like environment in the South, and my parents and I never left the keys in the car, ever. We had a garage door that was generally closed, so many times the car wasn’t locked, but the keys were always removed.
My parents now live in a very rural area without a garage, and they always lock the car and take the keys with them. The likelihood of it being stolen is very small, but because my parents are older, they don’t want to take even a slim chance that the car won’t be available if they have a medical emergency (local rescue team is transport only–no certification to even put in an IV).
I live in a condo in a suburb of Washington, DC. We park in an underground garage with hundreds of other residents, and always lock up and take the keys.
Post # 58
Member
891 posts
Busy bee
is this a serious question? lol hell no i don’t.
but then again this is miami and i don’t have a garage so…
Post # 59
Member
2790 posts
Sugar bee
@nontraditionalmiami: Yes this is a serious question.
Post # 60
Member
891 posts
Busy bee
and that was a rhetorical question
Post # 61
Member
5109 posts
Bee Keeper
I always remove the keys from the car… then Once I get into my house and the door is locked I hit the button to lock the car. I have this weird fear that someone maybe in the house so I always keep my car unlocked till Im inside and safe before I close off easy access to the car lol.. I have gotten super paranoid since I had my son. I watch to much criminal minds.
Post # 62
Member
891 posts
Busy bee
@organizedbride11: love that show. i’m always “on guard” too. when i’m walking to my car from the grocery store or mall, etc. i have my keys in hand and ready to unlock my car door before i leave the building and start walking to my car. it’s not wise to sit and fumble through your purse when you get to your car.
Post # 63
Member
9024 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I would never leave the keys in the ignition, even if I was in a rural area. its not just about securing it against theft but also about locking the keys inside by mistake, plus what if someone “borrows” your car and commits a crime with it or just hides something in there and you dont realize it.. maybe I’ve been watching too much dateline
Post # 64
Member
3871 posts
Honey bee
I lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia most of my life and it was a safe town… until recently. We would never lock our doors. (I have never left my keys in the car before, though.) I have noticed in the last couple years that it’s not that safe anymore. Since we do have a relatively bad neighborhood about 15 min away. I think it’s a natural progression.
Anyway, I found out the hard way, when my christmas presents about 4 years ago got stolen from my car. All of them. I was so devastated.
My sister and I were loading up presents to head to my other sisters house for the night. It got really late, so we decided to wait til the morning to go. Yeah, those stupid kids stole $700 worth of presents. So f’in’ annoyed.
Yup, my little town is not safe anymore.
Post # 65
Member
620 posts
Busy bee
I always take my keys out of the ignition and lock my car when I get home. My car will actually beep at me when I open the door if they keys are still in the ignition to remind me to take them out.
Post # 66
Member
4410 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: December 2010 - Savannah, GA
The house keys are on the same ring as my car keys, so if I want in the house, I have to remove them.
Post # 67
Member
10713 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I always leave my windows down and don’t bother locking the door (but they do auto lock) so I always take my keys in. I’ve locked my keys in there on accident before so I always make sure they are in my hand before I gt out.
Post # 68
Member
2790 posts
Sugar bee
@HappilyEverAfter54: Do you mean you leave them fully down or just cracked?
Post # 69
Member
2495 posts
Buzzing bee
I NEVER leave my keys in my car, and it is always, always, ALWAYS locked. Even if I run in for a few minutes, the doors get locked. It’s more out of habit than fear, though. I also have manual locks on my really old car, so I have to physically lock them, and it’s become an automatic response every time I close the door, I push down the lock.
The in-laws, however, always leave their keys in the car and they’re usually unlocked. So, DH never locked his car before we were together. It drove me crazy that he never locked it, and it drove him crazy that I always do!!
Post # 70
Member
9050 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I take my keys, lock the doors, remove EVERY remotely attractive contents from sight every time I leave the car for even a minute.
Not only do I not want to have to pay to repair/replace my vehicle, you have to be aware of what people do with stolen vehicles as well. Locking your doors could be preventing an opportunistic smash and grab or convenience store robbery. Criminals are LAZY, and very well might just forget about committing their next crime if there’s not an easily available vehicle to steal.