Chev and GMC vans are hard to get into if you lock all keys inside, and in my experience--unfortunately more than once--the locksmith uses a wedge at the upper corner, and sometimes an inflatable as well, to open enough space to get a long rod with a right angle at the end inside.
Then I go to the opposite side and guide him as he lowers the rod to the inside door lock, which on these vans is an up and down tab near the window winder handle. Have to get the angled end under the tab and then lift straight up to unlock. Takes a few tries, as the angled end slips off the tab easily, but we've always got it open.
I even did it once myself with a curtain rod extended from the drivers door all the way to the other side. Was a pain and took a long time to get just the right angle and pressure, and that was with the driver's window down just an inch.
Seems the typical jimmy unlock tools, going down through the gasket into the window well to the locking arm, don't work too well, nor do the ones that go all the way under the window and back up the inside.
A locksmith once told me that using the Hide-A-Key magnetic deal is not usually a good idea, as many experienced thieves will check under bumpers and wheel wheels etc for just such a hidden key. He suggested a better idea is to take a spare and drill a larger hole into it where you'd hook it onto a key ring, then hide it behind the license plate with one of the plate's mounting screws.
For this side and rear doors, I use
SlickLocks and a
Master Lock 6720NKA Bump Proof Padlock with a
SlickLock Spinner to cover, making the side and rear doors virtually impossible to break into when locked, even to an experienced thief with bolt cutters.
Nice thing about the SlickLocks is that the lock receiver mounts are virtually hidden, are stainless steel, and won't end up being an eyesore of rust and hardware like most contractors etc have experience with the surface mount lock receivers. All you see with a SlickLock is the lock. Pretty, well, slick.
So, yeah, for the last couple years now, I always have a spare ignition key in my jeans watch pocket. Also of note is that a lot of newer vehicles, at least my GMC, has an entry only key if you want, which will open the doors but not start the vehicle. That's handy to have too in certain situations.
Funniest lock-out story I've experienced in person was this girl sitting on the curb outside the hospital one time, car running because she'd just dropped someone off and had taken them in, crying that the battery on her key fob had gone dead and she couldn't unlock the car with the button on the fob. I said "Uhm...did you try the key itself?"
