That's the message from police after burglars made short work of four unsecured homes at the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Trevor Thomson, of Dunedin, said on Saturday or Sunday, a 32-inch Soniq television was taken from an unlocked Forth St flat.
''It's preferable to actually lock your doors when you leave,'' Snr Sgt Thomson advised.
The burglary comes after a box of Flame beer, some steak and cheese, and $150 worth of Samoan currency (tala) were taken from an unlocked flat in Union St on Saturday.
Across town that same weekend, a tenant lost $700 after an offender ''walked in through the back door'' of a home halfway down High St and took cash from the victim's satchel, Snr Sgt Thomson said.
Just one street over, in Manor Pl, a burglar had to do a little more work to enter a house which is being renovated. The offender climbed through a front window and took copper wire, a snowboard and piping to a sink. Snr Sgt Thomson said the removal of the piping caused extensive water damage.
Also reported to police this week was the burglary of an eclectic array of items from the $2 & More store in King Edward St, on Monday night.
The offenders ''kicked in the rear door'' before taking more than $100 worth of stock, including a dragon model, costume jewellery, cans of soft drink, lollies, a sword and some candle holders.
Earlier on Monday, between 8am and 11am, a vandal entered a yard in Maclaggan St, Dunedin, and damaged a Suzuki scooter before possibly making off with some other items, he said.
