8 Places You Should Absolutely Never Keep a Spare Key

Hiding a spare key used to feel like common sense—until break-ins became more common and burglars got smarter. The truth is, most of the spots people rely on are the first places someone with bad intentions will check.

If you’re still hiding a key somewhere on your property, it’s worth reassessing where it’s placed. A bad hiding spot can give someone full access to your home in seconds, no broken windows or alarms needed.

Under the Doormat

It doesn’t matter how discreet you think your doormat is—this spot has been overused for decades. If someone wants into your house, this is the first place they’re going to look.

Even “hidden” key holders shaped like rocks or fake sprinklers near the mat are painfully obvious. Anyone casing your house will spot them fast. It’s one of the riskiest spots to stash a key, and it’s never worth the convenience.

Inside the Mailbox

Mailboxes seem like a logical place—easy access, out of the weather—but they’re also extremely accessible to anyone passing by. Plus, some mailboxes are federally protected, and tampering with them (even accidentally) can cause problems.

More importantly, burglars know people try to be sneaky here. If it’s a community mailbox or has a locked compartment, that’s even worse. You could end up locked out and on the wrong side of postal laws.

Under a Flower Pot

If your porch or steps have a couple of decorative pots, don’t even think about slipping a key under one. It’s way too obvious. Most intruders will check under pots without hesitation, especially ones that look out of place or too perfectly positioned.

It only takes a second to lift and peek. And if someone sees you place or retrieve it once, even by accident, you’ve given away your entire plan.

Taped Inside the Storm Door

This one might seem clever until the tape wears out—or someone sees the edge of it hanging through the glass. If your storm door doesn’t seal tightly, wind or rain could even knock it loose, sending your key right onto the ground.

Beyond that, if someone’s already on your porch long enough to look at your storm door, they’re already too close for comfort. You don’t want to hand them your house key at eye level.

On Top of the Door Frame

You might think no one’s tall enough to check up there, but trust me—they are. And if they’re not, a quick lift from a stick, phone flashlight, or even a broom handle will get them there in no time.

It’s a hiding spot that used to work when everyone had solid wood doors and nobody thought twice. Now, it’s one of the most predictable places out there.

Inside a Light Fixture

Some folks get creative and unscrew the base of a porch light or exterior sconce to tuck a key inside. The problem? That’s exactly the kind of “creative” that burglars expect now.

Light fixtures aren’t secure, and accessing them often leaves clues—like a loose screw or smudge. If someone notices you fiddling with it even once, it’s game over.

Beneath a Fake Rock

Unless your yard is filled with natural rocks of all shapes and sizes, that fake plastic one stands out. They rarely match the surrounding area, and they’re a dead giveaway to anyone with eyes.

Even the more realistic versions don’t hold up to a quick inspection. A would-be intruder can lift every rock in your flower bed in under a minute—don’t give them a reward for doing it.

In or Around the Grill

You might think the grill is the perfect, sneaky place, especially if it’s covered or doesn’t get used much. But most grills have easy-access side compartments, and they’re often right near the back door.

If someone is already on your patio snooping around, the grill is going to catch their eye. It’s not weatherproof, it’s not secure, and if you forget the key is there and light a fire, you’ve got a whole other problem on your hands.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.