Short answer: Almost every lockout we get called for was avoidable with a couple of small habits and a smarter spare-key setup. Here is how to lockout-proof your home and car so the problem never reaches your front step.
Almost every lockout we get called for was avoidable with a couple of small habits and a smarter spare-key setup. Here is how to lockout-proof your home and car so the problem never reaches your front step.
The classic hide-a-key under the mat or in a fake rock is the first place anyone looks, so skip it. A better setup is a wall-mounted key lockbox with a rotating code (the same kind real estate agents use) bolted somewhere out of sight, or simply leaving a spare with a neighbor or family member you trust. For your car, the single most useful move is keeping a spare key at home instead of in the glovebox, because a spare that lives inside the locked vehicle helps no one. One caution: if your house key is stamped 'Do Not Duplicate' or is a patented high-security key, a hardware store often cannot copy it and you will need the original dealer or a locksmith with the right blank and authorization. Cut your spares before you need them, and actually test each one in the lock, since a slightly miscut copy that only 'mostly' works is a lockout waiting to happen.
Self-locking doors cause a huge share of lockouts, so if your entry latches on its own, train yourself to touch your keys before the door closes behind you rather than after. Keep your house and car keys on the same ring so one is never stranded, and never set keys down on a gas pump, a shopping cart, or a restaurant table where they get left behind. If you have an attached garage, program the exterior keypad and treat it as your backup way in, keeping the code in your head rather than written on the unit. For homeowners who lock themselves out repeatedly, a keypad deadbolt or smart lock removes the physical key from the equation entirely, though you will want to keep a mechanical override key stored off-site in case the batteries die.
The time to find a locksmith is not while you are standing outside in the dark, so save a reputable local number in your phone today and confirm they offer non-destructive entry. Keep a simple note of your lock brands and door hardware, because it helps a technician arrive with the right tools and, if you ever need a rekey, spares the guesswork. For vehicles, know whether your key is a basic metal blade, a transponder, or a proximity fob, since that determines whether a replacement can be cut on the spot or has to be programmed. One thing to avoid publicizing is the key code stamped on some locks or key blanks, since that code lets anyone order a working copy, so keep any documentation of it private.
The classic hide-a-key under the mat or in a fake rock is the first place anyone looks, so skip it. A better setup is a wall-mounted key lockbox with a rotating code (the same kind real estate agents use) bolted somewhere out of sight, or simply leaving a spare with a neighbor or family member you trust. For your car, the single most useful move is keeping a spare key at home instead of in the glovebox, because a spare that lives inside the locked vehicle helps no one. One caution: if your house key is stamped 'Do Not Duplicate' or is a patented high-security key, a hardware store often cannot copy it and you will need the original dealer or a locksmith with the right blank and authorization. Cut your spares before you need them, and actually test each one in the lock, since a slightly miscut copy that only 'mostly' works is a lockout waiting to happen.
Self-locking doors cause a huge share of lockouts, so if your entry latches on its own, train yourself to touch your keys before the door closes behind you rather than after. Keep your house and car keys on the same ring so one is never stranded, and never set keys down on a gas pump, a shopping cart, or a restaurant table where they get left behind. If you have an attached garage, program the exterior keypad and treat it as your backup way in, keeping the code in your head rather than written on the unit. For homeowners who lock themselves out repeatedly, a keypad deadbolt or smart lock removes the physical key from the equation entirely, though you will want to keep a mechanical override key stored off-site in case the batteries die.
The time to find a locksmith is not while you are standing outside in the dark, so save a reputable local number in your phone today and confirm they offer non-destructive entry. Keep a simple note of your lock brands and door hardware, because it helps a technician arrive with the right tools and, if you ever need a rekey, spares the guesswork. For vehicles, know whether your key is a basic metal blade, a transponder, or a proximity fob, since that determines whether a replacement can be cut on the spot or has to be programmed. One thing to avoid publicizing is the key code stamped on some locks or key blanks, since that code lets anyone order a working copy, so keep any documentation of it private.
Call (408) 721-1117 and describe the situation, your exact location, and what you need. Timing is confirmed on that call rather than promised in advance.
Call for help: (408) 721-1117 — a straight answer and an honest estimate before any work begins.
