Security risk front door key – hide outside?

No matter where and how well the front door key is hidden outside, burglars could still find it. And if the house is broken into with the house key hidden outside, the insurance company may refuse to pay for the damage. It is therefore not really safe to hide the front door key outside. You should be aware of this.

Hiding front door keys – 5 tips

1. Hide front door key between stones in the garden

You should only try this if you have a larger garden where there are already many stones, otherwise this hiding place is too conspicuous and can be found quickly. Do not buy an extra "hiding stone" for this, but choose one of the stones already available. Stick a small waterproof (pill) can to the bottom where you deposit the front door key. Then hide the stone box among the other stones in the garden.

2. Hide front door key in the tree

It is best to choose a coniferous tree for your hiding place. Secure the key in a small, waterproof container in an inconspicuous and out of sight location.

3. Make the key disappear in the wood supply

To do this, hollow out one of the many logs on the long side a bit so that the front door key fits inside in a watertight package. Now add the log back to it as far back as possible.

4. Hide front door key in a fake electrical outlet

Fake sockets or even fake sewage pipes that you attach to the wall of the house can be ordered quite easily on the Internet. You can find do-it-yourself instructions on the Internet. However, potential burglars may also read them.

5. Bury front door key in neighbor's flower bed

Bury the front door key in a waterproof package as deep as possible in the flower bed. Of course, this requires the consent of the neighbors.

Special case safe key: 5 hiding places and risk factors

1. Hide keys under a loose floorboard

Not very creative. This classic appears in many novels. Nevertheless, it can be useful, because it would cost the burglars a lot of time to take apart all the floorboards. This hiding place should nevertheless only be considered if it is a very large room with floorboards and you cannot see the loose floorboard.

2. Hide keys in a fake can

Here, too, a high residual risk remains, because such hiding places are possibly known to the burglar. Place the fake can between many other cans, for example in a large storage room. Real looking fake cans can be easily ordered on the internet.

3. Hide key in a fake socket

Amazing looking fake sockets can be inconspicuously placed near the floor to hide the safe key. But it is also possible that the burglar is specifically looking for such fake sockets.

4. Hiding keys in a book

Very risky. Burglars are sure to tear all the books off the shelves in search of secret cash stashes and jewelry depots. If you still want to dare, there should be at least 400 more books on your bookshelves. Also, don't choose a hollowed-out fake book as a hiding place, like the ones you can buy in stores. Sacrifice a real book and tape the key to one side so it doesn't fall out right away when you shake it. A hollowed out book is not so good, because something like that is noticed much faster.

5. Hiding in the key box

It should not be a small box, but already a somewhat larger model. There should be at least 100 other similar keys in the box. Hide the box. Here it is mainly about gaining time. The longer and more tedious it is for the burglar to find and try the keys the better.

But one thing is clear: Especially with a safe key for the house safe, there is no really safe hiding place. A safe key also shows burglars that there is indeed something to get here. The safest way to store valuables is in an external lockbox. Because even if a burglar were to find the key for the external safe deposit box, he wouldn't be able to do much with it – of course, the safe deposit box key must not be labeled and must not give any clues as to the safe deposit box location or the safe deposit box number.