is changing the locks appropriate?

[zixxer]

my roommate has a huge problem with not locking the door when he comes in. I always go through the garage door, and there are time when I've gone somewhere for the weekend, and so does he, and when I get back the front door has been unlocked for 3 days or so.

It's really getting ridiculous. I've bitched, I've reminded him EVERY time he does it (once a day? maybe once every other day?) and I'm at my wits end.


Is it acceptable to change the deadbolt? He'd have to buy an extra garage door opener... I think that he would remember to shut the garage door.. I dunno. Are there deadbolts that lock themselves after 15 min or so?

EDIT:

Okay. I sat down with him and was like look... lock the fsckin door this is getting ridiculous.


So things were fine... until about 4 days ago. Every day when I come home it's been unlocked, and when/if he leaves at night it's been unlocked.


WTF now? cattle prod? I've been unable to find a deadbolt that is spring loaded or something and locks itself

 

[Safeway]

Smart deadbolts? There used to be remote controlled bolts, but I haven't even seen those recently. Time to "steal" some of his valuables and hide some of your own. Then come here and sell them for cheap to me. That might teach him.

 

[zixxer]

the issue here is that the only sh!t that would get stolen is mine. the tv, stereo equipment, etc etc etc is all my stuff.


Not to mention I don't want some nutjob to just walk right in in the middle of the night and kill me or something

 

[Reel]

I doubt it is acceptable to change the lock. Changing the lock is something you do if you don't want someone to have a key. He lives there. He is allowed to have a key and I am sure you could get in trouble somehow if he does not have a key to get in.

Put in a doggie door and tell him that he has to crawl through that until he learns how to behave like a person.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

smart deadbolts is a million dollar idea

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: ReelC00L
I doubt it is acceptable to change the lock. Changing the lock is something you do if you don't want someone to have a key. He lives there. He is allowed to have a key and I am sure you could get in trouble somehow if he does not have a key to get in.

Put in a doggie door and tell him that he has to crawl through that until he learns how to behave like a person.

then what's your solution?

I can't cut apart the door,

but I don't want my stuff stolen.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
smart deadbolts is a million dollar idea

The information contained in my post is owned by me and copyrighted. Any use of said information is in violation of these copywrite laws.

 

[Hammer]

my door autolocks when it closes. its a nice feature i guess.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Hammer
my door autolocks when it closes. its a nice feature i guess.

really??? What is the lock brand?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: armatron
Is it acceptable to change the deadbolt? He'd have to buy an extra garage door opener... I think that he would remember to shut the garage door.. I dunno. Are there deadbolts that lock themselves after 15 min or so?

No, he probably won't remember to shut the garage door, especially if he doesn't park in the garage. Not to mention changing the lock on the front door won't stop him from going out the front door to get to his car. Why don't you switch so he parks in the garage and you have to remember to lock the front door?

You can find knobs that will open from the inside even when locked, but it's easy to lock yourself out with those.

 

[Injury]

My aunt and uncle have a key-combination deadbolt that automatically locks when the door closes. You hold down a button from the inside when you open the door to release it, and obviously a key code unlocks it up front.

Works like a charm because their kids don't need to be responsible with keys just to get in their house, and lord knows that if a garage door opener isn't working, a key-code opener on the outside will leave you stranded.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Hammer
my door autolocks when it closes. its a nice feature i guess.

Yep, that was what I was going to mention. Many people get these if they can't remember to lock the door. But you of course have a new problem - you must remember to take your keys at all times. Often someone who forgets to lock the door is the same person who forgets to take the keys.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: armatron
Is it acceptable to change the deadbolt? He'd have to buy an extra garage door opener... I think that he would remember to shut the garage door.. I dunno. Are there deadbolts that lock themselves after 15 min or so?

No, he probably won't remember to shut the garage door, especially if he doesn't park in the garage. Not to mention changing the lock on the front door won't stop him from going out the front door to get to his car. Why don't you switch so he parks in the garage and you have to remember to lock the front door?

You can find knobs that will open from the inside even when locked, but it's easy to lock yourself out with those.

he lost his driver's license. His sister picks him up from work, and drops him off. When he walks inside he forgets to lock the door behind him.

Then, everyone goes to bed or wherever and the door is left unlocked.

In the morning I take him to work... that means if I don't check the deadbolt it stays locked throughout the day as well

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: armatron
Then, everyone goes to bed or wherever and the door is left unlocked.

Sounds like you just need to get into the good habit to check the doors/windows at night before bed.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: armatron
Then, everyone goes to bed or wherever and the door is left unlocked.

Sounds like you just need to get into the good habit to check the doors/windows at night before bed.

I am. But there are situation I can't control... like if I go to UGA for the weekend, and he goes to his parents house or something.. and he walks out and leaves it unlocked.

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: ReelC00L
I doubt it is acceptable to change the lock. Changing the lock is something you do if you don't want someone to have a key. He lives there. He is allowed to have a key and I am sure you could get in trouble somehow if he does not have a key to get in.

Put in a doggie door and tell him that he has to crawl through that until he learns how to behave like a person.

then what's your solution?

I can't cut apart the door,

but I don't want my stuff stolen.

My grandma has locks on her door that automatically lock. They aren't deadbolts. They are just the handle sort. I doubt they'd stop a determined thief. Then again nothing would. They will however stop a casual wanderer or opportunist. I am sure there are options available. It just is a matter of cost. You could bully him into paying renter's insurance and putting the deductible in escrow until he moves out in case your stuff gets stolen. My renter's insurance covers full replacement of anything that is stolen (after deductible) so it might not be a bad idea. If he can't afford it, then maybe he will not leave the door unlocked.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: ReelC00L

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: ReelC00L
I doubt it is acceptable to change the lock. Changing the lock is something you do if you don't want someone to have a key. He lives there. He is allowed to have a key and I am sure you could get in trouble somehow if he does not have a key to get in.

Put in a doggie door and tell him that he has to crawl through that until he learns how to behave like a person.

then what's your solution?

I can't cut apart the door,

but I don't want my stuff stolen.

My grandma has locks on her door that automatically lock. They aren't deadbolts. They are just the handle sort. I doubt they'd stop a determined thief. Then again nothing would. They will however stop a casual wanderer or opportunist. I am sure there are options available. It just is a matter of cost. You could bully him into paying renter's insurance and putting the deductible in escrow until he moves out in case your stuff gets stolen. My renter's insurance covers full replacement of anything that is stolen (after deductible) so it might not be a bad idea. If he can't afford it, then maybe he will not leave the door unlocked.

we have renters insurance. That's something I don't want to have to use because he can't take 5 seconds to lock the door.


I'd like something that's a deadbolt. I found these:

http://www.smarthome.com/9018.html

http://www.smarthome.com/5196.html


although I'm not sure if the deadbolt thing automatically locks.

 

[Stark]

maybe you should change the roommate before you change the locks.

 

[mcvickj]

Beat the roommate until he caves. Maybe some type of electric shock. If he forgets to lock the door and starts to walk away he gets a shock. I highly doubt something like this exists but if your creative you might be able to make it. hehe

 

[Safeway]

The links you posted are for worriers that forgot if they locked the door. That combo lock MIGHT ... but highly doubtful.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Safeway
The links you posted are for worriers that forgot if they locked the door. That combo lock MIGHT ... but highly doubtful.

I told him this morning that there are two choices

1) He starts locking the door. Put up a sign, whatever he needs to do.
2) I'm changing the deadbolts and not giving him a key. He can buy a garage door opener, and hopefully will remember to shut that.

 

[KeithP]

2) I'm changing the deadbolts and not giving him a key. He can buy a garage door opener, and hopefully will remember to shut that.

There is a big problem if he elects to go with this option. If he forgets to close the garage door it will be obvious to anyone that happens to pass by. If you leave for the weekend and then he leaves for the weekend and leaves it open, I would think that would be a huge risk. At least if the front door is closed, but not locked, you can't tell just by looking at it.

-KeithP

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: KeithP

2) I'm changing the deadbolts and not giving him a key. He can buy a garage door opener, and hopefully will remember to shut that.

There is a big problem if he elects to go with this option. If he forgets to close the garage door it will be obvious to anyone that happens to pass by. If you leave for the weekend and then he leaves for the weekend and leaves it open, I would think that would be a huge risk. At least if the front door is closed, but not locked, you can't tell just by looking at it.

-KeithP

its alot easier to remember to close the garage door.

 

[edro]

I never lock my doors...

If they want in, they will break a window or jimmy a door open. Locking the door is only going to stop a rabid opposum from wandering in.

 

[DaWhim]

what kind of neghborhood are you living in? you sound like my sister, I sometimes forget to lock the door. we live in a place that is only accessible by cars and my county is the #2 safest county in new york. I don't really see it is nesscessary to lock the door everytimes. I think my sister is paranoid.

I understand how you feel. before i got a car, I had to tell my roommates to lock the fvcking door! it was a bad neighborhood.