Someone asked:
“There was red wax in the keyhole on my front door.”There’s nothing on my key that would make it do that, but I did see some on the tip when I took it out to lock up this morning. A little worried that someone might have messed with my lock last night. Thoughts?”
“Be careful!” Squatters and thieves use it to see who else on the block is using their key or even if any homes are empty.
There may be a strange mark on your keyhole. This could mean that someone wanted to make a copy of the key that would fit that lock so that they could get one made and use it to get into your home. To be safe, change that lock with a lock smith.
Finding red wax in your front door keyhole is considered a potential warning sign that someone may have tampered with your lock, and you should not ignore it; it could indicate a possible attempt at unauthorized entry, so it’s best to take action like checking the lock thoroughly and potentially contacting a locksmith to assess the situation.
Why it could be concerning:
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Potential for tampering:Red wax is not a common substance to find in a keyhole, so its presence could indicate someone tried to manipulate the lock using a “wax key” technique, a method sometimes used by burglars to bypass locks.
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Check for other signs:Look for additional signs of tampering around the keyhole like scratches, dents, or forced lock marks.
What to do:
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Do not attempt to force the door open:If you suspect tampering, avoid trying to unlock the door with excessive force, as this could damage the lock further.
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Contact a locksmith:Reach out to a professional locksmith to inspect the lock and assess if it has been compromised.
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Consider changing the locks:If the locksmith confirms tampering, they may advise changing the door lock entirely to ensure security.