7. Be Sneaky With Your Spare Key

A burglar’s intuition is sharp when it comes to finding “hidden” outdoor keys. Therefore, don’t place your spare keys in obvious spots, such as under a planter or the doormat. Instead, hide it somewhere much less obvious and at least 10–15 feet from your house.

Some fake sprinklers and artificial rocks have compartments specially designed to contain spare keys. You can also nail your key to a tree; burglars won’t think to check there, especially at night. Or you can hand the spare key to a neighbor that you trust.

Better yet, replace your classic lockset with an electronic keyless door lock that works with your smart home automation system, and you won’t have to worry about stashing a key again.

Speaking of keys, another safety measure would be to sleep with your car keys on the nightstand, ideally in a drawer where an intruder won’t see them. This way, if you hear a burglar breaking in, you can quickly activate the car alarm with the keys.