How to Hide a Spare Key for Your Home

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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There is a right way and a wrong way to hide a spare key for your home. A key that is easy for you or your kids to find is also easy for a burglar to find. To keep your home secure and your family safe, you need a great hiding place.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

a combination key box
some creativity
a trustworthy neighbor

Step1

Avoid the obvious: under the doormat, on top of the door frame, under a fake rock or in the mailbox. Experienced burglars know where to check for spare keys. If you’ve seen someone do it in a movie or seen a friend do it, don’t do it yourself.

Step2

Get a key holder that doesn’t look like a key holder. The fake dog turd is cute but sadly, very predictable (don’t think a burglar won’t go rummaging through Fido’s business). Someone could recognize a key holder disguised as a lawn ornament from an advertisement and know exactly where to look.

Step3

Buy a key box with a combination lock. That way you won’t even have to hide it. Shop around for a secure key box that can be opened without a key, but can’t be opened by someone who has no business getting in.

Step4

Put a key in your garage. Set up your garage to be opened only by the remote control or a keypad. You can also get magnetic key holders to place on the track of your garage door opener.

Step5

One of the safest options is to give your spare key to a neighbor you can trust and simply knock on their door the next time you lock yourself out.

Step6

Be completely original in your hiding place. If you must hide a key on your own property, put it somewhere inconvenient (nowhere near your door) and possibly outrageous ... use your imagination!

Tips & Warnings

Have your locks changed every now and then, especially when you first move in. The previous tenant may have given a key to an unscrupulous acquaintance years ago.
If you want to play mind games with a potential burglar, you could plant fake keys around your property. He might find them, get frustrated and leave your house alone.
Don’t write your name on the key you give to your neighbor, just in case it falls into the wrong hands.
If you lose a spare key, change your locks immediately.