Find Yourself Locked Out?

Lockouts of all kinds can occur for even the most responsible home, business and vehicle owners. Finding yourself locked out can be such a stressful event and most people can easily panic or not know what to do when this happens. If you would like to best prepare yourself for the next time you experience a lock-out situation, read on! You will find the best information and suggestions to help you get life back to normal if you ever find yourself locked out of your home, business, or vehicle. We will first take a look at some of the various scenarios you may find yourself in if you are in the predicament of being locked out. Lock out situations vary, but we are sure you will find the information below helpful regardless of what kind of lock out scenario you are experiencing or may experience in the future. If you remember the steps below for the next time you are locked out, you are guaranteed to get your lock-out problem quickly and easily resolved!

Types of lockout situations

Before we dive in, let’s look at the different types of lockout scenarios that can occur. You may find yourself having trouble with one or more of the following locks in the future.

Residential lockouts

Home lockouts can occur at any time. Maybe you went out to grab the mail or the morning paper and find when you try to open the door to go back inside, you are locked out. Residential lockouts can also include home safes and other onsite locksmithing issues, such as being locked out of a particular room of your home, such as a bathroom or storage space.

Automotive lockouts

Such as with residential lockouts, similar situations can happen with your vehicle, especially if you are out and about running errands. It is not uncommon to leave a set of keys in the trunk of one’s car while loading groceries and then accidentally shut the trunk with the key’s inside. Or maybe your car’s automatic locking system simply went off at the wrong time and you were not expecting it. Now, you are locked out.

Commercial lockouts

Business owners experience lockouts from time to time as well. With multiple employees, customers, and various day-to-day procedures that come with running a business, it is almost inevitable that a lockout situation will occur for business owners and managers. Just like with a residence, certain rooms or the entire building may be vulnerable to lock out. Employers and employees may also find themselves locked out of mailboxes, drop boxes, lockers, safes, and other secure business tools.

What to do in a lockout situation

Do not panic.

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but as mentioned, lockouts can be extremely stressful. Depending on who is involved in the lockout or if you may potentially be late for an interview or appointment because of the lockout, it is easy to become flustered and upset. You will want to take some deep breaths and gather yourself as best you can once you realize you are experiencing a lockout situation.

Call for help right away if necessary.

If you have locked kids or pets in your car on accident, for example, do not hesitate to call and get help right away. Depending on the situation and even the weather, you may need to call 911 to have your car unlocked as soon as possible. If you do not have a cell phone on you, you can check nearby to see if a pedestrian or business will allow you to borrow theirs in order to call for help. Let’s move on now to what you can do if your lockout situation does not involve animals or children.

Do not try to unlock the door by breaking or forcing it

While it is understandable you want to be able to open your locked door as soon as possible, opening it via force is not recommended for several reasons. First, you may end up hurting yourself. Injuring yourself or someone else will only serve to make the lockout situation worse. It is recommended that you refrain from trying to break a window or the lock itself in order to get back inside. This is the same recommendation across the board, whether you are dealing with a residential, automotive or commercial lockout.

Try another entry or access point

Some individuals luck out when they accidentally lock themselves out and are able get back into their car or vehicle through another entry point, such as an open window or door. If you are locked out of your home, think about any possible places of entry you may be able to enter through safely. If you are locked out of your vehicle, if one of your windows is slightly rolled down, you may be able to manually push it down all the way and unlock the vehicle. If this option does not work for you and your situation, there is one final thing to try.

Calling a locksmith

As was suggested above in the event that young children or pets accidentally become locked in your car, you will likely need to call for help. Ask a nearby business or pedestrian if you can call a locksmith. Enlisting the help of a locksmith in any kind of lockout situation is your best bet for getting back in your home or business, or back on the road. You will receive the most efficient help with minimal damage to your lock when you have an experienced locksmith help you out.