Key to staying safe

H. Kishie Singh

It is a common sight to see a man walking around with the car keys hanging out of his pocket. It is easy for a nimble-fingered pickpocket to flick these. Ladies carry these around in their hands. Why not put them safely in your bag? Crooks who are adept at chain-snatching will have no trouble of relieving a lady of her keys held loosely in a hand.

You keep your important documents under lock and key. The lady of the house keeps her sarees and jewellery in locked cupboards. ‘Key’ is the operative word. A lock is of no use if you hand over the keys to someone else.

People often leave their set of keys on the table in a restaurant. Why are these on public display? You could be chatting and not paying attention, as the waiter clears the table and takes the keys also. By the time, you discover the loss, the car could be at the other end of the town. Good bye car!

I was a witness to one such episode. This was in a chemist shop when a lady I know walked in with her shopping list and her car keys in her hand. She puts the keys on the counter and got busy with her shopping. While the attendant was busy, we exchanged pleasantries. She was looking over my shoulders when her eye-balls popped out, “My car!” she screeched. And the car was gone. Someone had taken the keys from the counter while she was chatting and driven off.

If the keys are not in your possession you are going to have a hard time filing an FIR and explain how the car was stolen.

If the baddy is caught, he will say, “Madam gave me the keys and told me to run an errand for her.” A loose-loose situation!

This however is a mild problem compared with what happened in Gurgaon.

It was a hot afternoon, lunch was over. The father was away at the farm. Mother cleared the table and went off for her siesta. The two children, girls, age two and four being inquisitive and full of energy found the keys to the car the family had bought recently. They took the keys and went out to play hide and seek in the new car and have fun. They opened the car and got in. The electronics took over. The car locked itself. The children had no idea of how to open the doors or windows. Father was away, mother was asleep while the children were gasping for air and died of suffocation.

When the mother found the children missing, a massive hunt was launched. One of the neighbours found the children in the car. A duplicate key was found and the children were taken out. They were rushed to a hospital but were declared brought dead. All because the keys were left unattended and carelessness on part of the parents.

Ask yourself a question: What use is it to lock a cupboard and then leave the keys within easy reach of the children or a baddie?

Happy Motoring!