Let me save you a lockout and a headache: the doormat is not a hiding spot. It's the first place anyone looks.
Same goes for the flowerpot by the stoop, the ledge above the door frame, the fake rock in the garden bed, and the spot behind the grill. I've been a locksmith in Boston for over 15 years, and I can tell you these aren't clever secrets. They're a short checklist that everyone already knows, including people who have no business near your front door. If your spare key lives in one of them, it's time to bring it inside.
The Part Nobody Thinks About: No Sign of Forced Entry
Most people worry that a hidden key makes it easy for someone to get in. That's true, but it isn't the part that surprises me most.
Here's what almost nobody considers. When someone walks in using a real key, nothing on your door looks damaged. No splintered frame, no broken glass, no pried strike plate. Insurance claims for a break-in often lean on evidence of forced entry, and a door that opened with a key leaves none. That can make a claim much harder to prove, and in some cases much harder to get paid.
So the cost of a hidden key isn't only what might walk out of your home. It's the possibility of a long argument with your insurer afterward. Check your own policy language or call your agent if you're curious how yours handles it, because the details vary. But I'd rather you never have to find out.
What to Do Instead
You still need a way back in when life happens. Kids lose keys, dog walkers show up, contractors need access. Here are the options I'd actually point you to.
1. Keyless entry with a smart lock
This is my favorite answer, because there's no physical key to find. A keypad or smart lock lets you set individual codes. Give your dog walker or contractor their own code, then delete it when the job is done. No copies floating around, no wondering who still has one. One honest caveat: not every smart lock is built equally, so the mechanical quality of the lock behind the keypad matters just as much as the electronics.
2. A proper key lockbox
If keyless isn't in the budget, a realtor-style lockbox with a combination is a real step up from a mat. Mount it somewhere out of direct sight from the street, and pick a combination that isn't your birthday or house number. To be straight with you, a lockbox isn't invincible, and no product is. But it is an actual lock you control, instead of a guess that anyone can win.
3. A trusted neighbor or family member
Old school, and still excellent. Leave a spare with someone nearby who you trust and who won't mind a text at 11 p.m. Pick one person, not five. Fewer copies means fewer places for things to go wrong.
4. Know who to call
Sometimes you're locked out anyway. A good locksmith can usually get you in without damaging your door, and in most cases that costs far less than a break-in or a replacement door. Save our number in your phone now, before the cold, rainy night you need it. You can read more about our emergency lockout service and what to expect when we arrive.
If a Key Has Been Out There for Years
Here's the question I ask people: how long has that key been under the mat? If the answer is "since we moved in," then you have no idea who has seen it, picked it up, or copied it. Maybe nobody. Maybe a previous tenant, a contractor, or a curious visitor.
You don't have to wonder. Rekeying your locks changes the internal pins so every old key stops working, and you get a fresh set. It's quick, you keep your existing hardware, and it's cheap peace of mind compared with the alternative. If you want to look at your door as a whole, our residential lock services cover everything from new deadbolts to full upgrades for homes across Boston and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Do It This Weekend
Bring that key inside today. Then pick one of the options above, whether that's a keypad lock, a lockbox, or the neighbor with the friendly dog, and set it up so you're never stuck on the porch. Ten minutes of planning now beats a bad night later.
And if you're not sure which option fits your door, just ask. I'll tell you what I'd do at my own house.
City Locksmith 24/7 is a Commonwealth-registered business that's helped Boston homeowners get in, stay secure, and stop worrying about their keys for over 15 years. Learn more about how we work, or call (617) 383-7290 anytime.