Locked Out in Washington? Here's What to Do Right Now

You're Locked Out. Here's the Plan.

getting back to your apartment in Seattle's Capitol Hill after a rainy November Sounders match. No keys. Before you do anything else, read this.

DO These Things (In This Order)

1. Stay calm. You're not the first person this has happened to in Washington. It's one of the most common locksmith calls.
2. Check other entry points. Back door, garage, ground-floor window. Don't force anything — broken glass is worse than a locksmith call.
3. Call someone with a spare key. Roommate, family member, landlord, building manager. In Seattle apartment buildings, the front desk or manager often has a master key.
4. Call (253) 323-7240. Our 24/7 dispatcher takes your location and routes a locksmith to you. Have your address or nearest cross-street ready — Seattle's Ballard, Tacoma's Proctor District, Bellingham's Fairhaven neighbourhood are the kind of landmarks that help.
5. Get your ID out. The locksmith will ask for proof of residence. A driver's licence, lease, or utility bill works. If a locksmith doesn't ask for ID, that's a red flag.

DON'T Do These Things

• Don't kick the door. You'll crack the frame or the lock — or both. A $100 lockout becomes a $300+ repair.
• Don't drill the lock yourself. You'll destroy it and still need a locksmith to install a new one.
• Don't try the credit card trick. It only works on spring latches in movies. Deadbolts can't be bypassed with a card.
• Don't pick it yourself with a paperclip. You'll jam the pins and make the locksmith's job harder (and more expensive).
• Don't break a car window. Dangerous, expensive, and leaves your car unsecured. A locksmith can unlock your car door in minutes with no damage.
• Don't call a random number from Google without checking. Locksmith scams exist. Use a dispatch service that vets its locksmiths.

Car Lockouts in Washington

Keys locked in the car is the other big one — and it's common in Washington parking lots, especially when months of drizzle that rusts exterior locks and cold snaps east of the Cascades that freeze cylinders. Here's what to do:

• Make sure you're safe. If you're at a roadside in Spokane, move to a safe spot. Don't stand in traffic.
• Check for a spare. At home? With a family member? In a magnetic lockbox?
• Check your insurance. Some auto policies and roadside assistance plans cover lockout service.
• Call (253) 323-7240. Tell the dispatcher your vehicle make and model. Car lockouts are usually the fastest locksmith job — 10 minutes and you're in.

How a Locksmith Opens Your Lock (Without Breaking It)

Professional locksmiths in Washington use several non-destructive methods:

• Lock picking — tension wrench and picks manipulate the pin tumblers open
• Bump keys — a specially cut key that briefly sets all pins (works on many residential locks)
• Auto entry tools — air wedges and long-reach tools that unlock car doors without touching the lock

Drilling is only used when a lock is damaged or is a high-security type that can't be picked. If drilling is needed, the locksmith replaces the lock on the spot so your property stays secure.

Cities We Serve in Washington

Lockout Questions