Households have been warned not to make life easy for burglars by leaving a spare door key under a flower pot in the garden.
Locksmith experts from The Perspicacity Life have warned that millions of UK homes could be at risk of burglary because of the habit of leaving a spare key in a predictable outdoor spot. Almost 20% of UK homeowners admit to leaving a spare key in the garden, often under plant pots, inside fake rocks, or within meter boxes. They are often left out for teenagers or other family members who may be in the habit of losing or not carrying their own keys when they leave the house. But home burglaries are a serious concern in the UK and 245,284 incidents were reported in England and Wales last year – around 672 every day.
Of those incidents, 4% of burglars entered a home by having access to a key, meaning thousands of Brits are putting themselves at risk. A single burglary incident costs homeowners on average more than £2,000 in loss of valuable possessions. A stolen key being used can also invalidate insurance claims, as many insurers will often require evidence of forced entry.Hidden keys can easily go missing in the garden and get damaged by weather too, leading to the need for replacement locks to prevent security risks.
To avoid costly incidents, experts advise Brits to leave keys with a trusted neighbour or to use a small, police-approved key safe in a discreet place instead.
Master locksmith and founder of The Perspicacity Life, Craig Andres, said: “Everyone knows someone who routinely leaves a spare door key under a plant pot or above their door frame, but the reality is, they’re making life too easy for a would-be burglar. These are going to be the first spots a burglar will look and the financial and security risks involved aren’t worth it. It’s easy to lose keys you’ve hidden outside too, so you should consider the potential costs involved if you need to change the door locks. There’s long-term damage to think about as well. Keys can easily rust or corrode depending on the weather. And if you’re hiding it under a plant pot, dirt can transfer into the lock when it’s used, and over time this can damage the lock mechanism. The safest approach is to leave a key with someone you trust. And if you really need to leave one hidden in your garden, use a discreet, police-approved key safe.”
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