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by beatgammit 2452 days ago
I live in a very low crime area, yet even in my sleepy neighborhood (semi rural), we had a break-in a couple years before buying our house. It turned out to be a couple of teenagers that wanted some quick cash (probably for drugs). That was the only break-in for years, and there hasn't been one for the several years I've lived in my house, so you never know when someone will try to steal something.

That being said, a lock has to be just good enough to deter theft. In my area, that's means a simple door lock for houses and a U-lock for bicycles. In other areas, you need far more security. But to goal isn't to keep out a determined attacker, but to make it more worthwhile for the thief to move on to the next house/car/bike than to try to get past your lock.
1 comments
benj111 2452 days ago
It still isnt clear to me that at this level that locking your door is a win.

If they break in you still have to pay to repair the damage and the things they've taken.

I'm fairly certain, if someone broke into my house, the biggest bill would be repairs, not replacements.

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swish_bob 2452 days ago
Your household insurance might well refuse to pay out if there isn't evidence of forced entry. That's a fairly sizeable variation in the cost of being broken into ...
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benj111 2452 days ago
Maybe, I probably wouldn't try to claim on the insurance though. My most expensive to replace thing is probably my cd collection, which as far as I'm aware thieves don't go for, my tv is small cheap and unbranded, my laptop is ancient and the battery is knackered. I suspect the most fence-able possession I've got is a Kitchenaid mixer.

The only reason I even have contents insurance is because it comes with the buildings insurance.

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swish_bob 2452 days ago
Ironically, perhaps, the case I was thinking of when I wrote the comment was my friend's insurance refusing to pay out on his CD collection being stolen because there was no sign of forced entry (he'd left the patio doors unlocked).

This was a number of years ago though, whether thieves still take CDs is an interesting question.

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benj111 2452 days ago
This is from 2012, no doubt the trend has continued

https://www.economist.com/britain/2012/01/07/not-worth-nicki...

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swish_bob 2452 days ago
It seems likely. It was _quite some time ago_.
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