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Hi Ladies,
I've got something to run by you all. Please forgive the long story - I'm part venting and part seeking advice.
I live in a condo with two other women, one of whom is the owner - all three of us are professionals in our early 30s. The condo neighborhood itself is relatively "nice enough" and "safe enough", but the surrounding neighborhoods are a bit rough around the edges. I don't fear getting shot up by gangsters at any moment; but, the neighborhood is admittedly sketchy in many sections and I don't make it a point to walk or drive through certain areas after dark. A few months ago, a man was murdered in the canyon about two blocks away. This past week we had a home invasion robbery about 2 miles around the corner.
Right.....and when my roommate (the non-owner) leaves for work at about 5:30am - 6am, she leaves the sliding glass door unlocked.
We have a layout where no one uses the front door - we all enter and exit through the back patio via a sliding glass door. It has a keyed lock, which is awkward for locking purposes. The sliding door has to be seated just right to make sure that the latches catch and turning the key is hard when you've got a bunch of keys on the chain like I do. Holding bags, purses, boxes, etc are a no-go....I usually have to set my bags and coffee cup down on the deck in order to make sure my hands are free to lock up properly.
Based on my observations thus far, I think roomie struggles with the concept of putting her stuff down first and has decided that it's just easier to slide the door closed and walk away without locking. I regret to say that it seems like sheer laziness on her part.
I think this is unsafe. I don't feel comfortable knowing that I'm sleeping upstairs with the door to the house unlocked...even if it's just for a couple hours. I currently sleep with my bedroom door locked as a back-up.
This evening, I asked her, in a polite and casual manner, about why the door is always unlocked in the morning. She kind of looked at me like I was stupid and said, "Because you're still home when I leave." I gather that she thinks it's ok to not lock up because people are in the house? Even when it's early morning and we're still sleeping? By that logic, why does she lock the door at night before she goes to bed?! I mean, we're ALL home at that point, right? Why not just leave all the windows and doors open overnight while we're all home sleeping?
I suggested to her that leaving the door unlocked was unsafe because it puts me and the other roommate at risk for getting raped and murdered. She looked annoyed and stated that she thinks it's "obnoxious" for people to keep the sliding glass door locked [during the daytime] when they're sitting right there at the kitchen table. (She was obviously referring to me and I do reach over and unlock it for her when she walks up.) I guess inconveniencing someone who is trying to come home from work with a lunchbag in her hand is more obnoxious than the prospect of being robbed, raped or murdered. I asked her to lock the door on her way out to work. I don't yet know if she'll do it.
Right....so, in the meantime, I need to look out for myself. I don't rely on other people to do the right thing. I don't rely on the idea that the condo neighborhood "seems safe". I don't rely on the thought of "that isn't going to happen to me."
I own guns. (Duh) My roommates don't know that I have firearms in the house. I tend not to disclose that because a) people might freak out and b) truthfully, I never 100% trust "roommates".
Out of personal choice, I don't keep my Glock loaded and readily accessible/within reach at home. (I know...bear with me, k?) When I'm travelling alone and in my hotel room, yes, lock and load on the nightstand. If I lived alone, yes, lock and load. But, it's tougher when you're living under someone else's roof.
My room is tiny and there is nowhere to put one of those fancy quick-access safes. The most feasible idea I have is to keep my Glock in a lower dresser drawer, within arm's reach of my bed. Though, I'd still be worried about someone finding it there. On the other hand, it's my safety at risk if I don't have my Glock accessible.
Some extra points to consider: This roommate is only going to be here another 6 months or so. Me moving somewhere else is not a feasible option for the immediate future. The other two roommates have been friends for years; I'm the odd one out. Please remember that I'm dealing with women and women have a funny way of dealing with each other.
Suggestions or ideas?
BK
I've got something to run by you all. Please forgive the long story - I'm part venting and part seeking advice.
I live in a condo with two other women, one of whom is the owner - all three of us are professionals in our early 30s. The condo neighborhood itself is relatively "nice enough" and "safe enough", but the surrounding neighborhoods are a bit rough around the edges. I don't fear getting shot up by gangsters at any moment; but, the neighborhood is admittedly sketchy in many sections and I don't make it a point to walk or drive through certain areas after dark. A few months ago, a man was murdered in the canyon about two blocks away. This past week we had a home invasion robbery about 2 miles around the corner.
Right.....and when my roommate (the non-owner) leaves for work at about 5:30am - 6am, she leaves the sliding glass door unlocked.
We have a layout where no one uses the front door - we all enter and exit through the back patio via a sliding glass door. It has a keyed lock, which is awkward for locking purposes. The sliding door has to be seated just right to make sure that the latches catch and turning the key is hard when you've got a bunch of keys on the chain like I do. Holding bags, purses, boxes, etc are a no-go....I usually have to set my bags and coffee cup down on the deck in order to make sure my hands are free to lock up properly.
Based on my observations thus far, I think roomie struggles with the concept of putting her stuff down first and has decided that it's just easier to slide the door closed and walk away without locking. I regret to say that it seems like sheer laziness on her part.
I think this is unsafe. I don't feel comfortable knowing that I'm sleeping upstairs with the door to the house unlocked...even if it's just for a couple hours. I currently sleep with my bedroom door locked as a back-up.
This evening, I asked her, in a polite and casual manner, about why the door is always unlocked in the morning. She kind of looked at me like I was stupid and said, "Because you're still home when I leave." I gather that she thinks it's ok to not lock up because people are in the house? Even when it's early morning and we're still sleeping? By that logic, why does she lock the door at night before she goes to bed?! I mean, we're ALL home at that point, right? Why not just leave all the windows and doors open overnight while we're all home sleeping?
I suggested to her that leaving the door unlocked was unsafe because it puts me and the other roommate at risk for getting raped and murdered. She looked annoyed and stated that she thinks it's "obnoxious" for people to keep the sliding glass door locked [during the daytime] when they're sitting right there at the kitchen table. (She was obviously referring to me and I do reach over and unlock it for her when she walks up.) I guess inconveniencing someone who is trying to come home from work with a lunchbag in her hand is more obnoxious than the prospect of being robbed, raped or murdered. I asked her to lock the door on her way out to work. I don't yet know if she'll do it.
Right....so, in the meantime, I need to look out for myself. I don't rely on other people to do the right thing. I don't rely on the idea that the condo neighborhood "seems safe". I don't rely on the thought of "that isn't going to happen to me."
I own guns. (Duh) My roommates don't know that I have firearms in the house. I tend not to disclose that because a) people might freak out and b) truthfully, I never 100% trust "roommates".
Out of personal choice, I don't keep my Glock loaded and readily accessible/within reach at home. (I know...bear with me, k?) When I'm travelling alone and in my hotel room, yes, lock and load on the nightstand. If I lived alone, yes, lock and load. But, it's tougher when you're living under someone else's roof.
My room is tiny and there is nowhere to put one of those fancy quick-access safes. The most feasible idea I have is to keep my Glock in a lower dresser drawer, within arm's reach of my bed. Though, I'd still be worried about someone finding it there. On the other hand, it's my safety at risk if I don't have my Glock accessible.
Some extra points to consider: This roommate is only going to be here another 6 months or so. Me moving somewhere else is not a feasible option for the immediate future. The other two roommates have been friends for years; I'm the odd one out. Please remember that I'm dealing with women and women have a funny way of dealing with each other.
Suggestions or ideas?
BK
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