Where to Hide a Spare Key (So a Burglar Can’t Find It) – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
You step outside, pull the door shut, and pause for a moment with the keys in your hand. The flight leaves in a few hours, the dog sitter has her own copy, and the cleaner arrives tomorrow. Still, the thought lingers: is there a spare tucked somewhere outside just in case? For many homeowners that spare sits in one of a handful of familiar spots, and local police departments have noticed the pattern for years.
Why Everyday Hiding Spots Keep Appearing on Police Lists
Departments from Albuquerque to King County publish nearly identical warnings because the same locations turn up again and again in burglary reports. Burglars do not need special training to find them; they simply follow the same logic any homeowner would use when looking for a convenient place to stash a key.
Under the doormat ranks first on many checklists because it requires no effort and sits directly in front of the entry. Flowerpots and garden statues come next, followed by fake rocks that rarely blend as well as their makers claim. Mailboxes, doorframe ledges, and tape under a windowsill complete the short list that appears in guide after guide…