I would go with a key safe because anyone trying to break in will not be worried about subtleties and will just hoof their way in for a quick entry/exit rather than trying to decipher your entry code.
I’ve got keys with several neighbours but still have a key safe for the unexpected visitor in case I’m not there.
(I still let the neighbours know what’s happening so they don’t panic and call the gendarmes !)
That is just what happened with us. We returned from the vet much sooner than we anticipated as the shops were shut. When we drove into our drive, there was a car parked to the side of the house. I challenged the man as he came outside and he made up some story but when the other came out with the video, we realised we were being burgled. My husband let down all the tyres on the car so they could not leave easily and I ran in the house to telephone for help when the two men ran away into the woods. I rang our neighbour an English speaking gendarme and he alerted the police, Within 10 minutes we had 19 gendarmes and two dogs scouring the area including the woods. They were found very quickly hiding and shivering as they were only in shirts and trousers and it was December just before Christmas. We had to postpone our trip to the UK as the door had been forced and we could not leave it until it was repaired.
They went to court on the same day that we returned to France after burying our son and were very saddened to hear that they were not imprisoned but let off with a caution. They were drug addicts.
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A horrible experience. You were both very brave, they could have hurt you.
We did not think at the time of our safety.
It could not have happened at a worse time as we were leaving the next day to spend Christmas with our daughter and family who had put on a great spread so we could all be together for our son’s last Christmas. By the time we were able to go, out son had deteriorated so it was not a good time. He died 4 weeks later just as we arrived at the hospital and were able to be with him before he slipped away at midnight. We did not think we would make it as there was a terrible storm for the night crossing and it was touch and go whether we would be able to sail, thankfully we did.
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Getting locked out can be a real hassle, especially in a remote location. Your plan for multiple backup keys sounds smart - one on your person, one in the car, and one stashed in the garden. The inconvenience and cost of a locksmith, especially at odd hours, make having a solid contingency plan crucial.
Have you considered using a secure lockbox or key safe mounted somewhere discreet on your property? That could be a convenient way to store an extra set without resorting to burying them. Also, I think a security system like adt could be an even better solution. Might be worth looking into as another option to avoid locksmith headaches down the road.
What do you mean by " A security system"?
A newish (some sharpish edges) 5 pound hammer will deal with such stuff assuming you have power to your elbow!