Baggage that is. Sunday night, I had to pick a friend up from the airport. He and his fiance went on a little vacation. He put his car keys in his luggage, not wanting to carry them around. They went on the plane this way. (Wait for it....)

So coming back, for various reasons, they end up in Orlando, luggage goes to Miami. No car keys.

I'm not laughing... I've locked myself out of cars and buildings on more than one occasion. But it's happened less since I discovered the EDC concept. I'd never separate myself from my keys, especially since there's a brand new Arc AAA on the keychain. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And always carry a spare key. Spare vehicle and house key are in my wallet with as much as possible chopped off them to make them as small as possible. Which reminds me I haven't yet made a new spare truck key since I got the truck in Feb! I think I might try the different sided key thing for my spare.

I feel the same. Ever since (thanks to this site as well) i started carrying my EDC religiously, I have yet forgot, or locked up my keys by mistake. I for sure never forget my EDC....EVER!, so i have trained myself to treat my keys just the same. I tried the walled thing, but i have a couple of long keys that are a little big for the wallet, so i usually keep the spares on my EDC ring which never leaves my pocket.......as where a wallet or the main keys are frequently removed.

Instant On-Star!

I have my key chain in one pocket and my spare car key in my other pocket. Never be locked out of your car again. I keep other spare keys in my glove box.

Before i even check on this, i figured i'd ask the forum........regarding back up keys ...........we just bought a new toyota 4runner............the key is monsterous in size.....its not "chip" regulated...............so does anyone know if you can get toyota keys copied that are reasonable in size?

I have locked my keys in a vehicle twice then started carrying a spare in my wallet. Second time was at work and a dodge minivan (yes I made the mistake of buying one of those), called AAA and they said it would be an hour so I took my leatherman and bent a coat hanger and fished it down the window seal and popped the lock in about 5 minutes.
First time was in my old 88 Chevy s10. I was working part time at night as a grocery bagger while in college. Went out after my shift ended at midnight and started my truck and turned on the defroster and got out to scrape the window and locked the door out of habbit with the engine running. Chevys are made better than dodges and you can't pop the lock as easily but mine had been a mud race truck and someone had popped the cover in the floor where the paint flows in when they dip the cab at the factory and I had covered the hole with duct tape and taped my spare keys there. So I crawled under and stuck my hand up between the frame and torsin bar and cut a slit in the duct tape with my little pocket knife and then poked my hand through a little too fast and heard the keys move away. I stretched as far as I could and was able to reach a key and opened the door and let myself in and drove home. When I got home I realized I had the spare ignition key in my hand (the door and ignition keys were different then) and I went back down to the parting lot and tried it in the door and it would not open the door this time.

If it doesn't have any chip in the key, then you can get a normal sized copy. I went and made copies of my Gm keys and they made them with the big plastic end before I copld stop them so I just melted it off when I got home.

Not good to keep in the glove box. Someone could do and a smash and grab get your key and come back later and drive off before you get a chance to get the locks changed

A few years ago, I had one of these plastic credit card-shaped keys:



AAA in California provided it when I joined. Never had to use it, but I've read that they do work. A problem, though, if you've got the type ignition key with embedded chip. And if you lose your wallet/purse, you're still up-the-creek without a key.

This one allows you to store a spare key in a compartment integrated in a combination-operated locking gas cap. Great if you don't have a locking door over your gas cap

Then there's the old standby, the magnetic spare key holder. Seems like there are enough nooks and crannies on car's undercarriage that all but the most determined thief would have a tough time locating a well-placed container.

Good point sir!

No spare house keys to be locked in the glove box! When they open the glove box they will have your address from your car registration and you don't want to give them your house keys too.

If you have a steering wheel lock it is not a bad idea to keep a spare key in the glove box. If you lose you car keys but you have a spare you still need the key to unlock the steering wheel.

But wouldn't having a steering wheel lock key in the glove box defeat the purpose of having the steering wheel lock.
If I were a thief and I broke into a car, I would check all the compartments first for any easy grabs so if someone saw me trying to steal the car and I had to run I would still have something, so chances are they would still find the key and then use it to unlock the steering wheel lock instead of hacksawing it off.
I also wondered about the registration in the glove box. When my s10 was stolen back when I was in college I had my insurance card and registration in the glove box. When the truck was found those papers were discarded on the floor but could have easily been thrown out the window. Someone told me I should only keep a copy in the glove box so as to not loose the original but I have never checked with an LEO to see if they will accept a copy when they pulled someone over, maybe someone on that side of the badge can chime in here.

The new theft protection systems use a hall effect sensor in the ignition switch which electromagnetically reads the key so no need for a resistor in the key but and plastic keys or breaking the lock won't work either.

Eugene,

You have me backed into a corner. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The truth is when the "Club" in on the steering wheel my SUV looks like a hard target and they move on to easier pickings. I have had the vehicle for 15 years and there has never been an attempt to steel it that I can tell. I live in Phoenix that is one of the highest crime areas for vehicle theft. I do not have a car alarm.

I'm always right and don't forget it :P
(I hope you can tell from that I'm just kidding)
I've had my truck stolen, found and put it back together, then it was broken into a few years later and had another vehicle broken into so its raised my awareness as to what kind of things disappear.
I'll bet your right about the club but I have heard of smash and grab from the glovebox even with it. If you really want to deter theft go to ratshack and pick up a little flashing LED and mount it somewhere on the dash and wire it to constant power.

How many times do I have to say it?

There are only 2 kinds of luggage -
Carry-On
and
LOST

marty
www.focazio.com/equipped