Is a key safe actually safe

[Lovelybitofsquirrel3]

What’s stopping someone ripping it off the wall, breaking it, getting my house key and entering.

Mine is a finger print one. It's a massive pia to add new ones but solves the code issue. You can issue temporary codes that work for 5 mins if needed.

My elderly mother has one. She needs carers three or four times a day so hence the necessity.

It looks pretty armour plated to be honest. I have no doubts about the safety of it.

I have considered trying it myself with the keysafe in my porch (which was put in by the previous owners). I mislaid the code - about 10 years ago and there is a key in there I wouldn't mind having bakc.

It is very sturdy indeed though. I'm quite handy and have some pretty heavy duty power tools but it isn't something I would try.

Frankly, if someone was that keen to get in it would be much easier at other locations around my house.

If someone is determined to get into the key safe then they probably can. The best thing is to put it where only those that need to, can know where it is.
When I see them next to a front door I always think a vulnerable person must live there and it’s a neon sign for scumbags.
Saying that, we have one out of sight and it’s been very useful. Elderly relative had one inside the porch where it couldn’t be seen.

Not all keysafes are equal. The average holiday cottage one is a pretty simple thing that probably could be opened pretty easily. The ones Age UK fit or recommend are much higher spec.

You'd hear them doing all that, surely?

Exactly what I was about to say (and I think probably exactly the key safe we have too). As others say, there are easier and quieter ways to break in than trying to break in to these buggers. I find it very useful for our occasional dog walker, and for those odd days where the front door shuts just as I remember the key is still in the drawer.

Keysafes aren't really to protect you from burglaries.

The point of keysafes is to have a key available in case the emergency services or others need to gain access.

A burgler just gonna find another way in for houses that don't have keysafes.

🤣🤣🤣 I particularly like the idea of the forward planning involved in digging a tunnel.

Most burglaries are opportunistic. Accessing a key safe would take time, increasing the possibility of being seen or the homeowner returning. So, while key safes could be accessed with the right tools, it's probably not worth the risk.

I've had an idea. If both me and a friend get a key safe, we can put each other's keys in each other's safe. That way there is a key 10 mins walk away if I lock myself out and vice versa.
If someone pinched it they wouldn't know which house the key was for.

Is there anywhere non-obvious you could put a key safe? Down low behind a bush or something? So you can have a spare key there if needed.

We have one hidden away but it came with our new build. I’ve never used it as the builders did when coming and going and I haven’t looked into how to change the code.

Why not just bloody give each other a spare key

Oh yes 😆

Pretty often though I lose a key (or leave it locked in my own house) when everyone's at work for the day, or out of town, or in bed or on holiday.

The safe solves every eventuality.

Properly fitted they are safe enough.

Make sure you set the code to one of your choosing - don't leave it as the fitter sets it. Also not a bad idea to change it every so often. You have no idea who else has it once you give it our.

Also I'd remove the key if you are going to be out.

Round here there have been reports of characters hanging around to see when people use them, so ensure you aren't entering the code in plain sight.

my spare key is lightly oiled, put into a small lock n lock box (don't use other brands) and buried, not very deeply, in my front garden.

i don’t like them. Easy to work out the code for one thing and it also signals someone vulnerable.

We have one so our latch-key teenager doesn't have to think about which bag he's left his key in (various bags stay in school on different days etc). It's helpful for the cleaner too.

I don't think it's particularly safe, but we live somewhere very quiet with hardly any crime and TBH before we had it we just used to leave the door unlocked quite often.

It would be much easier to smash the glass of our back door than get into the key safe.

I have a key safe.

Even I can't get it open!

Generally, a screwdriver, a biggun (12 inch plus) and yer can prise it orf the wall.
Take the whole lot home, and on YouTube you can see how to open the thing.
Pop back next day and Bob's yer uncle, quick sqivvy sees whoses looking and yer cun open the door with the key. Job Done! Well, started any hows!

My DH is anal about security and he installed one. I questioned this but he reassured me it would take too much effort to work out the code or rip it off the wall with lots of mega screws, meanwhile our cameras would pick up someone doing this.

I've not asked him about it since lol 😆

You'd never put it back again. Ours gets a fair bit of use and I open the door and put the key back in before shutting it.

i think they are pretty safe

I always say, if someone wants to take something from you that badly, they will. The wrong person could probably pick a key lock fairly quickly. Or cut it from the wall.
I’d say the main thing you want is a fire proof one, and then you can store any important pictures / paper in there.