Locked yourself out of the
house? It’s not unheard of and – here at NLS Security – we’ve had our fair
share of dealing with lockouts in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.
A lockout can pose a serious
problem, especially if you don’t have a spare key and have little ones inside
who need your help. Sure, you could try and break the lock yourself by kicking
the door down or smash a window so you can turn the lock from the inside, but
you risk causing unnecessary (and costly!) damage to your door and lock – not
to mention yourself.
So, what should you do if you
lock yourself out of the house?
Here we take a look at 3 steps
you can take to get back into your property quickly – ensuring minimal damage:
1.
Check
for unlocked windows or doors
Although open windows and
unlocked doors are invitations to invaders and can compromise your security,
they can get you out of a tough situation when you’ve accidentally locked
yourself out.
So, before you start
panicking, it’s worth checking all the entrances to your home. You may find
that the kitchen window is open and you’ll be able to shimmy through, or
perhaps you had unintentionally left the back door unlocked. If you’re entering
via the window, be careful. There’s a good chance you’ll be off-balance when
you land, so make sure you keep an eye out for furniture that’s stable enough
to support you on the way down – and be mindful of sharp table corners and
expensive TVs!
2.
Call
for help
Ask yourself if there is
anyone who could come and let you in. We’re talking friends or family? A roommate
or neighbour?
If you rent your house, try
reaching out to your landlord as the chances are they will have a copy of your
house key and might be able to come to your rescue.
Alternatively, if you live in
an apartment complex, it’s worth calling in at the manager’s office and asking
if they can help you. But we must warn you that they may charge a lockout fee
and you will need to provide some form of ID and evidence that you live in the
complex.
3.
Call a
locksmith
Ok, so calling for a locksmith
in Newcastle isn’t the cheapest option, but they know all the tricks of the
trade and will be able to open your doors without damaging the door or lock.
You can find out more about the cost of a locksmith in our blog ‘ How much do
locksmiths charge?
’.
If you’re locked out without a
key – either because you’ve lost it or you forget to pick it up on your way out
to work – or you’re stranded outside your house late at night or in the early
hours of the morning, you will need a 24-hour emergency locksmith. Luckily, we
provide a 24-hour emergency call-out service at NLS Security and can send one
of our Newcastle locksmiths in your moment of need.
The time it takes to unlock
your door depends on the type of lock you have fitted (e.g. a basic euro
cylinder won’t take as long as a high-security anti-snap lock which will require
specialist tools). But our MLA (Master Locksmith Association) approved
locksmiths will do their utmost to resolve the problem – allowing you to
re-enter your property with as little inconvenience as possible.
For more information about our locksmith services
,
or to employ the expertise of a locksmith in Newcastle, call 0191 238 6000 and
we will be more than happy to help.
