Close your second floor windows!

I think that is a good reminder. It is sad that we can not leave them open anymore. I am guessing that a lot of people do not even think about it.

When I was a child and lived in a two story house, we always went around and closed ALL the windows if we went out. We didn't worry too much if we were home, but honestly, we didn't have them open much anyway. They weren't really big windows, and they were rather high, well, those that were over the front porch roof. Still, it was almost 40 years ago that we moved out of that house.

I used to keep them closed for the same reasons. I live in the country with no close neighbors. One time I got locked out of the house and the only way in was through the second floor window I left open. I crawled up on the porch roof that was lower and jumped over to the window sill and crawled in. Then I got to thinking, hmmm, if a 5 foot 2" woman can do that, probably anybody else could too! After that I got a hide-a-key thing and buried it under a rock well away from the house, in case I ever got locked out by accident again. I also invested in these window lock things that you add to the windows. They allow me to have a window open a few inches to let air in, yet the window cannot be moved up or down. What a relief to let air in and not have to worry about anyone getting in!

There had been a few of our neighbors in our ex-area whom had been robbed because of carelessness. It seems that although they had latched their windows but seems the robbers still able to enter their home. Luckily, these robbers don't harm people. They only interested in stealing valuable things. Only after installing the iron grilled, then all the houses in our ex-area seems fully free from thieves.

I'm really in shock that people would think its safe to leave their second floor windows open in this day and age. Criminals are everywhere. If they want to get into your house they will first floor window or second floor window. I would not keep a window open unless I'm in the house and awake. Sleeptime there is no way I would keep a window open. Its not like it was back in the 50's and 60's when life was simple and people were kinder.

LOL! I am glad to hear that I am not the only one being accused of being paranoid because I want the windows closed and locked at night not only on the first floor but also on the second floor (although right now I do not have a second floor but I did for a while). It is very scary to hear what almost happened. I know another person that lived on the second floor, and this person was robbed by the perpetrator climbing through the window. People say that it does not happen much, and we should not live our life in fear. However, I do not think that being cautious, especially when this has happened to people that we know, is living in fear. I think it is just trying to keep ourselves and our families safe.

We own our own home and always keep our windows closed up. You just cannot trsut people anymore and it is not safe to leave them open.

Very good point that one could very well access the window from an adjacent roof like garage or porch. I don't have a second floor and my first floor windows are nailed shut as I found out after we bought our home the original owner was sexually assaulted in the house and nailed them all shut. And that's how the windows remain today til we can afford to get new windows in our house; even then I'd close them at night or when we leave.

That's a frightening story. People with evil intentions will use any method of entry that they can.

I have a big verandah which is enclosed with sliding aluminium shutters.I too live on the 2nd floor but there is another floor above my house. In 2002 one night my mom who usually checked to see if the windows are latched forgot to do so. Around 4.00 am i woke up to see that acupboard which was in the verandah had its doors wide open.We got up and were horrified to see that whatever was in it was strewn on the furniture,the window that was left unlatched that night was open and a steel cupboard in another room was open with everything in it strewn on the floor. A robber had entered our house in the early hours and had robbed money from that cupboard.We called the police who arrived in half an hour. Fortunately the thief did not harm my mother who was in her 80`s nor me as i am disabled and cannot move without help.Of course, after 3 months the thief was caught and some money was recovered from him.Now i have put an iron grill outside the windows and no robber can enter the house. There have been several robberies in my building so everybody has put these grills outside their verandahs.

we only have one floor and im always checking locks etc. some think im way to paranoid but dont realise ive lived long enough to hear of many things happening to people that think they are protected or in to good of a neighborhood, etc. in fact, people should all watch the true based movie, "In cold blood" or read the story. way back when no one locked their doors usually in this rural neighborhood, all those family members were killed just cause they thought they had money. everyone was total shocked over that. so yes, i think most people dont realise it could happen to them.

Oh gosh you are so right and I get called paranoid too. Though I am on the first floor my boyfriend had a habit from time to time to want to leave a window open and I demand to have it shut. Although I am in a good neighborhood, one does not know if others from other areas are roaming around for easy access places and wow this is sad to hear that your family experienced this unexpected occurrence. Thanks for confirming my fears, and will continually demand the window to be shut here.

I do not think you can be safe having any widows open in any direction or heights. If someone want to get in they do it. It was good that the father prevented anybody from getting hurt. I wish everybody would have a compassionate mind with good intentions for one another.

Sometimes it doesn't really matter if you have a second floor or something like that and in some way someone would enter your house and steal or do some harm. There are people who think of getting what they want from people who are not aware. People who are so vulnerable and helpless. I think being cautious and always aware of your own safety will keep you from harm. Setting up security precautions can help. But being cautious will be much better. It is better to lose something than to lose more valuable than your life.

Well, the nice thing about most of the windows in our home, is that they have been replaced with windows that are almost impossible to put out, etc. and they would have to remove the screens first in order to get into our house. Personally though it is Best to make sure and close any ways for a person to enter especially later at night because anymore, you just really never know.

That is a thought, but I have my doubts anyone would want to steal anything from me. There is only one window that opens onto a porch roof. On the ground floor I do not have windows open right now, have not all summer it was too hot. The ones that I would be prone to open I have planted barberry under and it would take a very dedicated thief to try to come in there. I think I got that tip from a show where a former criminal was giving tips. On the other side of the house it is pyracanthus. Like I said, no open windows this summer.

I can't do that dragon! I don't have a second floor! LOL However, if I did, I'd make sure they were closed every night. It's funny, I used to worry about that years ago, but I never actually heard of it happening..until now. Thanks for the heads up!

Hi Dragon, Yes, some of these people are desperate and if they want to get in, they will figure out a way. Last year, my daughter and her boyfriend were living in a 2nd floor apartment. They both work nights and sleep during the day. She said that she was awoken by a sound at her window and got up and there was a young man standing on the fire escape. When she asked him what he was doing, he told her that he was looking for a friend that lived there. Could have been but seemed pretty sketchy. I mean why would you visit your friend by climbing to the 2nd story window as opposed to taking the stairs and knocking on the door?

hi dragon, one has to be careful nowadays. thieves have found ways very cleaver to get into one's house. so there is always that possibility. ann

You have the same idead I have. I have always been scared someone is going to come in from the top of the roof and I have had people say "naaa it won't happen, it's to far up or there is just no way they would pick your when there are easier ones be to got" Well you just proved my point; I do have a reason to worry for my family. I will continue to close and lock my windows and doors no matter how safe the place is. Thanks and God Bless