Locked Out
07/19/2019
What to do when you’re outside… but your keys are inside
It’s 8:25am, your wife is already at work, the kids are at school and you’re running late. The note on the fridge reminds you that it’s trash day… and the garbage truck will be there any minute. You make a mad dash to grab the can and get it to the curb, only to discover that… you’ve locked yourself out of the house. NOOOOOOOO!!!
There are a few things you can do before throwing a rock through a window… or worse… go all Chuck Norris and try kicking in the front door, possibly fracturing your tibia.
So, follow these tips to get back inside and save yourself a trip to the Emergency Room.
1 – Take a deep breath
Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax. You’ll be in a much better state of mind for solving the “key” problem at hand. Breathing exercises are a great way to reduce stress daily… but maybe today isn’t the day to start. Just a few slow breaths ought to do it.
2 – Look for an unlocked entry point
I know, I know… you always keep your doors and windows shut and locked; however, it’s worth taking a look to see if someone left a door out back unlocked or a bathroom window open. Always start with this plan of action since it’s the easiest and fastest way to get back into the house. Only check the access points on the first floor. Avoid climbing trees and trellises to check windows on the upper levels. Again, we’re trying to avoid a broken leg.
3 – Text/Call someone who has a key
Your spouse or kids should have a key, so I’d start there. Unless of course, your phone is inside the house… on the kitchen counter… keeping your keys company. If that’s the case, start thinking of anyone else… anyone close… who might have a spare; a babysitter or pet sitter from the neighborhood perhaps. If you’re in an apartment, go have the landlord/maintenance staff open the door for you. At this point you’re probably second guessing your decision to not buy the hide-a-key rock in the Skymall magazine because you didn’t think it looked real enough.
4 – MacGyver it
Since you’re not an accomplished burglar, or ex CIA, picking the lock probably isn’t an option. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some other acts of ingenuity you can try. Some people might suggest a credit card… but unless you’re trying to break into your master bathroom, you’ll need something a little sturdier. Run over to the neighbors and borrow a butter knife (less creepy than showing up on their doorstep asking for a boning knife or cleaver). Slide the blade of the knife between the door and the strike plate until you hit the door’s plunger or bolt. Then, you can try to force the bolt away from the doorjamb and push the door open. The thought then occurs to you, if you went over to your neighbors, why didn’t you just call your wife from their phone.
5 – Call a locksmith
This is the most expensive way to get back into your house… unless you didn’t take my advice and threw a rock through the window. It also requires a long wait, and reliance on a phone. The upside is that a locksmith will get you into your house for sure, and do it without damaging any of your property.
6 – Stop it from ever happening again
Now that you’ve made it back in safely… don’t let it happen again. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Not sure how to compare a pound of cure to not getting locked out or keeping your family safe, but you get what I mean. The Smart Home solution:
No more keys – Unlock your door with a unique code that you came up with, instead of a key
Lock/Unlock door remotely – This time you’re on your way to work and you realize you didn’t lock the door. No problem. You can use your phone app to lock or unlock the front door from anywhere.
Multiple access codes – You can create multiple access codes so that you don’t have to give out your own personal code to the babysitter… or even the in-laws. Give them their own code, and then just disable it later. That way you’re not resetting it all the time, like your work email password.
What does all of that mean? It means your Smart Home system does just as much to keep you stress and worry free as your new breathing exercises. It gives you the peace of mind that asleep or awake, home or away, you and your family are safe.
Ready to keep your family safe? Call 800-973-9001 (or just fill out the form below) to get a free quote today and see how Titan Alarm can help bring you that peace of mind.
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!! … the quotes are free?
You bet they are… and not just for the front door, for all of your doors, windows, thermostat, lights, etc…
