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Locked out of your house: safe response

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

Being locked out of your home is frustrating, but taking dangerous risks like climbing roofs or breaking double-pane glass can result in severe falls or deep lacerations.

Do this now

  1. Stay calm and check all exterior entry doors, garage side doors, and ground-floor windows.
  2. Check if a trusted family member, neighbor, or landlord has a spare key.
  3. Call a verified, licensed locksmith.
  4. If a child, infant, or vulnerable person is locked inside with stove or water hazards present: call your local emergency number (911) immediately.
  5. Wait in a well-lit, safe area or at a neighbor's home.

Safe steps before calling a locksmith

  • Check secondary doors: Patio sliding doors, basement doors, or attached garage access doors are often forgotten.
  • Check low-level windows: See if any ground-floor window latch is unlocked. Push up gently on the sash rather than forcing it.
  • Contact your landlord or property manager: Rental agencies often maintain master keys and can assist faster than a locksmith.

What NOT to do when locked out

  • Do not climb to upper-story windows: Falling from a second-story window or roof causes severe spinal cord injuries, fractures, and fatalities.
  • Do not break glass with bare hands: Punching or kicking glass windows causes arterial bleeding wounds. If you must break glass in an extreme emergency, use a heavy tool and wear thick leather gloves.
  • Do not force credit cards into deadbolts: Modern deadbolts cannot be opened with plastic cards, and forcing them damages door frames.

Preventing future lockouts

  • Hide a spare key in a secure combination lockbox attached to a discreet outdoor fixture.
  • Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby relative.
  • Install a smart keypad deadbolt that opens with a digital code or smartphone app.

... note "Locksmith verification" Verify that locksmiths are licensed and insured in your state or municipality. Request a clear price estimate before work begins.