Locked Out at The Base or Te Awa? Car Park Lockouts
Shopping centre car parks are where we attend more lockouts than anywhere else in Hamilton. What to do, and what to tell us so we find you quickly.
Large car parks generate more lockouts than any other location we attend, and the reason is simple: hands full, boot open, keys put down for a second. The Base and Te Awa between them account for a good share of our Hamilton callouts.
Pinpointing where you are
The single most useful thing you can do is know exactly where you are. These car parks are large and partly covered, so a street address does not narrow it down. Tell us the entrance you came in by, the level, and the nearest store or lift lobby. A photo of the nearest pillar marking is even better if you can send one.
Partly covered parking also means a dropped pin is less reliable than usual, because the signal bounces. A pin plus a landmark beats a pin alone.
Where to wait
Stay with the vehicle if it is safe and comfortable to do so. If it is late, cold, or you would rather wait inside, tell us where you will be and we will call when we arrive rather than expecting you to stand beside the car.
With children or shopping that will not keep, waiting inside is the sensible choice and it costs nothing in time.
What centre security can and cannot do
Security can sometimes help with a duty phone or a safe place to wait, but they cannot open a vehicle and generally will not attempt it. That is not obstruction — it is the same liability reason any business would give.
They can usually confirm the centre is not about to close its barriers, which is worth knowing if it is late.
The opening
Quick and non-destructive, and it happens in the bay without moving the car or disturbing the vehicles either side. Ownership is checked first, as always. Our vehicle lockout page explains the method.
A tight bay between two other cars is not a problem — the tools work through a gap at the top corner of the door and need very little room.
If the keys are actually gone
If they turn out to be genuinely gone rather than shut inside, we can cut and program a replacement in the car park too, so the car does not have to be towed home. That is a longer job than a lockout, described under lost car keys.
The other Hamilton car parks
Centre Place, Chartwell and the Waikato Hospital car parks generate the same calls for the same reason, along with the supermarket car parks right across the city.
The advice is identical: know your level and your entrance, and wait somewhere comfortable rather than beside the car.
Worth checking the trolley bay and the customer service desk first. A surprising number of keys handed in at The Base are collected within the hour.
Common questions
How do I describe where I am in a big car park?
The entrance you used, the level, and the nearest shop or lift lobby. Pillar markings are ideal. That gets us to the bay rather than the building.
Can centre security open my car?
No. They can often help with a phone or a place to wait, but opening vehicles is not something they will attempt, for liability reasons.
Do I have to wait outside beside the car?
No. Tell us where you will be waiting and we will call on arrival. You only need to be there for the ownership check and to take the keys.
Can you work in an underground or covered park?
Yes. Covered and underground levels are no problem. Just tell us the level and access point when you call.