Lost your keys in Paris? 5 things to do right away

Lost keys are one of the most common emergencies in Paris: a key ring slipping out of a pocket on the metro, a bag left on a terrace, a borrowed jacket. Here is what to do, in order.

1. Calmly retrace your steps

Call the last places you visited (café, office, gym). The Paris Police Lost Property Office (Préfecture de police) also centralizes items handed in on public transport and in the street, and can be searched online.

2. Look for a spare key

• A relative or a trusted neighbor?
• The building caretaker (gardien)?
• Your letting agency or landlord?

3. Assess the risk

If your keys were with a document showing your address (ID card, mail, car registration), assume a stranger could get in: changing the cylinder becomes the priority. With no address attached, the risk is lower, but a replacement is still advisable if you have any doubt.

4. Get your door opened without damage

If the door is only slammed shut, a locksmith opens it in a few minutes without damaging the lock. If it is double-locked, opening without damage is often still possible, and the cylinder can be replaced straight away. At Secure Locksmith Paris, the price is given on the phone before we travel.

5. Tell your insurer

Some policies cover lost or stolen keys. Keep the detailed invoice and, in case of theft, the police report.