If you are locked out, check every door you are allowed to use, call your super if you have one, and then call a locksmith with your exact address.
Nobody plans a lockout. It happens when you take out the trash, step into the hall for a package, or come home late and reach for keys that are still on the kitchen table. Here is what we tell people who call us from a stoop or a hallway around Gramercy.
What should I check before calling anyone?
Try every door you have a right to use: the back door, a side entrance, a terrace door. If you live with someone, call them. If a neighbor or family member holds a spare key, now is the time to use it. Do not climb onto a fire escape or try a window you cannot reach safely. A lockout is a bad day, and a fall is much worse.
Should I call my super or my landlord?
If your building has a super or a doorman, call them first. Many co-ops and rental buildings keep a key for each apartment, and they may be able to let you in. If they cannot, or you live in a townhouse or a walk-up without staff, call a locksmith.
What should I tell the locksmith?
- Your exact address, including the apartment number and the cross street.
- Which door you are locked out of: the building door, the apartment door, or both.
- What kind of lock is on it, if you know. A deadbolt, a knob lock, or an old mortise lock.
- Whether a key broke off inside the lock.
- A photo of the lock, if you can take one through a text.
That information helps the locksmith bring the right tools and parts. If you are standing outside at night, wait somewhere lit and tell them where to find you.
What happens when the locksmith gets there?
A good locksmith asks for ID or another way to show the place is yours. It is there for your sake as much as anyone, so have it ready or ask your super to vouch for you. Then they open the door, starting with the gentlest method and only drilling when nothing else works. If the lock has to come out, they should tell you first and offer to replace it.
How do I avoid the next lockout?
- Leave a spare key with someone you can reach any time.
- Make a habit of touching your keys before you close the door behind you.
- If your door locks itself when it closes, think about a lock that does not.
- If keys are missing, rekey the lock so the old ones stop working.
Who do I call in Gramercy?
Gramercy Locksmith & Security is based at 317 E 14th St. We have no walk-in shop, and we come to you. The phone line is open 24/7. Call (914) 444-0959 or text a photo of the lock, and we tell you what it needs before any work starts.