Key Security Best Practices

Key Security Best Practices: Where to Keep Them, and Where Not To!

A Guide from Thanet Locksmiths for Protecting Your Home

At Thanet Locksmiths, we often talk about the importance of high-security locks, strong doors, and robust alarm systems. But one of the most overlooked aspects of home security is something incredibly simple: your keys.

Your keys are the direct link to your home’s security. In the wrong hands, even the most advanced locks become useless. As your trusted local locksmiths in Thanet, we want to help you adopt smart habits that drastically reduce your risk of a break-in.

Here’s our essential guide on where to keep your keys, and, perhaps more importantly, where not to!

Where NOT to Keep Your Keys (Common Mistakes to Avoid!)

These common habits are like leaving a welcome mat out for burglars:

1. Near the Front Door or Letterbox:
   • The Risk: This is perhaps the biggest culprit. Keys left on a hook just inside the door, on a console table, or, worse, on a string pushed through the letterbox, are incredibly easy for burglars to “fish” out using simple tools. They can then unlock your door without making a sound.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Move them! Even a few feet away can make a difference.
2. Visible Through Windows or Doors (and Public View!):
   • The Risk: If your keys are visible from outside – on a kitchen counter, windowsill, or even hanging near a glass panel – they become an obvious target. A burglar can quickly smash a window or glass panel, grab the keys, and let themselves in.
   • Crucially: Even if a thief can’t physically reach them, a trained eye can photograph or even simply “read” the unique cuts on your keys from a distance. This allows them to have a duplicate made “to code” without ever needing to physically touch your original key. This applies not just at home, but also if you leave your keys unattended on a pub table, at the gym, or on a desk in a public-facing office.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Keep keys out of sight from all external windows and doors. When out in public, be mindful of where you place your keys; never leave them exposed.
3. Under the Doormat or Plant Pot:
   • The Risk: While seemingly discreet, these “hidden” spots are the first places a burglar will check. They are notorious and completely unsecure.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Never, ever hide a spare key outside your home in an obvious place. It’s a direct invitation to an intruder.
4. In Your Car (Especially If Parked Outside Your Home):
   • The Risk: Thieves specifically target cars for house keys. If your car keys are stolen, they automatically have access to both your vehicle and your home. This is particularly dangerous for keyless entry cars, where “relay attacks” can steal car keys while they’re inside your home.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Always bring all keys (house and car) into your home. Consider a Faraday pouch for keyless car fobs to block their signal.
5. In Plain Sight in Your Bag or Jacket (When Out and About):
   • The Risk: Losing a bag or having a jacket stolen with your house keys inside is a direct compromise of your home security. A thief could trace your address or use an ID within the bag to find your home. Plus, just like at home, a quick photo or glance at exposed keys in a bag could be enough for them to be duplicated.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Keep keys secure and out of sight in your bag. Avoid attaching identifying tags with your address.
6. “Hiding” Them in the Ignition or Console of Your Car (When at Home):
   • The Risk: This provides immediate access to your vehicle for thieves, and if your car is stolen, your house keys are gone too, making your home the next target.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Bring all keys inside.

Where TO Keep Your Keys (Smart and Secure Habits)

Now for the good news! Implementing these simple practices can significantly enhance your key security:

1. A Secure, Non-Obvious Spot Away From the Door:
   • The Best Practice: Designate a secure spot well away from the front door, out of sight from windows. This could be a drawer in a chest of drawers, a secure key box fixed to a wall in a less accessible area, or even on a high shelf.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: The further away and less visible, the better.
2. In a Key Safe (Wall-Mounted and Secure):
   • The Best Practice: For spare keys that genuinely must be kept outside (e.g., for carers or emergency access), invest in a high-quality, police-accredited (e.g., Secured by Design) wall-mounted key safe. These are much more robust than hidden fakes.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Use a strong, memorable code that is not easily guessable (e.g., not your house number or birthday). Change the code regularly.
3. On Your Person (When Out):
   • The Best Practice: Carry your keys securely in a zipped pocket or an internal pocket of your bag. Crucially, avoid dangling them visibly or leaving them unattended where they can be easily seen or photographed.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: Keep them discreet and out of public view.
4. Use a Restricted or Registered Key System:
   • The Best Practice: For ultimate security, especially for businesses or homes where many people have keys, consider a restricted or registered key system. These keys can only be duplicated by the locksmith upon presentation of specific security cards or authorisation.
   • Thanet Locksmiths Advice: This is an excellent long-term security measure, preventing unauthorised key duplication and ensuring control over who has copies.

Other Key Security Considerations:

• Lost or Stolen Keys: If your keys are lost or stolen, particularly if they could be linked to your address (e.g., in a stolen bag with ID), change your locks immediately. Don’t wait.
• Moving House: When you move into a new property, you have no idea who might have old keys. Always change the locks on all external doors as one of the first things you do.
• Spare Keys: Only give spare keys to trusted individuals. Collect them back if circumstances change.
• Key Identification: Avoid attaching tags with your address or car registration to your keys.

Your keys are the literal gateway to your home. By adopting these simple, yet effective, key security best practices, you add a vital layer of protection to your property and peace of mind for yourself and your family.

If you have any concerns about your key security, or need to upgrade your locks after a lost or stolen key incident, don’t hesitate to contact Thanet Locksmiths today on 07971 84 93 58. We’re here to help you secure what matters most.