Emergency Locksmith in Saint Paul, MN

What counts as urgent here

Cold sets the standard. NOAA lists Minnesota's record low as 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, set at Tower on February 2, 1996, and Saint Paul winters can be dangerous long before that. A lock problem is urgent when:

• someone is outside in dangerous cold with no way in
• a child, an older adult or a pet is shut inside a home or car and needs help; call 911 first
• an exterior door will not close or lock, leaving the home open
• keys are locked in a car on a signed Night Plow Route or a downtown street, where a Snow Emergency bans parking from 9 p.m.
• a door or lock was damaged in a break-in

A lost key or a lock that sticks but still works is usually a routine job, not an emergency.

After a break-in

Call the police first, and 911 if anyone is in danger. Leave the damaged door as it is until the police have seen it; after that, the door can be secured. Ask for the report number. In a rental, tell the landlord too.

If a landlord has locked you out

Minnesota Statutes section 504B.375 says unlawful exclusion may include removing doors, windows or locks. A tenant can file a verified petition in the county's district court, and if the court finds the removal unlawful it orders that the tenant have possession, an order the county sheriff carries out. Under section 504B.225, intentional unlawful ouster is a misdemeanor. This is general information, not legal advice.

Staying safe and what to send

Wait somewhere warm, such as a neighbor's house or a nearby shop. Do not climb through windows or force a door.

• the address or nearest cross streets, and which door or vehicle
• what happened: lockout, broken key, a door that will not lock or break-in damage
• whether anyone is inside, or waiting outside in the cold
• the police report number, if there was a break-in

Related pages: emergency locksmith, house lockout, car lockout and Saint Paul.