What to Do in Different Lockout Situations

When you find yourself locked out of your commercial property, residential property, or vehicle, you may get frustrated quite quickly. Don’t worry about it; it is something most people experience at some point. You did not expect this to happen and yet here you are, wondering how you will get into your office, home, or car. A lockout can happen to anyone.

There are various reasons why a lockout may happen, such as:

• You have faulty locks on your doors or vehicle
• Your keys are old and they are prone to breaking in the lock
• You may lose your keys or car’s transponder key
• The lock may simply stop working because it is old (normal wear and tear)
• You have experienced a break-in attempt and the locks have been damaged
• Your access control system malfunctions and no longer recognizes your code
• The access control card has demagnetized and the access control system cannot read it
• The transponder chip in your car key has stopped working

Of course, there are many other reasons why a lockout may happen. However, the reasons behind a lockout are not the main topic of this article. We are here to discuss what you can do when a lockout happens. Also, we will provide some information about how to minimize the risk of a lockout occurring.

A Business Lockout Situation

When you experience a lockout at your commercial property, you need to be aware that breaking the door or a window is not an option. You may try to unlock the door using several methods but remember that there is probably an alarm behind that door. And most alarms are programmed to notify police or a local security company. You definitely don’t want to be mistaken for a burglar and get harmed. There have been instances where people have gotten seriously hurt by police after they were mistaken for criminals trying to break into an office. So, whatever you do, do not try to break windows or doors.

Another thing you should avoid is trying to get into the office through dangerous passages. This means you don’t want to crawl through vents (remember, you are not agent 007) and you don’t want to go down the chimney (you are not Santa Claus, either). You can get stuck or seriously hurt while you attempt such maneuvers.

The best thing you can do is try to find a spare key. If the key is broken in the lock, you need help from a professional. A locksmith company is the one that can help you fairly quickly. In fact, some of these companies work 24/7, so they can dispatch an expert to your location and help you get into the office. The locksmith can then replace the faulty locks and create new keys for you on the spot.

A Residential Lockout Situation

There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to enter your home. The key may break in the lock or the lock may have been damaged by an attempted break-in. No matter what happened, you are going to be mad. However, don't try to do anything that may put you at risk. This includes breaking windows or the door. 

Also, do not try to get into the hour through the basement or through tight openings such as the chimney or a vent. You will most likely get stuck and will need immediate assistance. Again, don’t risk it.

What you can do is call your spouse or other family members and try to find a spare key. If there is no key available or if the lock has been damaged, you need help from a locksmith. Call the best locksmith company and ask them to dispatch an expert to your location. Many companies work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so help is just a phone call away. The locksmith can unlock the door for you, replace the lock and make a new set of keys ASAP.

An Automotive Lockout Situation

Getting stuck outside your vehicle in the middle of the night is a traumatizing experience. However, there are cases where a lockout can put an elderly person or a pet in serious danger. In the summer, temperatures inside a vehicle can get very high. It can get very hot very quickly. If somebody (or a pet) is locked in the vehicle, call 911 immediately so that emergency services can ensure nobody gets hurt.

If there is no imminent danger, do not even think about breaking the window or using a crowbar to open the door. It will cost a lot more than it would cost to hire a locksmith to unlock your vehicle. In addition, you risk being seen as a burglar and taken into custody – or even hurt – by police.

Remember, a trained, experienced locksmith can unlock the car for you without causing any damage to it. And he or she can duplicate transponder keys or program transponder chips on the spot – as many as you need, actually.