Not quite the same situation, but in my travels abroad, I've encountered a pretty significant number of places that require a key to leave the room/apartment/house. Lose that key, and you are effectively locked inside. I think it is mainly done to prevent break-ins (e.g. you can't just break the window next to it and reach in to unlock the door), but it's always concerned me from a fire safety standpoint.

Anyway, at least in some countries, this is pretty common. Not that's it good. But, common? Yes.

No need, the hackers beat him to it.