Keys Stolen? What to Do Next

Lockouts & Emergencies November 2026 Just In Time Locksmith, Albuquerque, NM

First, Figure Out What the Thief Can Find

The keys themselves are rarely the whole problem. What matters is what was with them. Before you do anything else, take two minutes and list what was in the bag, car or pocket that was taken:

• Anything with your address. A driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance card, mail, a pharmacy bag or a garage door opener all tell a stranger where your keys work.
• Your car. If the car key or fob was on the ring and the car was parked nearby, the car itself is at risk.
• Other keys. Work keys, a mailbox key, a relative’s spare, a storage unit or a rental you manage.

If nothing on that list connects the keys to a place, the risk is lower and you can work through this calmly. If your license or registration was taken with them, assume the thief knows your address and move the house to the top of the list.

Step 1: File a Police Report

Report the theft to the Albuquerque Police Department (or the Bernalillo County Sheriff, Rio Rancho police, or whoever covers where it happened). Many property theft reports can be filed online, or you can call the non-emergency line, 242-COPS (505-242-2677) in Albuquerque. If a break-in is happening or someone is trying your door, that is a 911 call, not a report.

Keep the report number. Renter’s and homeowner’s policies, car insurance, and some employers ask for it before they will cover rekeying or a replacement key.

Step 2: Secure the House

If the thief can tie the keys to your address, the house is the priority, and the fix is usually rekeying, not new locks.

Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing locks so they work with a new key and stop working with every old one, including the stolen copy. Your hardware stays on the door. It costs much less than replacing every lock and it is usually done in a single visit. We break down when each makes sense in rekey or replace your locks.

A few things people miss:

• Every exterior door that shares the key. Front, back, garage entry, side gate, casita. If one key opens it, rekey it.
• The garage door opener. A stolen remote opens the garage no matter what you do to the locks. Clear the remotes from the opener (most have a “learn” button that wipes them) and re-pair the ones you still have.
• Keypad codes. If a code was written down anywhere in the bag, change it.
• Tonight, if you cannot get it done today. Use the deadbolt and any chain or bar lock from inside, and make sure sliding doors are blocked. Our sliding door guide covers the cheap fixes.

Step 3: Deal With the Car

Modern car keys and fobs carry a chip that the car checks before it will start. That is good news and bad news. The good news is that a copied metal blade alone will not start most cars built in the last twenty years. The bad news is that the stolen key is a real, working key until something is done about it.

There are two separate jobs here:

• Get yourself a working key. If you have a spare, you can keep driving. If you do not, a new key can be cut and programmed on the spot for many makes, without towing the car to a dealer. Our lost key, no spare guide walks through what we need from you.
• Make the stolen key useless. On most cars the keys the car will accept are stored in its computer. When new keys are programmed, the old ones can often be removed from that list, so the stolen key stops starting the car even if the thief finds it. Whether that is possible, and how, depends on the make, model and year, so ask about it specifically when you call. Do not assume a new key automatically locks out the old one.

If the car was parked where the keys were taken and it is still there, move it somewhere the thief would not expect, or disable it until the stolen key is dealt with. If the car itself is gone, report it to police right away with the plate and VIN.

Step 4: The Keys That Are Not Yours

Work keys, a parent’s spare, a property you manage. Tell the owner the same day. A business may need to rekey or adjust its master key system, and a landlord will want to know before you do anything to a lock you do not own. For a mailbox key, contact your local post office or your HOA, depending on who owns the box.

Lost vs. Stolen: Does It Really Matter?

Yes. Keys lost at a park or dropped in a parking lot are almost never connected to an address, and the most likely outcome is that nobody ever uses them. Plenty of people in that situation just get a new key made and move on, and that is a reasonable call.

Stolen keys are different, because the person who has them chose to take them. If the theft came with anything showing where you live, rekey. It is one of the least expensive ways to buy back peace of mind.

What to Have Ready When You Call

It speeds things up a lot:

• The address and which doors use the stolen key
• For the car: year, make, model, and whether it uses a key, a flip key or a push-to-start fob
• Proof you live there or own the car (ID with the address, registration or title). If your ID was stolen, a utility bill, lease or registration works
• The police report number, if you have it

Call (505) 818-0720 or request service online. Tell us the keys were stolen rather than lost, and we will help you decide what needs to happen today and what can wait.

Frequently Asked Questions