Home Security

[Chipchopper]

External key safes, just how safe are they ?
Are they recommended by police ?

[woofgang]

I doubt that police will recommend anything because if it goes wrong, they will be blamed! What do you mean by “safe”? and do you mean an inset safe, a bolted down safe or a freestanding safe...Of course the safest safe is the one that no one knows you have.....

[SlackAlice]

Check with your insurers first. Many insurers will not cover you if you have an external keysafe.

[TonyV]

My mother has one so that her carers can let themselves in, I don't like it because it's an immediate sign of vulnerability but fortunately she has good neighbours that over look her house and keep an eye out

[CrapAtCryptics]

How about one of these

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[woofgang]

oh I thought you meant a safe that just had a key and no dial!!

SlackAlice makes an excellent point. It doesn’t matter a jot about police approval if your insurers wont allow it.

[Baldric]

///she has good neighbours that over look her house and keep an eye out///

... and take it in turns to cover the Nightshift hopefully?

[hc4361]

I have a key safe and the insurance company is happy about it.

[237SJ]

Some are police approved according to this (my Mum had that one via Age UK) https://www.ageuk.org.uk/miltonkeynes/our-services/handyperson-service1/installation-of-key-safe/

[hc4361]

I have this one
https://keysafe.co.uk/product/93/c500-keysafe#

It is hidden behind a bush, there is a CCTV over it and over all doors.

[woofgang]

all very good points but the insurers still may not be happy.

[woofgang]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Insurance/Question1368817.html

just found this....you will note that even the direct quote from the insurance company spokesperson does not say that they would pay out...just of you must do it, do this.

[237SJ]

Insurers can`t be very bothered about them because they don`t ask if you`ve got one.

[TonyV]

Baldric house is as secure as we can make it with best locks you can buy - her dementia doesn't help but promised her she would not go into care home

[Baldric]

That's good Tony, just not a device I would want.

[TonyV]

Baldric we don't have any other choice we are all to far away to attend daily

[woofgang]

237SJ
I very much doubt that having a Keysafe would invalidate insurance because if it did, you would certainly be asked if you have one when obtaining a quote.
13:05 Tue 30th Sep 2014

You said that last time, it wasn’t true then, it isn’t true now. Insurers don’t ask about keys under flowerpots, keys hidden in the garden or any other way of leaving a key outside, they do generally say words to the effect that they won’t pay if the house hasn’t been broken into....again, its worth checking with the insurer. If the device is needed and the insurance company won’t cover if you have one, maybe an option is to cancel contents insurance or at least the theft aspect of it?

[237SJ]

Woofgang - I renewed my buildings and contents insurance today and I asked the insurers about a keysafe (because I want to take the one from my late Mum`s house and install it on my house). They weren`t interested. As others have said, it might depend on one`s insurers.

[woofgang]

That’s good, did they say they would pay out if you were burgled using the key from your keysafe?

[alavahalf]

The Police dont recommend any keysafes, although this is the only one they 'Approve' as far as I know.
https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/household-aids/key-safes/supra-police-approved-keysafe-view-large?gclid=COrAx-qQwssCFe4y0wodmAUPYA

As far as I can see the blind are leading the blind, going by your choice of best answer. How do you propose to fit an electronic door release with fingerprint recognition on an external door and expect it to operate in an environment that it is not meant to be in ?
If you were to seriously consider fitting this, my first thought is ..
When it fails the person who is inside the property is now locked inside the property. The end result is the Police or the fire service are called and the Police will hit the door with a ram and smash the door and the frame. Whereas the fire service will use a prybar and wreck the door and often the frame. I know, because I am the person they would call after the event, to put the door right again. Your insurance wont cover this damage, it will be down to you.
Why not fit the right external keysafe in the first place and save you the cost of a new door and frame ? I have yet to see anyone break open a keysafe with regular tools.
One more point ... when I have to break into a house and there is a keysafe fitted in the doorway .. I ignore the keysafe as I can't get into them without completely wrecking them and doing a fair amount of damage. The easiest way into most houses is through the front door, especially if it is a UPVC door ... even if it's locked.

PS .. I dont just go round breaking into any house .. the Police or Social Services usually give me an address !

[Islay]

Most holiday cottages I have stayed in have external key safes and they work very well.