[Nalu]

I had posted in a previous thread about moving with kids to Fl from Hawaii. Right now we live in a community where we don't lock our doors ever, in fact we just put our house on the market and I had to hunt for our front door key. Does such a place exist in Eastern Coastal Florida? Without buying into an expensive gated community with HOA? Surf and work are priorities, but maybe even more so is safety. Thanks so much! Angela

[Nomadicus]

It would not be prudent anywhere in FL.

[tmozer]

I don't think it would be wise in any area of the US (or the world) not to use the locks you have. That includes locking your vehicle. Most property crimes are the result of opertunity. Many assults are the result of a property crime going bad (someone is home). Why tempt fate?

[nomoresnow]

We live in a gated community on the West Coast and we've had thefts here. Locked doors are strongly encouraged. There was a woman nearby who forgot to lock her door the other night and was woken up by a stranger in bed with her the next morning.

[Momma_bear]

I live in a gated community is SE Florida and I would not leave my doors unlocked.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Nalu

I had posted in a previous thread about moving with kids to Fl from Hawaii. Right now we live in a community where we don't lock our doors ever, in fact we just put our house on the market and I had to hunt for our front door key. Does such a place exist in Eastern Coastal Florida? Without buying into an expensive gated community with HOA? Surf and work are priorities, but maybe even more so is safety. Thanks so much! Angela

The tern, "We don't have to lock our doors" has become synonymous with a safe place to live. I don't think leaving your house unlocked, car unlocked or any valuables where someone can just take it is wise anywhere. Gated communities don't mean hardly anything beyond you don't have strange cars driving all over the place. A thief can walk into most any gated community. Few actually have walls, most at best may have a hedge around them and no public roads running through them.

Beyond that, they don't have armed guards patrolling, usually just some old retired guy at the gate watching his little TV. They represent a huge false sense of security. You can be raped by your neighbors nephew who is staying with them. You have no idea who is in there and should take the same precautions you would take anywhere.

[2goldens]

If there was such a place, which there is, I wouldn't advertise it on the internet.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by 2goldens

If there was such a place, which there is, I wouldn't advertise it on the internet.

Dear 2goldens, I daresay that even if such a place does indeed exist - whether advertised or not - it is not prudent to leave one's door unlocked. There's always a first time for everything.

[Nalu]

Thanks all, We live in a rural area on the Big Island of Hawaii with lots of land, and great neighbors all around. I guess I have just always felt safe here. There's never been any crime around here that I've ever heard of. I guess there is a first time. Our property is fenced and I have 2 big dogs, so that would be their first obstacle to get around. We also have nosy retired neighbors right next door who are ALWAYS home. While there may be no place in FL to leave doors unlocked, what about an area where one can sleep peacefully at night, without worry WITH your doors locked. I guess I'm looking for a beaver cleaver kind of place. I don't want to have to think too hard about my or children's safety. Thanks Angela

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by Nalu

I had posted in a previous thread about moving with kids to Fl from Hawaii. Right now we live in a community where we don't lock our doors ever, in fact we just put our house on the market and I had to hunt for our front door key. Does such a place exist in Eastern Coastal Florida? Without buying into an expensive gated community with HOA? Surf and work are priorities, but maybe even more so is safety. Thanks so much! Angela

Much of coastal FL is very safe, and I bet that if you were to leave your doors unlocked, no one would enter to steal your belongings. Would I actually advise you to try that, though? Certainly not. If I lived in a tiny town in Iowa I would still lock my doors.