5 Common Lockout Situations and What to Do When They Happen

Lockouts usually happen at the most inconvenient time possible. You may get out of a long, hectic day at work, only to realize that you’ve locked your keys in your car. Or lock yourself out of your house an hour before party guests are supposed to arrive. Maybe you’ve lost the keys to your office building’s front door and you’re supposed to be holding a crucial meeting that day. Whatever the case may be, every lockout is urgent. You may think it will never happen to you in Douglasville, GA, but a lockout can occur anywhere that is protected by a lock.

Situation 1: Car Lockouts

Many people have done this at one time or another. You’re rushing around, trying to get everything done, and you end up leaving your keys behind somewhere you can’t remember. Or you’ve locked them inside the car on the seat or in the center console. Maybe someone even swiped your keys while you were unaware. Every one of these situations can lead to a great deal of stress when you realize you’re stranded and can’t get home. It can completely mess up your daily routine. Even if your car uses a keypad device to open, the device can get lost just as easily.

In this situation, consider whether you have a spare key located somewhere. If you have one at home, for example, you can have a friend drive to your home and pick up the key for you. Check all of the points of entry to make sure that all of the doors are locked. Many cars have doors that lock automatically so it’s usually the case that you can’t get in this way, but it’s worth a shot. If you don’t have a spare key and your doors are all tightly locked, you can attempt to use a wire hanger to get to your lock button if you have your window cracked. Many newer vehicles make this impossible via different means, and if you do attempt this method, you have to do it very carefully to avoid scratching your window or the paint off your door.

If none of these methods work, put in a call to a local locksmith to assist you. In the future, you’ll want to have multiple copies of your keys available. If your keys were stolen, have the locks changed to prevent the thief from accessing or outright stealing your car. Even if your keys are returned to you, you never know if your keys were copied.          

Situation 4: Safe Lockouts

A safe for your home or commercial property can add a valuable level of protection to keep critical documents and valuable possessions extra safe. But the same security that keeps shady characters from breaking into your safe will keep you locked out if you lose your key, forget your combination, or if the safe jams.

If your safe is jammed and won’t open even if you’re sure you’ve put in the correct code or the lock turns, you can try hitting it gently with a blunt instrument around the perimeter of the door, which can kick the lock mechanism loose in some instances. If this doesn’t help, or if you’ve lost your key or combination, put in a call to a locksmith right away. If this situation happens often, you may want to consider replacing your existing safe with one that requires a fingerprint lock to open. That way you won’t have to worry about messing with combinations or losing your key.

Situation 5: Business Lockouts

A business lockout can happen to you or an employee who is tasked with opening your business in the morning. Every second that your business is inaccessible could be losing you potential money. Customers can’t get inside and you can’t do the work that you are required to do.

Make sure that none of your other employees or staff members have keys to the building. You should always have a spare key located somewhere safe to access your commercial property when you need it. If none of these options are available in your situation in Douglasville, GA, never fear. Just give a call to a locksmith and they will be out fast so you can set up shop again.

The best way to deal with a lockout situation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This means always making sure to double-check that you have your keys, having multiple copies of keys stored safely for backup, and memorizing any keypad codes or other advanced security keys so that you don’t forget them. If a lockout situation happens to you, however, don’t get upset. Stay calm and handle the situation appropriately, and let it be a lesson for next time.