Security
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Replace the locks right away after purchasing a new home.
There is no way to know who else might possess keys to the property.
6 people, independently
Hide a spare key at a neighbor's house with permission rather than on your own property.
If found, the key will not work for your home.
- You may still need to call a locksmith if you cannot reach the neighbor.
2 people, independently
Avoid posting photos of your house or work keys on social media.
Duplicates can be created from images; some people have successfully made copies based solely on cellphone pictures.
- Some locksmiths refuse to make keys based on pictures.
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Set up a motion alarm on your laptop or hide a device with a GPS tracker in a tiny home to monitor for theft.
You may not always be present to secure the space.
- If the home is stolen, you are homeless.
one person who lived it
If you are comfortable with DIY tasks, watch online tutorials to re-key your locks yourself.
It is not difficult and you will learn something.
- Only some lock models can be re-keyed on your own.
one person who lived it
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Reprogram your garage door opener upon moving into a new house to erase previously programmed remotes.
Clip your keys to your clothing or purse with a carabiner to prevent loss, if you do not mind the noise or risk of dropping them when undressing.
It prevents losing keys.
- Keys clipped on may jingle when walking or jogging.
- You may drop the key holder into the toilet if you forget it is there when getting undressed.
2 people, independently
Do not hide a house key outside your home.
It risks theft.
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Regularly clean your house alarm's keypad to prevent thieves from guessing the code based on dirt patterns.
The numbers used in the code will become dirtier than the rest, giving thieves a better chance of guessing the code.
- One perspective suggests that people intending to break in are unlikely to bother decoding the alarm keypad.
2 people, independently
Do not etch your address onto house keys.
If the key is lost, a finder can use the address to locate you and break in.
one person who lived it
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Place a fake safe filled with bricks or rocks in a visible location near the entrance.
A burglar may struggle with the safe and not bother with other items, and the owner will know someone broke in.
one person who lived it
Secure door frames with batten screws instead of small brad nails to prevent the frame from pulling out during a kick-in.
Builders often use small brad nails that fail under force, causing the entire frame to detach even if the lock holds.
one person who lived it
To remove a door quickly, knock out the hinge pins rather than unscrewing the hinges; start with the bottom pin first to avoid the door hanging by the top hinge.
This method is faster and allows you to rehang heavy doors in seconds.
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Install a police-approved key safe in a hidden place to allow trusted access and change the PIN as needed.
It is convenient, allows others in, and is safe.
one person who lived it
Change all door locks and combination codes immediately upon moving in.
Previous owners may still have copies of keys; one person reported being robbed by a previous owner who had not changed the locks.
one person who lived it
Attach your phone number or email to your keys instead of your home address.
It reduces the risk of exposing your address while maintaining a high chance of recovery.
one person who lived it
Focus reinforcement efforts on the strike plate area rather than just the hinges.
Attackers typically break the door or frame near the knob rather than breaking the hinge screws.
one person who lived it
Do not carry your house key in your wallet with your ID.
Losing both together compromises your security.
one person who lived it
Test all locks and keys to ensure you can enter the home before replacing them.
You must verify access before changing the locks.
one person who lived it
If you live in an apartment with a locked front door, attach an extra key to your dog leash.
One person reported this saved them from being locked out many times.
one person who lived it
Avoid using standard combination lockboxes for house keys.
They can be broken open with a single hammer hit, leading to stolen keys.
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Check if deadbolts are fully extending by marking the handle position with the door open and comparing it to the closed position; if they do not reach the same mark, enlarge the hole.
Thieves can slide metal against bolts that are not fully extended to pop them open.
one person who lived it
Ensure decorative wood trim is not relied upon for securing the door.
Decorative wood trim is weak.
one person who lived it
Use keys with distinct shapes, characters, or designs to easily identify them in the dark.
It helps when fumbling around for keys in the dark.
one person who lived it
Swap traditional deadbolts for keypad locks.
You cannot lock yourself out, and entry becomes easier.
one person who lived it
Have a locksmith cut keys to the factory code rather than copying an existing worn key.
The machine reads the key and adjusts it mathematically to its original size for accuracy.
one person who lived it
Switch to thumb-turn locks if family members or those with dementia risk accidentally locking themselves in.
One person found this prevented being locked out after repeated incidents and helped a parent with dementia avoid accidental self-locking.
one person who lived it
Reprogram your garage door opener upon moving into a new house to erase previously programmed remotes.
You cannot rely on prior owners having surrendered every remote, particularly those integrated into vehicles.
3 people, independently
if you are tired of buying new windows after break-ins, try leaving your car doors unlocked so thieves may take items instead of smashing glass
thieves usually try the handle before breaking in, and avoiding window replacement is preferable to losing some items
one person who lived it
Request new hotel room keys rather than duplicates if you lose your original card.
Duplicates allow anyone finding the old key to access the room; new keys invalidate existing ones.
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Engage the deadbolt switch in your hotel room.
It typically disables all keys except security or emergency keys.
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Be aware that standard Knox boxes do not log access.
Only higher-end models connected to a logging system provide this feature; standard models are just armored boxes.
one person who lived it
Choose high-security lock cylinders that resist picking and bypassing.
Most standard cylinders (especially Yale-style) are easy to bypass.
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Place a coin on the very top edge of the door; if you find it on the floor later, someone opened the door.
one person who lived it
Perform a distinctive physical action, like a crazy dance, when locking the door.
You will definitely remember you did it
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Place a lockbox in a location not obviously connected to your home, such as a public fence or median, to obscure which unit it belongs to.
one person who lived it
Carry lock de-icer during winter to prevent keys from freezing in the lock cylinder.
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Wrap electrical tape around spots on expensive electronics cables to make them look worn or repaired, potentially deterring theft.
Use sound deadening sheets (4x8) from big box building stores.
They would work pretty well.
one person who lived it
If you struggle with theft at a venue or marina, try using only bright pink cables or hoses to deter thieves.
Thieves often avoid conspicuous colors because they stand out and make identification easier.
- This approach may fail if you are around drag queens.
one person who lived it
Place doorstops upside-down with the tread on the floor to get the most from friction and allow deeper wedging.
The tread maximizes surface area for friction, and the partitioned part bends out to let the door wedge in deeper.
- Some argue this is contrary to the designer's intended orientation.
one person who lived it
Wrap electrical tape around spots on expensive electronics cables to make them look worn or repaired, potentially deterring theft.
Items appearing older or mended may be less attractive to thieves.
- Thieves stealing for copper scrap do not care about condition.
- Electrical tape degrades over time, becoming loose and leaving sticky messes.
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Use PVC pipes for sliding door security bars instead of wooden dowels.
PVC is hollow, making it easier and faster to cut.
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Label moving boxes with unappealing contents like 'dirty bed bug sheets' or 'tampons' to deter theft.
People are less likely to touch items labeled as dirty or personal hygiene products.
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