Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Help! What do I do? Potentially stolen car key

43 replies

lomplan · 04/03/2024 07:57

Yesterday DS and I arrived home and my hands were full so he unlocked the front door, as he often does. We always put the keys in a little bowl on the stairs. This morning they weren't there.

Quite literally turned the house upside down, can't find them. DS says he definitely put them in the bowl. I had to book a taxi to take DS to breakfast club, and then me to work.

In the taxi, DS sheepishly admits that he left the keys in the front door and had forgotten to take them out. They are 100% not still in the door.

It's obviously completely my fault for not checking, he's only young.

What do I do? I don't want to call the police for no reason. My spare key also won't work for some reason.

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 04/03/2024 07:58

Contact your local dealership for whatever make of car you have for advice?
The police won't be able to do anything.

ChristianHornersGlisteningFinger · 04/03/2024 07:59

Call a locksmith to change the front door lock and ask them what to do about the car key.

Don’t let the car out of your sight until you have a solution.

JustOneFootInFrontOfTheOther · 04/03/2024 08:00

Is the battery gone in the spare key?
You can manually open the door the old fashioned way if it has. You may need to pop off the lock cover though.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
Hiddenvoice · 04/03/2024 08:00

Has the battery died in the spare key?
I would contact the dealership and see if they can help provide a battery for the spare key. Failing that I would block the car in, call AA/ road side assistance to change car locks.

I would also go home and call a locksmith to urgently change the locks to your house. This would be my priority.

heldinadream · 04/03/2024 08:01

Most immediate thing is to secure your house. Tell work it's an emergency, go home, get the locks changed. I think you have to be there, you can't just ask a locksmith to come out to a random house and break the lock, surely?
Worry about the car after that's done. Good luck.

ShirleyPhallus · 04/03/2024 08:02

Why would you call the police?

youll need to call the dealership and get a new key issued and it reprogrammed if it’s keyless entry or a new key if not

and you’ll need to change your locks too, if someone has taken them out your front door they may come back another day to burgle you (sorry)

ChristianHornersGlisteningFinger · 04/03/2024 08:02

Hiddenvoice · 04/03/2024 08:00

Has the battery died in the spare key?
I would contact the dealership and see if they can help provide a battery for the spare key. Failing that I would block the car in, call AA/ road side assistance to change car locks.

I would also go home and call a locksmith to urgently change the locks to your house. This would be my priority.

Blocking in only possible if a neighbour can help her out though.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 04/03/2024 08:03

Has someone perhaps posted them through the letterbox and you just haven't seen them? Do you know your neighbours, has one of them seen the keys last night and taken them out of lock but not posted them through in case you were out?

Hiddenvoice · 04/03/2024 08:07

ChristianHornersGlisteningFinger · 04/03/2024 08:02

Blocking in only possible if a neighbour can help her out though.

Show quote history

Yes it’s an idea I’ve given incase the op has someone who is available to help in the meantime.

Original poster
lomplan · 04/03/2024 08:09

Thank you. My work is looking after children in care and if I leave they will be on their own.

Nobody has posted them and I don't really speak to my neighbours.

I mentioned the police as it seems they have been stolen.

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 04/03/2024 08:13

Your house is insecure and your priority is securing it

Your home and contents insurance is invalid while you fail to do this

heldinadream · 04/03/2024 08:15

You can ring the police but - I could be wrong obviously- I would imagine they would advise you to go home and change the locks as the first action. It's shit but I think you (and your work) might have to suck it up.

HowDoWeDoThisPlease · 04/03/2024 08:16

Eek. I’d be more worried that someone has your front door key, and may have watched you leave for work this morning. You need to ask your management to get someone to cover while you go home and get your locks changed.

Hiddenvoice · 04/03/2024 08:16

You can report it to the police but sadly they may not do anything other than record it.
You are currently at risk of your home insurance being invalid. I know work is important but right now securing your home is a priority.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 04/03/2024 08:19

Your title says car key, but your OP says he left the key in the front door. So this was your car key AND your house key on the one key chain? So someone potentially has keys to your house and car… and you went to work?

Go home. Call a locksmith and get your lock changed. Speak to your son about telling lies. It doesn’t matter that he made a mistake; mistakes happen and that’s fine. The problem is that by lying, you haven’t secured your home and someone could have the keys. If he had just told the truth, you’d have called a locksmith first thing or had someone come over to do it for her while you went to work. He needs to understand that mistakes happen and it’s fine, but it is not at all OK to lie and make the problem so much worse. Why was he so scared to tell you the truth?

Original poster
lomplan · 04/03/2024 08:21

Itslegitimatesalvage · 04/03/2024 08:19

Your title says car key, but your OP says he left the key in the front door. So this was your car key AND your house key on the one key chain? So someone potentially has keys to your house and car… and you went to work?

Go home. Call a locksmith and get your lock changed. Speak to your son about telling lies. It doesn’t matter that he made a mistake; mistakes happen and that’s fine. The problem is that by lying, you haven’t secured your home and someone could have the keys. If he had just told the truth, you’d have called a locksmith first thing or had someone come over to do it for her while you went to work. He needs to understand that mistakes happen and it’s fine, but it is not at all OK to lie and make the problem so much worse. Why was he so scared to tell you the truth?

Because he knew he has caused a gigantic issue? And he is five? Children fib, especially when they have done something wrong?

OP posts:
Kinsters · 04/03/2024 08:23

He might not even have remembered leaving them in the lock but concluded that is what must have happened. Or perhaps took a while to realise. I've spent ages looking for my keys before finding them in the door and it was definitely me that left them there with no memory.

Sorry this is happening OP, what a stress for you. I'd be getting family to help if you really really can't leave work. They must have some provision for emergencies though? Your work I mean.

cocunut · 04/03/2024 08:31

I’m very impressed that your 5 year old has the dexterity to use a front door key! However maybe a lesson to be learnt there OP…

Bumblebeeinatree · 04/03/2024 08:33

Have you looked through his pockets? He might have automatically put them in a jacket or trouser pocket. I've done that before and searched everywhere else!

Itslegitimatesalvage · 04/03/2024 08:35

cocunut · 04/03/2024 08:31

I’m very impressed that your 5 year old has the dexterity to use a front door key! However maybe a lesson to be learnt there OP…

What 5 year old, without any physical issues, struggles to unlock a door? A 5 year old can use a lock. Jeez; my kids could do locks in nursery. The nursery has large padlocks and keys in the sensory play area! (Keys on secured in wires so they couldn’t be swallowed before anyone has a panic).

cocunut · 04/03/2024 08:36

Itslegitimatesalvage · 04/03/2024 08:35

What 5 year old, without any physical issues, struggles to unlock a door? A 5 year old can use a lock. Jeez; my kids could do locks in nursery. The nursery has large padlocks and keys in the sensory play area! (Keys on secured in wires so they couldn’t be swallowed before anyone has a panic).

Show quote history

Not using a lock, opening a front door. The locks are usually high up, plus doors can be heavy. I’m only surprised he could reach the lock, find the right key, and push the door open without any help.

Justleaveitblankthen · 04/03/2024 08:41

What is the entire period of time they could have been taken?
Ask neighbours for CCTV or doorbell footage and, as soon as you can, get a ring doorbell or cctv yourself, as matter of urgency.

Hopefully the thief will be lying low to come back at a later date (or even sell on to someone else? 😬)

Once your door and car locks are changed you can breathe again.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 04/03/2024 08:43

cocunut · 04/03/2024 08:36

Not using a lock, opening a front door. The locks are usually high up, plus doors can be heavy. I’m only surprised he could reach the lock, find the right key, and push the door open without any help.

Show quote history

Locks are on the door handle, which is half way up the door. A 5 year old can reach a door handle, therefore they can reach a lock. We’re not talking about a Yale lock at the top third of the door, obviously. I’ve had 2 kids. Both plenty capable of using the door key to unlock the door at that age (which they did often when I was carrying in the shopping). If a 5 year old cannot put a key in a lock then something isn’t right.

LiverpoolLassie1974 · 04/03/2024 08:43

Also check your home insurance policy as you may have cover for a locksmith and replacement locks.

user1471505356 · 04/03/2024 08:49

Do not panic they will turn up, new car key costs hundreds.