Lost or Stolen Keys advice
Read our handy tips below on what you should do in the event that your keys are lost or stolen.
What to do if your keys are lost or stolen
- If you need to claim, call us as soon as you can on 0845 640 5630. We should be able to give you practical advice. Why not save this number on your mobile telephone?
- You need to ask yourself whether there is any immediate danger of your keys being used. For instance, if your bag has been lost/stolen, are there any documents stating your name and address (such as your driving licence) in it?
- Write down a list of what else has been lost.
- Report the loss to the police and make a note of the crime reference number.
Your policy provides cover for the cost of replacing locks to the home, including alarms and safes, if the keys are lost or stolen.
Tips to prevent the loss or theft of keys
Although insurance is provided against losses of this type, the entire process can be unsettling and time consuming.
Ideas to prevent loss or theft of keys
- Always keep keys out of sight – at home or whilst outside.
- Never leave your bag unattended in a pub, club or on public transport – it only takes a second for a thief to strike.
- Never leave keys on a hook near the front or back door, or in sight on the kitchen table. Remove keys from window locks and deadlocks, as the thief could break in through a window and use the door as an escape route (it means they can take more with them, in quicker time).
- Make sure that house and car keys are not kept within sight of the front door – we are aware of thefts where the thief has managed to pick the keys up via the letter box – from some distance away. Often thieves break into the house in order to get to car keys – especially if a premium vehicle is on the drive.
- Don't keep your address with your house keys – if they are lost or stolen the thief knows where you live.
- Don't leave your keys unattended at work – colleagues may know where you live and can make copies of the keys.
- Be very careful leaving your house keys with contractors or a garage – they know where you live and can make copies of the keys – take any door keys off when dropping your car off at the garage.
- Change the locks when you move into a new home, or return to a previously rented property, as the old occupier may have made/kept copies.
- Always get the locks changed immediately if your keys have been lost or stolen, especially if your address was kept with the keys or there was some other way to identify where you live.
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