Use e-mail and a dog tag to get your lost keys (and other stuff) back.

We all hate to lose things, but keys are a special problem. With stuff like luggage, you can put a little tag with contact information and hopefully the finder will give you a call. Keys are different. On the one hand, you want to have contact information on them so people know how to get them back to you. On the other hand, you don't want to have contact information on them because if a thief finds them, you will have given him directions to your house, your car, and maybe even your business, along with the means to get in. Nowadays, with reverse phone lookup, you might not even want to put your phone number on your keys.

Here is a simple way to increase the chances of getting your lost keys back without revealing who you are, where you live, or any other personal information. The basic idea is this: set up an email account with a user name that tells nothing about you (like, [e-mail], for instance). Then attach a dog tag to your keys that says, "If found, please email ". If a good citizen finds your keys, he can contact you, but if a thief finds them he won't know where you live. That way, he can't get in and make off with that bag of styrofoam peanuts you've been meaning to recycle.

Step 1 Set up a "lost keys" email account.

Set up an email account with a user name and email address that reveal nothing about you. This is your "lost keys" address. It is important that this address be something really anonymous, like [e-mail]. Because you will be attaching this address to your keys, you don't want to put information a thief might use to find your house. An email address like [e-mail] would be a bad idea, because if a thief finds your keys, he'll head straight for your house, let himself in, and steal things. For instance, he might help himself to those monogrammed towels Aunt Gladys gave you.

Comments

[HIM Design]

Brilliant idea!

Regards

HIM DESiGN

[joejoerowley]

Nice!

[myydogtag]

Great idea! Inexpensive military style dogtags can be custom made at www.mydogtag.com

[carlo$]

its a great idea; however, the founder can make copies of your keys and follow you home. once I lose my keys I will just replace all my locks. this is a great idea for everything else (cell ph, ipods, sandals, etc) but keys.

[ZokiS]

It's a great idea, too bad we don't have any dog tag vendor machines here.
I've lost my keys at least 3 times this year (and went to the boring process of having to make additional keys every time).
@carlo$ If you are scared that they might follow you, when you meet them to get your keys back you could try to act being with mental issues! :)

[swartley3ga]

great idea! I am thinking about putting one on the keys and one on the diaper bag too....I get emails on my cell phone so I would probably get it soon enough to still be in the area.....great instructable

[j626no]

i'd suggest having the "lost keys" email address forward the emails to your primary email address in case you lose something and you dont know you lost it (and therefore would have no reason to check your "lost keys" email) just a suggestion. I know gmail does forwarding very nicely and its extremely easy to have multiple accounts on one gmail account (perfect way to keep your anonymity)

[nelelr]

The references to potential losses and examples of possible uses were hillarious. LOL I'd be so pissed if I lost not only my keys but also my barbed wire scraps collection!!

[Foaly7]

If you use this, you can get a text message when you lose your keys, unless you lose your cellphone too.

[mtdna]

I like it! A bonus with your idea is that you could be notified quickly, instead of later on when you finally check your mailbox, so you might still be near where you lost them. Like at your office, or whatever.