The key is missing, but it’s unclear whether it’s at home or lost on the street
Let's call the client Olga. In the morning she could not find one of the keys to the apartment. Usually it was in the same place, but this time there was…
The client's name and specific details of the situation have been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Let's call the client Olga. In the morning she could not find one of the keys to the apartment. Usually it was in the same place, but this time there was no key.
Olga checked her bag, pockets, car and apartment. Nothing. However, she could not understand what exactly happened:
“Maybe I just put it somewhere in the house. Or maybe she lost it on the street yesterday. Do I need to change the lock because of this?
This is one of the most unpleasant situations precisely because of the uncertainty.
Lost key and temporarily forgotten key are not the same thing
If you know for sure that the key is at home, there is no risk of losing access control. But if it is impossible to determine where it is, the situation changes.
The key could potentially be:
- in the apartment;
- in the car;
- in the office;
- in the store;
- on the street;
- in public transport;
- from another person.
The main problem is not the fact that the key is missing, but the inability to understand who could potentially find it.
Do I need to change the lock immediately?
There is no universal answer. There are several factors to consider:
- is there address information on the keys;
- could the keys be lost near the house;
- is there a keychain with the apartment number;
- are the documents lost along with the key?
- how quickly you can check probable locations;
- is there a spare key?
If the key cannot be associated with a specific apartment, the risk is usually lower. If there is an address or documents next to it, the situation becomes more serious.
What to do if the key is found in a day?
This is quite possible. Therefore, some owners first check all possible places. Others prefer to immediately restore full access control. Both approaches may be reasonable depending on the circumstances.
Is it possible to replace just the cylinder?
If a regular cylinder lock is installed, often yes. This allows you to get a new set of keys without completely replacing the lock.