Somewhere around the years 1990-1992 I managed to lock myself out of my car not once, but twice within a relatively short span of time.
The first time, I was on a country drive during one of my first New England fall season explorations. I had stopped at a roadside store that sold apple cider and all manner of country-ish things, browsed a bit, used the restroom, bought a gallon of cider, and walked back over to my car, at which time I found my keys weren't in my pocket. The car was locked, with the keys inside. Nowadays I'd call the AAA, but maybe I wasn't a member right then, I dunno, but I actually called the local police and asked for help. They were totally obliging and had the door opened in no time using the hook tool in the window.
A few months later I was parked in a large lot in downtown Danbury. A street festival or something was going on, so there were cops all around and I again made my plea for assistance. They were initially unwilling to help, saying they're no longer allowed to do that -- not only for insurance reasons but because there have been instances of the person getting zapped with some voltage if the tool grabs the wrong thing. I told them the police in a neighboring area had done it that other time, and they were surprised to hear that but they said they'd be willing to let me use the thingy and do it myself with them there. So I did it, my one time to have done such a thing, and thank goodness it worked.
Don't ask me where my concentration was that year, that this could have happened to me twice within a few months, but apparently I learned my lesson and have thereafter been keenly aware of where my keys are at all times.
