Warning given over terrifying 'sticky tape trick' over front door lock

16 November 2023 , 15:48

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There's a sinister warning behind finding tape on your door lock (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

You come home from work, go to put your key in the door, and find a piece of sticky tape stuck over the lock. It was probably just some kids messing around, or maybe your partner left it there for some reason - nothing to worry about, right? Wrong.

Sticky tape over your lock is a dangerous sign according to many security-savvy social media users who shared the worrying reasons behind the act. Posted on the question-answering forum , the seemingly harmless act was explained, and the terrifying reasons quickly became clear.

According to many of the people who answered, the tape could be there as a test by thieves to see if someone is coming and going regularly. If the tape is removed, they know if someone is leaving and entering the home regularly, and if it is still there several days later, they know the house may be unoccupied.

Other social media users warned that the sticky tape on the lock trick could help someone pick it. They revealed that by placing the tape on the lock, "an intruder may be trying to gather information about the lock's mechanism or create a template for future attempts," says one user.

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Someone could also be trying to indicate that there is a fault in the lock making it easily picked for someone else to come back late. "If you discover tape on your lock, it implies that your lock could be compromised. It could indicate that the lock is faulty, damaged, or easy to bypass, making your home more susceptible to break-ins," one user explains.

Of course, there were less nefarious reasons given as to why tape may have been left on your door. One suggested it could be used as a signal from door-to-door salespeople, fundraisers, or religious groups to signify that they have already been to your door.

Many people advised that if you do find tape on the lock, it may be worth removing it to avoid thieves thinking your home is empty, you're on holiday, or that you don’t know about their sticky tape tricks. They also advised that if you do find it and can afford to, invest in a motion-activated security camera for your front door.

In the spirit of moaning about things being left on our doorsteps, people also scolded door-to-door salespeople and flyer distributors for leaving door-hanger flyers and pamphlets on door handles and on the hinges of doors.

One user said: "Huge reason I f*****g HATE those damn doorknob hanger advertisements. They’re a huge security problem that’s difficult to control. And thieves know it."

Imy Brighty-Potts