The Slice: Key factors to consider on hiding places

Here are 21 questions to ask as you go about hiding a spare key to your home.

1. Does the key actually work?

2. Could anyone be watching you?

3. Will you remember where you hid it?

4. Could you easily describe the hiding place over the phone to a relative or trusted neighbor?

5. Will shorter members of your family be able to retrieve it?

6. Could deep snow bury the hiding place?

7. Could a hard rain expose it?

8. If you are hiding it on the underside of a vehicle, what if that vehicle doesn’t happen to be parked at home when the key is needed?

9. Are you thinking of putting it under a barrel or planter that a painter, roofer or lawn guy might move?

10. Could you find it in the dark?

11. If you have one of those fake rocks designed for this purpose, does it truly blend in with your landscaping?

12. You aren’t seriously thinking of putting it under the floor mat or above the door frame, are you?

13. If you place it with a bunch of other keys, will you be able to pick it out?

14. Could a squirrel or crow make off with it?

15. Are you putting it somewhere that will require you to first have another key to unlock a different door?

16. If you put it somewhere in or under the dog house, is there a chance your dog will eat it?

17. If you give it to a neighbor, what are the chances that neighbor will be home when you need the key?

18. If you give it to a neighbor, have you considered the trustworthiness of everyone in that household?

19. Would you hide it with a mouse?

20. If your door requires two keys, are you hiding copies of both?

21. Any chance you might be overestimating your ability to “think like a burglar”?

Today’s Slice question: What did your parents think of your first serious boyfriend or girlfriend?