Key Safes

[bodeker]

Does anyone have a opinion on them , are they safe ? After having a medic shout through my letterbox " If you don't open the door we will have to kick it in " I am thinking about having one fitted but a bit nervous about it .

[ummmm]

My granddad had one for years with no problem although I don't know what difference it would make to a medic. You can't give the code out willy nilly.

[bednobs]

if you are (for example) unconscious on the floor, who will have the number?

[MartinMillar]

My MIL has one the dr surgery has the code as does her neighbours and us

[retrocop]

Brilliant asset.
We bought one for my late mother when she was in need of home help,carers and often paramedic attendance. Easy to secure to an outside wall.When she moved into a home we have it ,now, outside our house. When the lads came home having often forgetting their key it was always there with a spare. I saw them recently sold,I think, by Aldi for about £12.

[retrocop]

Having now read the other answers I can confirm that my mother,at the time,lived in Peacehaven Sussex and her GP surgery,carers and Lewes Ambulance control were all in possession of the combination.

[pixie374]

The numbers can be registered with emergency services and GPs. I think they are really useful and the majority of our clients have one.
A dial one is safest, as with the mechanical ones, you can put the numbers in any order and they still open.
Don't use birthday, year of birth, 2512 (christmas) or the end of their phone number.

[retrocop]

Even better. Under a tenner.



https://www.aldi.co.uk/home-protector-key-safe/p/801828385850200?msclkid=fcbd527c595b14c870280df7580a2b7b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Specialbuys%20%7C%20DIY

[woofgang]

I think it depends a bit where you live. the cheap keysafes are quite easy to lever open or smash with a hammer. I gave it much thought and then went out in the dark and hid a key. One other person knows where it is and she is my in case of contact so could tell anyone else where the key is at need. For me where I live I think that is a safer option.

[bednobs]

it does sort of say "i'm alone and vulnerable"

[New Judge]

They are a good idea - in principle.

The problem is they are remarkably easy to break open. They look tough but a hammer and chisel wielded by a determined burglar soon sees them compromised. This may have insurance implications if you are burgled. Insurers may view it in the same light as leaving a key under the flower pot.

I have a key safe but it contains only a key to the gate to my back garden. In the garden is secreted a full set of house keys. Of course this is no use to the emergency services and I doubt you'll persuade your doctor's receptionist to come round and see what flower bed you've buried your keys. But I take the view that if somebody needs to gain entry in an emergency they'll find a way. And replacing my front door will probably be cheaper than replacing all my valuables.

[barry1010]

I've had one for years - very handy, wouldn't be without one.

[pixie374]

It's why they are put on the side and hidden, but I have a few friends with teenagers who also have them. I haven't known yet personally of one causing a problem, only helping in an emergency.
But obviously, choose what you are comfortable with.

[woofgang]

when I was working for the NHS, social service would not fund them for vulnerable clients because yes they do suggest alone and vulnerable also they did their own tests on what was then available and you didn't even need a chisel to smash them open, just a decent hammer.

[ummmm]

I should get one for the kids. I'm sick of getting new keys cut. The last one in can bring the key in with them.

[woofgang]

how will they know who is last?

[retrocop]

We didn't site the safe in plain view at my mothers,nor is it in site now where I live. We told those who need to know where it was situated and it wasn't visible from the street by passers-by.Anybody who found it were probably there for a nefarious purpose in any case.

[alavahalf]

In my last job records show thaf I fitted more than two thousand keysafes. Breaking into property was something I did on a daily basis. What I can say is that you should be worried if you fit one of the cheap ones. The ones shown earlier in this thread would keep me out for less than one second, I can easily open them with just one blow, very rarely did it take a second blow.
There is only one really good keysafe available in the
UK .. chancers wont open it and even with the right tools, it is still a handfull.
Amazon.com User Recommendation

If I had to break into a house and I seen one of these fitted in the doorway, I would ignore it and carry on and get straight through the front door. They are very difficult to open unless you are kitted out to do so.
Most people dont realise that the easiest way to break into their house is through the front door, especially if it has a UPVC door with a Euro lock and a multi locking system.

[pixie374]

I was going to say.... it is nearly always easier to break a front door than a key safe. It's more the expense and urgency of needing to replace the door, that becomes inconvenient.

[pixie374]

Alavahav, those you press are easiest to break into. As carers, we always hoped for those if the agency forgot to give us the code.

[Peter Pedant]

thank you alava
since no one else seems to want to say so