Keep Surplus Keys But Not In Your Pocket
When you’ve moved into a new place and are contemplating the pile of keys you’ve acquired, put the ones that don’t seem to be for anything into a drawer somewhere (unlocked). But make sure that the keys that go in your pocket or purse are the complete set of front door keys. The most likely time to suffer a lockout is during the first two or three days of having moved in.
Apart from coming across intriguingly locked cupboards, mystery keys might operate locks from the inside. If you’ve got a rim lock with a key on the outside and a key on the inside, don’t assume that the outside key also fits the inside lock. If the outside cylinder was ever compromised and changed, its key will no longer operate the inside lock; and hopefully the inside key was kept.
If someone double locks the door as they leave, while you are still on the inside, you’ll be grateful you kept the inside key. You won’t have to yell to passers by from your window, throw them your key and keep your fingers crossed that they don’t just run off with it.
