Locked Out? What To Do First
In short: Check every other door, confirm nobody nearby holds a spare, then call with your exact location, the lock or vehicle type, and proof of ownership ready.
Stop and check the obvious first
Try every other door and any accessible window before assuming you are locked out. On a vehicle, check the trunk and the passenger doors. It is a common outcome that one is unlocked, and it costs nothing to find out.
Work out who else might hold a key
A partner, a housemate, a neighbor, a landlord, a property manager or a workplace key safe. A ten-minute wait for someone with a key beats a service call, and it is worth the phone call before the locksmith call.
Call emergency services first if someone is shut inside
If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is locked inside a property or a vehicle, particularly in Sacramento summer heat, call 911 first. Then call a locksmith. Say clearly when you ring that someone is inside, because it changes how the call is handled.
Have this ready before you dial
Your exact address, or the garage level and bay number. The type of lock, or the vehicle year, make and model. Whether any key exists anywhere. And identification plus something linking you to the property or vehicle, which you will be asked for.
What happens when the technician arrives
You will be asked for identification and proof of ownership before the lock is touched. The lock is then opened non-destructively where the lock allows it. If it cannot be, you are told before any destructive work starts.
About this guide
Written by A 24 Hour Locksmith, a licensed Sacramento locksmith. California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services License No. LCO 6830. License numbers can be verified on the California BSIS public license lookup. Nothing on this page is a priced offer; call (916) 244-3934 for an estimate for your situation.
Common questions
What if I have no ID on me at all?
Say so on the phone. There are usually other ways to establish the property is yours, but something is always required.
Child locked in the car — what do I do?
Call 911 first, especially in heat. Then call a locksmith and say immediately that a child is inside.
Should I try to open it myself?
Coat hangers and cards damage weather seals, paint and latches, and can turn a straightforward opening into a repair.
Questions about your own locks?
Call and you will get a straight answer, whether or not it turns into a job.
Call (916) 244-3934