# What would you do? Key left in trunk lock **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106 "2024-04-10T17:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/1 "2024-04-10T17:22:11Z")
This morning, I was waiting in the supermarket parking lot for them to deliver my grocery order, when I noticed a car nearby that had a key stuck in the trunk lock. What would you do, if anything? I could imagine the owner coming to the car, searching pocket or purse and not finding the key and never think to look at the trunk. Eventually, I took the key out of the trunk and inserted it into the driver’s side door. Before my stuff was delivered two women returned, one of them searching frantically in her purse. I explained what I had done. They were very thinkful. But my wife thought I was nuts to do that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/2 "2024-04-10T17:25:25Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Eventually, I took the key out of the trunk and inserted it into the driver’s side door. - Which might have made it easier to steal the car or rifle though the interior. I would have returned it to the customer service desk. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/3 "2024-04-10T17:28:57Z")
In a similar situation I couldn’t get a key to go into a trunk lock. As I passed a nearby locksmith shop I stopped in to see what they might suggest. The guy sprayed some lubricant in the lock then whacked the key into it with a block of wood. He said grit and stuff can clog up a lock and that’s usually going to work and cost less than getting a new key or lock. It did work and he didn’t charge me a thing. I suggest spraying some lubricant into the key hole and then yanking the key out with a pair of vice grips. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/4 "2024-04-10T18:35:32Z")
The question is about what do you do with someone else’s car key found in the wrong place, not about being literally _stuck_ in a trunk or anywhere else, right? A question of ethics/etiquette, not locksmithery and WD-40? If so: my honest opinion is never, ever so much as touch the car of an unknown stranger. I’m paranoid, stipulated, but still, you never know. Sorry if someone else steals your car, lady, but I’m not going near it myself. I’d let an employee know, though, and be as helpful as I could to any person clearly wanting help. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/5 "2024-04-10T18:40:23Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > If so: my honest opinion is never, ever so much as touch the car of an unknown stranger. I’m paranoid, stipulated, but still, you never know. Sorry if someone else steals your car, lady, but I’m not going near it myself. I’d let an employee know, though, and be as helpful as I could to any person clearly wanting help. Agreed. I’d take a picture, and hang around for a bit to watch the situation. Also, I’d describe it as “key left in lock”. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/6 "2024-04-10T18:45:18Z")
I might put a note on the driver’s window or front windshield. But generally I am not observant enough to notice something like this. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/7 "2024-04-10T18:48:50Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > The question is about what do you do with someone else’s car key found in the wrong place, not about being literally _stuck_ in a trunk or anywhere else, right? A question of ethics/etiquette, not locksmithery and WD-40? Yeah, I wouldn’t touch someone else’s car unless it was somehow a danger to the public. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/8 "2024-04-10T18:49:17Z")
Yeah…umm…No. Don’t touch it. You might wait if you don’t have ice cream melting or something. I’d want to help too. But sometimes you just can’t. Once I told a lady her gas door was open and her gas cap was hanging loose and got told to mind my own business. There you go. Lucky it turned out ok, for your attempt at being a good citizen. I thank you. The world at large thanks you. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/9 "2024-04-10T18:58:37Z")
I wouldn’t tamper with them and CERTAINLY not if I was waiting for a responsible individual (like an employee or guard) to deliver an order. I’ve found personal keys at the grocery twice, both in produce. Once, I alerted an employee stocking nearby, the other, no one was around and I took them to the desk. That’s a different kind of lost, though. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/10 "2024-04-10T19:10:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Once I told a lady her gas door was open and her gas cap was hanging loose and got told to mind my own business. There you go. I would like to think a reaction like that was just the embarrassment of the moment having its way and that when she got home, she felt bad about it. I mean, not agonized over it and lost sleep, but maybe a brief moment of regret. But then again, maybe not. Who knows? One time at Planet Fitness, I saw an unattended phone at one of the machines. Looked around, no evidence of an owner close by. Looked around again, still no luck. I took it up to the front desk. Then, as soon as I got back to the machine I was going to use, a woman showed up at the machine where the phone had been, looking around. I told her that if she was looking for her phone, it was at the front desk. She thanked me. Whew. In the OP’s scenario, I’d never consider touching the key or the car or anything, even for an instant. Since it’s a supermarket parking lot, I’d probably look around for an employee, because they often have someone out there wrangling carts (at least at the supermarkets I’m likely to go to). Point it out to one of those folks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/11 "2024-04-10T19:17:01Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > In the OP’s scenario, I’d never consider touching the key or the car or anything, even for an instant. Same here. Absolutely do not touch it. Alert someone or wait around. Removing it from the trunk and placing it into the drivers’ side door is nuts to me for a couple reasons: 1) makes you look like you’re f\*ing around with the car if someone catches you while you’re doing it. 2) as said before – are you just going to leave it there, making it even easier for a ne’er-do-well to break into the car. Nuh-uh. Dumb move, IMHO. Your wife was absolutely right. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/12 "2024-04-10T19:22:12Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I might put a note on the driver’s window or front windshield. This is the better choice. A person who is frantically looking for their key and can’t open the driver’s door has a good chance of seeing a big note on the windshield. A random thief won’t read a note. Otherwise, like others, I would leave the car alone and not be caught fiddling with someone’s keys. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/13 "2024-04-10T19:23:39Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > This morning, I was waiting in the supermarket parking lot for them to deliver my grocery order, when I noticed a car nearby that had a key stuck in the trunk lock. What would you do, if anything? I would use the key to open the door, jump in, insert the key into the ignition, then drive to a chop shop and collect a sizable sum of money. Just kidding. I’d probably do exactly as you did. Good job. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/14 "2024-04-10T19:58:03Z")
I also would not have touched it. If I had time I would wait around. If no time for that a note stuck on door window or by the lock. The person being on the outside of the car may not even see a note under the windshield wipers. Also I would go to customer service and tell them if someone lost their car keys have them check the trunk. Most, if not all, the cars I have had the ignition and trunk keys are different. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/15 "2024-04-10T22:48:54Z")
Interesting responses. I actually tried to get the market to page the owner of car with licence plate 123 XYZ but they refused. Then I moved the key. I should say that in this neighborhood, the last thing that would occur to me is that some random person in that lot would see the key and decide to steal the car. In a different neighborhood, I would have been more circumspect. And I was not about to wait for someone to do their week’s marketing and then come out. Anyway, it worked out well. By the way, my last two cars, both Hondas had the same key for trunk and ignition. Maybe a mod could change the title to key _left_ in trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/16 "2024-04-10T22:59:41Z")
I have key fob locks. For the back gate too. I’ve been trying to think of a reason to get into a trunk before going into the store. A bag. Or shopping bags? An ice chest? Making sure it was clear before bringing a big load out? Wow. I can believe I never did that when I had a trunk key lock. I certainly have locked myself outta cars a few(well, kind of alot) times. Come to think of it, I locked my keys **IN** the trunk once. A long time ago. Back when they had those wallet plastic keys you got for emergency use. Only time I used one. It worked. Opened the driver door. Hit the trunk button. Saved the day. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/17 "2024-04-10T23:06:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > ’ve been trying to think of a reason to get into a trunk before going into the store. > A bag. Or shopping bags? I think it’s gotta be shopping bags. Or to let the kids out. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/18 "2024-04-10T23:07:13Z")
I was hoping it wasn’t kids or pets. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/19 "2024-04-10T23:29:14Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I actually tried to get the market to page the owner of car with licence plate 123 XYZ but they refused. Obviously they knew you were pranking them. 123 XYZ, are you kidding? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106/20 "2024-04-10T23:50:52Z")
I left my keys in the ignition of my scooter when I lived in Taiwan. There is a pocket and someone put my keys there for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-key-left-in-trunk-lock/1000106.md?page=2)