Can You Safely Hide a Key?
How many of us have lost or misplaced a key? This can be frustrating and even scary when you can’t get back into your own home. But while you’re careful to lock up your house and take other safety precautions, you may inadvertently hide a key in the most obvious place, making it easy for other people to guess and help themselves into your home or possessions.
Some of the most obvious and, thus, most risky places to hide a key include:
- In a mailbox
- Under the doormat
- Under a planter near the front or side door
- In a fake rock or hollow lawn decoration, such as a garden statue
- On the doorjamb
There are better options that are both less obvious and add extra protection for your key, so not just anyone can let themselves into your home.
Less Obvious Places to Hide a Key
To hide the key in a less conspicuous place, you could create a false conduit box with a pipe next to your electrical utility box, so it camouflages as an electrical line. This takes an investment in the box and pipe and time to modify the box and bury the false pipe, but it creates a less obvious and more difficult-to-find place to hide a key. Other options may include an old telephone landline box that’s no longer in use. Depending on your area or your home, this may give you a good option for hiding a key.
You can also find fake sprinkler heads with a place to hide a key online or in stores. These, unfortunately, often look obviously fake. Why not use a real sprinkler head instead? Just remove the spring and inner workings by cutting it with a hacksaw. You’ll be left with a hollow tube that screws into the original sprinkler head. Dig a hole to bury the sprinkler head so it’s flush with the ground and blends in nicely with the rest of the sprinklers in your yard. Then you can unscrew it to pull out the key in case of emergencies.
No sprinkler system? You can also hide a key in an aluminum or chain-link fence by making some modifications to your fence post. Start by securely attaching a chain or string to the fence post cap. (Make sure it’s very secure, or you risk dropping the key all the way into the post, making it difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve your key when needed.) Attach your key to the chain or rope with a key chain. And then place the fence cap back in place as if it’s still firmly attached.
While these can be genius ways to hide a key in plain sight, you aren’t the only one looking at the best places to hide them. Thieves may be looking at the same articles you are and finding the more original places to hide keys. So, adding extra protection to your hide-a-key locations can help keep your home better protected while allowing you a convenient way to get back into your home in the event you lose your key.
You may still choose one of the options listed above. But instead of placing a naked key in the hiding spot, place the key in a small combination lock box first. These allow you to set your own passcode that’s easy for you to remember without being easy for a thief to guess. So, in addition to your key being cleverly hidden, it will also be more safely locked away as well.
Safer Places to Hide a Key
Unfortunately, even the cleverest hide-a-key locations—from inside your siding to in a bird or bat house or in a hose or BBQ grill—can still be found by a determined or enterprising thief. One of the safest places to hide a key includes at a trusted neighbor’s house, especially if they’re typically home before you are. A burglar isn’t going to break into your neighbor’s home just to find your keys. Plus, knowing your neighbors and looking out for each other helps improve the safety of your entire neighborhood. Not only can trusted neighbors help by hiding a key, but they can alert you to suspicious activity around your home.
Another more secure place to hide a key is to lock it away in the glove box of your car. You can also get an automatic garage door opener with a door code that only you and a small number of your closest friends or family have access to.
Consider Ditching Keys Completely
One of the safest options is to bypass the need for a hide a key location by ditching keys altogether. Keys are unfortunately cheap, easy to misplace, and easily copiable. Plus, they work for anyone who has a key—whether they have permission to enter your home or not.
How can you ditch keys? Install smart locks (i.e., electronic, key-coded locks) as part of a home security system. One of the biggest benefits of these is that they can be reprogrammed when needed—such as if you’ve recently fired a babysitter or housekeeper or even had a falling out with a close friend or neighbor. You simply use your phone to update the code.
Other benefits of smart door locks or keyless entry include getting notified whenever a door is unlocked in your home. They also allow you to unlock or lock doors from a mobile app if you’re away from home.
An AG Home Alarms monitored systemwill keep you feeling secure and protect your assets and could help you save on homeowner’s insurance! Check out our packages and call now for a free quote at 1-855-518-4458 and talk with an expert about the best smart home solutions to fit your needs that can provide peace of mind, even if you do lose your house keys.