Hello me solve an argument please

[FunkyFantasticFudgeball]

Ongoing argument in our house so I'll let mumsnet decide. Is it safer/better to leave the keys in the front door at night or hanging close by? Person A thinks it's a security risk to leave the keys in the front door, burglars could smash the glass panel in the door and let themselves in with the keys. Person B thinks it's safer to leave the keys in the front door in the event of a fire.

I'm with ShotsFired I'd rather they took the keys and the car and then fucked off!

A is right.

The last two houses I've had have been new builds. Duevti fire safety the front doors don't have inside locks but a 'thumb turn' lock (like hotel doors). As we also have glass panes (toughened glass) I wonder how secure the door is. Always have the keys near the door as if you get trapped in a fire you have literally seconds to get out.

Yes, yes to Yale locks so you don't need any keys to open the door from the inside.

In a draw near the door. However our front door is fully locked by lifting the handle up so we don't need keys to exit, only enter.

All of us have a fire escape route. My son is to leap out onto the cars below. He thought I would be cross for jumping onto them (he is 19 so can escape himself, doesn't need my assistance)

If burglars want to get in they will get in. They have to smash a window to get the key so they will just smash a window regardless. I'm thinking of getting a thumb turn for my door so I don't have to worry about finding a key. Having a house full of fire and toxic smoke and fumbling around trying to find the key scares the hell out of me.

I have a deadlock so need for keys and the letterbox is designed so a hand can't get in. I love it.

C - Get a Yale lock so you don't have to have keys to leave house

This ^

Near. Not in. But out of sight

We have a very similar front door. Keys are kept in "the key drawer" in the hall, which you have to go past en route to front door from all bits of house. Keys to back door/patio doors similarly in drawer in kitchen. This means if you're trapped in either area you can get out. Our house has burned down twice and a similar set up the second time was what allowed us all to escape safely.

Key arrangement also means that although they're not easily visible/accessible to burglars, if we DO get burgled they're unlikely to come upstairs searching for house keys.

According to the prisoners I work with, most electronics don't fetch much now because they're all remotely disable-able. Cars and jewellery is where it's at.

We have 2 front doors, the outside door of the porch has a Yale lock and big glass panes.
Then the inner door has a proper lock (which we lock when we go out but at night we leave it unlocked but with a bolt across the bottom so people can't get in (without kicking it in so we would wake up) but we can all (including kids) get out in an emergency

Current fire safety advice is to have a keyless exit lock on the door. You don't want to be hunting for keys in a smoke filled house.

If a burglar smashes that panel, they can climb through anyway. They will have boots and leather gloves anyway, since they'll expect to be greeted by broken glass.

Person B is right.

Keys hanging by door. Within reach of door. Plus we have a burger alarm. A great invention.

On a table near to the door, you can't see the keys on the table or reach it from the letterbox I've tried

when I was burgled the first thing the bastards did was look for keys to get out without suspicion (they'd forced a locked window). I was away for the night with my keys but they found a friends keys and they worked in my door! Apparently with the company and type of door that I had there are only 8 different locks...therefore I leave keys in door for ease of exit in the event of a fire but also to stop burglars getting in!

I asked our local Policeman and he wouldn't give me an answer as to which was better...just a mumbled "no need to worry around here"..

I leave some keys in not the front as there is a letterbox very close...but we had a new lock last year and have the flat type of key and it is awkard to find the right way and worry in a fire it would waste time

I'd be more scared of them kicking it in tbh, it doesn't look very sturdy.
Not much help I know.

i got burgled by leaving my key in the door, they smashed the glass and got straight in

We've been burgled twice and have been told that your home insurance can be invalidated if you've left your keys in the door.

The bastards that did us the second time put a rock through out double glazed back door. It was a whole glass door, I never thought they'd get in that way but if they want to get in, trash every single room in your house and scare your kids for the next year then hey, they'll find a way in.

Both people are right - would you rather be burgled or caught in a fire?

OR - get a lock that undoes from the inside & a door that won't smash easily.

I leave mine in the door. My theory is that if I take them out the lock could be quietly picked. My door doesn't have glass but if it did and was smashed I think I would wake up.

Mrsjbaptiste my dd was hysterical. She's 13 and still looks under her bed every night. She thought the burglars hid under her bed so they could scare her at night. She was 7 yrs at the time. Funny enough the only rooms that weren't trashed were the kids rooms. Burglars with a heart eh.

Ok thanks everyone, I'm person B! I have a terrible fear of fumbling and dropping keys trying to escape from a fire (with 2 small kids in tow). The blinds are pulled down in the evening so you can't see from outside that the key is in the door and there's no letterbox or catflap for them to hook keys from. A thumbturn lock is a brilliant idea, we'll be getting work done on the house in a few months so will put that on the list.

Solid door id leave them in the lock but yours I'd keep nearby out if sight, maybe get a new one cut so it never leaves it's designated spot.
I have thumb turn locks but they are at handle height, a bit worrying if you have small children or even bigger ones if they decide to go for a wander in the middle of the night!