We don't even lock our doors. With two barking dogs, nobody's going to open our door and come in. If they do come in, regardless of the dogs, locked doors and windows aren't going to stop them. I think some people may feel we are risk takers?

Our bedroom is on the 2nd floor but there's a verandah right outside the window and exterior stairs leading up to it, so it's about the same thing. We live in the country and sleep with the window open when we want to. We also have a dog and cats that freak out when anyone comes over. I think they'd alert us.

we live in a rural subdivision, in a house with a first floor bedroom, 55 miles from one of the largest cities in the u s we have a first floor bedroom 2 large windows and a door to a large screened porch i never think much about security, but ac runs 9 months out of the year and heat the other 3 months windows being open are rare i've sometimes considered sleeping on the screened porch but haven't tried it yet

the only time our home has been broken into was in the early 70's in a small town in northwest arkansas we had many large open windows in that house and the back door was standing open, but the intruder chose to try to come in to a bedroom window adjacent to my head (no headboard) luckily we scared him off and he was capture a few doors down a couple of evenings later took me years to get over the fright....

We live in the suburbs and open our windows in the winter and cool weather if it is not raining, though it is noisy and sometimes we don't. In the summer we use our AC and keep the windows closed. One section of our patio has a covered roof, and that window can be left open during rain, which is nice.

Can you put something in the window that would stop it from opening all the way?

We live on the top floor of a triplex and the master has a door to the fire escape and a window on the opposite wall. We have both the window and the door open (the screen door locked). As well as all the other windows open. It creates nice cross-flow ventilation. If anyone were to come up the fire escape, we'd hear them. It's circular and very tight and awkward to maneuver.

Allergies so we don't do open windows. I don't think I could sleep if I didn't feel safe. If you are worried, there are plenty of plants like a rosebush that could be planted in front of the window that would help deter the bad guys.

I have little locks in the window channel that will allow you to open it to the lock . You can buy them at most hardware stores . My house is one story so all bedrooms are ground floor . I occasionally crack the window but not often because of allergies .

I slept in a second floor bedroom in my childhood home and for three years when DH and I lived in a townhome. Our first apartment was ground floor. Our first house was one-story. Our present home is one story. We have *always* opened our bedroom windows at night, unless it is too cold outside. We've always lived in 'safe' suburbs of Chicago.

Our Maui condo is ground floor. There are jalousie windows and sliders at both ends. We have screw-in night locks on the sliders that fasten them open two inches.

Once we rented a 2nd floor condo that faced a bay on Kauai. We locked our sliders at night. One morning we woke to find police interviewing the 3rd floor guests. They'd left their sliders open, with only flimsy screens closed. A burglar had scaled the balconies and taken their cash and jewelry during the night, exiting through their front door. They'd heard *nothing*. (Good luck explaining to your insurance company why you didn't secured the condo at night.) At least they hadn't confronted some druggie needing a fix!

Our master is on the first level....there is but one lovely level for the entire house ;0)

There is a garden window in the master and two of four panes open out. Screened. We sleep with the bedroom window open all year round - we are open window types and always have been, and yes, I know that leads to additional pollen, dust. My former house had a whole house air cleaner and I didn't notice the results of the open window habit, here I do.

This is a reasonably safe neighborhood (in a community of about 18,000) - and I understand no guarantees - while we also have ample garden and outside lighting that I think helps. DH has not been away overnight since we bought this house, I wonder how I'd feel with the windows open and alone (and since I sleep 10x more soundly than he does). I might be more comfortable with a slider which could have a pin to only slide a measured number of inches - not the width of anyones shoulders.

We have a window is at ground level and we have casements which we can open only so far to keep it safe...and we live in a very safe neighborhood, so it's not a problem. Double hungs can also have double-headed nails put in so that they will open, but only so far.

My personal bent is I'd rather be at ground level rather than have to try to go downstairs to find the burglars...too many scary movies of that scene to be comfortable with it.

I lived downstairs in a suite of my parents house and it was ground level and always had windows open when wanted too.

Upstairs my dad's bedroom was right level to their front area and he kept his windows open.

And moved to the condo and it was all ground level for me where I lived there and no problem, kept windows open and they swung outward too and no way to lock them.

I think it depends on the area you live in, some are so safe and others no way, must secure the window somehow to have them opened.

kathy

We live in a single story house in a suburban neighborhood. All our windows open to the fenced backyard except for two living room windows which I close at night. I've always had dogs with access between house and yard.

If someone wants to get into your house they will. I worry least about someone crawling through a bedroom window. They'd have to get past the dog first. Then they have to hope not to have to get past me. I have a reputation on my street. ;-)

Our street is pretty safe and quiet. We've had a few vehicles broken into. The extended neighborhood has some problems with home break-ins. The homes built near the parks and schools have the most issues. Also as more ethnic populations known to keep valuables at home live here the home burglaries seem to increase.

We are in a ranch, all one floor. We have lots of critters (opossums, armadillos and raccoons) out here in suburbia. We slept with the windows open one night and something alerted the dogs who had no trouble breaching the screen. Now we only crack it open a few inches so there is no chance of the dogs getting loose. Usually mild air coincides with my worst allergens, so not open-window often.

Depends on the season, to leave a window open. Right now, I sleep with an air purifier running instead.

We live in a rancher, up in the mountains. I lock the screen and crack it maybe 4". I'm afraid of raccoon, bear, mountain lions coming in while I sleep. :0)

I lock the windows and doors in the first floor in my suburban neighborhood. As mentioned though if someone wants in they will find a way.

If it is 57º or warmer, my windows are open 24/7. I have a cape cod and my bedroom is on the first floor, facing the street. I live in a suburban neighborhood where the houses are close together. I have great neighbors and we all watch out for each other. While I have two dogs, I'm not sure, unless it was another dog trying to come in, that they would do much about a break-in. :) I also live alone and have never been afraid here.