Car thefts are a common concern. Research suggests that cars are stolen every 6.5 minutes in the United States.
Having a roadside assistance plan that includes lockout service is a smart move. These services are available 24/7 and will help you work your way back into your car without doing damage to your vehicle or exposing you to criminals.
Keep Your Keys in a Safe Place
Whether it’s on a keychain or attached to your belt loop, keeping your keys somewhere you can easily find them decreases the risk of locking them inside your vehicle. It also establishes a habit of always having your keys on hand, making it less likely to forget them in the car or at home.
A simple way to avoid this is to place your keys in a lockable safe or other secure location. This will keep them away from prying eyes and reduce the likelihood that you’ll accidentally leave them behind, or worse, have them stolen.
If you can’t avoid leaving your car keys in a visible spot, invest in a steering wheel lock or an immobilizer. These devices will stop thieves from starting your car even if they have the key fob, and can be very effective.
Another way to prevent this is to use a “lockout protection” feature on your vehicle. These systems, which are available on many newer vehicles, will automatically lock your door if you accidentally press the unlock button on your key fob while it’s in the vehicle. This is a great way to prevent accidental vehicle thefts and avoid expensive vehicle lockout service bills.
Lastly, it’s essential to be vigilant and always keep an eye out for suspicious behavior around your neighborhood. If you see people acting oddly or a vehicle that’s being moved, call the police. They may be able to help you locate your lost or stolen car, and can also alert them to any other crimes taking place in the area.
Car thieves are getting smarter every day, and you need to be just as savvy in order to prevent them from stealing your vehicle. It’s important to store your vehicle in a safe place, such as a garage or a gated and secure parking lot. If you must park on the street, consider a CCTV camera or motion detector lighting to deter criminals from targeting your vehicle. You should also inform your insurer if you’re parking on the road to make sure that your insurance premiums reflect this.
Keep Your Car in a Well-Lit Area
Whether you have been in a car lockout because you lost your keys or you locked them inside the vehicle, this can be an extremely stressful experience. Car lockouts always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times, but they are preventable with a little planning and common sense.
If you are in a car lockout, your best bet is to call a locksmith or roadside assistance service. These will help you gain access to your vehicle without causing any damage to the vehicle or its locks. In many areas, locksmiths offer 24-hour service and can be called for a variety of tasks including repairs and replacements. Some auto insurance providers also provide emergency roadside assistance that may include a free car lockout service.
Another option is to purchase a key fob from the manufacturer of your vehicle. This will allow you to unlock the car using a phone app, eliminating the need for a physical key. You can usually find these for sale at dealerships or through third-party companies.
It is also a good idea to keep a spare key somewhere safe. This can be in the form of a magnetic key holder attached to your car or even a hidden spare in a lockbox near the front of the vehicle. Some newer vehicles are equipped with door keypad entry, so you can use this to get in the vehicle if you have misplaced your keys or they’ve been stolen.
Finally, you can try using a piece of string to fashion a probe tool to manipulate the lock. However, this method can be a bit dangerous as it involves breaking the glass window to reach the lock. Additionally, it can be difficult to get the length of string needed to properly probe the lock. If you are going to try this, make sure you use a wire coat hanger rather than a wooden stick or plastic-based object.
You can also try to trick the locking mechanism into releasing. A simple trick is to move the lock to its highest position and then work the end of a long piece of string between the frame of the car and its weather stripping. Once you have the string in this position, push and pull in a back-and-forth motion to attempt to fit it over the lock and open the door.
Don’t Leave Your Car in Unsecured Areas
A car lockout can be a frightening experience. Thankfully, there are some preventative steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting locked out.
One of the best ways to prevent a car lockout is to have a spare key made. You can keep the spare key in a safe place like your house, or even your car, so you will have access to your vehicle should you accidentally leave the keys inside. However, you should be careful where you store the spare key, as you don’t want to make it too easy for a criminal to break into your car.
Another way to avoid a car lockout is to have specialized tools on hand, such as an inflatable wedge kit. This kit creates a space between the door and jamb, making it easier to insert tools without causing unnecessary damage. Having these tools on hand can also save you money as you will not need to pay for an emergency service call.
Additionally, you should try to keep your car keys on a lanyard or in your pocket at all times. This will prevent them from being lost or stolen.
Finally, you should always have a cell phone handy in case of an emergency. This will allow you to contact a nearby emergency service or a locksmith. If you have a roadside assistance plan, this can come in handy as well. Many of these services offer a fast response, and they can help you regain access to your vehicle quickly.
If you are in a hurry and do not have access to a cell phone, it is a good idea to call the police. In most areas, the police will be able to help you regain access to your car within a reasonable amount of time. They may not be able to unlock your car’s doors, but they will be able to provide you with a safe shelter and assist you in contacting an emergency service provider.
In addition, you can try to open your car’s door using a coat hanger or other tool. But remember that this can cause unnecessary damage to the car’s locking system and body, which can result in hundreds of dollars in repair bills.
Avoid Stolen Vehicles
Many modern cars come with sophisticated locking mechanisms that require expert services to understand and operate. The average car owner might not be able to figure out how these complex security systems work, but the team at All Hour Locksmith is ready to assist with a range of solutions that will ensure the security of your vehicle.
Smart keys offer a number of conveniences for drivers, including the ability to lock and unlock a vehicle from a distance. However, these devices can also leave vehicles vulnerable to theft if the driver loses or accidentally locks their smart key inside the car. Some thieves use techniques like signal amplification and relaying, code grabbing, and radio-frequency jamming to bypass the security features of a car, allowing them to start and drive away with it.
To keep these security issues at bay, drivers should always take the time to read their car’s manual and check for any potential vulnerabilities. They should also make sure that their key fobs are updated regularly and that their batteries are in good condition. If they aren’t, drivers should change the batteries as soon as possible. Additionally, they should keep their spare keys in a secure location that is difficult for criminals to access.
Some drivers choose to buy a steering wheel lock that is difficult to remove, while others invest in anti-theft bags for their vehicles. These pouches are designed to prevent thieves from using their smart phones to hack into a driver’s car app and unlock the door remotely.
Finally, drivers should consider getting a roadside assistance plan from their auto insurance provider. This can include locksmith and towing service, which may be reimbursed if the driver gets locked out of their car.
Ultimately, avoiding getting stuck out of your car is a matter of taking the right precautions. You should always keep your spare keys in a safe place and ensure that they are kept up-to-date with the latest software updates. Drivers should also report any suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood to the local police, which can deter criminals from targeting a vehicle.