Stolen car keys or house keys: what to do next in QLD

What should you do in the first hour after your keys are stolen?

Make sure everyone is safe, then report the theft to police. Call 000 if the thief is still around, or Policelink on 131 444 if they've gone. Block the car in or move it with the spare key. Write down every key and remote that was on the ring, then call your insurer and a locksmith.

1. 1Step 1: Get safe. If it's happening now or the thief is still in the area, call 000.
2. 2Step 2: Report it to police. Use Policelink online or call 131 444, and keep a note of the report details.
3. 3Step 3: Block the car in, lock it in the garage, or move it with the spare key.
4. 4Step 4: List what was on the ring: car key, house keys, garage remote, mailbox key, work keys. Note anything in the same bag that shows your address.
5. 5Step 5: Call your insurer and ask what your policy needs from you.
6. 6Step 6: Book the house locks and the car keys.

The Residential Tenancies Authority says to phone 000 if the crime is happening now, a life is threatened or the suspected offenders are still in the area. For anything else, Queensland Police's Policelink page has online forms for some types of crime. Break-in, Stolen vehicle and Stolen property are among the options. Can't find a form that fits? The page says to call Policelink on 131 444.

Your keys are gone but the car is still there. Will the thieves come back?

They might. Queensland Police says thieves target house keys, garage remotes and car keys when they enter homes, and they don't always take the car then and there. A Brisbane West police sergeant said in August 2022 that thieves will come back if they have the keys to a car or a house.

The same sergeant said thieves also return to use a garage remote they stole earlier. In November 2024, Queensland Police said one in two cars stolen in Queensland are taken using the car's own keys. On 20 May 2026, Moreton District police said there had been more than 180 reports of thefts involving vehicles in the district so far that month. Those officers said some offenders get into homes using stolen house keys or garage remotes taken from cars parked outside.

So a car still sitting in the driveway doesn't mean the danger has passed. Police advice to residents is plain. Change your locks, or block your vehicles in, to deter thieves from returning and getting easy access.

Was your address on the keyring?

Moreton District police say never attach your name or address to your keyring. If the stolen bag also held your licence, mail or rego papers, assume the thief can work out which door the keys fit. Move the house locks to the top of your list.

How do you stop a stolen car key from working?

Start by getting new keys arranged through a car locksmith or your dealer. Then ask two questions about your model. Can the stolen key be removed from the car's system? Do the door and ignition locks need changing too? The answers depend on the car, so get them before you pay for anything.

How a stolen key gets blocked varies from car to car, so this page won't tell you it can always be done. One clue comes from RACQ. Its Comprehensive Car Insurance summary, checked in October 2026, lists a benefit to replace and recode stolen vehicle keys and locks. So replacing and recoding are both recognised fixes. Your locksmith or dealer can tell you which one your car needs.

How can I deactivate a stolen car key fob?

That's a job for a car locksmith or your dealer. Ask whether the missing fob can be removed from the car's system when your new keys are coded. Until it's sorted, keep the car blocked in or locked in a garage. Queensland Police also lists a steering wheel lock, wheel clamp, car alarm or immobiliser as extra layers of security.

Will the stolen key still open the doors?

Ask this one out loud, because it's easy to miss. If your key has a metal blade, ask whether the door and ignition locks should be changed as well as the electronics.

At ABC Locksmiths we cut replacement car keys, including from a key code, and we do barrel and ignition work. What can be done about the stolen key itself depends on your car. Ask us those two questions when you call 07 3205 4925. If the answer for your model is the dealer, that's where to go.

Should you change your house locks if your keys were stolen?

Yes. Queensland Police's advice is to secure the premises as soon as possible, change locks and codes, and restrict access. If the locks are in good shape, ask a locksmith about rekeying, which keeps the lock and makes the old keys stop working. Stolen keys still fit your doors until that's done.

Rekey or replace?

Rekeying suits locks that still work well. Replacement makes sense when a lock is worn or was damaged in a forced entry. Our guide on how rekeying works explains the difference. Damage from a break-in is a separate repair, so mention it when you book lock replacement and rekeying.

Garage remotes, alarm codes and key safes

Police name garage remotes alongside keys, so treat a stolen remote like a stolen key. Change any alarm, gate or key safe code that was written down in the stolen bag. For the remote itself, contact your garage door supplier and ask how to stop the old one working.

Work keys on the ring?

Tell your employer or building manager the same day, so they can decide what needs changing. If it's your own business, see our commercial locksmith service for lock upgrades and replacements.

Will insurance pay to rekey or replace stolen keys?

Some home and car insurance policies pay to rekey or replace stolen keys and locks, and some want the theft reported to police. As one example, RACQ's Home and Contents summary, checked in October 2026, lists a locks benefit when keys are stolen from your home and the theft is reported to police.

Cover differs between insurers and policies, so read your Product Disclosure Statement and ring your insurer early.

Renting? Who changes the locks after a key theft?

Tell your property manager or owner straight away. The Residential Tenancies Authority says the property manager or owner must supply and maintain all locks in a Queensland rental. Outside domestic and family violence, the RTA says locks can only be changed if both sides agree, in an emergency, or by QCAT order, and neither side may unreasonably withhold consent.

The RTA also says a tenant experiencing domestic and family violence who wishes to stay has the right to change the locks without asking permission.

On a different job, one property manager wrote this in a Google review:

How do you stop your keys being stolen again?

Hide your keys at home and keep your details off them. Queensland Police advises keeping vehicle keys in a hidden spot, not on the kitchen bench or a key rack. Moreton District police suggest a locked drawer or key safe, and say never to attach your name or address to your keyring.

• Keep car keys out of sight in a locked drawer or key safe (Moreton District police, May 2026).
• Skip the kitchen bench and the key rack (Queensland Police, August 2026).
• Consider a signal-blocking pouch for keyless entry fobs (Queensland Police, August 2026).
• Take your door key with you and avoid hiding one outside (Moreton District police, May 2026).
• Park behind locked gates or in a locked garage where you can (Queensland Police, August 2026).

Keys stolen and you need the locks or the car keys sorted? Call 07 3205 4925. Our counter is at Unit 19, 193-203 South Pine Road, Brendale QLD 4500. Open Mon to Thu 8am to 4:45pm, Fri to 4:30pm. We also come out to homes.