Emergency Locksmith in Salem, OR

What makes a lock problem urgent in Salem

A lock problem is urgent when someone's safety, or a building's security, is at risk right now. In Salem that usually means one of these:

• Someone shut in or out in extreme weather. Salem has recorded temperatures from 117°F down to −12°F. A person or pet locked in a hot car, or someone locked out overnight in freezing cold, is urgent. When a life is at risk, call 911 first.
• A door that will not lock after a break-in. Call the police before anything else, and keep the door as it is until officers have seen it.
• Fire damage. Oregon's 2020 Labor Day fires burned more than 2,000 structures. A frame that is scorched, split or forced may not hold any lock, and the opening may need securing before the lock is dealt with.
• A threat from someone who still has a key. See the tenant rule below.

Safety first

If you think someone is still inside, do not go in. Wait somewhere safe, such as a neighbor's home or your car, until police arrive. Do not force a door or break glass to get back in.

Renters have a specific option under ORS 90.459. A tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, a bias crime or stalking may request new locks and does not have to provide verification first. The landlord must promptly change them at the tenant's expense or let the tenant do it. If the landlord does not act promptly, the tenant may change them and must give the landlord a key. Where the person responsible is a tenant in the same unit, the tenant must first provide a court order requiring that person to move out. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

1. The address or nearest cross streets, and whether you are in West Salem.
2. What happened: a door that will not lock, a lockout, a broken key.
3. The police report number, if there was a break-in.
4. The door and lock type, with photos if it is safe to take them.

Have photo ID ready that ties you to the property. If you are only locked out, house lockout covers that case, and for a car see car lockout. For local context, see Salem.