So...I started this particular blog because for years my wife and I have marveled at how many crime stories in the news include some variation of the phrase "unlocked door" in them. Since starting it, I have been even more aware of this preventable syndrome. And that awareness comes from all sorts of sources.

Right now, we're in San Francisco (see my film blog, iwakeupscreening) at a film festival. We didn't fly into the city, we took the train. On the way here, our train passed by the backsides of a lot of buildings, of all sorts. But one particular building in a railroad depot caught my eye as we passed. There was a door on the backside of this building. Said door was marked, in block letters two or three inches tall, KEEP DOOR CLOSED.

The door was ajar.

komonews.com - Police: Victim gives drunk burglar a glass of water – Jan. 22^nd, 2014:

According to the Seattle police report for the incident, the victim was home alone at his parents' house in the 6600 block of 57th Avenue Northeast when he heard noises coming from the master bedroom shortly before 3:30 p.m.

When the victim went to investigate, he found the suspect -- apparently having come in through the unlocked front door -- opening drawers and throwing items onto the floor, according to the report.

The victim later told officers the suspect appeared to be drunk and/or high, so he offered him a chair to sit on and gave him a glass of water.

The victim sat with the suspect until officers arrived and arrested him for investigation of burglary.

The Washington Post - Anne Arundel County and Howard County crime report – Jan. 22nd, 2014:

These were among incidents reported by the Annapolis Police Department.

Burnside St., 300 block, 6 p.m. Jan. 12 to 11 a.m. Jan. 13. Cash was stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

Canterfield Rd., 300 block, 4:35 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 13. A cellphone was stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

Simms Dr., 1-99 block, 5 p.m. Jan. 11 to noon Jan. 12. Tools were stolen from an unlocked vehicle. A screwdriver was found in the ignition.

 

Tallwood Rd., 1000 block, 12:45 a.m. Jan. 16. A white 2009 Jaguar XF four-door sedan was stolen. It was left unlocked with a key inside.

The Marietta (Georgia) Daily Journal – “Police search for woman wanted in thefts from cars” – Jan. 17^th, 2014:

Police are searching for a woman they say broke into at least a dozen vehicles last month along the Bells Ferry Road corridor and may be continuing to do so.

Officer David Baldwin of Marietta Police Department said the vehicle break-ins were committed Dec. 23 near three apartment complexes.

At least a dozen cars were ransacked, but it appears those vehicles must have been unlocked because there was no other damage, Baldwin said.

“It sounds like they were door flippers,” Baldwin said, referring to the practice whereby thieves will ransack a neighborhood by checking car after car for unlocked doors.

Chico (California) Enterprise-Record – Hits and Misses Editorial Column – Jan. 17^th, 2014:

Home burglaries are often a good reminder that residents need to be careful and do the obvious — don't leave doors and windows unlocked.

Chico State University learned the hard way this week that those rules apply to institutions as well as homes.

An unlocked exterior door to the baseball stadium on campus allowed thieves to enter and steal about $10,000 worth of gear — batting gloves, shirts, catching gear, cleats and sweatshirts.

Few people would think of burglarizing a baseball stadium in the offseason, but the open door presented a crime of opportunity.

Corvallis (Oregon) Gazette-Times Police Log - Thursday, Jan. 2nd, 2014:

A woman reported that sometime between mid-October and Jan. 2, someone entered her unlocked, unattended garage at her residence and stole nearly $4000 in fishing poles and gear.

The Northwest Florida Daily News - "Suspect burglarizes home while couple sleeps"  - Jan. 13th, 2014:

Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies are seeking a suspect in a burglary at a home at 23 Doral Drive early Thursday morning.

A man is seen on a security camera entering the home’s garage at about 2 a.m., according to an offense report.

He then goes into the home through an unlocked door to the living room.

The suspect is described as an about-45-year-old white man. He is approximately 6 feet, 10 inches tall and of medium build with a gray, well-groomed beard.