I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows
were shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the
house through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow
managed to get into your home without the benefit of calling a
locksmith? She finally had to call her son and he worked about 30
miles from home and came back to solve the situation. But what if a
locksmith was not available for one reason or another..holiday or
just closed.

I have come in basement windows a couple of times. They are usually the
easiest way in. Of course you can break a window, or if you are really
good, pick a lock . It might take me many hours to pick a lock, my father
(a locksmith) could do it is seconds.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

On 24 Nov 2006 15:48:25 -0800, "Anthona" wrote:

I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


First. verify that it's really her house.

Then break a basement window.

Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Its probably way out of date as an idea , but when I was a kid , a
trusted friend nearby had a spare key. If we got locked out we just
went to see them and got the key.

This was in a time where most Moms stayed home.

I dont like hidden keys , they are usually too easy for a thief to find.

In article .com, "Anthona" wrote:
[...]
But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Our previous house had a fenced yard, where we let the family dog (a large and
"protective" Australian Shepherd) run loose whenever we were away.

The spare key was on his collar.

In article ,
Doug Miller wrote:
In article .com,
"Anthona" wrote:
[...]
But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Our previous house had a fenced yard, where we let the family dog (a large and
"protective" Australian Shepherd) run loose whenever we were away.

The spare key was on his collar.

That reminds me of the rough neihborhood I used to live in. There was
a very small-statured woman, under 5 ft tall, who sometimes walked
her great dane on my block. Instead of carrying her purse on her own
shoulder, she put the purse straps around the dog's neck.


--
Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland -

Doug Miller wrote:
In article .com, "Anthona" wrote:
[...]

But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


Our previous house had a fenced yard, where we let the family dog (a large and
"protective" Australian Shepherd) run loose whenever we were away.

The spare key was on his collar.

That's how we have always done it!

Rob

Brilliant!

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
m...

Our previous house had a fenced yard, where we let the family dog (a
large and
"protective" Australian Shepherd) run loose whenever we were away.

The spare key was on his collar.

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Brilliant!

How so? Shoot the dog, now you're in!

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:18:48 -0600, "HeyBub"
wrote:

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Brilliant!

How so? Shoot the dog, now you're in!

If they're willing to shoot the dog,
they're willing to break a window.

And that all assumes that whoever's
robbing your house reads the newsgroup
where you're bragging how you secure it.

Goedjn wrote in
news
On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:18:48 -0600, "HeyBub"
wrote:

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Brilliant!

How so? Shoot the dog, now you're in!

If they're willing to shoot the dog,
they're willing to break a window.

And that all assumes that whoever's
robbing your house reads the newsgroup
where you're bragging how you secure it.




Shooting guns in residential areas draws a lot of attention.
Also,one shot does not always put down a dog on the spot.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Doug Miller wrote:

In article .com, "Anthona" wrote:
[...]

But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


Our previous house had a fenced yard, where we let the family dog (a large and
"protective" Australian Shepherd) run loose whenever we were away.

The spare key was on his collar.


THATS GREAT!

I have an electronic push button lock connected to the garage door (uses
four digit code), good when I am doing yard work etc and need to get into
the garage without going into the house first. As long as you have ac
power, you can get in. I believe I bought it about 15 years ago at Sears
for $29, also have a buried (in a jar) hidden key just in case.

"Anthona" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

"Anthona" wrote in
oups.com:

I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


First,how do you KNOW she actually lives there?
I'd be wary of helping a stranger asking for help breaking into "their"
house.


You could keep a key hidden in a garden shed locked by a combination lock.
A man could keep a spare key in his wallet. A woman could keep one on a
neck chain.

Also,if you only use a DEADBOLT lock that must be locked using a key,then
you don't get locked out.
Using doorlocks that latch behind you without any key leads to lockouts.
Deadbolts are better security anyways.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



The more unusual, the more secure. This is one of those situations
where the LEAST popular place is better.
--
30 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:37:53 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



The more unusual, the more secure. This is one of those situations
where the LEAST popular place is better.

Although the fake rock is an excellent place to hide
an exploding dye pack...

In article ,
says...
On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:37:53 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



The more unusual, the more secure. This is one of those situations
where the LEAST popular place is better.

Although the fake rock is an excellent place to hide
an exploding dye pack...

I *like* it!

--
Keith

Goedjn wrote in
:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:37:53 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the
house through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and
somehow managed to get into your home without the benefit of
calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are
safe places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those
stupid fake rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under
a deck, behind a shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree,
birdhouse, etc. In her case, it could have been in the locked garage
since she had an opener. You just have to use a little ingenuity.



The more unusual, the more secure. This is one of those situations
where the LEAST popular place is better.

Although the fake rock is an excellent place to hide
an exploding dye pack...



where does one buy those?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

In article ,
Goedjn wrote:

Although the fake rock is an excellent place to hide
an exploding dye pack...

You don't need the dye, use a stick of 60% and you can read in the
newspaper who it was

--
Free men own guns - www.geocities/CapitolHill/5357/ (add .com after geocities)

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



Put a key in a baggie and bury it in the yard.

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:24:28 -0600, GWB wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



Put a key in a baggie and bury it in the yard.

In the bottom of an old rusty bucket full of horse manure.
--
30 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 21:04:40 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:24:28 -0600, GWB wrote:

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 06:01:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Anthona" wrote in

All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

I've had the problem a couple of times over the years. There are safe
places where a key can be hidden outside. I don't mean those stupid fake
rocks though. They can be out of site in a shed, under a deck, behind a
shutter, under a fence post cap, on a tree, birdhouse, etc. In her case, it
could have been in the locked garage since she had an opener. You just have
to use a little ingenuity.



Put a key in a baggie and bury it in the yard.

In the bottom of an old rusty bucket full of horse manure.

That's the first place they look. G

On 25 Nov 2006 05:17:10 GMT, Jim Yanik wrote:

"Anthona" wrote in
roups.com:

I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


First,how do you KNOW she actually lives there?
I'd be wary of helping a stranger asking for help breaking into "their"
house.


You could keep a key hidden in a garden shed locked by a combination lock.
A man could keep a spare key in his wallet. A woman could keep one on a
neck chain.

Also,if you only use a DEADBOLT lock that must be locked using a key,then
you don't get locked out.
Using doorlocks that latch behind you without any key leads to lockouts.

Yes. That's one advantage of deadbolts. You can't lock yourself out
that easily.

Deadbolts are better security anyways.
--
30 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

In article .com,
Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


The best place for the backup key may be with a trusted neighbor
rather than hidden somewhere outside the house.

--
Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland -

wrote in message
...
In article .com,
Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.


The best place for the backup key may be with a trusted neighbor
rather than hidden somewhere outside the house.

How many people even KNOW their neighbors, these days?

aem sends...

I've been a locksmith for 21 years. I'm sure not gonna tell you and
the rest of the world how to break into houses.

How dare you ask such an absurd thing!

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Anthona" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows
were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

When I lived alone I had a spare key taped to the wiring just inside my
pole light. screwdriver outside, loosened one screw, removed top got
key used that once, neighbor walked up and noted so thats where you
hide your key

I have taped spare car key to wiring harness under car. inconveient but
secure access.

I think it was " who stated:

have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

Deadbolt.

Problem solved.




-Don (CAN'T lock hisself outta his house anymore!)
--
"What do *you* care what other people think?" --Arline Feynman

In article om, " wrote:
have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

Well, they wouldn't have... until now...

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Doug Miller wrote:
In article om, " wrote:
have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

Well, they wouldn't have... until now...

--

people nationwide looking for abandoned pipes trying to unscrew caps.

one may gas them or shoot them with compressed gasses or water

clue hide your house key at the neighbors, they can do the same.

anyone finding the key wouldnt be able to get in

(Doug Miller) wrote in
om:

In article om,
" wrote:
have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

Well, they wouldn't have... until now...


I hope the cap does not rust on the stub. ;-)

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Jim Yanik wrote:
(Doug Miller) wrote in
om:


In article om,
" wrote:

have a friend who got locked out once, he cemented a stub of
galavanized pipe into a wall under his porch, hid the key inide the
pipe and screwed on a cap. i seriously doubt anyone would think of
that.

Well, they wouldn't have... until now...



I hope the cap does not rust on the stub. ;-)


If one has a pipe wrench, it's just as easy to use it on the doorknob :/

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Anthona wrote:
Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith?

heh, nope.

i am not sure the locks work on my doors. never used them.

On Nov 24, 6:48 pm, "Anthona" wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Chances are its not a dead-bolt, in which case the lock can probably be
defeated with a credit card.

To avoid this scenario DON'T hide your key outdoors or buy a fake rock
- these are not secure options - someone could see you accessing your
hiding place or rock, or a squirrel could steal your shiny keys. Buy a
combination-lock keybox, just like realtors use. Think about it!
Keyboxes lock securely to a door handle where they remain out of the
way and ready to come to the rescue should you ever be locked out. Any
hardware store sells 'em. Secret spot for your key - humbug! Spend
$25 on a keybox with a 4 digit combo. (You can change the combo as
often as you like. Don't use your house address for the combo!) If you
don't want to lose your house key from your pants pocket at work, keep
it in a keybox on your front door handle.
Having said this, I can tell you that a keybox is no match for a
sledgehammer and a concrete surface - I busted one open in one blow, no
problem (but I was lucky to keep the contents intact!) If a keybox box
is locked to your door handle, it'd be easier for a highly determined
and brazen criminal to use a sledgehammer on your front door lock
itself. But mostly only the police do that sort of thing. How's that
for reassurance?


Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Or put a key on the collar of your crazy huge dog, but make it a fake
key to a fake door on your neighbor's house, which is full of fake
neighbors that are actually crazy huge dogs with snakes on their
collars(some can have fake snakes) and then just unload at the whole
mess of 'em, dude.

Whoever suggested booby trapping something with explosives is a
foolish, childish, inhumane and uncivilized vigilante dip****. "Sorry,
son, I meant to gore the hands and face of some other drug-addicted
thief. How're those painkillers treating you now?" Deadbolt and
keybox. There is little more to discuss, if one wishes to discuss
reasonable solutions.

wrote:
To avoid this scenario DON'T hide your key outdoors or buy a fake rock
- these are not secure options - someone could see you accessing your
hiding place or rock, or a squirrel could steal your shiny keys. Buy a
combination-lock keybox, just like realtors use. Think about it!
Keyboxes lock securely to a door handle where they remain out of the
way and ready to come to the rescue should you ever be locked out. Any
hardware store sells 'em. Secret spot for your key - humbug! Spend
$25 on a keybox with a 4 digit combo. (You can change the combo as
often as you like. Don't use your house address for the combo!) If you
don't want to lose your house key from your pants pocket at work, keep
it in a keybox on your front door handle.
Having said this, I can tell you that a keybox is no match for a
sledgehammer and a concrete surface - I busted one open in one blow, no
problem (but I was lucky to keep the contents intact!) If a keybox box
is locked to your door handle, it'd be easier for a highly determined
and brazen criminal to use a sledgehammer on your front door lock
itself. But mostly only the police do that sort of thing. How's that
for reassurance?


Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen. All windows were
shut, garage door remote she had, but there is no access to the house
through the garage. Has anyone faced this problem and somehow managed
to get into your home without the benefit of calling a locksmith? She
finally had to call her son and he worked about 30 miles from home and
came back to solve the situation. But what if a locksmith was not
available for one reason or another..holiday or just closed.

Anthona wrote:
I was visiting my niece for thanksgiving day and today ( friday ) a
woman across the street had locked herself out of her home. She came
across to us to ask for help. She had no backup key around the area,
her son was working for the day, and obviously could not get into her
home. We suggested that she call a locksmith, but for some reason she
hesitated..probably the cost..I told her she should have a secret spot
for a backkup key in the event like this would happen...
[snip]

Leaving a key out in the open for someone to find is a bad, bad, bad
idea. Do NOT do this, please. Watch "It Takes A Thief" on the Discovery
Channel to see just how easy it is for a predator to break into your
home, let alone you leaving an invitation to do so under that garden
gnome in the side yard.

If a person wants to have a back-up key somewhere, I would propose a
few options:
(1) leave a key with a couple different neighbors rather than one; this
reduces the chances that the one neighbor who has a key isn't home
(2) give a key to a friend who lives or works close by
(3) I don't know if these are still made, but I used to have one of
those credit card-sized plastic emergency keys for my car I'd carry in
my wallet. I'd bet they could cut one to a door key. Of course, this
only works for a woman if she has her purse but not keys, but most
women I know keep their keys in their purse, so...FWIW.
(4) get one of those electronic, weather-resistant lock boxes that
require the person punch in a code to gain access, and leave a key in
there. You can get one for $25-50 at any real estate supply company
(Google is your friend!).

Personally, I prefer option 4, and given the number of times I've
locked myself out of the house in the past two years, I am asking for
one for Christmas!

only works for a woman if she has her purse but not keys, but most
women I know keep their keys in their purse, so...FWIW.
(4) get one of those electronic, weather-resistant lock boxes that
require the person punch in a code to gain access, and leave a key in
there. You can get one for $25-50 at any real estate supply company
(Google is your friend!).


I'd rather trust a mechanical combination lock than
a cheap electrinic one, myself.