It’s happened to everyone: You get home from a long day only to find your house key has gone missing. In these situations, having a spare hidden somewhere can be very convenient. There are some common locations, however, that aren’t fit for hiding spare keys. With more than 25 years of experience in the locksmith business, Able Security Locksmiths, serving Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties, NJ, often provides their customers with advice on spare key management.

Here are four places you should never hide a spare house key:

• Under the Welcome Mat: Hiding a key under a welcome mat is a classic for a reason: Everyone knows about it, and this includes thieves. Hiding a key here is basically inviting a burglar into your home.
• Under a Nearby Flower Pot: Much like the welcome mat, a flower pot is an obvious spot for a spare key that’s not recommended by any locksmith.
• Inside a Fake Rock: If your yard is verdant and green except for a single conspicuous rock, you can bet a burglar is going to check there. A locksmith may recommend this spot, however, if you have many rocks around your home and can find a fake that blends in well.
• Wallet: Having a spare key with you at all times is great until you lose your wallet. Whoever finds it will have access to your address and a key to your home. Any locksmith will agree that’s a dangerous combination.

No matter where you ultimately decide to hide your spare key, there’s another rule of thumb to follow: Never include any personal information on the key itself. If it goes missing, you’d be giving a potential burglar all the information they’d need to invade your home and, because of that danger, you’d have to change every lock.

In the end, giving a spare key to someone you trust, such as a close friend, is the best course of action. You won’t have to worry about accidentally spilling the beans of a hiding spot to anyone, and retrieving your key is just a quick phone call away.

There are times, however, when getting into your home may not be so easy. In those instances, contacting an experienced locksmith at Able Security Locksmiths for assistance is the simplest way to fix the problem. For more information on their emergency services, call (973) 584-3033 or visit the website today.