SIGforum
Do you leave your garage door open?
April 01, 2025, 05:43 PM
ridewvDo you leave your garage door open?
It's amazing when I see garage doors open all the stuff some people have packed in there. Stacks of boxes, some yard tools, an old lawn mower, ladder, a couple old bicycles that you can see don't get ridden (because they're behind the boxes), grill, garbage cans, etc. The whole lot of stuff isn't worth $4,000. Meanwhile their two nice vehicles with a combined value of $50,000 live outside in the driveway all year!
Personally I keep my garage doors closed to prevent mice, chipmunks, birds, etc., from wandering in.
No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride.
April 01, 2025, 05:44 PM
sonnydazequote:
Originally posted by 1s1k:
If I’m outside at all or piddling in the garage I leave the side entry garage open because you can’t see in from the street and I live in a semi rural gated subdivision with 25 total houses. Otherwise both doors are always closed and all vehicles are inside.
Agree and what a gorgeous house and property!
April 01, 2025, 06:22 PM
bald1quote:
Originally posted by oddball:
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Do you leave your garage door open all day when you're home?
No, and I live in a neighborhood that is basically crime free and mostly retired couples. Neighbors will leave them open for a short period of time, and I do as well, while mowing the lawn, doing yard work, or washing the car when I need to go in/out of the garage. But nobody in my neighborhood leaves them open all day. In fact, I don't think I have seen this since the 1970s.
As oddball states, same here in both my home and my neighbors.
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
April 01, 2025, 07:23 PM
sigmonkey
"..if there is one thing in this world that I hate, it is an unlocked footlocker!"
"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" ✡ Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב! April 01, 2025, 07:30 PM
HRKLeave it open when we are home but we have a pull down garage door screen that allows air to circulate but not critters n such...
We chose the dark blackout screen material... Similar to this...
I'm usually out there in the evenings, have a 100 inch projection tv, chair, and cigar or two..
But we do close it overnight, lest a Florida critter decides to take a walk during maiting season looking for a snack and some hot gator poosai!
April 01, 2025, 07:33 PM
mark60Never open unless someone is going through it. I don't want people seeing my stuff and where I live I don't want the wildlife wandering in. All I need is to find a skunk or raccoon in the garage if the dog has to go out in the middle of the night.
April 01, 2025, 07:45 PM
smschulzNope, it's a good way to lose something.
It just takes a few seconds for someone to pop in and grab whatever and I have a bunch of tools, reloading stuff and even a weapon oe two if I am working on them.
April 01, 2025, 07:50 PM
SSgt USMC/VetNot no but hell no. I don't have a lot I just want to keep what I do have. Reasons I also do not bears, snakes etc...
If its open I'm within sight and always armed.
Not paranoid, just prepared.
April 01, 2025, 07:57 PM
BassamaticI live out in the sticks and never leave our garage doors open. Someone mentioned it being and older persons thing. That may be right, I know a few older couples who leave their doors open all day and sometimes overnight.
.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress. April 01, 2025, 07:58 PM
IndianaMikei keep it closed even if i am working in the yard on the ither hand i cannot get my wife to understand my wants
April 01, 2025, 08:14 PM
FP2000Hquote:
Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
quote:
Originally posted by FP2000H:
It’s definitely an old person thing.
I disagree.
I consider myself an old person (70), and I never leave my garage door open.
The neighborhood is good, an even when I mow the lawn, I take the mower out and then close the door.
If I'm working on something in it, I'll have it open - but that's it.
Both cars get parked in the garage, too.
I have neighbors younger than me that do leave the garage open all day.
Most of them park their cars on the street, too.
I didn’t mean that all old people do it, but it does tend to be old people who are guilty of it. I’m a decent shot and certainly accurate enough for “minute of hallway,” but I don’t want to invite disaster.
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April 01, 2025, 08:24 PM
VoshterkoffThat’s how you get mice.
April 01, 2025, 08:59 PM
BeancookerNo. I come home for lunch for 40 or so minutes, the door is closed.
Working in the backyard, door is closed.
Unless I’m in the front yard or in the garage, it’s closed.
We also lock our doors. I lock my car if I leave it, even for a minute.
It’s just common sense to me.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
April 01, 2025, 09:06 PM
sigarms229Nope. Only open for an extended period if I'm working outside or in the garage.
I do have a keypad lock on the house door from the garage so no one could just walk in the open garage and into my house. I also have a hidden camera in the garage that I mainly use to check in case I think I forgot to put the garage door down.
Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six
April 01, 2025, 09:14 PM
PrefontaineI only leave the garage open in a few scenarios. I’m mowing. I’m washing a vehicle in the driveway. I’m charging my daily driver (11+ years old now). It is never left open if I’m not at home, never overnight, etc. I have surveillance cameras and motion sensors and even then just the few scenarios above. Many times I use the manual locks on the inside as well.
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
April 01, 2025, 09:16 PM
BB61quote:
Originally posted by BigWhup:
Nope, unless I am piddling outside, the G doors stay shut. No sense advertising to thieves doing their shopping.
^^^^^^
This. And even then, I’ll put it down unless I’m going in and out.
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April 01, 2025, 09:31 PM
straightshooter1Absolutely not. We keep the garage doors closed, and all door and windows are locked even if we are home, which we are most of the time.
Bob
April 01, 2025, 09:34 PM
parabellumWell, yeah, I lock my windows and doors

Good heavens. I feel safe in my neighborhood. My condolences to those of you who feel like you have to live behind fortress walls 24/7.
April 01, 2025, 10:23 PM
KyjondeereMy garage is usually open all day every day when the weather is decent and when I’m at least somewhat nearby. Deliveries are sometimes left on my workbench. I am probably too trusting! We also seldom lock our doors unless gone for several days at a time such as a vacation. When that happens, I have to look for a key since it’s so rarely used. I was raised this way and my family is all the same. We are very rural and at the end of a half mile driveway with no neighbors within visible sight. There have never been any issues but it’s probably past due to change these habits but it’s been hard to make the adjustment.
April 01, 2025, 11:00 PM
abnmacvGarage door is closed unless I am working outside and can see the entrance. Basically crime free area but drug addicts occasionally ride by, on stolen bicycles, eyeballing. Don't enjoy grief and keeping what is mine safe is the way to go.
U.S. Army 11F4P Vietnam 69-70 NRA Life Member