The Do’s and Don’ts of Spare Keys

Posted by James on Nov 9, 2015 in Home Safety | 0 comments

If you’re living in a family home then you will know that having spare keys is a must. With more than two family members losing keys is pretty much inevitable, especially with younger family members. There are also mishaps in which family members might find themselves locked out of their house, which no one wants. But if your children get locked out it’s a whole different ball game. Their lives could be put at risk especially if they are locked out at night. Though spare keys are a necessity they can also put your home at risk. Here are the do’s and don’ts of spare keys (try to avoid them to keep your family and home safe):

Hiding Place

When it comes to having a spare key one of the major don’t is where you hide your spare key. Most people hide spare keys under their welcome mat or also under a plant pot. However this is common knowledge to everyone, including thieves! If they know where you hide your spare key then you are making it easy for them and putting your home at risk in the meantime.

Only Keep One

Many people often think it is a good idea to create multiple spare keys to be ready for any occasion. The truth is though in doing that you could be putting your home at more risk. Just like family members can lose their normal copy of house keys they can also lose the spare key. With multiple spare keys that increases the chance of your spare keys being stolen or found by those without good intentions.

Key Safes (recommended from FastKeys)

If you have made the choice to have a spare key to your home then a key safe is a very good idea. A key safe is a device that can hold the spare key, to gain access to this device you must have a passcode. This means that only those with the passcode can use the spare key, and each of your family members will have a backup in case of any accidents. Key safes are also durable and most people don’t actually know what a key safe is, this prevents theft of the key and ultimately theft within your home.

Access

Another good idea is to leave the possession of the key with someone trustworthy like a neighbour or family member that is accessible all the time. This means that the safety of your key is ensured and all family members know the procedure if they do lose their key.

All of this of course means nothing if your locks are not safe. For that you don’t need a spare key, you need a locksmith.