extra car key

[rosey7415]

another tip that i picked up from my dollar stretcher email....hope this helps somone out
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Extra Car Key

I've never had much luck with the magnetic key holders that
are stuck to the underside of the car. When I needed the key,
it wasn't there. My father's solution was to have a spare key
made, drill the hole bigger and screw it underneath the
license plate. We used a quarter to tighten the screw. When we
inadvertently left the keys at a friend's house after
carpooling, we used a coin to retrieve our key and were on our
way. If your car uses a key that has a chip in it, you may
need to use a washer or two on the other screw to create some
space between the license plate and the plate holder.
BF

[sabrelvssammy]

we have an x-tra key hung by wire in a pre-determined place (so that whoever is driving the vehicle can find it) under the 'carriage' of each of the vehicles.... and we've had to use them so its been a godsend.....

[imagine]

I had one of the magnet spare key things for my car when in college.

I had to use it one had when it was very icy. I had locked the keys in the car while the car was running.

The ice had buried the spare key in ice sludge right until the tail pipe.
So when I bent down to try and dig it out I was sucking in all the car exhaust. Needless to say breathing in all the carbon dioxide was not a good thing. Good thing I new when I was getting light headed and stopped.

Now I keep a spare in my purse and can always call someone to bring one.

[Luckybustert]

Thanks for the great tip! The only thing I'm worried about is that thieves would know these tips too and know where to look for my keys...does that worry anyone else besides me?

[pollypurebred39]

Suzanne,

That's why I don't hide a key outside of my house. I know they have garden rocks to hide them in but I just don't trust them. I had a friend who hammered a nail in a tree in his yard and hung an extra house key from it. It was well hidden, however I often wondered if his neighbors ever noticed when his son would go get the key, open the door and then hang it back on the tree.

I would put an extra house key out for emergencys if I felt sure I was just not making it easy for the thief or murderer to have easy access to our home. As far as an extra car key, hiding one underneath the license plate, I've never heard of that and suspect that unscrewing the license plate might be too much work/trouble for a thief just to check and see. They would probably move on to the next car looking for an easier target.

I once watched this detective on Oprah who was explaining that your house does not have to have all the bells and whistles to keep a thief out, just look like it does. He said you make your house look like it's more difficult to access then the next house on the block. I imagine it would be the same for cars too.

Some of the tips he gave was:

Even if you don't have a dog act like you do. Put out a big dog house. Put a Giant water bowl on the porch with a name like KILLER on the side. Put up signs that say beware of dog on your door and your fence/or entrance to your property.

Plant thorny bushes under each window making sure there is no space between bush and the house. If they've got to climb over thorny bushes their likely to decide it's not worth the trouble and pick an easier target.

Install flood lights around entire house.

You don't have to have a security system, make it look like you do. Put stickers on every window and door declaring a security system, put up signs in your yard. They also have stickers for cars. You can purchase these a lot of times from a security company without buying a system. Or purchase online, they've even got dummy cameras that appear as if they are monitoring your property.

And what should be obvious but according to the detective is how most robberies occur, keep your doors and windows locked at all times. Most thiefs enter right though a front door or window that was left open.

Never have empty cartons that your brand new tv, stereo system, computer or whatever came in out on the curb for trash pick up. It just lets the thief know there's something worth getting inside your house for. Good to think about before this Christmas season.

And never leave ladders outside for the thief to use to gain access to your second floor. Make sure they stay locked away in garage.

[BudgetLoving]

I keep a spare key in the junk drawer in our house. I know someone else will always have a key to get in! My sister bought a hitch for her truck, and puts her hideakey in there- very smart!

[Molemommy]

I have locked myself out of my car a few times... so me and the hubby always have a spare with us in purse or wallet. What I did find out though is that my local dealership can take your vin # and make a key (that just opens the door) but in a pinch it works and it was free...

[bumplett]

those are great tips polly, thanks for sharing!

I love the one about the thorny bushes!

[CountryChica]

haha neat idea!

[Jessesbride]

Thanks for the great tip! The only thing I'm worried about is that thieves would know these tips too and know where to look for my keys...does that worry anyone else besides me?

We just have spare keys... my dh & I each have one to my van & his xtra key to his truck is in a safety box in our house; I have a key to my bff's house & she has one to mine... PLUS we have keyless entry into our garage... makes it easy if my teen comes home b4 I do, he just puts in the code... he used to lose his key every so often at other houses & since we put a keyless entry onto the rent house (the one we left in May) & notices how great it was... well, let's just say... from now on that's all we'll do!

[frugalfranny]

Some great tips here......never hurts to have reminders about safety tips/extra key storage etc.

Thanks for all the postings.

[Mummy2]

In my line of work the Technicians almost need a degree in B&E, but not quite. I have Villa Owners, Estate Owners, Home Owners who hide the keys to houses and cars in the most obvious places and then some who hide them in really weird places.

Conch shell
Plant tray
Ledge over door
under the welcome mat
in the light at the gate
pool toys.

The Villa and Estate cars have the keys left in the ignition!!

I have to wonder about the rich people some times.....