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Emergency · Texas Locksmith Pros

Emergency Locksmith in Houston, TX

Emergency lock problems in Houston: what is urgent after a break-in, a Gulf storm or a hard freeze, when to call police or 911 first, and what to send.

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If it's urgent

What to tell us

Urgent lockout and lock help for homes, vehicles, and businesses, starting with a clear conversation about what is possible.

  • Your exact location and a phone number where you can be reached
  • A short description of what happened
  • Photo ID and proof of residence, ownership, or authorization, or tell us if they are locked inside

If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.

Emergency Locksmith in Texas

Houston notes

Updated 5 sources

What counts as urgent in Houston

  • A door that will not lock after a break-in. Call the police first, and 911 if someone may still be inside. Securing the door comes after officers are done.
  • Storm damage. Gulf storms such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017 bring floodwater, which can force a door open or fill a lock with silt. Either can leave a home unsecured.
  • Dangerous cold. On February 16, 2021, the National Weather Service recorded 13°F in Houston. A lockout in a hard freeze is a safety problem, not an inconvenience.
  • Someone trapped. If a person or pet cannot get out of a car or room and is at risk, call 911 before anyone else.

A sticky lock or a missing spare key can usually wait for a planned visit.

After a break-in

Photograph the door, frame and lock before anything is repaired, and keep the police report number for insurance. If you rent, report it to your landlord in writing. Section 92.161 of the Texas Property Code presumes that seven days is a reasonable time for a landlord to respond, or 72 hours when a tenant reports an unauthorized entry or an attempt at the unit.

Charges during a declared disaster

Texas has a special rule for these periods. While a disaster declared by the governor or the president is in effect, and until 30 days after it ends, sections 17.46(b)(27) and 17.4625 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code treat exorbitant or excessive charges for necessities as a deceptive trade practice. The list runs from fuel, food and medicine to lodging, building materials and construction tools, and ends with another necessity. Whether it reaches a given service is a legal question. Ask for the total cost in writing before work begins and keep the invoice. The Office of the Texas Attorney General takes consumer complaints through online forms. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

  • the address or cross streets, and which door, gate or vehicle is affected
  • what happened: break-in, storm damage, lost keys or a failed lock
  • whether the door closes and latches at all
  • photos of the damage, and the police report number if there is one

See emergency locksmith, lock repair for storm-damaged hardware, and the Houston page.

Sources

Public records and references this page draws on. They are outside USA Locksmith Pros and open in a new tab.

  1. NOAA NCICS State Climate Summaries 2022, Texasstatesummaries.ncics.org (external site, opens in a new tab)
  2. National Weather Service Houston/Galveston, Valentine's Week Winter Outbreak 2021weather.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
  3. Texas Property Code Chapter 92, Residential Tenancies (Texas Legislative Council)tcss.legis.texas.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
  4. Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices (Texas Legislative Council)tcss.legis.texas.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
  5. Office of the Texas Attorney General, File a Consumer Complainttexasattorneygeneral.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
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