Locked out! Any suggestions?

[PepperminLilly]

Not AIBU but posting here for traffic. I've managed to lock myself out. I have a front door key but went out in a rush and left another key in the lock on the inside. Back door is also locked, no windows open. Any suggestions before I call a lock smith?

🤦‍♀️ Sympathy for you. I've done the same thing before and its so frustrating.

Call a locksmith.

Take a window out

Or a door panel

Locksmith should be able to sort it within 10 mins, possibly less, and should come in at less than £100 - it was £60 when DH did this same thing last year.

Hmmm... I was hoping someone would give me a magic solution that doesn't cost anything!! Thank you anyway.

(I've just phoned my Dad for help 🤣)

Taking a window pane out costs nothing

Train a local cat to go down the chimney

Can you get in next door and through the loft?

If you have a letter box - can you put your arm through and remove the other key? Or use a magnet stick if your dad has one in his tool box. (I have been known to use both these tricks legitimately!)

I did exactly the same. By grabbing cat to open electronic cat flap, I managed to get a stick in and hook the key and pull it out. Wouldn't have worked unless key was straight but I managed to get it out enough that I could then open the door. I never leave key in the door now unless I'm in the house!

See if you can borrow a sturdy coat hanger from a neighbour, reach it through the letterbox and up and over the handle.
I’ve done this in the past and didn’t realise the door was unlocked (because obviously I hadn’t turned the key!) so openable from inside. A Sunday call out to a locksmith will be very expensive, and they’ll just reach something through to yank the handle down!

See if a neighbour or dad has anything you can MacGyver to knock the key out of the inside.
Can the letter box be removed from the outside so you can get your arm in?

*arm or other implement in that should say!

Thank everyone! My lovely neighbour came to my rescue. He used a large stick though the letterbox to push the handle down from the inside. Phew!

I love a happy ending 💓

Lovely neighbour!! Nice to have a good ending. Enjoy your afternoon!

let that remind you to get a cage or security hood for the letterbox.

And to leave a spare key with a friend you trust.

you can get a combination keysafe, but they are not very strong. I have one concealed behind a frame post of an outbuilding. There is a battery lantern hung from the beam so I can find it in the dark.

If it is beside the front door, it is too tempting for an intruder to try to break it open.

So now you know how a burglar would get in! Always fun breaking into your own house but sometimes scary at how easy it can be.

I had a key (from the key safe) but the other key was in the lock on the inside. No idea why I did that, I think I put the key in to unlock the door to go out and forgot to take it out again as I was rushing 🙄

You should probably swap out the lock for one that doesn't do that!

Also protect against the stick thing. Cage over the letterbox inside?

My DM once locked herself out and had to smash a glass pane in back door.

Replaced at vast expense (OK< possibly a slight exaggeration, but at some cost anyway).

Two weeks later, she did it again.