Thread: Hiding Gun Cabinet Keys

Hi all,

Been thinking a fair bit about my hiding spot lately, and thought it could be a good topic to bring up on here.
It's going to be a bit difficult as we obviously don't want to tell the world where we have our keys hidden or where makes a good hiding spot, but perhaps a few of the cops on here or people in the know can warn myself and other gun owners of places to NOT put them.

I know when keeping your firearms (or anything for that matter) safe from criminals you need to think like a criminal, but for all us non-criminal types that is easier said than done? Obviously putting the keys in a drawer right next to the cabinet is not a good idea, but perhaps throwing them in with all the other keys in your key basket may at first sound stupid, but is a opportunist thief going to try key in the key basket to see if it works?

I suppose it then brings up the issue of an A-cat safes purpose is to stop opportunist thieves, so what is an opportunist thief likely to do?
Are they going to spend 30 seconds looking through your undies drawer and if they aren't there give up? Or are they likely to spend 20 minutes rummaging through everything you own to find where they are hidden.
Now if someone is intent on stealing your firearms they are likely to bring tools to either cut the safe open or rip the whole thing off the wall, so hiding your keys is going to do very little.

As a responsible firearm owner I have taken the best precautions I can to buy a solidly built safe and have it bolted/screwed down the best I can, I also don't tell everyone and post pics to Facebook of every gun I own.
Unfortunately were someone to break into my house it is likely they will find my safe, so realistically the final precaution I can take is hiding the keys somewhere that won't be found easily.

Keen to here what others thoughts are, whilst I am happy with my current hiding spot I am keen to find a better one if possible.
Cheers

I have my keys on me whenever I am away from home.

Originally Posted by Beavis

I have my keys on me whenever I am away from home.

This (have a set of keys like a bloody jailer, pays to be able to take them to pieces when in he ignition) , have a spare set in a vehicle.... Have thought about burying the spare in a box outside somewhere.

Most burglaries where guns are taken that I know of, the keys have been found and safe opened. As soon as they see a safe they go all out looking for the keys. I know of a bunch of C-cat guns got stolen because the idiot thought that it was OK to hide the keys.

If you don't want to carry your keys then put a keypad or combination lock on it. Kids are also mischievous little buggers and soon learn where you hide your keys.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Most burglaries where guns are taken that I know of, the keys have been found and safe opened. As soon as they see a safe they go all out looking for the keys. I know of a bunch of C-cat guns got stolen because the idiot thought that it was OK to hide the keys.

If you don't want to carry your keys then put a keypad or combination lock on it. Kids are also mischievous little buggers and soon learn where you hide your keys.

This is the kind of real world experience I was hoping for.
If I could have my time again I would've bought a safe with a combination lock.

Would keeping your keys on you pose a potential risk of if you loose your car key (spose doesn't happen to often) and someone undesirable finds them and gun cabinet key often stands out as being a bit different. I also have issue of the missus has FAL and between us we have a few different cars that we drive.

Id recommend giving your spare set to a trusted relative or mate with a licence because.
When the set you use is taken from your ute or you lose them or whatever and you cant find the set you put in a "safe place" 5 or 6 years ago you have to cut your way in and.
You cark it or are no longer fit and proper at least the person you want to look after/inherit/sell etc can gain access without destroying stuff.
As for hidey spots I am all ears.....totally impractical for me to have my keys on me all the time I would lose them once a week.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Id recommend giving your spare set to a trusted relative or mate with a licence because.
When the set you use is taken from your ute or you lose them or whatever and you cant find the set you put in a "safe place" 5 or 6 years ago you have to cut your way in and.
You cark it or are no longer fit and proper at least the person you want to look after/inherit/sell etc can gain access without destroying stuff.
As for hidey spots I am all ears.....totally impractical for me to have my keys on me all the time I would lose them once a week.

Good idea, might just do this with my spare...

Great thread topic, as said we don't want to let people know but gives everyone so e ideas

[QUOTE=veitnamcam;722648]Id recommend giving your spare set to a trusted relative or mate with a licence because.
When the set you use is taken from your ute or you lose them or whatever and you cant find the set you put in a "safe place" 5 or 6 years ago you have to cut your way in and.
You cark it or are no longer fit and proper at least the person you want to look after/inherit/sell etc can gain access without destroying stuff.
As for hidey spots I am all ears.....totally impractical for me to have my keys on me all the time I would lose them once a week.[/QUOT
I agree, my hunting buddy has my spare set, my wife knows he is to come and get my guns if anything happens to me. My key are always with me.

Inside the safe..

But seriously, hide the safe in the first place, never mind the keys!

Originally Posted by Cordite

Inside the safe..

But seriously, hide the safe in the first place, never mind the keys!

Unless you are building a new house how exactly do you even do that?
One would need a rather large house custom built not to notice a extra thick gunsafe room wall between the bathroom and shitter for instance....spos you could buy an ex drug growing house with all the foundations taken out for the grow room underneath...be cheap but most of the crims would already know about it

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Unless you are building a new house how exactly do you even do that?
One would need a rather large house custom built not to notice a extra thick gunsafe room wall between the bathroom and shitter for instance....spos you could buy an ex drug growing house with all the foundations taken out for the grow room underneath...be cheap but most of the crims would already know about it

@veitnamcam

Now, how DO you hide something that you can't hide? Make it look like something else.

one like this

Originally Posted by Sideshow

Attachment 90533

one like this

how about a pistol sized safe at face height with a weak door and a very hard, spring loaded boxing glove (or brick) inside. and a trail cam for showing off at the pub later.

Originally Posted by Cordite

@veitnamcam

Now, how DO you hide something that you can't hide? Make it look like something else.

Yea well this kinda thing may have some merit,,,,or not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nzFTCW7-y8

Maybe it is just my engineering brain but if I was looking for arms I knew to be stored in a space i would be looking for any wasted space first.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yea well this kinda thing may have some merit,,,,or not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nzFTCW7-y8

Maybe it is just my engineering brain but if I was looking for arms I knew to be stored in a space i would be looking for any wasted space first.

@veitnamcam

Yes, no defense against targeted burglary.