A survey has revealed that one in ten Victorians regularly leave their front door unlocked when they are not at home.
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The national survey, commissioned by Lockwood, revealed that Victorians are the most trusting of all Australian residents unlike their ACT counterparts who will always lock their front door if heading out.
Even when they are at home, more than a third of Victorians will leave their front door unlocked, despite nearly half of house break-ins showing no forced signs of entry in Victoria last year and 22 per cent of break ins happening with someone home.
Perhaps the fear of being locked out is responsible for the relaxed approach to home security, with more than three quarters of Victorians being locked out in the last two years alone.
As a result, more than 25% of Victorians admit to hiding a spare key in their backyard, citing the garden shed or under a rock as the most popular hiding places.
Nick Penny at Lockwood who commissioned the survey said; “Locks make great burglar deterrents – but only if you use them!
"Unfortunately leaving the door unlocked is like rolling out a welcome mat to unwelcome visitors. If you’re worried about losing your keys or getting locked out, then consider a keyless lock. In the not too distant future the house key will become a thing of the past as keyless locks become more mainstream."
The survey also revealed that the average Victorian spends more than three hours a year searching for keys. A surprising 82% of respondents also admitted that they carried at least one key on their key ring that they have no idea what it is for.
Nick said "It’s no secret that we’re a time poor nation yet the daily hunt for keys seems to be widely accepted as part of the average Australian’s morning routine."
