Keys left in the car after a walk on the Montgó

The Montgó rises to 753 metres between Dénia and Xàbia, and it has been a Natural Park since 1987. People walk it all year. And every so often, someone comes back down tired, reaches the car, and sees the key on the passenger seat through a locked door.

First, check properly

• Every door and the boot. Cars do not always lock every door, and some boots open separately.
• The spare. Is anyone at home who could bring it? Often that is quicker than anything else.
• The key itself. If the car locked on its own with the key inside, some models can be opened with the manufacturer’s app or roadside assistance.

Tempting, but no

Do not break a window unless someone or something inside is in danger. A window costs more than an opening, and leaves you driving home with the wind in your ear. And do not try coat hangers or wedges on a modern car: the seals and the electrics inside the door are easy to damage.

If a child or an animal is shut inside in the heat, ring 112 first. That is an emergency for them, not a locksmith job.

Describing where you are

Starting points for walks often have no street number, and a place name alone can mean several things. So:

• Send a WhatsApp location pin from where the car is parked.
• Say which side of the mountain you are on, Dénia or Xàbia side, if you know.
• Mention the car’s make, model and colour.

Once you have rung

You get a realistic idea of when someone can be there. You will be asked to show the car is yours, with papers and ID; if those are inside, they are checked the moment the door is open. The door is opened without damage, and that is all that is done: opening only, no keys.