Make sure your keys are in order

[vavet]

I have a kwikset battery operated deadbolt lock with a keypad on the entry door of both my detached and attached garage. I rarely use a key....until this morning. The batteries in the keypad died after I locked it last night, apparently. The location of that key was not immediately obvious to me. I checked a few keys that I had but none of them fit. I was dreading calling a locksmith and paying $100 or so for such a stupid thing. I checked one last place that I did not think was likely to have the key...but it did. Lesson learned, make sure you have a way into all your locked doors.

My detached garage does not have an electric GDO, so that’s not an option.

 

[denis4x4]

Too, make sure there are fresh batteries in your gun safe touch pad.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I bought a key file with a manual, nonelectric combo lock. We keep all the vehicle, cabin, garage etc. etc keys in this hanging safe. They are all in one place. I think I paid $59 for years ago.

There was a reality show a few years back set in Jersey I think. They had two reformed thieves/burglars go into a house and take everything they would normally take in a hit. Cameras were placed all over the house for the show. One of the things that was universal was the keys sitting on the counter went to the Escalade that was next to a trailer full of SeaDoos. They tossed all the jewelry, laptops, guns in the Escalade and drove off.

That show was called "It Takes a Thief" (Many other shows with same similar name). It was quite enlightening how fast and efficient they were once they got in.

No a key safe won't stop a determined thief, but most are in a big hurry and grab the low hanging fruit.

 

[turbowoodworker]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTQU5E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Cheaper on Amazon now.

 

[CJM8515]

I hate those battery operated lock things, batteries die and your SOL.



Also turbowoodworker is right: dont leave your keys to everything out in the open either.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I hate those battery operated lock things, batteries die and your SOL.

They're WAAAY too easy to break into from outside, too. The Kwikset/Weiser Smart Key deadbolts are worthless, too. A small screwdriver and vicegrips are all that's needed to open one from the outside. Both of the locksmiths I deal with will not even carry them.

Tommy

 

[Boilerhouse]

A key squirrelled away outside in case of an emergency. Not in an obvious spot, like under the doormat. A BIL of mine and family returned home one stormy night. Power was out so garage door opener, which was the only means to access the house, was inoperative. Spent the night in a motel.
Also, keys should be labelled in some way. How many times have you come across keys and don't have a clue what they are for?

 

[Dagny]

I'm glad I live where keys are just not a part of my life.

 

[CJM8515]

They're WAAAY too easy to break into from outside, too. The Kwikset/Weiser Smart Key deadbolts are worthless, too. A small screwdriver and vicegrips are all that's needed to open one from the outside. Both of the locksmiths I deal with will not even carry them.

Tommy

Good to know. Reality is a good crowbar can easily defeat most doors.

 

[ar2stp48]

"...I hate those battery operated lock things, batteries die and your SOL. ..."

The locks may suddenly die also; work perfectly then lock you out. One safe brand (C.....) tops the list, at least in my experience. They will eagerly send a new lock, but owner is out the expense $$$ of having safe opened and lock installed.

Yes, the Kwikset/Weiser keypad entry locks are easy to open; check a few internet videos

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'm glad I live where keys are just not a part of my life.

There's always someone who says this...crime and burglary can happen anywhere, it isn't just in the big cities.

 

[doublearon98]

That's why I made this for my keys

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[larry_g]

https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Labeling-Tags/b?ie=UTF8&node=1069420

I've gone to using key labels, like some of the above, to label keys that are not on my daily keychain. It make it easy to ID what the key fits and makes it easy for my kids to find a key if they need to access something. I also have keys to their houses.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Milton Shaw]

One other comment on this topic is make extra keys before you loose the last one. A copy is much cheaper than a locksmith't time to open and rekey a lock on anything. I had a uncle that only had one key for each vehicle on his farm. Counting tractor and trucks probably 30-40 keys. One year his daughters came home from college for a weekend and took back to college the only keys to the family car. They drove pickup everywhere for a week or two until the keys got back home.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have an attached garage, the door going to the house I replaced with this Schlage keypad:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N12FCOS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's nice because I also have a keypad outside my garage door to open it, so I can get in my house without needing to use a key. It's a keypad only, but if the battery dies there's a couple spots near the bottom to touch a 9V battery to for emergency power.

Lever handle is nice when your hands are full of groceries too.

If someone were to get in my garage, it wouldn't matter what kind of lock was on the door going into the house, plenty of tools to break in without much effort needed. lol.

 

[Lassen Forge]

We used to use paint markers or nail polish or the like... paint the head of the key, and put a matching dot on the lock or on whatever the lock secured... Match colors and you're good 2 go. We also had one color type for other properties - anything that was green was for the hunting/fishing cabins, yellow was our overseas stuff, etc. Vehicle keys matched the color of the vehicle.

 

[Farmall450]

Good to know. Reality is a good crowbar can easily defeat most doors.

^ Or windows, etc

 

[ard]

That's why I made this for my keys

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

like that background.....

 

[sweetk30]

i have one of these in my property . works great from time to time .

spare key in it . programmable if you want to change the code .

 

[klassenl]

There was a reality show a few years back set in Jersey I think. They had two reformed thieves/burglars go into a house and take everything they would normally take in a hit. Cameras were placed all over the house for the show. One of the things that was universal was the keys sitting on the counter went to the Escalade that was next to a trailer full of SeaDoos. They tossed all the jewelry, laptops, guns in the Escalade and drove off.

I have this problem solved. I'm too poor to own anything of value to a thief.

 

[driftpin]

An old observation:
Kodak 35 mm metal film canisters used to be a great way to hide a key buried somewhere outside the building. A screw-on top and plenty of room for > 1 key if needed.

I once got to the airport and had my leatherman still with me. I buried it in a planter and retrieved it when I got back from the trip.

First thing I do when purchasing a new vehicle is make a duplicate key and ensure it opens any doors or unlocks any locks. It goes into a Plano box with a plastic key fob i.d.'ing it. That's my 'key index.'

 

[The Cobbler]

I have a key hidden that,with a trick to it, works 1 lock on my property .
that allows me access to spare key to the house ,

 

[Norcal]

I have a kwikset battery operated deadbolt lock with a keypad on the entry door of both my detached and attached garage. I rarely use a key....until this morning. The batteries in the keypad died after I locked it last night, apparently. The location of that key was not immediately obvious to me. I checked a few keys that I had but none of them fit. I was dreading calling a locksmith and paying $100 or so for such a stupid thing. I checked one last place that I did not think was likely to have the key...but it did. Lesson learned, make sure you have a way into all your locked doors.

My detached garage does not have an electric GDO, so that’s not an option.

How often do you change the batteries? Reason I ask is perhaps a regular schedule for changing batteries may be of value.

 

[onewheat]

How often do you change the batteries? Reason I ask is perhaps a regular schedule for changing batteries may be of value.

I'm sure the motorized deadbolts use more energy than the manually operated ones. I have a Schlage keypad with a manually operated deadbolt - I changed the battery after 6 years and two months. I'm pretty happy with that kind of battery life.

 

[4xdog]

I have one of these mounted to the door jamb of the door I used most often for entry. I haven't carried a house key for years.

 

[ar2stp48]

We frequently have threads concerning keys, locks, etc. Do the posters here not realize a clear photo of a key, especially showing the 5 or 6 numbers is all needed to make a key quickly and easily to fit your lock. In this thread there are a couple of excellent examples of this data. KW1 and 33644 --takes only a quick glance--is all needed to make a perfect key; that is a junker key here on the desk. Make a copy and carry it; leave originals at home

 

[rlitman]

Too, make sure there are fresh batteries in your gun safe touch pad.

If you're relying on it for personal protection, then yeah, do that.
The S&G 6120 lock I used to have had its batteries on under the key pad. You could just put in a fresh battery if it died, and wouldn't be locked out. Now, I use a Kaba Mas that has a self-generating dial. No batteries.

They're WAAAY too easy to break into from outside, too. The Kwikset/Weiser Smart Key deadbolts are worthless, too. A small screwdriver and vicegrips are all that's needed to open one from the outside. Both of the locksmiths I deal with will not even carry them.

Tommy

Yeah, that's a known issue with them. However, they'll still resist a kick-in, and if forced, there will be visible signs of forced entry, so you will have a good insurance claim (unlike if your lock was bumped).

How often do you change the batteries? Reason I ask is perhaps a regular schedule for changing batteries may be of value.

How long the batteries last depends on the temperature, how often you use it, and what features you use.

 

[joe_padavano]

Battery operated locks are like sensor faucets in rest rooms - the answer to the question no one asked. Is it REALLY that hard to use a key (or turn a faucet)?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yeah, that's a known issue with them. However, they'll still resist a kick-in, and if forced, there will be visible signs of forced entry, so you will have a good insurance claim (unlike if your lock was bumped).

I'm sure if a hack just shoved something into the cylinder there would be signs of tampering. All the times I've seen demonstrations of Smartkey deadbolts being forced, there was zero visible damage, the forcing tool both unlocked and relocked the deadbolt and the deadbolt still functioned normally afterwards with the proper key.

Tommy

 

[OccupantRJ]

Battery operated locks are like sensor faucets in rest rooms - the answer to the question no one asked. Is it REALLY that hard to use a key (or turn a faucet)?

They both work great for people with arthritic hands.

 

[James-W]

I'm glad I live where keys are just not a part of my life.

It used to be that way around here too, when I was growing up. We never locked the house, or the cars. In fact, we always left the key in the car's ignition. Things have sure changed since I was a kid.

 

[03.]

It used to be that way around here too, when I was growing up. We never locked the house, or the cars. In fact, we always left the key in the car's ignition. Things have sure changed since I was a kid.

Drug habits

 

[crucible]

Battery operated locks are like sensor faucets in rest rooms - the answer to the question no one asked. Is it REALLY that hard to use a key (or turn a faucet)?

No, its not that hard to turn a key-but you know that.

We had the Kwikset version for a couple of years where the locking mechanism electrically moved the deadbolt open and shut via battery when the correct combo was entered. The batteries lasted about three months or so, and it was easy to tell when that time was as it audibly slowed.

We currently have a Schlage version where the lock is electrically engaged when only the combo is entered and the movement of the lever (by the user) engages and opens the door, and then is disengaged seconds later and remains so by default-no moving of a deadbolt. The batteries last far longer....so much so, I've had them in for close to a year now and I should probably replace them just because.

The advantage about these kinds of electronic combo locks in normal use is that they can have multiple combinations and are programmable-I have one main code for my family, another code for my parents and inlaws, and temporary codes we give to neighbors or my wife's monthly cleaners. No multiple sets of keys to give out, no keys to get lost (especially good if you have younger kids). Any and all of these combinations can be changed quickly and simply, and are on a regular basis.

It works well and I believe it actually enhances normal everyday security with regular changing of combinations compared to a keyed lock with a similar level of security....and we all know locks keep honest people honest, and bad guys with enough time and determination will get in anywhere of course. (I do not and will not have the version that can be wifi and internet accessed however....no thank you.)

 

[zeke67]

Also, for kids that grow up knowing passwords, this is more to their liking and probably safer for them than carrying a key (an a string around the neck, like I used to).