THE BEST WAYS TO AVOID BEING LOCKED OUT
It’s certainly quite inconvenient and unsettling to discover that you’re locked out, and it’s particularly irritating if you’re stranded some place without your keys after hours. Prior to a lock and key emergency ever happening, you can choose, right now, to establish some basic principles. Decide to make these strategies here a daily habit, and you’ll never be locked out again!
Always know where your keys are located. Stay aware of your keys, no matter where you go. If you walk out the door, realizing that you forgot something, and then go back inside to get it, don’t place your keys on the table and forget about them! Keep your keys in your hand instead, or in your pocket or purse. If you ever lend an extra key to a trusted neighbor or friend, always get it back as soon as you can.
Keys, wallet, phone. Whenever you walk out the door, remind yourself: keys, phone, wallet. Keep it in the back of your mind from now on. Do a pat-down: check your purse, pockets, or pack. (You may wish to add a few more items to your list, such as: driving glasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and so on.)
Store a spare key in a sensible hiding place. Placing a key beneath the mat, over your door frame, or underneath your flower pot is a lousy idea, because every thief knows to look in these locations. A fake-rock keyholder won’t be effective if an intruder already knows exactly what it looks like. It’s best to give a duplicate key to a friend or neighbor you trust ~ ideally someone who’s at home most of the time.
Replace defective locks. Inspect all your locks periodically. Repair, upgrade, or replace them. If any of your locks get harder and harder to open, the key might break off inside the lock mechanism. Don’t make copies of keys from keys that are duplicates already, because they eventually won’t work. If any of your locks become too worn-out, they’ll easily bind.
Keep a phony credit card. If you’re bold, carry one of those sample credit cards that comes in your junk mail, or a gift card you’ve already used up. Don’t use an active one, because it will get ruined. It doesn’t actually go the way it does in the movies, but it may still work for you ~ that is, only if there isn’t a deadbolt present. It needs to be a bored door lock, with the sloped ridge of the bolt facing toward you. (If the door opens toward you, then the bolt is probably facing in the wrong direction.) If the bolt is the right kind, and facing the right way, then try this:
Place the card in the space between the jamb above the bolt and the door.
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Very gently, slide the card down between the bolt and the strike plate.
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Push the card, and push the door.
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If you’re fortunate, the door will open, and you’ll leave everything undamaged (except of course the card).
Are you more adventurous? Carry a pick set. If your state and local laws allow it, attempt to pick the lock. Not all locks can be picked, but it’s worth a try. Perhaps some time in the future, you’ll be able to help someone else who’s locked out.
Before you get into trouble, find a legitimate locksmith. The right way to track down a reputable locksmith is to find one before you need one. Do your homework, so you won’t get scammed or overcharged.
Ask family, friends, and colleagues for their recommendations. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is ideal.
Do your research to locate a reliable local locksmith. Open the telephone book and the Web. Note the locksmith companies in your area, with their addresses and phone numbers. Locate locksmiths who specialize in the services you require. Utilizing the Internet, match up the phone numbers with the street addresses. A disreputable company could list a false address, or none at all, claiming it’s local. If a person answers your call with a nonspecific greeting such as “locksmith services,” ask for the full business name. If that individual won’t tell you, cross that one off your list. Also bear in mind that a fully trustworthy locksmith company may choose not to include a street address because it runs a mobile business, dispatching a locksmith professional who’s local to each customer. Accordingly, simply ask why the address isn’t listed.
Verify the locksmith’s credentials. When your locksmith arrives, ask for identification, a business card, and proof of license. The invoice ought to include the business name. The locksmith’s truck should also have the company name, and match the company name on the invoice and business card. The locksmith must also request your identification. Before beginning work, a locksmith has to authenticate your identity, and confirm that you’re truly the property owner.
Be skeptical if a locksmith tells you you’ll have to drill or replace the lock just because you’re locked out. A respectable locksmith will carry the proper tools, and possess the expertise to know that such drastic measures would be overkill. A genuine locksmith professional can unlock virtually anything.
When you’ve finally found a dependable locksmith, keep that company’s contact information in a reasonable place, such as on your smart device, in your wallet, on the refrigerator, or on the bulletin board at work ~ so you’ll always be able to get yourself out of a jam when you find yourself in a lockout situation. An excellent locksmith will always be happy to answer all your questions.
Are you locked out right now? If you don’t have an extra key hidden some place, and you don’t have someone who keeps one for you, then check to see if you’ve left a window or another door open.
When all else fails, hire a locksmith! You may be tempted to entertain the idea of breaking a window. But should you really risk being mistaken for a burglar? Of course not. Avoid this scenario in the future! Instead, plan ahead!