I just found out that I could easily break into my own home.....
My husband is out of town and I went out to get the morning paper. I always go thorough the garage to the end of the driveway....problem is I locked the door between the garage and the laundry room in the middle of the night!! I thought I heard noises and being suddendly cowardly, I got up and locked a door that is always unlocked.
When I got my newpaper and went to turn the handle, nothing. I was standing in my shorts, in the garage in 25 degree weather; at least I had put shoes on....freezing rain had started and I wanted to keep my feet dry. I had not yet showered and had "bed head". (long hair gets rumpled on cotton sheets at night)
I tried to pry the lock with a CD case, no luck. I looked all through the garage trying to find something metal I could shove between the door jamb and the lock...I found a CD case that I broke up...it cracked to pieces. I was going to beg for help.
As I was walking to the neighbors to call a locksmith, I decided to see if the windows off the family room were unlocked....sure enough. Our family room is level to the deck. The windows are floor to ceiling and about 6" off the floor.
I had to cut the screen, push up the window and climb in....all I need to do is have the screen repaired....I am sure it will be less than a locksmith. Heck, I know how to do it from my years at Pella Windows.
Anyway, some lessons (please learn from my mistake):
Don't lock the door because you think someone is lurking in the locked and closed garage that has an opener and that you checked before going to bed.
Don't go outside without checking to make sure you can get back in-especially in the winter with shorts on.
Don't leave your first floor windows unlocked.....it took me less than two minutes to get in through the window....I tried to pick the lock for 1/2 hour.
For gumby....eat your wheat bran, drink your water and "go" before you go outside and lock yourself out!