Two days ago at work, I left my keys on my desk where I always leave them - right behind my laminating machine, so hidden but still where I can find them. I've kept them right there every day for almost two years with no problems. I should mention that I work at an assisted living place with alzheimer's and dementia patients. My desk is in the front lobby in a living room area where the residents hang out. Everyone is told upon move in that the desk is a no-go place, behind it at least. But anyways, when I went to leave work the day before yesterday, no keys. Searched my whole desk, under and over and inside, everywhere in the room, retraced my steps around the building even though I know damn well I left them where I always leave them, in that one place. So I ended up having to call my parents to bring my spare key over. I left a note where my coworkers would see it about what happened and what my keys look like, notified my boss, and asked the maintenance guy to check the security feed (edit: He didn't find anything...). I also gave care staff a list of residents who always hang around my desk who I think may have taken them. I have signs posted around. But no one's seen or heard anything yet.

I am so upset about this. I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, I know, but I don't know how I'm going to afford it. It'll cost about $200 for the new car key alone. Probably another $100 or so to replace the remote start button. I don't know how much it's going to be to change the locks on the house, but I can't just leave a working house key floating around out there so it has to be done. I make barely enough to cover my bills and eat. So I'm guessing I'll need about $500 total or around there. That's an entire paycheck. I can't do that. And I don't want to ask my parents to help - they're retired and on a fixed income. A friend at work suggested I start a GoFundMe, but...is that really for this kind of thing? Not just charities? I don't even know how that works.

I'm basically fucked. T_T If you have something in your life you want to bitch about, feel free. Maybe it'll make me feel better that mine isn't the worst that can happen, because it sure feels like it right now.

[edit] So...yeah. I started a GoFundMe. [Had the link here, but got a message from staff saying it's a no-no. So...yeah. Guess that's not happening.]

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry for you. I really feel for you. You must be so stressed and upset. Are the staff able to search the patients' rooms at all? And when you say the maintenance guy didn't find anything on the cameras, does a camera overlook your desk?

My husband and I recently changed the locks on our doors, and for two of them (Front and back door) it was only like $15. Just go to Lowe's or Home Depot and you'll see they're really not that much. Also I think locksmiths can do it for pretty cheap too if that's a route you wanted to go.

I really hope you find your keys. They're in the building somewhere at least, so you have your search narrowed down at least a bit.

Thanks. I am pretty stressed and upset, yeah. I have staff searching rooms, but they have to be very careful about it because some of the residents can be kind of volatile if they think anyone's doing anything against them. There is a camera that overlooks my desk. It sees me and my computer from the side and the whole side and front of the desk where people can go, so it would have seen something I would have thought. And you really only got locks changed for $15? That would be doable. Much better than hundreds. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but that makes me feel better anyways.

So the camera showed you putting the keys in their normal place and then nothing out of the ordinary for the rest of the day? Did they fall anywhere or fall under the laminating machine? I was surprised at how cheap getting new locks was, too. I'd say give it a couple more days before you spend money replacing your car key and such, good luck!!

Yeah...it's really weird. I'm going to ask to see the tape myself. Maybe I can view it after work. I don't understand how they couldn't see what happened to the damn things. I think maybe we need new cameras.

Any updates?

YES. I was just about to come here and post. My coworker found my keys! It's so weird where they were found though. On my desk under the holder I have for all of the managers' business cards. I know I looked there. I basically tore the desk apart and went through everything. What I think happened is someone took them and then freaked out about taking them so they came and hid them there instead of just coming back and admitting their mistake. I'm fine with it though. I've got them back and I now don't have to change the locks or spend all that money. I had just about given up hope of ever seeing them again too. Thanks for coming back to check up!