Open-Door Policy in the Heights Inviting Thieves?
Yesterday morning Brooklyn Heights Blog had a post regarding an email sent out by Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, about how there had been five daytime burglaries in the neighborhood in the previous four days, and all of them involved thieves entering unlocked houses. City Room picked up on the…
Yesterday morning Brooklyn Heights Blog had a post regarding an email sent out by Judy Stanton, the executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, about how there had been five daytime burglaries in the neighborhood in the previous four days, and all of them involved thieves entering unlocked houses. City Room picked up on the story and interviewed some residents of the neighborhood, where an officer was taping up hundreds of warning fliers yesterday. One person who’s lived in the area since 1984 said unlocked doors are common in the Heights: “You get used to a certain level of comfort and you don’t go back too easily. But I locked my door today.” Is America’s first suburb the only section of Brooklyn where unlocked doors are common?
Five Daytime Burglaries in Brooklyn Heights in Last Four Days [BHB]
To Burgle in Brooklyn Heights, No Heavy Equipment Needed [City Room]
I never lock my deadbolt, but I also live in a doorman building.
When I had my house in Carroll Gardens, I frequently left the doors (and often the gate under the stoop) unlocked when I ran to the store or walked CDog.
I always locked — and lock my apartment in the Heights vicinity — when I go out for any extended period.
I don’t double lock though, but that may be because I live in a doorman building.
Funny, though, when my sister was visiting recently, she locked me out inadvertently by double locking the door and locking the hotel lock bar thingy.
I’m sure the NYPD gives top priority to burglary cases where people leave their houses unlocked.
im pretty sure it’s just laziness (or in the case of brooklyn heights… dementia)
*rob*
given the average age of BH residents and my grandmother’s propensity for unintentionally leaving her door open and putting the phone in the fridge..
Good lord. I’m from a relatively small town in Indiana and we locked our doors regularly for Crissakes. What are these people thinking? Is it misguided romanticism or nostalgia?
i live in park slope and i lock my apt door even when im just going out across the lobby to take out the trash. crimes of opportunity dont discriminate based on neighborhoods..
*rob*
We double lock our doors to keep people from getting out of our house.
maybe its easier to do these kinds of things if you are far from subway stops and highway getaways. in the old days there were neighborhoods where the cops lived, where the firefighters lived, where the mafia lived that you could leave all your doors and windows open. now its just rich people.
i guess areas where there are 10 stay at home moms/dads per block it might not be a problem. but i hope they lock their doors at night!