A resource for consumers, locksmiths, and security professionals
In today’s modern era of home security, with advanced technology and the best outdoor security cameras on the market, homeowners forget about the basics. Doors and locks aren’t the first things we think of any more, but every house has them, and it’s in your best interest to make sure your house is properly secured.
Traditional lock hardware and house keys may seem old and outdated, yet everyone still uses these materials. This is when a home locksmith pays dividends because they know exactly which locks your home should be equipped with and can implement a thorough home security plan with complementary pieces.
The days of improperly hiding your house keys under the doormat should be over and done with. There’s never been a more misguided effort at trying to deceive potential intruders than leaving your keys in such a predictable spot. Where do you suppose a burglar is going to look for a spare set of house keys? You can’t compromise your home security with an elementary move like that.
United Locksmith has responded to several situations over the past decade related to home security breaches. In the majority of those instances, the problem stemmed from something that could have very easily been prevented. Everyone can benefit from United’s extensive list of locksmith services, and additionally, you can find better solutions for hiding your house keys!
So, where should you hide your house keys? There are ways to get creative and bolster your home security by adding more deception. Keeping things simple is also a successful strategy and provides quality results when it comes to home security. Let’s break down the proper way to hide your house keys by using these four general concepts:
Now, before you go and hide your house keys in an obvious location, we should answer some basic questions and learn more information about responsibly hiding house keys.
People typically hide their house keys in the areas you would expect – underneath a mat, hidden inside a fake rock, or something else that symbolizes a hiding spot. Unfortunately, your house keys are susceptible to getting stolen when you choose to hide them in these locations.
Potential burglars don’t need any help infiltrating your home, and you certainly shouldn’t assist them with hiding your house keys in a vulnerable area. Getting inside your home should be as difficult as possible for possible invaders, and picking an easy hiding spot for your house keys doesn’t qualify.
If you absolutely must hide your house keys or feel the need to hide them because that’s your preference, then it has to be somewhere outside. Hiding your house keys inside serves no purpose because, in an emergency, how are you going to access them? Your house should already be locked and secured to prevent anybody from coming in.
Placing your house keys outside is a strategic move that needs to be reinforced with a few other maneuvers. For example, wireless or wired security cameras are a good investment that monitors outside activity and helps protect your home. It also works to deter burglars and even notify local authorities when trouble strikes.
You always have to be aware of spare house keys, and if you decide to store them outside, surveillance is a smart tool to complement your home security. Another important component is where you choose to hide the house keys. There are clever locations where you can place house keys that are sensible from a security standpoint, which we will be diving into later.
Hiding house keys is both a high-risk and high-reward venture. Can it work? Absolutely, but it also means the problems have the opportunity to outweigh the security benefits. Once someone finds out where your house keys are hidden, your entire home is exposed to that individual, and everything inside is literally up for grabs.
The easiest solution to hiding your house keys is keeping them attached to your person at all times. Whether you place them on a keychain or a lanyard, house keys are important to hold close because then you’re less likely to lose track of them. When the house keys are physically attached to your belt loop or inside your pocket, it makes personal security convenient!
When you’re in the middle of a crisis like being locked out of your house, having your spare house keys ready to go will solve the problem and immediately relieve stress. Preparation proves to be useful in certain situations, and having your house keys readily available is a better option than hiding them.
Another avenue that suits your home security more appropriately than hiding your house keys is by keeping them stowed away. Now, this could be applied to multiple areas, including your car’s glove compartment or perhaps a concealed drawer at your place of business. Regardless of where you decide to store your house keys, make sure it’s an accessible location with minimal access.
A lot of people think putting house keys in a home safe is a proactive idea. No! This is actually one of the worst spots to hide your house keys because, in the event of a home lockout, you won’t be able to reach your house keys. Every homeowner should consider buying a home safe and finding the right places to install a safe, but not for your house keys.
Stowing away your house keys doesn’t always have to make sense. Sometimes you don’t have an ideal location to store your house keys, and you’re better off keeping them attached to your person. That’s okay because you’re making a smart decision without putting your home’s security in jeopardy.
Giving your friends and relatives unrestricted access to your home may seem like a comfortable thing to do, but you have to set limits. There’s nothing wrong with handing out house keys to people you trust. Family members and neighbors are the best people to leave your house keys with because they’re typically the most reliable during an emergency like a house lockout.
When you’re feeling vulnerable and exposed from a home security perspective, you need someone who’s accountable to hold your spare house keys. Hiding them in random places around your house is only going to cause more security problems. Statistics get thrown around a lot when it comes to home burglaries, and there are different ways to quantify home security.
United Locksmith’s professional advice would be to sit down and decide how many house keys you want to give out to family, friends, or neighbors – and stick to it! We recommend giving out no more than 4 or 5 house keys, with 3 being the ideal amount. Now, remember, these house keys should only be given to responsible people in your life.
Sharing house keys also means you must make sure your kids are not compromising your home security. Bestowing your children with house keys is an important step because it’s both a safety precaution and an opportunity to teach them some life lessons. Kids have to steadily earn responsibility as they get older and letting them hold onto house keys is a critical part of the process!
When people start thinking outside of the box and implement a little bit of creativity, you might be surprised to find out that hiding your keys could be a viable option. We only recommend hiding your house keys if the idea you come up with is totally original and has a low probability of being detected by intruders. For most people, hiding your house keys shouldn’t be considered.
For security and liability reasons, United Locksmith will refrain from pointing out specific places to hide your house keys. With that in mind, we can all agree on sticking to general commentary for this concept to avoid tipping off exact locations. We all want what’s best for our home security, and giving burglars an extra advantage is not the way we prefer to handle things.
First, you need to imagine the layout of your property. Where would an intruder never look for a spare house key? Once you’ve determined a legitimate spot, you need to see if that place will stay dry because house keys are made of metal. With increased amounts of moisture, metal house keys will rust and deteriorate at a much faster rate and become ineffective.
Home security principles are based on practicality. Each homeowner is different and has specific needs that must be addressed. One of the biggest problems we at United Locksmith have encountered over the years is people outsmarting themselves, hiding house keys in everything from bushes to fake bricks to cracks in the concrete.
Burglars and outsiders snooping around your house are looking for the easiest way in. You can avoid giving them that opportunity by not hiding your house keys and keeping things simple and logical. There’s nothing wrong with having a keychain or keeping a spare house key in your wallet. Everyone has their own security preferences that they feel comfortable with, but don’t try to overdo it!
Category: Residential, Safety & Security
