Burglary is one of the most common structure-related crimes for both commercial and residential establishments. Though there are many ways thieves can break into a building, the most common cause is key mishandling.

1. Safety 101: Key-
Handling Rules Every
Person Should Live By
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2. Burglary is one of the most common structure-related crimes for both
commercial and residential establishments. Though there are many ways
thieves can break into a building, the most common cause is key
mishandling.
Thieves are wiser these days. They study their targets’ actions to get into
their house or
workplace without
leaving too many clues.
They are able to access
to the establishment
just by acquiring a copy
of the occupants’ keys.
To prevent falling
victim to this modern
form of burglary, here
are safety precautions in handling keys:
Limit duplication
Having key copies is unavoidable, especially in establishments with multiple
occupants. As much as possible, limit key copies to a maximum of three, or
five for a larger group. Keep track of
people who have these copies and make
sure a key turnover happens before
anyone’s departure.
Get duplication and other lock
services from reliable companies
Most burglary cases are the result of
hiring unauthorized lock companies. This
is another style to get access to key
copies. It will also make lock picking
easier for them once they carry out the
crime.

3. Do not store spare keys in obvious locations
People tend to keep spares for accidental lockouts. While some people
entrust these to their neighbors, others
rely on spots outside the house for
hiding places. There are even blogs
advising where to hide them. Never
follow these pieces of advice, though,
as thieves can also access the
Internet. Trust in personal knowledge
of the establishment’s or house’s
surroundings.
Do not leave keys in visible places,
nor lend them
Many people have the habit of
flaunting their keys especially if they
just acquired a new car or pad. Unfortunately, key duplicating techniques
improved with technology. Apart from foam impressioning, duplicating keys
from photos is already possible.
Mark keys with initials, or don’t label them at all
Having many keys can be confusing, so people tend to label each one.
Unless the establishment is a hotel,
never mark the key to match its
lock. If marking the key is a
necessity, use initials that other
people won’t figure out.
Keys are similar to passwords and
personal identification numbers.

4. They are important in accessing valuable items and information.
Mishandling keys is similar to giving away this access, risking the person’s
home, business, and most especially, safety.
Sources:
http://www.mylocksmithmiami.com/
http://police.ucf.edu/safety-tips
http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/new_office_safety_fact_sheet.pdf
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/tips-safeguarding-keys-rental-
property.html