The everyday habit that could be putting your home at risk of burglary - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life The everyday habit that could be putting your home at risk of burglary By You Magazine - January 8, 2019 Ever left the spare key to your home outside the front door? Of course you have. Most of us are guilty of it. In fact, a new study has revealed that three quarters of Brits leave a spare key hidden outside their homes in case of an emergency. However, the research has also pointed out that the habit isn’t as safe as we may think. Getty Images The new study, carried out by homeware and furniture brand Hillarys, surveyed 2,345 Brits as part of an ongoing project investigating the home lives of adults in the UK. They found that one in fourteen people who leave a spare key hidden somewhere on their property become victims of burglary as a result. As part of the study, participants were asked if they ever left a spare key outside their home, with the majority (76 per cent) admitting to doing so. When asked why, responses included ‘in case I lose my main key’ (43 per cent gave this answer), ‘in case I lock myself out’ (36 per cent said this) and ‘it’s for my partner/friends/family to get into the house’ (21 per cent claimed). The most common places people leave their keys turned out to be under a doormat (35 percent), under a garden ornament (25 per cent), under a plant pot (17 per cent), behind a bin (14 per cent) and in the shed (4 per cent). Getty Images ‘It makes sense to have spare keys to hand for those moments when you forget your key or lock yourself out,’ said Tara Hall, spokesperson for Hillarys. ‘But it’s surprising how many people leave these spares in places that are easily accessible to anyone passing by. Hopefully these results might make people reconsider, and perhaps leave a key with a neighbour or family member instead.’ The research highlighted that out of the one in fourteen participants who revealed that they had their homes burgled using their spare key, only 27 per cent have stopped leaving a key outside. Perhaps this is a safety rule to work on in 2019? RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved