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Post by katlady on May 20, 2022 16:56:04 GMT
This is a spin off of the power washing thread. How secure do you keep your property? Do you have fences? Do you lock doors/windows? Security cameras/lights? And put where you live, general area. I live in So. Cal. and have all my life. I would say it is very rare to find a home without any backyard fencing in the cities and suburbs. Homes here have at least three sides fenced off, in many cases it is a shared fence. Some homes do have their front yard fenced too, you see it more in older neighborhoods. I am so used to having fencing that when I read about homes not having fencing in their backyard it sort of blows my mind. I chuckle at the thought that I could be relaxing in my backyard and waving to the neighbor next door who is also in their backyard. We do have a security system, but we don't have outdoor security cameras/lights, yet. We are planning on it. One neighbor has a house that looks like a fort. Besides building a 10-foot tall stucco gate, instead of the generic 6-foot tall wooden gate, he also has a lot of cameras hooked up. And yes, we lock all doors and windows. Even when we are going to just hang out in the backyard, we make sure the windows and door at the front of the house are closed and locked. We don't have neighbors, or even family, that just walk into the house. Growing up, our home had bars on the windows.
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Post by ntsf on May 20, 2022 17:06:41 GMT
we live in the city, have a 6 ft fence around our backyard, and cameras on the stairs and side stairs. we also have a hunking big old garage door, so no one can really break anything to get into it. we also live in a highly visible spot.. a t intersection.
but we don't worry about it too much
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Post by ~summer~ on May 20, 2022 17:14:11 GMT
Very little security - only a small backyard is fenced. Our front and sides of house are completely open. And I sleep with my doors to the outside deck open. So in theory someone could walk right into my room 😬
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on May 20, 2022 17:17:20 GMT
Live in the city.
Fenced in backyard. We have an inner courtyard in the front but that’s style not for security. We have a front garden as well. Security system. Camera at front door. Outdoor lighting.
We’ve had ‘workmen’ from the ‘gas company’ try and get into our house twice in the last two years. I really think covid made some people desperate. They also tried to get into our back yard. That was when we got the front camera, when dd16 called to say there was someone saying he’s from the gas company on the side of the house. My house is floor to ceiling windows in the front 3 rooms. We have no window covers. We can see everyone who comes in and out and our covid puppy goes ape shit if she sees someone snooping. So sad that this is happening. Dh’s car gas also been broken into on the street where he parks. Twice in 10 years in this house.
I wouldn’t be happy if a neighbour came in to power wash the back without permission. The front I get as it’s more open but the back is fenced. Fencing to me says stay out. My neighbour wouldn’t mean anything bad by it but she shouldn’t come through a gate without permission.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 1:18:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2022 17:27:13 GMT
Previous house: fenced in yard with a privacy fence along the back. Side gate had a latch that couldn't be opened from the outside. Main gate was just a chain link gate but we often placed the garbage bin right by it so to open it, you had to move the bin.
We had motion sensor lights on the side and gate on our front porch. We didn't lock our windows much because they were set pretty high off the ground and you needed a chair or ladder to reach them. The doors were always locked. No cameras.
Current house: no fences, no gates. We have plans for privacy fences but they are not meant to create a full boundary, just sections of privacy screening. We have motion sensor lights on the garage and back of the house. We're building a new porch. After that's done, we're installing a new light. We also have two ring cameras. We're not really happy with them so I don't know if we're going to keep them. Front door is always locked because neither one of us can see it from our respective offices.
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Post by padresfan619 on May 20, 2022 17:33:49 GMT
Fenced yard that’s locked, front door with a security gate that’s always locked unless I’m expecting guests, flood lights with motion detection, and I don’t put up cutesy signs like “shhh please knock baby sleeping” or anything like that to advertise that I have a child at home. I don’t even like to keep his stroller or big push car in view. I won’t have any of my son’s future school information on my car or in our yard either.
The thought of leaving my exterior doors unlocked is so foreign to me, it is an automatic reflex to deadbolt every door unless I’m using it.
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Post by bianca42 on May 20, 2022 17:40:57 GMT
I'm in a suburban central NY neighborhood.
We have no fence. We have several security cameras. We have lights outside. We keep our doors locked. The windows are locked and closed unless we're home and awake. (We will leave the upstairs windows open while sleeping, but nothing on the first floor.) The garage door is closed unless we're outside working in the yard.
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Post by compeateropeator on May 20, 2022 17:41:22 GMT
I live in a small townhouse/condo. I have no security except for the locks on my doors. My front light is set to turn on with movement/a sensor.
I do have a privacy wall on the left side of my back deck toward the unit on the right and the the right side the building juts out and then I have small shed on that part of my deck that backs up to a similar shed on that neighbors deck, so in essence becomes a privacy wall. That is it. 🤷♀️ I have never felt unsafe but that may change at some point. I will admit I am probably not typical in my lack of security.
I am in “urban” Vermont. 😄
ETA - I do leave my windows open on the front of the house . Although the downstairs stays cooler with them shut so they are on really hot days. I do not leave my windows open on the back side unless I am downstairs/around, not because of security but because I have evil squirrels that try and break in (and have).
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Post by malibou on May 20, 2022 17:43:52 GMT
This is a spin off of the power washing thread. How secure do you keep your property? Do you have fences? Do you lock doors/windows? Security cameras/lights? And put where you live, general area. I live in So. Cal. and have all my life. I would say it is very rare to find a home without any backyard fencing in the cities and suburbs. Homes here have at least three sides fenced off, in many cases it is a shared fence. Some homes do have their front yard fenced too, you see it more in older neighborhoods. I am so used to having fencing that when I read about homes not having fencing in their backyard it sort of blows my mind. I chuckle at the thought that I could be relaxing in my backyard and waving to the neighbor next door who is also in their backyard. We do have a security system, but we don't have outdoor security cameras/lights, yet. We are planning on it. One neighbor has a house that looks like a fort. Besides building a 10-foot tall stucco gate, instead of the generic 6-foot tall wooden gate, he also has a lot of cameras hooked up. And yes, we lock all doors and windows. Even when we are going to just hang out in the backyard, we make sure the windows and door at the front of the house are closed and locked. We don't have neighbors, or even family, that just walk into the house. Growing up, our home had bars on the windows. This is pretty much me as well.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on May 20, 2022 18:00:20 GMT
We live in a small town in mid Michigan, semi rural I'd say.
We do not have fences. I would like one in the back yard, but dh is against the expense as our HOA has strict rules on what you can have etc.
Windows are rarely opened and if they are they are closed and locked once we go to bed or leave etc.
When we are not home all the doors and patio doors are closed and locked except the door between the house and the garage. We only lock that one at night or if we are out of town.
We a light in our yard that goes on automatically at dusk and turns off at dawn.
We do not have a security system and do not feel the need for one. If that ever changes, we may consider one. But our small town and neighborhood are quite safe with few problems and our neighbors really watch out for one another. Plus many of the people in our subdivision now work from home at least part/all of the time. And our particular area of the street is full of retirees who love to keep an eye on what's going on. I've never heard of any problems in our sub or nearby. Dh is friends with the fire chief and knows a few of the police officers and fire fighters so I imagine if there were any new issues, he would know.
ETA during the day if we are home the garage door stays shut unless dh is in and out working on something (which he often is). But overall he keeps it closed as he doesn't want rain, snow or dirt blowing into the garage or chipmunks etc getting in. The front door is usually locked, but sometimes it's unlocked if dd is going in and out as for some reason she prefers to use that door instead of coming in through the garage (which drive us nuts).
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,955
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
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Post by TXMary on May 20, 2022 18:03:22 GMT
We live in a fairly rural and wooded setting. We only have neighbors on one side and we put a 6 foot privacy fence between us and them but it only blocks the houses and because of the way it's situated we can't really see them anyway. There's no gate and it's only down one side. We will never have anyone behind us or in front of us because it's woods and we own it. There is a lot on the other side but she refuses to sell and has no plans to build. We do have neighbors across the street but we can't see them because of the trees.
We have a security system that is set at night and when we are gone and we have a Ring doorbell. We have a lot of outdoor lighting and it's on all night. We lock our doors when we're home but not if we're outside. Windows are closed and locked all the time. We live in a very low crime area.
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Post by katlady on May 20, 2022 18:13:31 GMT
the garage door stays shut unless dh is in and out working on something (which he often is). But overall he keeps it closed as he doesn't want rain, snow or dirt blowing into the garage or chipmunks etc getting in. LOL! Our problem is lizards and snakes trying to get in, especially during the summer. We have had a few regular lizards and even an alligator lizard make the garage their home. And one time a snake crossed the street in front of our house and went up our side yard. Thankfully he didn't head for the garage. But, neighbors have found snakes in their garages. UGH!
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Post by lindamh on May 20, 2022 18:17:16 GMT
We live in the mountains of North Carolina. No fence and very few fences in the entire community. Houses are on lots of a minimum of an acre, so the only people with fences are the ones with goats and alpacas!
Our home does have two outdoor lights plus a couple of lights on our deck, but we only turn them on for company or when we're outside at night. Now that it's spring, windows are open all day, including front door and sliding doors. We think nothing of leaving the garage door open all day, and will sometimes leave it open if we're only going to be gone a short while. Also, the neighbors around here are always looking out for each other.
At night, we do close up and lock up, but that is due more to habit from our previous home in Florida, not that it's necessary here. We have locks on the bedroom windows that allow the windows to open up about 8 inches and no further. We get air in without worrying about anyone getting in the window.
Having said all that, my husband and I both have our own handguns that stay on our night stands or come in the car with us. Basically, we live in an area where if you call 911 for help, they're not always able to get to you quickly. In some areas we travel through, you can't call for help. And it's not always people you worry about. There's some big, wild animals around!
So, we feel we live in a very safe area, but in today's world, it's smart to be prepared.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,922
Nov 14, 2016 23:47:03 GMT
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Post by pinklady on May 20, 2022 18:32:26 GMT
The original thread about power washing really hit home for me and am shocked that anyone would be OK with a neighbor trespassing onto their property. But the peas never disappoint. I live in a house with a detached garage that is set back from my house. When I bought my house there was no fence connecting the house to the garage so my entire backyard was wide open. I always planned to put up a 6' or 8' fence to close off the backyard. It was on my long list of improvements needed. However, when my neighbor took it upon himself to go all the way into my backyard, without my permission, to get my trash can and so he could fill it up with his additional trash that wouldn't fit in his trash can, I accelerated my plan. I also did tell my neighbor not to go into my backyard again and if he needed my can, just ask and I would set it out for him. This was when I first moved in and I wanted to set that bounder for him from the get go. Windows are typically open during the day but I do keep my doors and windows locked at night.
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Post by jenna on May 20, 2022 18:33:36 GMT
No backyard fencing is WILD to me. Almost like a fairytale or something I only see in movies like high schools comprised of one building lol I live in Northern California in a really safe smallish town. Our backyard is wood-fence and we have 2 gates (1 small 1 larger) that are both padlocked from the inside so I feel at ease there. Our front yard is raised and the grass is leveled so it's a good foot.. foot and a half higher than our neighbors and we have an iron fence that goes all the way around for our dogs. We don't have any grass in the backyard (pool/bar/patio) so when the pups need to go out.. that's where they go. The gate squeaks which drives the dogs wild and they're yappy barking chihuahuas so I feel super safe that nobody can stealthily break in from the front with them around lol I'm extremely paranoid about being kidnapped so if I'm home alone overnight every single window and door gets closed and locked. I also place tables and breakable items in front of windows for this reason.... 🙃 I really have no reason to feel this way but I've been like this since I was a kid. Otherwise we do leave windows and backdoors open overnight. The screen door on the back is locked but that really only does so much if someone really wanted to get in. I'm fine mentally if someone else is in the house but it's the being alone part that freaks me out. I do keep the front door locked all day everyday. On days where I want it open for some air I have a heavy duty screen door with locks too. Spoiler cos it's true crime/serial killer talk and not everyone wants to read that. There was a serial killer in the 70's known as the vampire of Sacramento who only broke in and murdered if the door was unlocked.. as he took that as an invitation so add that onto my paranoia lmao. Obviously it was decades ago but I live near the capital and I'M REALLY SOMEONE WHO SHOULDN'T READ TRUE CRIME BOOKS OKAY.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on May 20, 2022 18:38:44 GMT
We live downtown in a building on the top floor. We have keypads and scanners on the gates to the courtyard and the doors on the other streets and then we have a regular lock and an added dead bolt with a digital code to the front door along with a camera.
We have a couple of cameras inside and then the backdoor goes to the patio and its pretty private. We have a deadbolt and camera there but if its nice the door is usually open.
I rent a fenced in yard for the dogs to play in that is right down the street and have cameras there but no real locks, just a latch that i can wiggle open to go in.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
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Post by milocat on May 20, 2022 18:55:32 GMT
Fenced backyard, anyone could open the latch from inside or outside and come through.
Once I start opening the windows in the spring I don't lock them until the winter, so they are sealed tight. I'll leave them open at night or when I'm gone. Except the one bedroom that is only a few feet off the ground. The others that are 6 feet up I feel safe with.
Front door is locked. Side door that we use is unlocked during the day, even if I run downtown quick or occasionally if we forget to lock it at night.
I live in a village in NW Alberta.
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Post by bc2ca on May 20, 2022 18:59:46 GMT
Everyone in our current suburban neighborhood has fenced side and backyards. Some have a courtyard style entrance as well, so only the driveway is unfenced. About half our neighbors lock the side gates. We don't and have never felt the need to do it. Our immediate neighbor uses the same pool service as us and I know his side gate is keyed, so wonder if he leaves it unlocked on Monday mornings or hides a key. DH is notorious for leaving the garage door open and it isn't unusual to get a late night text from a neighbor letting us know he forgot about it again. He is also notorious for locking everyone out of the house. The neighborhood I grew up in only had one fenced yard. Some properties created boundaries with landscaping, otherwise dogs and kids roamed everywhere. One side of the street backed to a woods with a well used trail that ran up along the back property line of the houses.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,302
Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on May 20, 2022 19:00:21 GMT
Lived in the suburbs outside of a major city for 16 years and have never (knock on wood) had an incident involving a stranger. We did, however, have an incident with a neighbor with mental illness so... We did some initial stuff and have been slowly adding to it.
1) Wired security cameras indoor and outdoor 2) Alarm system that we upgraded to have all doors and windows monitored including the one in the garage 3) Motion sensors in main areas 4) Garage door open sensor 5) Additional outside lighting (front, back and sides) 6) Additional landscape lighting 7) Alexa enabled routines for lights, especially for vacations 8) Armor tint on all windows to prevent break-ins** 9) Additional security locks on front and back doors 10) New front door frame, door jamb and door 11) When we remodeled our bathroom, we removed the large window in the tub/shower enclosure and installed a long (but skinny) rectangle window that does not open. We get light, but it's too skinny to shimmy through even if you break it
** We have since had all new, triple pane windows installed so this is no longer a part of our security repertoire
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Post by Mel on May 20, 2022 19:09:59 GMT
Mid-sized town in Southeast Iowa here.
We live in the country. We have neighbors, but not close. Our property is basically surrounded on three sides by a tree line. No fence. We have 5 buildings, a house w/attached garage, a very tall/large metal garage not attached but sits right next to the house, a big metal garage at the back corner of the property, a "He shed", and a "She shed" that sits to the side of the property up by that garage. Our property is 1.5 acres-give or take.
Our house is older so most of the windows don't even open! LOL We don't have any cameras or security systems. We usually close and lock things if we're going to be gone more than a little while. I lock the door when we go to bed but if I forget to SO usually doesn't. We do have one light at the top of the garage next to the house with a motion sensor light. TBH though, we put that up so that the front of the house wouldn't be so dark if we had to be out there at night!
We do have guns in the house, but none of them are really conveniently located IF we had an intruder, and the ammo is stored in a different place than the guns (locked up).
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Post by epeanymous on May 20, 2022 20:44:52 GMT
We have a locked iron gate, cameras, and a security system.
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Post by Zee on May 20, 2022 21:28:44 GMT
I live in the Metro Atlanta area, suburbs. Quiet neighborhood. Some people have fences, some don't. I do not and don't need one. The actual usable part of my yard is very small and we spend most of our time on the deck/balcony.
We do have a Ring camera on the door, a Ring floodlight camera on the garage, and a camera at the back door. There are often posts from nearby subdivisions showing people creeping around at night trying car doors but I haven't ever captured anything more than a deer walking up onto my porch and eating my flowers (!! bastard)
I also have a camera inside that I turn on when I go on vacation so I can see what my cats are up to.
I keep the doors and windows locked almost all the time unless I'm in the yard but I'm not worried about anything.
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Post by myshelly on May 20, 2022 21:35:01 GMT
We live in a largish suburb. Our backyard is fenced with an 8 ft wooden fence. It has 2 gates that are both kept locked. The front of our house faces a road that’s between 2 busier roads, so it gets a fair amount of traffic and has lots of street lights. I like it. Our house is on top of a hill, so while it faces the street, it is a story above street level. At the end of our street is a pretty, newly built fire station where fire trucks, ambulance, and police are always on call. That makes me feel safe. Of course we always keep our doors and windows locked. If we need to air out the house, we’ll open the windows on the side of the house (extremely rare - we’d rather keep the AC inside).
I also like that we have a locked mailbox, so we don’t have to worry about the mail or get it every day.
Our neighborhood is pretty quiet and I feel safe here.
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Post by whipea on May 20, 2022 21:42:24 GMT
Live in urban suburban South Florida area with house on 1.5 acres in an HOA governed neighborhood. Only fences allowed are white or black aluminum no taller than 5 feet. No wooden, pvc, chain link or privacy fences allowed. Plus they restrict fence placement, only in the back mostly used to surround the pool and cannot extend more than 50 feet from the pool coping, be wider than or go beyond the rear of the house.
This is a secure neighborhood, manned entry gate and roving security. Contractors, pool and yard maintenance companies are background screened before they can work here. This does not guarantee all people working here are screened, but does help. We have had minimal incidents, a few car burglaries.
Generally people in South Florida do not have their windows open very often. Maybe in the winter a few times, but most people are sealed in the air conditioning.
We have a monitored alarm system through a security company and our security office. We have door and window sensors, interior and exterior cameras and motion detectors. Our fence gates are locked due to the pool, required by code. Doors and windows always locked. I am not fearful or paranoid, it is just a way of life.
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Post by arielsmom on May 20, 2022 21:44:01 GMT
Live in a small village, ring doorbell in front, camera in our sunroom, pointed at back door. We have privacy fencing and large shrubs, but there are areas that aren't fenced.
We are on a three week trip. DH asked next door neighbor to cut the front yard, if it needs it. DH cut it the morning we left. 2 days later neighbor cut it, as seen on ring. He is also over spraying some chemical on the grass. I am an organic gardener, so not very happy about that. Yes, we have patches of weeds here and there, but its my yard. Have a dog that doesn't need to be walking thru poison. I am a des daughter and per my doctor, need to avoid certain chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides. If he is poisoning my backyard also, I will not be pleased at all.
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Post by Karene on May 20, 2022 21:48:52 GMT
I live in a small town that has a lot of commuters to Toronto. We in town on the main highway out of town. No cameras, no security and not even a doorbell. Our garage is set back from the house and the backyard is enclosed except between the house and garage. When we had a dog, we had a fence there too, but took it down when she died. We keep the front door locked because it is never used. We try to remember to lock the patio door and side door at bedtime but don't always remember. we keep our windows and door open as we wish. We have a street light right in the front of our house. I've always felt safe.
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Post by supersoda on May 20, 2022 22:09:08 GMT
We live in the 'burbs, in a generally safe area. We've got a 10-foot privacy fence around the back (also have a pool, so a taller fence is required), with gated access to the driveway. We've also got cameras everywhere, lights on a timer, and a security system. There are about a zillion windows on our house, so it wouldn't take much for anyone bold enough to break a window to get in.
We added the security system shortly after we moved in because I was home alone on Halloween and there was one group of trick-or-treaters who were peering a little too intensely through the sidelights. It made me uncomfortable enough that I let the dog sleep out of his crate that night. Honestly, the dogs are probably enough to scare off anyone with any sense, but they are crated at night.
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Post by Merge on May 20, 2022 22:48:18 GMT
I live in a middle class urban residential area in Houston. We keep our doors and windows closed and locked pretty much all the time. Our backyard has a six-foot privacy fence, which is common for the area. The gate is never locked.
I don’t worry too much about security. We have an alarm system but almost never arm it. We keep a TV on the covered patio year round and no one has messed with it. I feel as safe here as anywhere else.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on May 20, 2022 23:25:29 GMT
I’ve never lived in a house with a fence. I’ve always lived in a suburb. I love open windows and sleep with my bedroom window open and leave doors unlocked if I’m home. I do lock them though if I’m gone and try to remember to shut windows at least on the ground floor.
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Post by chaosisapony on May 20, 2022 23:46:44 GMT
I live in the country and have a fenced back yard. It's chain link and 6 feet tall. It's UGLY. But it serves its purpose and I'm working on growing some jasmine to cover the metal and give me more privacy back there. I keep my car locked at all times and the doors to the house locked at all times. The gates going into the back yard are locked. My windows don't have locks on them but if I am not home I keep them shut. I have dusk to dawn lights on the front and back of the house but no cameras. I sort of hate that it's become so normal to just be on camera all the time these days. One of these days I may break down and get a camera, we'll see.
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