Key safes

scorza · 6 Jul 2016 at 09:22

For a variety of reasons I'd like to get a key safe for my house - what are people's thoughts on these? I've found this https://keysafe.co.uk/product/93/c500-keysafe which is more expensive than the ones on Amazon and claims to be "police approved" whatever that means.

I was thinking of locating it beside the front door, so if a bad actor did try to compromise it, hopefully a few of the neighbours would notice. The alternative would be round the side, unfortunately I need a key to be able to get to my back garden so can't hide it there.

Good idea? Bad idea?

Lumeycom · 6 Jul 2016 at 09:38

Thats the key safe they are about to fit at my Nan's as part of her Lifeline install. Apparently it is the only police approved one. Personally I don't like the idea of an obvious key outside my house, I'm not sure how my house insurers would take it either.

For my nan its a necessity, if it wasn't I don't think I'd have one.

ZG002 · 6 Jul 2016 at 11:27

We use them at work on void properties, if someone wants in they will get in. In the worst areas we stopped using them.

tom_e · 6 Jul 2016 at 11:30

Get a tupperware box, place key in, bury box in garden.

No one's going to go digging up your whole garden looking for it but it's there if you really need it.

boxman2000 · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:44

I have a Masterlock and it's very useful - we use ours when we have a workman coming around and nobody is in (empty at all other times).

I would not keep spare keys in such an obvious place otherwise.

Interesting point about voiding house insurance thought, had not crossed my mind.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:50

boxman2000 said:
I have a Masterlock and it's very useful - we use ours when we have a workman coming around and nobody is in (empty at all other times).

I would not keep spare keys in such an obvious place otherwise.

Interesting point about voiding house insurance thought, had not crossed my mind.

The masterlock ones are awfully insecure.

FYI, Secured By Design is an accreditation run by the National Police Chiefs Council as a way to raise the standards of physical security products.

boxman2000 · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:52

Burnsy2023 said:
The masterlock ones are awfully insecure.

FYI, Secured By Design is an accreditation run by the National Police Chiefs Council as a way to raise the standards of physical security products.

No doubt but for my purposes a key is in there for such a small amount of time (less than a day) and not in an obvious area.

Worth knowing though, thanks.

Semple · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:56

Always seems a daft idea to have one out on show.

Can you not get a keypad lock for your back garden, and then have a keysafe hidden?

Burnsy2023 · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:58

Semple said:
Always seems a daft idea to have one out on show.

Apparently the Secured By Design keysafe is supposed to be as secure as most front doors, but obviously it depends on your specific purpose.

Lumeycom · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:13

Semple said:
Always seems a daft idea to have one out on show.

Can you not get a keypad lock for your back garden, and then have a keysafe hidden?

With my Nan and lifeline its a requirement for it to be pretty much next to the door so the emergency services can get to it easily.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:39

Lumeycom said:
With my Nan and lifeline its a requirement for it to be pretty much next to the door so the emergency services can get to it easily.

Have you registered the code with your local police force?

scorza · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:42

Semple said:
Always seems a daft idea to have one out on show.

Can you not get a keypad lock for your back garden, and then have a keysafe hidden?

In my case I can't access my back garden without going through my house or the garage. The only other place I could put it is round the side of the house on a wall next to a drive way, which is more out of sight but I'm wondering if that's a good thing or not. If I was breaking into a key safe I'd prefer to be out of sight rather than in view of all the neighbours.

On the affordable housing units opposite me, the agency has installed a key safe by every front door - they're masterlocks as well. I saw the vids in Burnsy's post before. :eek:

ZG002 · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:43

Burnsy2023 said:
Apparently the Secured By Design keysafe is supposed to be as secure as most front doors, but obviously it depends on your specific purpose.

No doubt, but they tend to rip them from their mounting place and work on opening them at their own leisure. Little noise and little time in the open.

Pabl0 · 7 Jul 2016 at 07:11

Screw the key safe inside your meter box, then hide a meter box key on the property/in your car etc. Out of sight and somewhat secure by design.

Semple · 7 Jul 2016 at 08:25

scorza said:
In my case I can't access my back garden without going through my house or the garage. The only other place I could put it is round the side of the house on a wall next to a drive way, which is more out of sight but I'm wondering if that's a good thing or not. If I was breaking into a key safe I'd prefer to be out of sight rather than in view of all the neighbours.

On the affordable housing units opposite me, the agency has installed a key safe by every front door - they're masterlocks as well. I saw the vids in Burnsy's post before.

It's a catch 22 really.

You either leave it next to the front door, but this will likely catch someones attention, and you'd hope that being in plain sight wouldn't give them enough time to tamper with the safe.
Or you leave it potentially hidden, which should mean that no-one knows that it is there, but if someone finds it, they might have more time to tamper with the safe.

tom_e · 7 Jul 2016 at 08:58

Pabl0 said:
Screw the key safe inside your meter box, then hide a meter box key on the property/in your car etc. Out of sight and somewhat secure by design.

Meter boxes have got to be the most insecure "locked" thing in the history of things!

Pabl0 · 7 Jul 2016 at 18:10

tom_e said:
Meter boxes have got to be the most insecure "locked" thing in the history of things!

Maybe, but it's still better then leaving it out on show. Plus there isn't much space inside a meter box to fix a key safe so trying to get into one whilst it's in there is a nightmare. A slip and your through a main cable.

We fit them to all empty properties at work, with at least 30 in use right now and hundreds in the past. We haven't had a single incident.

Lumeycom · 7 Jul 2016 at 19:57

Burnsy2023 said:
Have you registered the code with your local police force?

No. Lifeline take care of all that side of it.

scorza · 7 Jul 2016 at 20:03

Pabl0 said:
Maybe, but it's still better then leaving it out on show. Plus there isn't much space inside a meter box to fix a key safe so trying to get into one whilst it's in there is a nightmare. A slip and your through a main cable.

The problem is that could also happen to me and my barely adequate DIY skills. I can just about drill holes in bricks, but don't fancy doing it crouching down, impeded by undergrowth and close to a mains electricity cable :eek: