What to Do If You Are Locked Out

It takes only a second of distraction: the door closes behind you and the keys are inside. The situation is stressful, but it is easier to solve when you stay cool. Here is how to react.

The first reflexes

Before calling, take a moment to go through your options. A simple solution is sometimes within reach.

• Check other entrances: back door, a window already unlocked, garage door.
• Call someone close who has a spare key.
• Contact the owner or caretaker if you are a tenant.
• Do not force the lock or break a window, you risk making the damage worse.

If these options lead nowhere, call a locksmith. A professional has tools and techniques that often allow opening without damaging the lock. Be ready to confirm that you live there, it is a normal security procedure.

To keep it from happening again, leave a spare with someone you trust, rather than under the flowerpot or in a hiding place everyone knows. And get into the habit of checking your pockets before pulling the door shut behind you.