Be careful where you locate your door keys when you lock up – in the lock is not a good idea:
A Locksmith Colleague of Valkyrie sent me the below images from a client – Sunday 09th. A Burglar had used a small blow torch to burn through a UPVC front door, making a hole big enough to fit a hand through so he could access and engage the front door keys which were left in the lock (windows are also often broken to gain access to keys on the inside in the same way). It is convenient to lock up and leave the keys in the lock BUT it is highly recommended you avoid doing this. Get in the habit of locking the door(s) and placing the keys in a safe but easily accessible location away from the door – at least far enough away from a full-length arm or a full-length arm with an hooking implement (e.g. a metal coat hanger) and not on a shelf or ledge close to the door. Remember small hands can often access keys left in the lock via the letterbox. If the key isn’t in the lock (on the inside) the door cannot be unlocked by a Criminal from the outside as there is no key to turn. This may seem like common sense but when I discussed the incident with the Locksmith, he informed me that this is quite common practice for many people and burglars are seizing on it to access and burgle homes. In addition, if you do fall foul of this tactic, it could invalidate your home insurance.
In summary:
- Don’t leave keys on the inside of door locks or nearby window ledges
- Remove keys from view and keep them in a safe place
- Create a designated safe place at home to put your keys once inside the house – safe but easily accessible in case of an emergency
- Don’t leave your name and address on any key tags – if you lose your keys away from the home they could fall into the wrong hands
