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How to Unlock Your Car

There is much more to unlocking your car than simply pressing the unlock button on a remote, or turning a key. Criminals target unsuspecting people on the street, in crowds, and in parking lots when walking to their cars late at night, or during the day. How you unlock your car makes a difference in terms of your safety. The process of unlocking your car begins when you reach for your keys, well before they reach the car door lock.

Set of car keys
Enabled interior lighting, if available

Instructions

- 1
  
  Do not wait until you are standing by your vehicle to search for keys.
  
  Find your keys in a a safe, well-lit location such as in your home or in a department store, before heading to your car.
- 2
  Keep your keys available as you approach your vehicle.
- 3
  
  A single key can become a weapon if necessary.
  
  Prepare to use your keys as a weapon if you are assaulted or attacked. By holding the key chain and other keys in the palm of your hand and letting the key that you will use to unlock the door stick out in between your pointer finger and middle finger, you have a weapon for poking someone if necessary.
- 4
  
  Key chains equipped with remote openers aid in unlocking a car safely.
  
  Remotely unlock only the driver door when near your car.
- 5
  
  Wait to finish unlocking your car if there is someone waiting nearby.
  
  Take notice of anyone sitting in a car adjacent to your car.
- 6
  Check underneath and around your car as you approach it.
- 7
  
  Look through the windows to make sure nobody is in your car.
  
  Check the interior of your vehicle before you open the door and before you unlock the door with a key in the event that you do not have a remote opener. Make sure no one is hiding inside.
- 8
  Put the key in the door, turn it quickly and get inside. Immediately lock yourself in.

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