Warning: ‘Burglars know exactly where to look for the spare key’

Security experts are warning families to take heed of a rise in break-ins across hotspot suburbs amid surprising findings that one in three Aussies still hide a spare key outside their home.

Security experts are warning families to take heed of a rise in break-ins across hotspot suburbs amid surprising findings that one in three Aussies still hide a spare key outside their home.

A survey by Finder found 31 per cent have a spare key hidden away in their property – giving outside access to an estimated 2.8 million homes.

Finder security expert Gary Hunter warned homeowners that insurance companies may not approve a theft claim if there was no forced entry which occurs when thieves find hidden keys.

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Seasoned burglars know exactly where to look for the spare key.

“The hiding spots we choose aren’t that original – seasoned burglars know exactly where to look for the spare key to gain entry to people’s houses”.

Shockingly 1 per cent of those surveyed said they hide keys in their letterbox, and the same number still put it under the front door mat.

It found 3pc stash keys in their electricity box, 3pc put it under a potplant, and 3 per cent bury it in the garden.

Around 8 per cent use a secure lockbox specially made for keys, the survey found, and 13 per cent used some other option that wasn’t named.

Alex Chernov, founder of Red Suburbs – Crime Map of Australia, which tracks suburb level data, said “nationwide property crimes are rising with exception of ACT”.

“There are general comeback of crime after Covid-19. Areas with higher density of population, next to train stations and next to malls are especially affected,” he said.

The CBDs of state capitals have the highest property crime rates – Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane City and Sydney.

The highest number of property crimes reported across the country are led by the CBDs of four state capitals – Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane City and Sydney.

Queensland and Western Australian suburbs were heavily represented in the rest of the top 20 including Cannington (WA) in fifth spot, followed by Armadale (WA) and then Cairns City 7th.

Other places with high instances of property crime included Midland WA, Mandurah WA, Fortitude Valley QLD, Fremantle WA, Port Augusta SA, Broome WA, Cloverdale WA, Browns Plains (Qld), Aitkenvale QLD, Oaklands Park SA, Beenleigh QLD, Kununurra WA and Cairns North.

Mr Chernov created the crime map to help find a safe affordable area for his family to buy a house, and now provides the information to others looking to do the same.

“Police usually provides absolute crime numbers that aren’t very useful when comparing different suburbs. As numbers need to be adjusted by population and other factors.”

As more families are pushed into more affordable areas that may have had “bad reputations” in the bid to buy a house, his Crime Map helps add perspective.

“Vast majority of our users are exactly that, young families who maybe recently had a kid and looking to buy a new home. Safety is very important for them, but they are also price conscious, so well known “good” suburbs are too expensive for them.”

“Red Suburbs helps identify “hidden gems” that might have some old/outdated bad reputation or just not well known. When actual numbers are checked those areas are quite safe while still affordable. We did bought our own house in the area like that.”

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