I've lost the only key...

[Inrealtroublenow]

To the laptop cabinet in the office. All our laptops are stored in there. Feel sick at having to admit that to boss tomorrow. Looked everywhere in office/ home/ coat/ bag. I was the only one in yesterday and today so it's definitely me and not anyone else. Was told when I started (relatively recently) to protect key with my life because it's the only copy.

turnups of trousers.

if it has one of thoose really flimsy metal rings, has it caught on anything fabric

ring school and ask if you have left it there.

try under your kids car seat and around his seat and around where you loaded him into the car. (outside)

Might be too modern a cabinet, but you used to be able to tip them backwards and push the locking rod open from underneath.

Actually with a filing cabinet it's easy to pick the lock. A thin bladed knife could do it. You Tube is full of videos.

You should explain to your boss how insecure the filing cabinet it. Much better to get staff to lock lap tops in the desk drawer instead of having them all in one place. Data should be stored on a cloud so the loss of a laptop does not mean a loss of data. And get them insured.

Agree that it was bloody stupid of your boss to not get a spare key. That means they've already lost at least one and it was only a matter of time before the last one was lost. They could have got a replacement cut for a few quid.

Why the hell do you only have one key for such an important cupboard?

If it's a Triumph or Silverline cupboard they are pretty easy to pull open and you can bend the bar back into place when you have a new key. Or a crowbar should do it.

You can order new keys, for £2-3 each - I suggest you order a few.

If you have a Property Services/Facilities Management type team they will probably have a master key.

(I know a fair bit about cupboards! ).

Yes, 1 key had already been lost before I started which is why I was told to be so careful with second key. Why no one thought to copy it I will never know!

Sorry it doesn't help you now, but this is why I invested in AirTags for my keys. The reduced stress and frazzle is well worth the cost. There's other non-Apple alternatives, like Tile.

I never used to lose things, but menopause...

Also, office cupboards only have a certain number of locks - there are often duplicates.
Have a look at the number on the lock, and see if there's another cupboard or locker bank, or set of filing drawers from the same manufacturer. It may well have the same key!

Check pocket and bag linings and pray to St. Anthony.

@Inrealtroublenow

To the laptop cabinet in the office. All our laptops are stored in there. Feel sick at having to admit that to boss tomorrow. Looked everywhere in office/ home/ coat/ bag. I was the only one in yesterday and today so it's definitely me and not anyone else. Was told when I started (relatively recently) to protect key with my life because it's the only copy.

Can you retrace in your mind/physically EXACTLY what you did in your locking up/going home sequence. I once put the car keys in the fridge because I want concentrating, had baby brain. Retracing what I did meant I found them.

I feel your pain . You are human . It was a mistake . You won’t lose your job . Quite simply worst case they will get a locksmith to open the cabinet . Then they will get a new lock with several keys .

It is honestly all going to be ok . I remember situations like this and making myself feel ill . Honestly, you will be and this time next week this will be something you laugh about .

Did it have a keyring ? I've seen keys chained to 10cm square pieces of wood now, as they got "put down" too easily.

A decent office furniture suppliers should be able to source a key - my last job they managed to lose all the keys to a row of cupboards and a local firm opened them in a minute.

I've picked the lock on a comms cabinet before now ...

as PP^^ put
go through your leaving routine in your head or even in the building
exactly as you did it, something may jog your memory

@girlmom21

OP you might have left the key in the cabinet and someone else could've locked it. Don't panic. Anyone might have it.

That's what I was thinking. When you were flapping about your DC, it's possible you left your laptop out and the key with it, or in the lock. Someone else would have thought they needed to put your laptop away and secure the cabinet.

when you put laptop into cupboard before picking up your son is the last time you had key.

So try checking everywhere you can think of by the cupboard. Behind it, on top, round the floor etc. Then try and trace all of your steps from there onwards.

Good luck !!!

@Inrealtroublenow

I'm just wondering if it's something I could lose my job for. My boss seems lovely. It's just such a stupid mistake.

Oh bless you. No I cant think why you'd lose your job over this. I've done worse, and still got my job. It wont be hundreds for locksmith. And as there was only one key that was always going to go missing one day it's down to the company to pay. Can you put up a picture of ths lock and we can sleuth out a key.

Do you have a maintenance Dept? They’d be able to get it open. It’s not a safe after all

Did you have trousers on? Maybe it's fell out of the pocket onto toilet floor or car. I once almost lost my engagement ring because it was too small and I couldn't get it on my finger. Put it on my pocket and forgot then went to loo and it dropped out. Didn't realise until back at my desk and remarkably it was on the floor between two cubicles.

@girlmom21

OP you might have left the key in the cabinet and someone else could've locked it. Don't panic. Anyone might have it.

This - someone may have found the cabinet unlocked and have the key. Please don’t panic. At least everything is locked away!

I lost an important set of documents that had been lent to me. I had been asked to take care as they werent replaceable. I searched everyday for weeks then on the day I was going to confess, I was told to say a prayer to St Anthony. I did this and as I walked through a room at work I spotted the folder.
Im not a believer well, I wasnt!!
Hope you find it soon.

Seriously they are complete fucking idiots for hobbling along with a single key and treating like it's some kind of holy relic instead of getting a couple more cut. What on earth were they thinking?

NOT YOUR FAULT OP!

NRTFT isn’t there a MNer that can apparently find lost things. Not sure of their username but you don’t lose anything by giving it a shot.

Is it possible that in the panic you left your laptop out, someone else came into the office, saw it, locked it away and pocketed the key?

You can buy keys! I bet you can get a copy on Amazon. I kid you not. Does the lock have anything on it?

Check the bin, every time I lose my keys I find them in the bin when I’ve obviously had them in my hand when I quickly tidied up and threw some rubbish in the bin.