Going to a beach should be a relaxing experience, right? But how many times have you stepped out of your car, took your towel, locked the car, came to the beach ready to get into the water, and bang! Your car keys! No one will take your towel, but your car – and everything in it? Of course, the more valuable your car is, the lesser the chances that the beach you’re at has lockers – Murphy’s law.
It’s not a problem if you’re with someone – as long as that person is willing to stay in the sun while you’re having your relaxation time in the water, which isn’t very likely (unless you have bribed him). If you think that hiding the key under the towel or even burying it in the sand under it would provide you the place that no thief would ever think of looking, then think again. And, if you have one of those fancy electronic keys, you can’t just tie it to your wrist and go swimming with it. So what can you do?
To come prepared:
- Buy shorts with waterproof pockets (if your key is electronic – or that have pockets with regular zippers if it’s a regular key). That way you will be free to take your key to the water with you.
- Get a waterproof case for your electronic key, like this one that can hold your cell phone as well; they come with the cords that you can tie around your bathing suit strap. Now, pay attention: these cases are only safe if you’re swimming – they float well and are splash proof, but they won’t stand immersion, so forget about diving with them.
- Get a pair of water shoes with tiny zippered pockets. The pockets are just big enough for a key and are hidden in the tip of the shoe so they won’t hurt your feet.
- Buy a magnetic key holder and put it on your car. The best places for this are usually in the wheel well or up under the lip of a chassis. You should clean that spot when you first put it on.
- Buy a house near the beach, or rent one – then you won’t need to take your car to the beach at all!
…you came unprepared!
- If there are houses near the beach, see if you can quickly make friends with the people who live there and ask to leave your key (and the rest of your personal belongings) with them. If you don’t trust people, find a bush in some hidden backyard and burry your key there. Note: make sure that you remember where the bush is.
- Tuck your key under the car, or somewhere not so obvious (like on top of the tire or somewhere on the brake caliper).
- Leave it under your towel. Yes, we did say that you shouldn’t do that but if you’re a very religious person, just leave it there and pray that the thief didn’t see you leaving your car or that s/he isn’t that thorough to try your key on every single car parked near the beach.
- Make a sand castle and bury the key under it.
- Winner hack: Find a mom with a little baby and ask her if she wouldn’t mind giving you one diaper. Wet the diaper (there’s water around you, you don’t have to do anything inappropriate) and put your key under it, near your towel. Don’t forget to put the diaper in a bag and to throw it in the dumpster on your way home.
Do you have anything to add?
