When I moved into my house, I found a key for my front door high on my porch on a nail. The only people I could think of who put it there :The previous owner, the real estate agent, a handyman. It made me nervous. I'm only giving a warning out to people.

oh that would make me nervous too, Cat. Have you thought of changing your locks?

I think of getting new locks. My father stays with me sometimes.

Nice to know your father is close by.

You don’t want it to become an incidental addition on a police report or if some unforeseeable event required you to be away for an extended period of time that would be known by those who could have a copy and you have a vacant house, you’d be adding to your worry unnecessarily. All the while the cost of the lock would have left you at ease rather than be irritated by your reluctance to do so. There is more than one form of security at stake.

It's possible that someone like the real estate agent dropped the keys, somebody found them, and placed them on an old nail.

Just to be safe, I would change the locks. It doesn't cost much, and it's easily DIY.

Regardless if the previous owners/realtor says they just changed the locks... when you buy first thing you do is change all the locks and make sure your windows are secure... Many times previous owners will hide a key and forget about it when selling... So best to always change them..

Wow....well things are really boring here but I guess there are perks.
I just moved out of a house I owned here after 5/6 years and in all that time (part of that time my ex SO and daughter were there) the only time we even locked our doors was if we were going to be out of town a few days or more.
Don't get me wrong; I've lived many places including the southeast for years where I wouldn't go across the street to the 7-11 without locking up but here so far, not needed IMO.
Be safe folks!

I do question if some of you are just paranoid / watch too much ID channel though?

I'm not really afraid but better safe than sorry.

You should always change locks when moving in to a new house and also change them in the event of having handbags stolen or keys that are traceable to your home. If not your house insurance is technically invalid however most house insurance policies include changing locks with a small excess. (Locksmiths owner)

Give warning out about what? Everyone now finding the key to their frontdoor hanging up on a nail?
Just get your frontdoor lock changed. Costs about $8 over here to get another one you can fit into it.

Not just when you buy. Over here most rent a house, from council. Before new tenants move into a house all locks are replaced by council. They just swap the locks from all their houses so it doesn't cost anything much, nor do you waste good things.
Front & backdoor locks and keys are always the same over here, often even the shed's.
So they keep the sets and put them in another house. No one knows which one or where.
Just in case a previous tenant kept a key or forgot.

When I was a kid, we never locked our doors. I don't think anyone in the family had keys. That may seem weird now, but that was how it was.

I usually don't lock up when I'm going to the store but if I am going out of town or will be gone awhile I do.
All my locks are keyed alike. One key fits all.
I keep a spare house key in my truck and a spare truck key in my wallet.
When I moved in, I was the first tennant.
I did install lock plates to prevent card jimmys but if someone wants in bad enought they'll get in.

Changing the locks with a new place is just good sense.
I have spare keys from previous places I have been that I just throw away but anything is possible.
I've seen quite a few horror films based on previous tennents in the attic, a hidden room or in the walls.
Kinda realistic horror if ya think about it.

Save your money and put some keys that dont fit on the nail

hii

Read the thread topic dude!

Lock changing and also $9 dollar pepper spray are totally worth the investment in peace of mind, to a possible unwanted alternative.

I would definitely get the locks changed. You are a beautiful looking woman and you need to keep safe x

That's what I did when I found a hidden key after I bought my house