US security, or why Americans don't lock the door

There are no fences, the doors are not locked. Why?

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Most recently, I wrote about american real estate and that houses with a lawn near the house are usually not fenced. High deaf fences, like ours, in the United States, I have not met, but at the same time Americans feel comfortable and with the arrival of the night quietly fall asleep in their beds.

I emphasize that I am writing about areas with average (and above average) income, where I live myself or where my acquaintances and friends live. I can’t say what the situation is with fences in black areas of America and whether they live peacefully; I have not lived in such areas.

In prosperous areas, I will continue, there are differences in the perception of some things between Americans and us. For our people, the fence acts as a means of protection and a kind of deterrent (rather psychological) from strangers. In America, the concept of private property is very well developed. Entering someone else's lawn means breaking the law, and for an American this is obvious even without fences.

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The situation is similar with doors. While in our houses and apartments we install double safe-like doors, in the States the doors do not look durable at all, often consist of half glass and look more like interior doors than entrance doors. And although more and more Americans have recently been thinking about the security of their homes, the vast majority of America does not often lock their front doors. An American friend of mine tells me that she uses the latch only at night, and the key only if she leaves home for several days.

There are no fences, the doors are not locked. Why?

General consciousness of the population

I have already given an example about fences. Americans clearly understand what private property is and respect private boundaries. This awareness works on both sides: everyone knows why to fence or close.

Weapon

As you remember, using their Second Amendment to the Constitution, Americans are still armed to the teeth. Having a gun or pistol in the house to protect your home is in the order of things in America. Therefore, the violator of private boundaries has to reckon with this fact.

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Neighborhood control

In America, such social activity as neighborhood control is common. Together with the local police, volunteers form patrols from volunteers who follow the schedule in a certain area. All on a voluntary basis, but willing, usually enough. Such patrols are organized as a precautionary measure, for example, if a house is robbed in this or a neighboring area. It is surprising that Americans do not begin to install security doors to their homes, but seek to rectify the situation in other ways and, as volunteers, start patrolling their residential areas, still having flimsy doors. Different approach, right?

Area

Much depends on the welfare of the area. In middle- and upper-middle-income areas, robberies are extremely rare. It’s all about the whole thing – the consciousness of citizens and vigilant neighbors. I think that in crime-ridden areas people behave less carelessly.

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Police

It is impossible not to note the work of the police in the United States. Patrol cars regularly ply through residential areas and quickly arrive at the call. And, of course, the police themselves are motivated to order in the reporting area, so they react to everything that is suspicious and non-standard.

Security systems

All sorts of security systems of the new generation are gaining increasing popularity, and it is not necessary to lock the house with a key to feel safe. With the help of installed cameras and sensors that are connected to your phone, you can monitor your 24 home hourly and even from another city.

Fierce competition in the security systems market has a positive effect on prices, and they are becoming more affordable every year. To attract customers, manufacturers are constantly updating and improving their systems. For example, many security systems are already compatible with Alexa (Alexa is a virtual home assistant, very common in America, which responds to your voice and can control processes in the house). Now you can put the house under protection by giving an order to Alex.

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