Marcus Taylor, Managing Director at The Key Safe Company answers the question "Are key safes, safe?"
Recent media reports have highlighted burglaries at properties where keys have been stored in an external lock box or key safe. Naturally, this has raised an important question: are key safes actually safe?
The short answer is yes - provided you choose the right key safe and install it correctly.
The important thing to remember is that not all key safes are equal. Like any security product, there are significant differences in the quality, construction and level of protection offered by different products on the market.
If you are considering buying a key safe, or already have one installed at your property, it is worth taking the time to understand its security rating and how it has been independently tested.
Not all key safes are created equal
A key safe may look secure from the outside, but appearance alone doesn't tell you how well it will withstand an attempted attack.
Lower-cost key safes can offer basic protection, but they may not have been independently tested against physical attack. For anyone using a key safe to provide access to their home, the level of security should be a key consideration.
At The Key Safe Company, we have been developing secure key storage solutions since 1996. Our Police Preferred key safes are independently tested and certified to recognised security standards, giving customers confidence that the products have been rigorously assessed.
Here are some of the things to look for when choosing a secure key safe.
Police Preferred key safes
Several of our key safes have Police Preferred status through Secured by Design, the official police security initiative that supports products designed to help prevent crime.
To achieve Police Preferred status, products must meet defined security requirements and undergo independent testing.
You can view our range of Police Preferred key safes.
When choosing a key safe, look for independent certification rather than relying solely on a manufacturer's own claims about security.
What is LPS1175?
One of the key standards to look for when assessing the security of a key safe is LPS1175, a security standard developed by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB).
LPS1175 assesses a product's ability to resist physical attack using a defined range of tools, techniques and attack methods.
There are different security levels within the standard, with higher ratings indicating resistance to more capable and prolonged attacks.
For a key safe, we recommend looking for a product with a minimum LPS1175 A1 rating or above, depending on the level of protection required.
Independent testing is important because it provides an objective assessment of how a product performs under attack, rather than simply relying on a manufacturer's claims.
Look at how the key safe is built
Security isn't just about the keypad or locking mechanism. The overall construction of the key safe matters.
A well-designed high-security key safe should be engineered to resist common physical attacks, including attempts to prise, drill, cut or otherwise force the unit open.
For example, the ark Tamo incorporates a number of security features designed to protect the key compartment, including:
- A robust zinc-alloy construction
- A stainless-steel vault lining
- A honeycomb attack-resistant layer
- Anti-drill hinge protection
- Anti-saw reinforcement
- An anti-picking mechanism
- A clamshell design intended to resist prying
These features work together to make the key safe significantly more resistant to physical attack.
What makes ark Tamo different?
The ark Tamo also features patented multi-push technology, which provides an additional layer of code security.
Unlike conventional push-button key safes, each button can be pressed up to four times. This allows repeating digits to be used within a code and provides more than 9.7 million possible code combinations.
That means users aren't restricted to simple, non-repeating combinations and have far greater flexibility when creating a secure access code.
ark Tamo was also recognised with The King's Award for Enterprise: Innovation, recognising its innovative approach to key safe security.
Attack testing: does your key safe stand up to physical attack?
One of the most important questions to ask when buying a key safe is: Has it actually been tested against physical attack?
Independent attack testing puts security products through controlled attempts to defeat them using specified tools and methods.
At The Key Safe Company, our products have undergone rigorous independent testing, and we regularly demonstrate the importance of physical security through live attack testing.
These demonstrations show why it is important to look beyond the appearance or price of a key safe and consider the level of security it has been independently assessed to provide.
So, are key safes safe?
Yes - a properly selected and correctly installed key safe can provide a secure way to give trusted people access to a property without having to be there in person.
But the key is choosing the right product.
Before buying a key safe, we recommend checking:
- Is it independently tested?
- Does it have Police Preferred status?
- What security standard does it meet?
- Does it have an LPS1175 rating?
- Has it been tested against physical attack?
- Is it suitable for the surface where you intend to install it?
- Does the manufacturer provide clear installation guidance?
Don't assume that all key safes offer the same level of protection simply because they look similar.
When it comes to securing the keys to your home, it's worth choosing a key safe that has been independently tested and proven to withstand attack.
Choose a Police Preferred key safe
If you're looking for a key safe for your home, family member, carer, cleaner, holiday let or other trusted visitor, explore our range of Police Preferred key safes.
Still have questions about key safe security or security ratings?
Our friendly UK-based team is happy to help. Call us on 0330 363 0303.
Marcus Taylor
Managing Director, The Key Safe Company