My husband and I are elderly and it has been suggested we get a lock box with a digital combination containing our house keys. In an emergency, someone might need to get into our house after one of us has locked it from the inside. But we wonder if a lock box is safe. Would it encourage a burglar to smash it and get the key? Would we be more vulnerable with one?
Fortunately, I recently visited a locksmith and there was a uniformed policeman there, so I put your question to them both. The locksmith made the point that if a burglar wanted to enter your house, it would be a lot easier to smash a window than break open a lock box, so he didn’t think you would be more vulnerable with one. He said digital combination lock boxes are excellent, but recommended you get the best available – he referred to a German model that cost $110.
The policeman also believed they were a good idea, suggesting they were commonly used by real estate agents who required regular access to clients’ houses. Estate agents supplied lock boxes that could be temporarily attached to a property. You’d probably want one permanently fixed to your home in a discreet spot. So yes, in my view, get one. For those who have never heard of a digital combination lock box, it is a place to keep your door key outside the house. Family and close friends can be told the access code and would be able to enter your locked home if, for example, they suspected you might have fainted or have other health difficulties. It’s a better option than, say, leaving a key under a pot by the front door.
Do you have a consumer question for Kevin? Email [email protected], or post to Weekly Consumer, PO Box 90119, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.
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