Emergency Locksmith in Athens, GA

Safety first, then the lock

Some situations are police or fire matters before they are lock matters. If you think a break-in is under way or someone may still be inside, leave and call 911 first. If a child or a pet is locked in a car, or anyone inside a home may be hurt, call 911 first as well. Once police have cleared the scene, the lock can be dealt with.

What counts as urgent in Athens

• Summer heat. NOAA describes Georgia's summers as long, hot and humid, so being shut out with a child, a pet or a person who is unwell is urgent at once.
• Storm damage. NOAA notes that tropical storm remnants can bring heavy rain and strong winds to Georgia. A door that no longer latches cannot secure a home or storefront.
• After a break-in. A forced door or cylinder may not lock even after police leave. A police report number helps.
• A car in a campus lot. UGA asks drivers to clear most campus lots by 5:00 a.m. on home football Saturdays, so a locked-out car there is on a deadline. Give the lot number.

Rules in a declared emergency

Georgia's law at O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.4 limits increases in what goods and services cost, but only during a state of emergency declared by the Governor and only for what the declaration names. Increases must track higher costs to the seller, including transport into the area, or stay within cost plus the average markup from the 10 days before the declaration. The Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about businesses that acted in an unfair, deceptive or unlawful way, and it suggests resolving a problem with the business directly first. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

• Say plainly that it is urgent and why.
• The address and cross street, or for a car the block, deck or lot.
• Whether police have been called, and the report number.
• Whether anyone is inside and may be at risk.
• The door type and the damage you can see, with photos if it is safe.

Even in a hurry, get the total in writing before work starts and keep the receipt. See also house lockout, car lockout, emergency locksmith and the Athens page.