Emergency Locksmith in Alexandria, VA

Safety comes first

Some situations call for 911, not a locksmith. Call 911 first if a child, a pet or anyone vulnerable is shut in a car or home, if someone inside needs help, or if an intruder may still be inside.

After a break-in, call the police before touching the door. Let them see the damage, take your own photos and note the report number. Securing the door comes after that.

What counts as urgent here

• A door that won't secure. A split frame, a bolt that no longer throws or a lock pulled loose, especially as night falls.
• Exposure. Being locked out with an infant, an older relative or someone whose medication is inside is more pressing on a hot afternoon or a cold night.
• A car on a snow emergency route. Once a snow emergency is declared, a car left on a signed route such as Braddock Road or Howard Street may be towed, with the owner paying. The car lockout page lists the routes.
• A rented home. About 56.8 percent of Alexandria's occupied homes are rented, so tell the landlord or building manager about a door that will not secure, and note when you did.
• A business that can't be locked at closing time.

Gouging rules during a declared emergency

Virginia's post-disaster gouging law applies once the Governor or the President declares a state of emergency. Va. Code § 59.1-527 bars unconscionable charges for necessary goods and services in the declared area during the time of disaster, which § 59.1-526 defines as the emergency or 30 days after the disaster, whichever is longer. Complaints go to the Consumer Protection Section of the Office of the Attorney General, which has a separate form for gouging. Ask for the total in writing before work starts. This is general information, not legal advice.

Details that help

Say whether anyone is at risk and whether police have been called, which door or vehicle is affected and what is wrong with it, the location by street and cross street, and whether a landlord or building manager controls the lock. Virginia Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Alexandria.