The odds of a burglar using a lost key to enter your home are very slim, but we still recommend replacing your locks after losing house keys. It’s much more likely a burglar will enter through an unlocked door, use a bump key or other tool, or access an unprotected entry point in your home, but you’re always going to be better off safe than sorry. Determining what to do after losing your keys will depend on a few factors, like what is on the keychain, where the keys were lost, and your gut. For this very reason, never leave identifying information on a keychain. In the event your keys have been lost and you feel strongly that someone will be able to trace those keys back to your home, change the locks.
Who Has a Key to Your House?
If your keys have potentially fallen into the wrong hands, ask a locksmith if it’s possible to simply rekey the locks, which is less expensive than replacing locks. Some locks cannot be rekeyed, so you may end up having to spend a bit more to replace locks entirely. If you’re just moving into a house for the first time, replace the locks, because there’s no way of knowing who has a key to your home. When it comes to home security, a small upfront expense, like replacing locks, is going to cost a lot less than a potentially devastating burglary and is going to give you a greater sense of security, which doesn’t have a price-tag. Former roommates, ex-girl or boyfriends, someone that used to work for you, or even someone you thought could be trusted, could take advantage of having access to your home, so don’t put yourself in that vulnerable position. Rekeying doors usually only costs a few hundred dollars, depending on the number of doors you have, so why risk it?
Picking the Right Locks for Your Home
Not all locks are created equal. Some locks are easier to break into than others. We recommend picking a bump proof lock. If your door has windows, be sure the internal locking mechanism isn’t within reach of windows. If it is, use a lock that requires a key on both the outside and inside of the home and hang the key somewhere nearby. It’s vital that the key remains nearby in case you want to be able to quickly and easily get out of your house, like in the event of a fire.
Consider Installing Smart Locks
If you don’t want to have to worry about losing house keys or are tired of wondering who might end up with a copy of your house key, consider upgrading to smart locks and a home automation system. Unlock your door with a mobile app on your smartphone or a key-fob. You can also keep a traditional key as a backup. This way you’ll never have to lend out a copy of your key again, and you’ll be able to let people in without having to leave a hid-a-key. The smart lock option works great for an elderly parent, teenager, child, or spouse that has trouble keeping up with their keys. We all have that one family member that is always losing their keys! Watch this brief video from Alarm.com to learn more about how smart locks and home automation work:
Installing a Monitored Security System Adds One More Layer of Protection
In the event someone manages to get a hold of your house key and you have an armed security system, the alarm will go off a few moments after they enter the house when they fail to enter the required passcode, which isn’t ideal but adds a bit more security to the situation. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about smart locks and home automation or monitored security systems.
