The best place to keep your keys

Given that your house and car are two of the most valuable assets you own, it’s only natural that you want to keep the keys for them safe.

We’re all guilty of misplacing things from time to time and blaming someone else for moving them – but keys are one of the most commonly stolen items in the country. And once someone possesses a key to your home or vehicle (or both!), they can let themselves in, help themselves to whatever they want, and drive off in your motor.

With that said, it’s important to find a secure place to store them. And to help, we thought we’d offer a few tips on storing your house and car keys safely whilst at home, at work, and out and about in public.

Where to keep your keys

Need we remind you that burglars are savvy?

They plan their heists – lurking near your house, keeping a watchful eye on your movements, and taking photographs of your property and the surrounding area. They often operate under a blanket of darkness and know exactly where to look for items of value.

So, let’s take a look at where you should and shouldn’t put your keys to ensure burglars and intruders don’t get their hands on them…

  • At home

Most people leave their house keys by the front door so they can easily grab them on their way out.Although this is super convenient, it also makes a burglar’s job easier. They can use a popular technique, known as ‘fishing’, where they simply feed a length of wire and hook the keys out through your letterbox or window.

Our best advice is to keep your house and car keys out of plain sight as leaving them on display could tempt potential thieves into stealing them.

You should also avoid using common hiding spots for spare keys, i.e. under plant pots or doormats. And if you haven’t already, consider investing in a key safe too. We have a wide selection to choose from here at eSafes – all of which can be installed into brick or concrete walls and have a high-security lock fitted on the outside.

  • At work

Arguably the best place to leave your keys whilst at work is zipped inside your bag and then locked away in a locker. Having a secure padlock will give you the peace of mind that your keys and other possessions are safe and that nobody can open up your locker door without the appropriate key or PIN.

Most businesses have keys for different rooms, gates, cupboards, safes, etc. Though you could bunch them all together on one keychain or reel, it’s much easier to store them inside an office key cabinet using colour coded tags and hooks to organise them.

  • In public

Whether you’re heading off to work, doing the weekly shop, or meeting up with friends, remember to lock the door and remove the key. You’d be surprised how many people have accidentally left the key in the lock whilst rushing out of the house – making it only too easy for an intruder to gain access.

The same applies to your car key. Always take the key out of the ignition once you’ve parked up and, before stowing it safely, lock it.

It’s a sensible idea to wear clothing that has pockets with zips or a button to prevent your key from slipping out. Alternatively, you could take a bag that has a small compartment to keep your key safe, along with your phone, purse/wallet, etc.

Still worried about losing your keys?

If you’re constantly putting things down and can’t be trusted with keys, you could opt for keyless entry systems instead?

These eliminate the need for keys and allow you to lock and unlock doors using cards, fobs, keypads, biometrics, and even Bluetooth! And if you feel like your security might have been compromised, all you have to do is change the PIN code or revoke access.

To find out more about the different safes we stock here at eSafes or for more tips on securing your possessions, give us a call on 0800 783 2328. Alternatively, send an email to info@esafes.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.