Locked Out

[AlotLikePsyche]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

 

[Weird Harold]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

My spare key is on my daughter's key-chain. If you don't have a trusted relative or friend (who doesn't live with you) then hide your spare key anywhere except a place suggested in this thread.

 

[richard_daily]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

I'd recommend a lock box, somewhere that's not totally obvious that it's for your place, and then a hidden key on top of that as well. Redundancy is never a bad thing.

 

[HisArpy]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

You are not having a good day are you?

 

[FGB]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

Maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/KIDDE-SAFETY...pID=41urVx3OvSL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[beew]

I live in a pretty safe neighborhood, so I keep a window in the back easily opened from the outside, in case such things happen.

If they want to rob me, they'll just run once they see the pigstyle inside.

 

[patient1]

Are you on good terms with a neighbor?

I know. I still think like a rural/ small town person. Actually, we do have a spare key hidden somewhere. Our new garage door accepts a pin number, so that's actually easier.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

My spare key is on my daughter's key-chain. If you don't have a trusted relative or friend (who doesn't live with you) then hide your spare key anywhere except a place suggested in this thread.

Aww. That was sweet. Thank you. I’ll be safe.

The locksmith suggested a magnetic hide a key thing hidden somewhere on my car.
Said that’s what they all do.

I don’t know. As a kid we had a fake rock in the garden that did the trick. Worked for me a couple times.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

Are you on good terms with a neighbor?

I know. I still think like a rural/ small town person. Actually, we do have a spare key hidden somewhere. Our new garage door accepts a pin number, so that's actually easier.

My grandma has that code thing on her garage! I love it.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

A neighbor is a good idea.

I just met my first neighbor today. She let me borrow her phone. Nice lady.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

You are not having a good day are you?

I mean... all things considered... I got my laundry done, I successfully acquired a necessary household appliance, I met a nice lady I may never have met otherwise, and I had the money to pay the locksmith. Things definitely could be worse.

Overall, I feel lucky.

I’m just a big baby about vacuuming. I hate the sound it makes.

 

[rae121452]

mine's in an old spice jar under my deck. don't hide it on the door frame...everyone knows that one. small plastic jar hidden somewhere that people don't usually want to stick their hands.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

Maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/KIDDE-SAFETY...pID=41urVx3OvSL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

That’s cool. Thank you. I like that it has the code. Extra layer of security.

Now I just need to figure out where to hide the sticky note with combination for when I also forget that.

 

[patient1]

My grandma has that code thing on her garage! I love it.

I'm glad she's still alive for you.





Perhaps you could tape a spare key on the back of your phone case. No, I don't do that. I have a pair of Thin Optics there. https://www.thinoptics.com/

 

[Bidin~Time]

That’s cool. Thank you. I like that it has the code. Extra layer of security.

Now I just need to figure out where to hide the sticky note with combination for when I also forget that.

If you have a car, put it in the glove box? or put it in your phone?

 

[Comshaw]

A couple of options:

I have one of these attached to the side of the house next to the back door. It can be torn off and it can be opened, but it takes some really heavy duty tools and time to do it. Much more then a regular person looking to break in would carry. $29.95 at Home Depot.

https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/9d6f6608-37e7-48af-99d3-1c29e7ce57c8/svn/kidde-key-portable-safes-001413-64_145.jpg

Second option would be this:a combination door lock. $119.00 at Home Depot

https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/24c648ac-97f0-4d18-bc8d-4de73fc59815/svn/schlage-electronic-door-locks-fe595-cam-619-acc-e1_145.jpg

Or this: a finger print door lock. $229.00 at Home Depot

https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/d1a235f0-9c2f-4e59-8e19-ff47b0608733/svn/itouchless-electronic-door-locks-bm003r-c3_145.jpg


Comshaw

 

[Antryg_Windrose]

I'll skip my amusing but unhelpful key-related anecdotes and just suggest a spare key in your wallet or on a necklace. Or a biometric lock could solve the problem, as Comshaw suggested.

 

[BotanyBoy]

Or this: a finger print door lock. $229.00 at Home Depot

https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/d1a235f0-9c2f-4e59-8e19-ff47b0608733/svn/itouchless-electronic-door-locks-bm003r-c3_145.jpg

Comshaw

Ohhhhhhh.....I like the looks of that shnazzy shit.

Looks like I'm going to Home Depot on Monday.

 

[Luk]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

It would have been weird to lock yourself out on purpose.

 

[AlotLikePsyche]

Good point.

 

[Jada59]

I once locked myself out and went to the neighbors to use the phone. He and some friends were playing strip poker and asked me to join in. That was rather interesting. Alas, I had ground beef browning on the stove and needed to get in. A friend drove me to where my roommate worked and I got his key.

Since then, I have given spare keys to friends, family members, kept a second one in my purse, etc.

I know a man who was forced by his wife to pin a key in his underwear because he locked himself out so often.

 

[ThatsTheGuy]

I locked myself out of my apartment today. On accident. Three hours and $125 later I’m finally back where I belong with my phone and internet and cats.

So... I think I need to hide a spare key somewhere. Is that a thing people still do? Where should I hide it?

$125 ? That's an awful lot to pay. If you live in a apt, talk to the manager or one of the maintenance guys.

Apts have a lot of experience w/that. Most do it for free. I'd recommend getting something that won't lock you out as some door knob locks will. Change to dead bolt locks and/or door knob locks that require a key, but requires someone to be inside to lock it to keep from being locked out.

As for hiding a spare key, don't hide it in the popular spot under the door mat or under anything else outside. I'd recommend hiding it practically in plain site. Like inside a plant pot w/soil in it or within the lip of something close to your apt. Maybe somewhere close you might have to walk to, but only you know where it's at. Try a magnet key holder for a single key.

I used to be bad about losing keys and gave spares to family I trusted, but they were worse about losing keys than me. At one time, I had a little gig making spare keys for people.

 

[oggbashan]

We rent apartments and cottages for short holidays in the UK.

Many of them are fitted with external coded boxes for the keys. Just before we leave home the owner emails (or texts) the code.

On arrival, no matter how early or late, we enter the code, retrieve the keys and we're in.

On departure, we lock up and put the keys back into the external box. The owner (or her designated agent, in one case her friend who cleans and resupplies the apartment between lets) recodes the external box for the next person to rent.

Some boxes have an override code that lets the owner open it even if the re-coding has been wrongly set. Typically that is a six digit code instead of the normal four digit.

Personally? As a retired couple we have several neighbours' keys. We have those keys with the understanding that they are to be used for emergencies only. We keep the keys in sealed envelopes. The keys will only be used if a neighbour asks or for something like a fire on the premises. We are registered with the Police, Ambulance and Fire services as keyholders.

Local family members have spare keys to our house, and we have keys to theirs. On Friday I had to let a plumber into my daughter's apartment to fix an overflowing pipe. My daughter was working in London.

 

[Radiohead]

In your cat.

 

[Taint_mAnn]

I haven't locked my front door in over a decade.