What to Do in Different Lockout Situations

Let’s face it; lockouts are an occurrence that sometimes happen. You can’t really always prevent them from happening. You may lose your key or forget it at someone else’s place that you can’t easily access. You may accidentally break the key in the lock. The security system at your commercial property may malfunction. Whatever the reason for the lockout, one thing remains the same: the situation is frustrating. In addition, a lockout can be very dangerous. Of course, it depends on the kind of lockout you experience. You may get locked out of your car, your home, or your business. In any case, you need to know what to do in different lockout situations. And, more importantly, you need to know what not to do. Because there have been many people who have tried various means of getting back into their car, home, or shop only to get hurt.

The Dangers of a Lockout

The problem with lockouts is that they tend to happen at the most inopportune moments. Many times, you will experience a lockout late at night. Burglars, thieves and home invaders are lurking in the night. A lockout is not a joke. You can get mugged or even hurt. You may get desperate and have a panic attack. Or even worse, somebody you love may be locked inside the house or inside the car. But whatever you do, do not attempt to break back into the car, home, or shop – unless of course someone is trapped in a hot vehicle and could get hurt. Many times, your neighbors will call the police thinking that you are a burglar. Not to mention the fact that one of your neighbors may confront you with a firearm thinking you are there to steal or burglarize the property. Don’t put yourself at risk! And did you know that you can get seriously hurt if you try to crawl through the basement or through a broken window? Or that you can get stuck if you attempt to get into your home through a narrow space such as the chimney? If you own a business, the alarm will alert the security company as soon as you break a window.

What to Do in Automotive Lockout Situations

If you experience an automotive lockout, you should remain calm. If there are any persons or animals in need of immediate help, call 911 and wait for rescue crews to arrive on the scene. An elderly person or a pet may be stuck inside the vehicle in the scorching heat of the summer. Temperatures inside a vehicle can get dangerously high in just one hour, so don’t take any chances. Call 911 and wait for rescue crews to unlock the vehicle.

If there is no one in the car, you are advised to try to find the spare keys. However, if you broke the key in one of the locks or if the spare keys are unavailable, you need to call a locksmith. These professionals have the tools and the experience to unlock your vehicle without damaging it. And many locksmith companies work 24/7, so you can get help even in the middle of the night. What you should avoid doing is breaking the window or forcing the door to open. You will damage your vehicle and it will cost you more to repair it.

What to Do in Residential Lockout Situations

If you can’t get into your home, remain calm and assess the situation. Most people tend to panic and do dangerous things without thinking clearly. If you feel that something is wrong or that there is someone stalking you, call 911 and wait for law enforcement officers to arrive on the scene. If there is no danger in sight, you should attempt to find a spare key. In most cases, this is not possible. Your only other option is to call a locksmith. He or she has the tools and the experience necessary to unlock the door for you without causing any damage to it. Don’t worry; there are many locksmiths who work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Under any circumstances, do not attempt to break a window or the door to get into your house. You may be mistaken for a burglar and get into a dangerous situation with law enforcement officers called on the scene by your neighbors. Also, avoid crawling through the basement or through the chimney. You risk hurting yourself or getting stuck.

What to Do in Commercial Lockout Situations

If you are the owner of the commercial property, you should still refrain from breaking windows or the door to get inside. You can be mistaken for a robber and may get into a dangerous situation with the police then they arrive on the scene. Also, avoid trying to force the door to open. The alarm system is almost definitely still up and running and the alarm will start as soon as it detects an unauthorized entry. The security company will dispatch a team to investigate and you may again be mistaken for a burglar. What you need to do is stay calm and call a locksmith who can open the door and disarm the security system. These professionals can help you unlock any door safely. Also, they are licensed and certified to conduct this kind of operation. Remember that it will probably cost you more to replace the door you break than to pay for the professional services of an experienced locksmith.

Who Can Help You During a Lockout

If there is any kind of danger, you need to call 911 immediately. This also applies to any people or pets who are caught inside a vehicle or a home and are in danger. Keep in mind that people and pets locked in a vehicle with all its windows up in the middle of the summer are in a life-threatening situation. If there is no danger to yourself or to anyone else, you should get in touch with a locksmith.