[Laminar]

I traded cars with my roommate this morning so I could borrow his pickup. In doing so, I took my car key off of my key chain and got his truck key. Since then I managed to lose all the rest of my keys, but keep just his truck key. So I'm missing keys for my house, my parent's house, my bike, my work (on-campus building...they'll be pissed), plus another one. Any suggestions? I changed pants twice today but they're not in either pair.

[reader50]

Check the key hook or on the counter? It's implied that you didn't put the truck key on your normal keychain, or you'd have all or none. Since you took the solo truck key, perhaps you left the regular ring in a usual place.

Also, check with the roommate. See if you took the key off, then handed your car key and the ring to the roommate. People do funny things when they aren't thinking about something, and it's out of the ordinary.

[besson3c]

Maybe you should steal a super strong magnet from a science lab, and then start sucking in metallic objects around the house?

[Buckaroo]

Do a complete retrace of everywhere you went. And especially check both places you changed your pants. If you changed your pants somewhere else like at a gym or something like that, good luck.

[d4nth3m4n]

this is what 411 is for, not an internet forum.

[Peter]

they're always in the last place you look
first

[mduell]

Originally Posted by Peter 

they're always in the last place you look
first

Unless you're dumb enough to keep looking.

[Oisín]

*burp*

Oops, sorry ’bout that...

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I traded cars with my roommate this morning so I could borrow his pickup. In doing so, I took my car key off of my key chain and got his truck key.

This implies that you keep your car key on your normal keychain (where your house keys are).

Don't do this. It's a security hazard.

[SpaceMonkey]

I can't find my watch. I think I left it in the bathroom one night, but now it's gone. I'm convinced that my drunk roommate ate it or something when he got home that night. I even looked in the garbage, but no dice.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Maybe you should steal a super strong magnet from a science lab, and then start sucking in metallic objects around the house?

Just keep it away from your Mac

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Buckaroo 

Do a complete retrace of everywhere you went. And especially check both places you changed your pants. If you changed your pants somewhere else like at a gym or something like that, good luck.

One place I went is an hour and a half away. So I probably won't be going there. And I only changed in my room, which I've torn apart but no luck.

Originally Posted by Doofy

This implies that you keep your car key on your normal keychain (where your house keys are).

Don't do this. It's a security hazard.

Except the first time that I separated my house and car keys, I managed to lose them.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Except the first time that I separated my house and car keys, I managed to lose them.

Well, here's a tip: Designate one of your trouser pockets to be your key pocket. Keep your keys in that pocket at all times except when (1) you're using them and (2) the trousers are being washed (in which case put them in the same pocket in the clean trousers). Never lost any keys ever.

Think about it. Someone gets your keys while you're out, goes into the car park, finds your car (simple remote bleep), goes into your glove box and retrieves your documentation. Bingo there's a house key on this chain, let's go rob the house using this car - we know the guy is out because he's in the bar looking for his keys.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Well, here's a tip: Designate one of your trouser pockets to be your key pocket. Keep your keys in that pocket at all times except when (1) you're using them and (2) the trousers are being washed (in which case put them in the same pocket in the clean trousers). Never lost any keys ever.

I do that. Right front pocket is always keys, left front pocket is always cell phone, with the screen facing inward. I'm just weird like that. I first noticed that my keys were missing when I threw some new pants on and noticed the key pocket was empty. I had ripped my other pants off and tossed them on the floor to take a nap earlier in the day...that's something I never do, so it threw me off.

Think about it. Someone gets your keys while you're out, goes into the car park, finds your car (simple remote bleep), goes into your glove box and retrieves your documentation. Bingo there's a house key on this chain, let's go rob the house using this car - we know the guy is out because he's in the bar looking for his keys.

That's a good point.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I do that. Right front pocket is always keys, left front pocket is always cell phone, with the screen facing inward. I'm just weird like that.

Identical to my system, even the cell phone facing inward. The only difference is that I used to carry my thumb drive with me in my left pocket (my "tech pocket), to the right of my cell phone.

My system NEVER varies.

Anyways, I lost my keys about 5 times when I was in high school, which is why I began using that little system in the first place. I also developed a routine to help me not get them mixed in the washer or something like that. As soon as I walk into my house, the very first thing I do is take out the phone, keys, and wallet, and place them on a baker's rack in my kitchen. My wife knows to never move them from that spot, no matter what.

As for places to look, I'm sure you've gone over all of the common places like couch, chair cushions, under the bed, etc. Other than retracing your steps (except for the distant place), I'd just be praying they turn up. It really sucks having to get new keys for everything.

[Timo]

.
.
.

Originally Posted by Timo's mother

Your keys are where you left them.

[Oisín]

[residentEvil]

wallet in front right (it is small ID size; money, 1 credit card, 1 ID, 1 insurance card). keys in front left. work cell phone in hand between truck and office.

[Buckaroo]

Did you check the vehicle you borrowed for your keys?

[Buckaroo]

Can you call someone to check in the location 1.5 hours away?

[Oisín]

I had ripped my other pants off and tossed them on the floor to take a nap earlier in the day...

There’s your culprit right there. Has the girl you, uh, ‘napped’ with mysteriously disappeared, by any chance? Change your locks.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Buckaroo 

Did you check the vehicle you borrowed for your keys?

I checked it three different times, moving the seats and taking everything out of it.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo 

Can you call someone to check in the location 1.5 hours away?

I might, but I can't see how I lost them there. I pulled up to a building in the truck, loaded an engine in the back, and headed home.

Originally Posted by Oisín 

There’s your culprit right there. Has the girl you, uh, ‘napped’ with mysteriously disappeared, by any chance? Change your locks.

Well, I took a nap because I was exhausted from not getting much sleep the week before.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Think about it. Someone gets your keys while you're out, goes into the car park, finds your car (simple remote bleep), goes into your glove box and retrieves your documentation. Bingo there's a house key on this chain, let's go rob the house using this car - we know the guy is out because he's in the bar looking for his keys.

Good point, except that anyone who has the criminal energy to rob my place can bump any lock in matter of seconds anyways.
Keys are useless these days. At least against people who have criminal intent and energy.

-t

[Laminar]

I decided to look through the truck for a fourth time. I dug under the seat and then reached down next to the seat belt receiver, where I found them. I swear I looked there before, maybe driving the truck around some more shifted them to where I can see them.

[pinenuts]

Rob put them there.

[brassplayersrock²]

the fairies were playing a prank on you

[ghporter]

Bump so Laminar can make a "relevant post." Make it good!

[Laminar]

Did it again.

I used my keys to get in the house after work. After that, no idea. They're not where I always put them, they're not in the garage, they're not in any coat or pair of pants that I own, they're not in the fridge, they're not in any car. The only thing I can think of is that they fell out of my pocket while I was riding a motorcycle around, which is hard to imagine happening, but it's all I can think of. And I meandered around random neighborhoods for several miles, so I can't even retrace my steps.

I have spares to everything that was on there, but now my car, house, and other keys are missing.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Good point, except that anyone who has the criminal energy to rob my place can bump any lock in matter of seconds anyways.
Keys are useless these days. At least against people who have criminal intent and energy.

a) having a key means you can go in there repeatedly without the owner knowing about it, and

b) as long as you know the owner is out, having a key is rather less conspicuous than fumbling with a lock or kicking a door in.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

a) having a key means you can go in there repeatedly without the owner knowing about it, and

Bumping a lock doesn't leave traces and takes only seconds.

YouTube - Lock Bumping and Bump Keys

-t

[mattyb]

Keys for a car? How 1990s. I have a card, that stays in my pocket. I only have to touch the car and its unlocked. I then push the starter button and we're off.

Of course I have no idea what sorts of signals are going through my body to make this happen, but the extra fingers that I've recently grown are quite useful.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by mattyb 

Keys for a car? How 1990s. I have a card, that stays in my pocket. I only have to touch the car and its unlocked. I then push the starter button and we're off.

Of course I have no idea what sorts of signals are going through my body to make this happen, but the extra fingers that I've recently grown are quite useful.

And how does one know whether the car is actually locked when one leaves it?

[mattyb]

It either locks because you touch the door handle and you can see the lights flash and hear the locking mechanism, or if the card is a certain distance away from the car for more than (IIRC) 2 minutes, then it locks.

It isn't a luxury car either, a Renault Megane Estate.

[Doofy]

You're a braver man than I if you're trusting French car electrics.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

You're a braver man than I if you're trusting French car electrics.

We've learned how to jump out without too many broken bones when the cruise control passes 120mph.

[Laminar]

I thought that was Toyota.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I thought that was Toyota.

They do that without the cruise control being involved. But it's all the floor mats, honest!

[MacinTommy]

I just read this entire thread and just realized how old it was.

One time I lost my keys.

[Ω]

I can't find my Oakleys. Haven't looked for them just in case I have lost them.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I thought that was Toyota.

Renault had some issues a couple of months back with the Vel Satis (aka fugly-car). Apparently some people blamed the cruise control. Funny, it just sort of went away.