Emergency Locksmith in Harrisburg, PA

What can count as urgent in Harrisburg

Emergency locksmith requests are about safety and security more than convenience. Situations that can be urgent:

• Locked out in winter cold with nowhere warm to wait, or with a child, an older person or a pet involved. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For an ordinary lockout, see house lockout.
• A child or pet locked in a car. Call 911 and do not wait for a locksmith.
• An exterior door that will not lock after a break-in, a lock failure or storm damage.
• Locks after a flood. NOAA's Pennsylvania climate summary lists catastrophic floods from Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972 and from the remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Shipoke sits south of downtown along the Susquehanna; in any neighborhood, once it is safe to return, have locks that sat in floodwater checked for corrosion.

A lock that still works but sticks is a lock repair job.

After a break-in

1. Call the police, and call 911 if someone may still be inside. Wait somewhere safe until police say the home is clear.
2. Leave the damaged door and lock as they are until police have seen them, and photograph the damage for your records and any claim.
3. Then secure the opening. The city's design guidelines name a secure jamb and casing as part of a safe entry, and a forced door often needs jamb and strike repair, not only a new lock.

Harrisburg limits how long a boarded opening can stay that way. Under amended § 108.2.2 of the property maintenance code (Chapter 8-107), a door or window visible from a public right-of-way may not be covered with plywood, metal or other unapproved material for more than 60 days. Amended § 108.2.3 requires restoration with properly fitting frames, hardware, locks and glazing. This is general information, not legal advice.

Details for an urgent request

• Whether you are safe now, and whether anyone is inside or at risk
• The neighborhood or cross streets, and what kind of building it is
• What happened and which door or lock is affected, with photos
• Whether police have been called, and the report number if you have one