Lockbox for keys

[wowfudge]

Does anyone have one, if so would you recommend it and what make/model do you have?

We are considering getting a lockbox to store the garage fob in as access to the rear of our house and the garden is either via the house or the garage. This means that the window cleaner cannot clean the windows at the back of the house unless someone is in to let him through the garage or a neighbour removes a fence panel! Similarly, we have had occasional work done in the garden and had to give the guy a set of keys in order to get anything done when we weren't in.

They are available at a range of costs from about 15 to 50 and I could only find one model which was 'endorsed by the police' - not sure if they would endorse something like that tbh.

We moved into our house last August and the previous owner had a key box on the side of the house. We used it up until a few months ago when I read a number of reviews on them and how easy they were to break/crack the code. We hide a key now.

Do you have anything of value in your garage?

Thanks ChipsAndEgg - I've got a colleague who uses one without any issues, but would like to get more opinions/feedback. There is little of value in the garage and we could chain and padlock a couple of things if necessary. The door is a roller shutter so opening it makes a racket, plus it is alarmed.

I got the Masterlock 5415D Key Pad Key Safe from Amazon for MIL's house - this is the one that does not (apparently) have info all over the internet on how to break in! So far so good although only rarely used.

seems sturdy enough. NB When you get it - the combo to get in is hidden INSIDE the packing, open carefully! And remember to scramble it when closing.

they are not very secure. I have one, for the window cleaner to use, by my 6ft garden gate for the padlock. It is not visible from the road or the front door of the house, I think that being out of sight is a help. I suppose you could fit one behind a hanging basket or something so the casual prowler would not see it.

I would prefer not to have the house or garage keys so accessible.

btw

do not give workmen or builders "a set of keys". Just give them one key for one door. Don't give them your car keys. Same with garages, don't give then a bunch of house keys.

PigletJohn the guy who has done work on the garden is a friend of my partner and very trustworthy. Set of keys = the two keys he needed, no more!

I am unconvinced about lockboxes but DP is quite keen.