Keys Stolen With Your ID Or Address? What To Do In The First Hour
If your keys were stolen along with your ID or address, rekey the locks the same day: $95 to $185 for the first door and $45 to $85 for each door after. Then change garage and gate codes, tell your landlord if you rent, file a police report, and deal with any car key on the ring. Whoever holds those keys knows where they fit.
This is one of the more stressful lock situations, because the keys and the address are in the same hands. The fix is quick and cheap compared with the risk, and the order of steps matters. For the service, see rekey locks in Kenner.
What should you do in the first hour?
- Get somewhere safe first. Nothing on this list matters more than that.
- File a police report. You will usually need it for any insurance or ID replacement.
- Rekey the locks the same day. A rekey cancels every old key without changing your hardware.
- Change any codes: garage keypad, gate and smart-lock codes.
- Sort the car key. A lost car key can usually be removed from the vehicle’s memory so it stops working.
- Tell your landlord or property manager if you rent, since the locks may be theirs.
What does it cost to secure everything?
| What to secure | Published price |
|---|---|
| Rekey, first door | $95–$185 |
| Rekey, each additional door | $45–$85 |
| Restricted keyway (stops unauthorised copies) | $125–$245 per cylinder |
| Replacement car key, transponder | $125–$250 |
| Replacement car key, smart key | $200–$400 |
For a five-lock house, rekeying everything is about $275 to $525, as how much it costs to change all the locks on a house works out. Ask for the after-hours rate before we travel if you need it outside daytime hours.
Should you rekey or replace?
Rekey if the locks still work, because it cancels the stolen keys just as completely. Replace only worn or damaged hardware, see rekey vs replace locks. If you are locked out in the meantime, what ID you need for a house lockout explains what to have ready, and lost house key covers the simpler case.
What about the car?
If a car key was on the ring, see spare car key and key fob replacement. Removing the lost key from the car’s memory is part of the job where the vehicle allows it.
What if you rent?
Tell your landlord straight away and agree who pays and who does the work. Locksmith for renters in Kenner explains how that usually goes. For urgent cases, see emergency locksmith in Kenner.
Quick answers
Should I change my locks if my keys were stolen?
Yes, the same day. A rekey cancels every old key.
How much does it cost to rekey after stolen keys?
$95 to $185 for the first door and $45 to $85 for each door after.
Do I need to replace the locks or can I rekey?
Rekey if the locks work. It cancels stolen keys as completely as replacement and costs less.
What about my car key and garage remote?
Have the car key removed from the vehicle’s memory where possible, and change garage and gate codes.