The day has finally arrived for you to go on vacation. You've already booked a hotel, set up travel arrangements and hired a house sitter. But don't forget the most important step-securing your home and valuables.
The last thing you want to worry about while traveling iswhether or not your home is properly protected. One of your biggest considerations should be the hiding location of your spare key. If it is hidden in an obvious location, you could be vulnerable to theft.You could be vulnerable to theft if it’s hidden in an obvious area. Follow the tips below when choosing the best place to hide a key.
The best places to hide a spare house key
In addition to setting up an alarm system, evaluate the hiding place of your spare key. To avoid potential unwanted guests, you need to be a little crafty with your key placement. Here are some good hiding spots:
- In a hollow, fake rock that blends in with its surroundings
- Inside a small lockbox under the porch
- In a key hider/magnetic key holder
- Tucked inside the barbecue grill in the backyard
- Under the foot of a chair on the patio
- Under a loose brick in the walkway
- Inside or under a children's toy or birdhouse in the front yard
- In the doghouse
- Secure a key on a nearby tree with a nail
The worst places to hide a spare house key
Choosing the right hiding spot is essential in protecting your home. Burglars will check the obvious places first, so avoid hiding your extra key in plain sight in one of these common locations:
- Under your door mat
- Under a potted plant or in a flowerpot by the door
- Under a garden statue
- On the doorjamb
- In the mailbox
- In your wallet
While your hidden key may not be in plain sight in these hiding places, they're the first places a would-be thief might look at when trying to enter your home.
Get to know your neighbors
When you leave your home, worrying about the "what ifs" is easy. That's why getting to know and having a trusted neighbor is an invaluable tool in your home security arsenal.
Leaving a spare key with a neighbor can:
1. Prevent you from getting locked out of your home.
2. Give you an extra set of eyes on your property while you're away.
3. Ensure you have a quick line of communication if something goes wrong.
A neighbor can help spot a burglar or suspicious activity when you can't.
FAQs
And placing it somewhere too obvious -- like under a plant, doormat or false rock -- is almost like leaving your doors unlocked to begin with. As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid storing a spare key too close to a main entry point of the house and all the common places people tend to hide spare keys.
Where should you not hide a spare key? ›
And placing it somewhere too obvious -- like under a plant, doormat or false rock -- is almost like leaving your doors unlocked to begin with. As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid storing a spare key too close to a main entry point of the house and all the common places people tend to hide spare keys.
How do you securely hide a spare key? ›
Where can I hide my spare key in my home?
- In a locked safe inside an office or bedroom.
- Locked cabinet or desk.
- While you shouldn't hide a spare key in an outside flowerpot, you can place a key inside a waterproof canister and bury it if you have inside plants.
- In a shoebox with an inconspicuous label like "Art Supplies.
The first and most common place for hiding a key is near the front door. This could be under a door mat, inside of a nearby flower pot, or even inside of that unobtrusive hollow plastic rock.
Is it a good idea to hide a key outside? ›
Keeping your spare keys safe.
Sometimes, it seems as though some homeowners believe hiding a key from plain view will outsmart a potential burglar. This is not the case. Any place you might think to hide a key outside, your average burglar has probably thought of it. In fact, burglars count on us to underestimate them.
Where is the best place to keep keys in the house? ›
You should keep the key stand in a secured place, preferably in the master bedroom. You should keep it in the east or the north corner of the room. Unwanted keys are considered metal clutter that can lead to loss of money in your house.
Where do people leave spare keys? ›
Some of the most common hiding places people leave a spare key include: Under the door mat. In the barbecue. Under a rock or pot plant.
Where do people hide spare car keys? ›
10 Places To Hide Your Keys
- Behind Your Tires. Hiding your keys behind your tires is a simple and easy way to keep your keys out of sight, if a little inelegant. ...
- In Your Wheels. ...
- Behind Your License Plate. ...
- In Your Exhaust. ...
- In Your Bumpers. ...
- Under Your Hood. ...
- Inside The Gas Cap. ...
- By Your Windshield Wipers.
The best place to install your key safe
High-security products can be positioned in sight but no or low-security key boxes can be an easy target and should be out of sight.
Where to hide extra apartment key? ›
Avoid Lockouts: Safe Spots to Hide Your Spare Apartment Key
- The Window Planter. ...
- The Dog's Collar. ...
- The Wind Chimes or Door Knocker. ...
- Smart Locks and Key Safes.
Here are some of the other things they look for: Unlocked first-floor windows and doors, open windows, doggy doors, and open garage doors are all signs a home may be easy to enter. Hidden keys near the front or back doors that are easy to find (under door mats or rocks) also make homes easy to burglarize.
Where do most burglars enter the home? ›
According to a burglary study by ADT, front door break-ins top the list at 34% with first-floor windows coming in second at 23%, and the back door at 22%. After that, the other methods of break-in drop off considerably.
Where do burglars look for cash? ›
Because it's so commonly used, burglars go all the way to the master's bedroom even though it can be far from the front or back door. The drawers, closets, and space under the bed are still quite lucrative for thieves looking for money and jewellery.
Where not to hide your house keys? ›
The 5 Worst Places to Hide a Key
- Under the doormat. This spot has to be the gold medal winner in the “bad hiding places” Olympics. ...
- Under a flower pot near your front door. ...
- Under a fake rock that looks completely out of place. ...
- The mailbox. ...
- Anywhere within 15 feet of the door that the key opens.
Best locations for a key safe
- can be seen from the road.
- is at eye level.
- is easily identifiable as a key safe.
- is near the door.
Inside the Power Meter Box: For a secure home key storage solution, consider placing your car keys inside the power meter box. This hidden spot adds an extra layer of protection, keeping your keys safe and accessible in a discreet location.
Where is the safest place to keep car keys at home? ›
The safest place to keep car keys at home is as far from the front door as possible. This will reduce the risk of them being grabbed and, in the case of modern car keys, prevent the wireless signal from being easily amplified in a relay theft. Likewise, always keep fobs in RFID bags/Faraday cages when not in use.
Where is the best location for a key lock box? ›
The best place to put a key lock box is in a secure area that's not too busy. This reduces the risk of your lock box being picked or tampered with by unauthorized individuals who happen to walk by. So, you should avoid placing a key lock box in a high-traffic area like a front door or gate.
