Car Lockout Services

Types of Car Lockout Services Offered

Getting locked out of your car is a universal experience of frustration. Luckily, theres a whole industry dedicated to getting you back behind the wheel, and car lockout services offer a surprisingly diverse range of solutions depending on your specific predicament. No longer is it just a guy with a slim jim (though those still exist!).


One common type of lockout service revolves around simple lock picking. This is often the go-to for older cars or situations where the key is lost or broken inside the ignition. Skilled locksmiths can manipulate the lock mechanism, mimicking the action of the key, and get the door open without causing any damage.


Then theres the ever-popular "unlock with a wedge and rod" method. This involves carefully wedging the car door open just enough to insert a specialized tool that can manipulate the lock button or handle from the inside. While effective, this requires a delicate touch to avoid damaging the cars weather stripping or interior.


For newer cars with electronic locks, lockout services often utilize specialized tools that can communicate with the cars computer system. These tools can bypass the lock mechanism electronically, unlocking the doors without any physical manipulation. This is particularly helpful for high-security vehicles or those with keyless entry systems.


Another service offered, especially for those with transponder keys or smart keys, is key programming. If youve lost all your keys, a car lockout service can often create a new key on the spot and program it to your cars computer, getting you back on the road quickly. This often requires specialized equipment and knowledge of different car makes and models.


Finally, some car lockout services extend beyond just getting you back in your car. They might offer services like broken key extraction, ignition repair or replacement, and even car battery jump-starts. This makes them a one-stop shop for various roadside emergencies.


So, the next time you find yourself staring through your car window at your keys dangling from the ignition, remember you have options. Car lockout services have evolved beyond simple lock picking, offering a range of solutions tailored to modern vehicles and their increasingly complex locking systems.

Types of Car Lockout Services Offered

How to Choose a Reliable Auto Locksmith for Lockouts

Getting locked out of your car is never fun. Its inconvenient, potentially dangerous, and always stressful. Finding a reliable auto locksmith quickly can make all the difference. But how do you choose the right one in the heat of the moment? Here are a few tips to help you find a trustworthy locksmith when youre locked out and need help fast.


First, resist the urge to just call the first number that pops up on a search engine. Take a few minutes to do some quick research. Check online reviews and ratings on sites like Yelp or Google. Look for locksmiths with a consistent history of positive feedback, focusing on comments about honesty, speed, and pricing. A few negative reviews are normal, but a pattern of complaints about overcharging or unprofessional behavior should be a red flag.


Next, ask about pricing upfront. A reputable locksmith will be able to give you a reasonable estimate over the phone, including any service call or emergency fees. Beware of locksmiths who quote a ridiculously low price, only to jack it up once they arrive. This is a common bait-and-switch tactic. Also, ask about their payment methods. A reliable locksmith will typically accept various forms of payment, including credit cards.


Location matters. Choose a locksmith who is located relatively close to your current location. This will minimize wait times and likely reduce the service call fee. Some locksmiths advertise a national number, but often they just connect you to a local dispatcher who may or may not be reputable. Its usually better to deal directly with a local business.


Finally, verify their credentials. A legitimate locksmith should be licensed and insured. Dont hesitate to ask for proof of these credentials. A professional locksmith will understand your concern and be happy to provide this information. Asking for identification when they arrive is also a good practice.


Being locked out of your car is frustrating, but taking a few minutes to choose a reliable auto locksmith can save you time, money, and a lot of headaches. By following these tips, you can find a trustworthy professional who will get you back on the road quickly and safely.

Types of Car Lockout Services Offered

Cost of Car Lockout Services

The dreaded moment. Keys dangling in the ignition, door firmly shut. You're locked out. Panic sets in, quickly followed by the question: How much is this going to cost me? Unfortunately, theres no easy answer when it comes to the cost of car lockout services. Several factors play into the final price, turning a simple inconvenience into a potentially pricey problem.


One of the biggest factors is location. Big cities, with their higher cost of living, generally have higher lockout service fees. Rural areas, with fewer providers and potentially longer travel times, might also see increased costs. Time of day plays a role too. A late-night or weekend call-out will almost certainly incur an after-hours surcharge, sometimes significantly bumping up the price.


Then theres the complexity of the job. A simple lockout, where a skilled locksmith can pop the lock in minutes, will be cheaper than a situation involving a broken key, a damaged lock, or a high-security vehicle requiring specialized tools and expertise. Some cars, particularly newer models with advanced anti-theft systems, can be particularly tricky, requiring more time and sophisticated techniques.


Beyond the basic service fee, you might encounter additional charges. Mileage fees, especially if youre stranded far from the locksmiths base, are common. If you need a new key made, thats an extra expense, and the cost varies depending on the type of key – a basic key is much cheaper to replace than a transponder key or a smart key.


So, what's the bottom line? While it's impossible to give a precise figure, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to upwards of $250 for a car lockout service. The best way to avoid sticker shock is to call around and get quotes from several locksmiths before committing. Explain your situation clearly, including the make and model of your car, and ask about any potential extra fees. A little research upfront can save you a lot of money in the long run. And, of course, the best way to avoid the cost altogether? Spare keys. Seriously.

Cost of Car Lockout Services

Preventing Future Car Lockouts

Nobody enjoys that sinking feeling of realizing theyre locked out of their car. Its inconvenient, potentially dangerous depending on the weather or location, and always seems to happen at the worst possible time. While a reliable car lockout service is essential for those inevitable moments, wouldnt it be better to avoid them altogether? Preventing future lockouts is easier than you think, and a little proactive planning can save you a lot of headache down the road.


One of the simplest solutions is to establish a spare key strategy. Give a trusted friend or family member a copy of your car key. Make sure this person is readily reachable and lives relatively close by. Alternatively, consider hiding a spare key in a magnetic lockbox discreetly placed on your vehicle. Just be sure to choose a truly inconspicuous spot.


Modern technology offers even more convenient options. Many newer car models come with keyless entry systems and smartphone apps that allow you to unlock your car remotely. Familiarize yourself with these features and ensure your phone is always charged. If your car isnt equipped with this technology, aftermarket key fobs with remote unlocking features are readily available and can be a worthwhile investment.


However, technology isnt foolproof. Low phone batteries can thwart even the most advanced systems. This is why good old-fashioned habits are still important. Develop a routine of double-checking that you have your keys before locking your car. Make it a conscious action, rather than a mindless habit. A brief pause to pat your pocket or visually confirm your keys can prevent that frantic search later.


Finally, consider your keychains. Overloaded keychains can be bulky and more likely to snag and detach from your bag or pocket. Streamlining your keychain or using a secure carabiner can minimize the risk of accidentally losing your keys.


Preventing car lockouts isnt about eliminating all possibility of error. Its about minimizing risk through a combination of smart planning, utilizing available technology, and developing mindful habits. By taking these simple steps, you can significantly reduce the chances of finding yourself stranded and needing to call for help.

 

A set of lock picks and tension wrenches for pin/tumbler locks
Picking while tensioning

Lock picking is the practice of unlocking a lock by manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key.

Although lock-picking can be associated with criminal intent, it is an essential skill for the legitimate profession of locksmithing, and is also pursued by law-abiding citizens as a useful skill to learn, or simply as a hobby (locksport).

In some countries, such as Japan, lock-picking tools are illegal for most people to possess, but in many others, they are available and legal to own as long as there is no intent to use them for criminal purposes.

History

[edit]
Various lock picks and tools for opening and picking locks from the Codex Löffelholz, Nuremberg 1505

Locks by definition secure or fasten something with the intention that access is possible only with the matching key. Despite this, criminal lock picking likely started with the first locks. Famed locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs said in the mid-1800s:

Rogues are very keen on their profession and know already much more than we can teach them respecting their several kinds of roguery. Rogues knew a good deal about lock-picking long before locksmiths discussed it among themselves...[1]

Professional and recreational lock picking also has a long history. King Louis XVI of France (1754–1793) was a keen designer, picker, and manipulator of locks,[2] and physicist Richard Feynman picked locks for fun in the 1940s while employed on the Manhattan Project. The tradition of student roof and tunnel hacking at MIT included lockpicking,[3] and their guide to this was made widely available in 1991.[4]

Beginning in 1997[5] more organized recreational lockpicking has now grown and developed a competitive aspect in "locksport", along with its own governing body, Locksport International.[6][7]

Tools

[edit]

Skeleton key

[edit]
A common set of skeleton keys used to open most types of warded padlocks

The warded pick, also known as a skeleton key, is used for opening warded locks. It is generally made to conform to a generalized key shape relatively simpler than the actual key used to open the lock; this simpler shape allows for internal manipulations.

The keys for warded locks only require the back end manipulating which is the end which opens the lock. The other parts are there to distinguish between different varieties of their locks. For example, for a chest of drawers with a warded lock, a skeleton key for that type of warded lock can be made by filing away all but the last one or two teeth or bittings on both sides of the blade. Additionally, a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock through the keyway, the wards align with the grooves in the key's profile to allow or deny entry into the lock cylinder.

Pin tumbler lock picking

[edit]
A traditional pick set. From left to right: tension wrench, "twist-flex" tension wrench, offset diamond pick, ball pick, half-diamond pick, short hook, medium hook, saw (or "L") rake, snake (or "C") rake.

Comb pick

[edit]
Two comb picks

Comb picks push all the key and driver pins above the shear line allowing you to open the lock.

Tension wrench

[edit]
Illustration demonstrating the use of a tension wrench and pick

The tension wrench or torsion wrench, is generally used when picking a pin tumbler or wafer lock. It is used to apply torque to the plug of a lock to hold any picked pins in place. Once all pins are picked, the tension wrench is then used to turn the plug and open the lock. There are two basic types of tension: "bottom of the keyway" and "top of the keyway". The bottom of the keyway wrenches is typically shaped like a letter "L", although the vertical part of the letter is elongated in comparison to the horizontal part. Other tension tools, especially those for use with cars, resemble a pair of tweezers and allow the user to apply torque to both the top and the bottom of the lock. These are commonly used with double-sided wafer locks.

Half-diamond pick

[edit]

This versatile pick is included in nearly all kits and is mainly used for picking individual pins, but can also be used for raking and wafer and disk locks. The triangular-shaped half-diamond is usually 2.5 to 12.2 millimetres (0.098 to 0.480 inches) long. The angles that form the base of the half-diamond can be either steep or shallow, depending on the need for picking without affecting neighboring pins, or raking as appropriate. A normal set comprises around three half-diamond picks and a full-diamond pick.

Hook pick

[edit]

The hook pick is similar to the half-diamond pick but has a hook-shaped tip rather than a half-diamond shape. The hook pick is sometimes referred to as a "feeler" or "finger" and is not used for raking. This is the most basic lockpicking tool and is all that a professional will usually need if the lock is to be picked in the traditional sense rather than opened by raking or using a pick gun. A variety of differently sized and shaped hooks are available in a normal set.

Ball pick

[edit]

The ball pick is similar to the half-diamond pick, except the end of the pick has a half or full circle shape. This pick is commonly used to open wafer locks.

Rake pick

[edit]
Two types of rake pick, the double and triple peak, sometimes known as Bogota rakes

These picks, such as the common snake rake, are designed to rake pins by rapidly sliding the pick past all the pins, repeatedly, to bounce the pins until they reach the shear line. This method requires much less skill than picking pins individually and generally works well on cheaper locks. Advanced rakes are available which are shaped to mimic various pin height key positions and are considerably easier to use than traditional rakes. Such rakes are typically machined from a template of common key configurations since not all permutations of pin heights for adjacent pins are possible given the process by which keys are manufactured.

Decoder pick

[edit]

The decoder pick is a key which has been adapted such that the height of its notches can be changed, either by screwing them into the blade base or by adjusting them from the handle while the key is in the lock. This will allow not only access to the lock but also a template for cutting a replacement key.

Bump key

[edit]
A typical bump key

The simplest way to open the majority of pin locks is to insert a key (or variety of keys) that has been cut so that each peak of the key is equal and has been cut down to the lowest groove of the key. This key is then struck sharply with a hammer whilst applying torque. The force of the blow is carried down the length of the key and (operating as does a Newton's cradle) will move only the driver pins, leaving the key pins in place. If done correctly, this briefly creates a gap around the shear line, allowing the plug to rotate freely.[8] Some modern high-security locks include bumping protection, such as Master Lock's "BumpStop"[9] and ILCO's "Bump Halt"[10] technology.

Wafer tumbler lock picking

[edit]

Jigglers or try-out key

[edit]

The majority of wafer tumbler locks can be opened with a set of jigglers or try-out keys. They can also be opened with pin-tumbler picks.

Pick gun

[edit]
A snap gun

The manual pick gun (or snap gun) was invented by Ely Epstein.[11] It usually has a trigger that creates a movement which (like bump keys) transfers sudden energy to the key pins, which communicate this to the driver pins, causing only those pins to jump, allowing the cylinder to turn freely for a brief moment, until the pin springs return the pins to their locking position. Electric versions are also common, whereby simply pressing a button vibrates the pins while a normal torsion wrench is being used.

Tubular lock pick

[edit]

A tubular lock pick is a specialized lockpicking tool used for opening a tubular pin tumbler lock. Tubular lock picks are all very similar in design and come in sizes to fit all major tubular locks, including 6, 7, 8, and 10-pin locks. The tool is simply inserted into the lock and turned clockwise with medium torque. As the tool is pushed into the lock, each of the pins is slowly forced down until they stop, thus binding the driver pins behind the shear line of the lock. When the final pin is pushed down, the shear plane is clear and the lock opens. This can usually be accomplished in a matter of seconds.

Most tubular lock picks come with a "decoder" which lets the locksmith know at what depths the pins broke the shear plane. By using the decoding key after the lock has been picked, the locksmith can cut a tubular key to the correct pin depths and thus avoid having to replace the lock.

Anti-picking methods

[edit]
A deadbolt lock that has been picked, showing that the plug has been turned without the key

The history of lock development, particularly modern locks, is largely one of an arms race between lock pickers and lock inventors.

Today's anti-picking methods in standard pin tumbler locks include the use of sidewards which obstruct the keyway and "security pins" or "carnival pins". These are shaped like a spool, mushroom, or barrel, with the effect that they feel as though they have set when in fact they have not.[12] Security pins can also have the effect of resetting other pins when adjusted.

[edit]

Australia

[edit]

In Australia, possession of lock picking equipment is legal. However, it may count toward evidence of intent to commit a crime if otherwise incriminating circumstances warrant reasonable suspicion by police. For example, Queensland state law states:

"A person possessing lock picks, an electronic car door lock scanner, or a jemmy in other than easily explainable circumstances, e.g., a locksmith, carpenter, or a person undertaking home renovations, may warrant the suspicion of police that the person may intend to used [sic] the equipment for a burglary or vehicle theft. Obviously, the suspicion held by police must be reasonable and therefore will be dependent on the circumstances under which the person is found with the items."[13][14]

Canada

[edit]

In B.C. and Ontario Canada, a license is required to carry out locksmithing professionally.[15][16] It is legal for hobbyists who are not locksmiths to pick locks that they own.[citation needed]

Under Section 351 of the Canadian Criminal Code, lock pick tools fit in the same category as crowbars or hammers, meaning they are legal to possess and use unless they are used to commit a crime or if it is shown there was the intention to commit a crime.

The relevant section states: "Every person who, without lawful excuse, has in their possession any instrument suitable for breaking into any place, motor vehicle, vault or safe knowing that the instrument has been used or is intended to be used for that purpose,

(a) is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or

(b) is guilty of an offense punishable on summary conviction."[17]

Some provinces require a license to carry lock picks.[18] Unlike most laws in Canada, the onus is on the defendant to prove that they have a legal purpose to use the lock picks. Similar to some drug trafficking offenses, this may be automatically applied if possession is discovered, though corroborating evidence is needed to support these charges.[19] Hobbyist use and indications thereof should constitute reasonable doubt, though the defendant must prove legal purposes, the crown must still indicate the charges are reasonable given the circumstances. For example, the discovery of lock picks in a dwelling house in absence of other indications of burglary are not grounds for this charge.[20] It is not uncommon for hackathon events in Canada to have lock picking challenges, and this would constitute a reasonable and legal reason for possession.

Germany

[edit]

There is no law or regulation on lock picking, so it is legal as long as one has permission from the owner of the lock to pick the lock in question. Lock picking tools can be freely bought and sold. There are several clubs where lock picking is practiced as a sport.[21] Lock picking has also become a popular part of geocaching in Germany.[22] There are also lock picking workshops at geocaching events.[23]

European Union

[edit]

Most countries of the European Union don't regulate the possession of lockpicks. All responsibility concerning criminal or legal acts using the picks is taken by the owner of the lockpicks.

Hungary

[edit]

Unusually for a country in the EU, ownership of lock picks in Hungary on public property is prohibited. [24]

Japan

[edit]

Japan's law prohibits possession of any lock picking tools and imposes a penalty of one-year imprisonment or a 500,000 yen fine.[25]

Netherlands

[edit]

In the Netherlands, owning lock picks is legal, but using them on someone else's locks without permission is not. There is a lock picking championship, the Dutch Open (organized by TOOOL), which started in 2002 and features competitors from around the world. The competition is held during LockCon, an annual conference about locks.[26][27]

New Zealand

[edit]

In New Zealand, lock picking tools are not illegal, but possession with the intent to use them for burglary carries a potential penalty of three years in prison.[28]

Poland

[edit]

In Poland, according to Article 129/1 of the Misdemeanor Code: both (1) possessing, producing or obtaining a lock pick by a person whose profession and occupation does not require it; and (2) delivering a lock pick to a person whose profession and occupation does not require it is punishable with arrest, freedom limitation or fine - and (3) a lock pick is forfeited even if it was not the property of the principal.[29]

United Kingdom

[edit]

In England and Wales, a person who, not within their abode, has any article to be used in the course of or in connection with any burglary or theft can potentially be prosecuted.[30] A successful prosecution would need to prove intention to use the tools for that purpose at the time of possession.[31] As an either way offence, the maximum penalty for this is 3 years imprisonment if tried in the Crown Court, and 12 months if tried in the Magistrates' Court.[32]

United States

[edit]

In the United States, laws concerning possession of lock picks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of a crowbar or any other tool that may or may not be used in a burglary. Possession of lock picks with an intent for their unlawful use is generally prosecuted as a misdemeanor under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. In many states, simple possession of lock picks is completely legal, as the statutes only prohibit the possession of lock picks or the activity of lock picking when there is a malicious intent.[33] This is the case in Arizona,[34] California,[33] Utah,[35] Maine,[36] Massachusetts,[37] New Hampshire,[38] Washington D.C., Washington State,[39] and New York.[40] Some states, such as California and New York, impose restrictions on businesses, such as prohibiting the operation of a locksmithing business without a license and imposing requirements to keep records about sales of lock picking devices.[33][41][42]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ A. C. Hobbs (Charles Tomlinson, ed.), Locks and Safes: The Construction of Locks. Published by Virtue & Co., London, 1853 (revised 1868).
  2. ^ Andress, David. "The Terror", Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2005, p. 12-13
  3. ^ "From rei@MIT.EDU Fri Jul 14 14:23:49 1995". Mit.edu. Retrieved September 19, 2017. Executive Summary: The MIT Hacking community is saddened by the series of recent events which have made the "MIT Guide To Lockpicking" available electronically in a indiscriminate fashion.
  4. ^ "MIT Guide to Lock Picking" (PDF). People.csail.mit.edu. September 1, 1991. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  5. ^ "SSDeV - The world's first sport lockpicking group - founded 1997 in Germany". Lockpicking.org. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  6. ^ "Lock Picking for Sport Cracks the Mainstream". ABC News. January 7, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  7. ^ ""Hobbyists embrace the joys of picking locks"" (PDF). Blogs.kansascity.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Understanding Bump Keys (Video)". L. Scott Harrell. April 19, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  9. ^ Lock®, Master. "Security Enhancements - Master Lock". Masterlock.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "ILCO Key Systems". Kaba-ilco.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  11. ^ "Founders - The Legacy". Lockmuseumofamerica.org. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  12. ^ "Security pin - Lockwiki". Lockwiki.com. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "SUMMARY OFFENCES BILL 2004 Explanatory Notes". Austlii.edu.au. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  14. ^ "Review of Maximum Penalties for Preparatory Offences Report" (PDF). Sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  15. ^ "Things to know about locksmiths". Consumer Protection BC. June 2, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "Locksmiths Licensing Act, 1996". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Canada Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46): Offences Against Rights of Property
  18. ^ Lockpick Canada: Help Archived March 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Criminal Code". Laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  20. ^ "Can You Buy Lock Picks in Canada? Yes AND No". Lock King. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  21. ^ Schafbuch, David (March 22, 2014). "'Lockpicking' as Hobby - Sesam, öffne dich". Faz.net (in German).
  22. ^ Bookmark list of lock picking geocaches for basic members at geocaching.com, retrieved on June 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Listing to the event GC321V2, retrieved on June 12, 2018.
  24. ^ "175/2003. (X. 28.) Korm. rendelet a közbiztonságra különösen veszélyes eszközökrÅ‘l". Jogtár. Wolters Kluwer. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  25. ^ Act on Prohibiting the Possession of Specified Lock-picking tools (特殊開錠用具の所持の禁止等に関する法律) (65, 3, 4, 16) (in Japanese). June 4, 2003.
  26. ^ "Lockpicking - Toool". Toool.nl. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  27. ^ "Lock pickers hebben slot in paar seconden open", the Leeuwarder Courant, December 2, 2002
    • "Vito Tieke", Even Vragen Aan, the Algemeen Dagblad, 2002-12-02
    • "Duitser kampioen sloten openen", the Sp!ts, probably 2002-12-02
    • "Duitser wordt in Sneek kampioen sloten openen", the Friesch Dagblad, probably 2002-12-02
    • "Duitser eerste kampioen sloten openen in Sneek", the Dagblad van het Noorden, probably 2002-12-02
    • "Sloten openen als nieuwe sport", Dagblad de Limburger, probably 2002-12-02
    Note: the dates of some articles were not available, but considering the fact that newspapers generally report promptly, it can be assumed the given dates are correct.
    It was also documented on television, in the programs Hart van Nederland and on Omproep Friesland.
  28. ^ "New Zealand Crimes Act (1961), Section 233, subsection 1 - Being disguised or in possession of instrument for burglary". Legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "Ustawa z dnia 20 maja 1971 r. Kodeks wykroczeÅ„" (PDF). Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych. Kancelaria Sejmu. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  30. ^ "Legislation index". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  31. ^ "Crown Prosecution Guidance". cps.gov.uk. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  32. ^ "Sentencing Council Guidelines". sentencingcouncil.org.uk. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  33. ^ a b c "California Penal Codes, Sections 466–469". California Legislative Information.
  34. ^ "Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 – Chapter 13 – Section 13-1505". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  35. ^ "Utah Criminal Code: Title 76 – Chapter 06 - Section 205". Le.utah.gov. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  36. ^ "Title 17-A, 403: Possession or transfer of burglar's tools". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  37. ^ "Possession of burglarious tools" (PDF). Massachusetts Court System. 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  38. ^ "Section 635:1 Burglary". Gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  39. ^ "RCW 9A.52.060: Making or having burglar tools". App.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  40. ^ "Possession of burglar's tools" (PDF). Nycourts.gov/. New York State Unified Court System. September 1, 1967. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  41. ^ "California State Business and Professions Code – Chapter 8.5. Locksmiths". California Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  42. ^ "Locksmith License". 1.nyc.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2016.

 

A Nissan Fuga intelligent key

A smart key is a vehicular passive entry system developed by Siemens in 1995 and introduced by Mercedes-Benz under the name "Keyless-Go" in 1998 on the W220 S-Class,[1] after the design patent was filed by Daimler-Benz on May 17, 1997.[2]

Numerous manufacturers subsequently developed similar passive systems that unlock a vehicle on approach — while the key remains pocketed by the user.

Operation

[edit]
The first KeylessGo ECU of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The smart key allows the driver to keep the key fob pocketed when unlocking, locking and starting the vehicle. The key is identified via one of several antennas in the car's bodywork and an ISM band radio pulse generator in the key housing. Depending on the system, the vehicle is automatically unlocked when a button or sensor on the door handle or trunk release is pressed. Vehicles with a smart-key system have a mechanical backup, usually in the form of a spare key blade supplied with the vehicle. Some manufacturers hide the backup lock behind a cover for styling.

A push-button ignition switch in place of the immobilizer on a Mitsubishi RVR equipped with the Smart key.

Vehicles with a smart-key system can disengage the immobilizer and activate the ignition without inserting a key in the ignition, provided the driver has the key inside the car. On most vehicles, this is done by pressing a starter button or twisting an ignition switch.

When leaving a vehicle that is equipped with a smart-key system, the vehicle is locked by either pressing a button on a door handle, touching a capacitive area on a door handle, or simply walking away from the vehicle. The method of locking varies across models.

Some vehicles automatically adjust settings based on the smart key used to unlock the car. User preferences such as seat positions, steering wheel position, exterior mirror settings, climate control (e.g. temperature) settings, and stereo presets are popular adjustments. Some models, such as the Ford Escape, even have settings to prevent the vehicle from exceeding a maximum speed if it has been started with a certain key.

Insurance standard

[edit]
Bugatti keyless entry remote

In 2005, the UK motor insurance research expert Thatcham introduced a standard for keyless entry, requiring the device to be inoperable at a distance of more than 10 cm from the vehicle.[citation needed] In an independent test, the Nissan Micra's system was found to be the most secure, while certain BMW and Mercedes keys failed, being theoretically capable of allowing cars to be driven away while their owners were refueling.[3] Despite these security vulnerabilities, auto theft rates have decreased 7 percent between 2009 and 2010, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau credits smart keys for this decrease.[4][5]

SmartKeys

[edit]
A woman shows Honda Odyssey (international) Smart Entry System

SmartKeys were developed by Siemens in the mid-1990s and introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1997 to replace the infrared security system introduced in 1989. Daimler-Benz filed the first patents for SmartKey on February 28, 1997, in German patent offices, with multifunction switchblade key variants following on May 17, 1997.[6][7][8][9] The device entailed a plastic key to be used in place of the traditional metal key. Electronics that control locking systems and the ignitions made it possible to replace the traditional key with a sophisticated computerized "Key". It is considered a step up from remote keyless entry. The SmartKey adopts the remote control buttons from keyless entry, and incorporates them into the SmartKey fob.

Once inside a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, the SmartKey fob, unlike keyless entry fobs, is placed in the ignition slot where a starter computer verifies the rolling code. Verified in milliseconds, it can then be turned as a traditional key to start the engine. The device was designed with the cooperation of Siemens Automotive and Huf exclusively for Mercedes-Benz, but many luxury manufacturers have implemented similar technology based on the same idea.[citation needed] In addition to the SmartKey, Mercedes-Benz now integrates as an option Keyless Go; this feature allows the driver to keep the SmartKey in their pocket, yet giving them the ability to open the doors, trunk as well as starting the car without ever removing it from their pocket.

The SmartKey's electronics are embedded in a hollow, triangular piece of plastic, wide at the top, narrow at the bottom, squared-off at the tip with a half-inch-long insert piece. The side of the SmartKey also hides a traditional Mercedes-Benz key that can be pulled out from a release at the top. The metal key is used for valet purposes such as locking the glove compartment and/or trunk before the SmartKey is turned over to a parking attendant. Once locked manually, the trunk cannot be opened with the SmartKey or interior buttons. The key fob utilizes a radio-frequency transponder to communicate with the door locks, but it uses infrared to communicate with the engine immobilizer system. The original SmartKeys had a limited frequency and could have only been used in line-of-sight for safety purposes. The driver can also point the smart key at the front driver side door while pushing and holding the unlock button on the SmartKey and the windows and the sunroof will open in order to ventilate the cabin. Similarly, if the same procedure is completed while holding the lock button, the windows and sunroof will close. In cars equipped with the Active Ventilated Seats, the summer opening feature will activate seat ventilation in addition to opening the windows and sunroof.[citation needed]

Display Key

[edit]

Display Key is a type of smart key developed by BMW that includes a small LCD color touchscreen on it. It performs the standard functions that a key fob would normally do such as locking, unlocking & keyless start, but because of the screen the user can also perform a number of the features from BMW's app. One of which includes commanding the car to self park from the key if your car has self parking capability. The key is currently available for the 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series, X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7. The key is rechargeable and will last about 3 weeks. It can be charged via a micro USB port on the side or wirelessly on the center console.

Keyless Go

[edit]

Keyless Go (also: Keyless Entry / Go; Passive Entry / Go) is Mercedes' term for an automotive technology which allows a driver to lock and unlock a vehicle without using the corresponding SmartKey buttons.[10] Once a driver enters a vehicle with an equipped Keyless Go SmartKey or Keyless Go wallet-size card, they have the ability to start and stop the engine, without inserting the SmartKey. A transponder built within the SmartKey allows the vehicle to identify a driver. An additional safety feature is integrated into the vehicle, making it impossible to lock a SmartKey with Keyless Go inside a vehicle.

Hardware blocks on the Keyless Entry/Go ECU

The system works by having a series of LF (low frequency 125 kHz) transmitting antennas both inside and outside the vehicle. The external antennas are located in the door handles. When the vehicle is triggered, either by pulling the handle or touching the handle, an LF signal is transmitted from the antennas to the key. The key becomes activated if it is sufficiently close and it transmits its ID back to the vehicle via RF (Radio frequency >300 MHz) to a receiver located in the vehicle. If the key has the correct ID, the PASE module unlocks the vehicle.

The hardware blocks of a Keyless Entry / Go Electronic control unit ECU are based on its functionality:

  • transmitting low-frequency LF signals via the 125 kHz power amplifier block
  • receiving radio frequency RF signals (> 300 MHz) from the built-in ISM receiver block
  • encrypting and decrypting all relevant data signals (security)
  • communicating relevant interface signals with other electronic control units
  • microcontroller

Inside Outside detection

[edit]

The smart key determines if it is inside or outside the vehicle by measuring the strength of the LF fields. In order to start the vehicle, the smart key must be inside the vehicle.

Security requirements

[edit]

It is important that the vehicle can't be started when the user and therefore the smart key is outside the vehicle. This is especially important at fueling stations where the user is very close to the vehicle. The internal LF field is allowed to overshoot by a maximum of 10 cm to help minimise this risk. Maximum overshoot is usually found on the side windows where there is very little attenuation of the signal.

Relay Station Attack

A second scenario exists under the name "relay station attack" (RSA). The RSA is based on the idea of reducing the long physical distance between the car and the regular car owner's SmartKey. Two relay stations will be needed for this: The first relay station is located nearby the car and the second is close to the SmartKey. So on first view, the Keyless Entry / Go ECU and the SmartKey could communicate together. A third person at the car could pull the door handle and the door would open. However, in every Keyless Entry / Go system provisions exist to avoid a successful two-way communication via RSA. Some of the most known are:

Furthermore, Keyless Entry / Go communicates with other Control Units within the same vehicle. Depending on the electric car architecture, the following are some Control Systems that can be enabled or disabled:

  • ESCL Electric Steering Column Lock
  • EIS Electronic Ignition Switch
  • Central door locking system
  • Immobiliser
  • Engine Control Unit (Motor management system)
  • BCU Body control unit

Another possibility is using a motion sensor within the key fob.[11][12]

Internal LF field dead spots

[edit]

Dead spots are a result of the maximum overshoot requirement from above. The power delivered to the internal LF antennas has to be tuned to provide the best performance i.e. minimum dead spots and maximum average overshoot. Dead spots are usually near the extremities of the vehicle e.g. the rear parcel shelf.

Battery backup

[edit]

If the battery in the smart key becomes depleted, it is necessary for there to be a backup method of opening and starting the vehicle. Opening is achieved by an emergency (fully mechanical) key blade usually hidden in the smart key. On many cars emergency starting is achieved by use of an inductive coupling. The user either has to put the key in a slot or hold it near a special area on the cockpit, where there is an inductive coil hidden behind which transfers energy to a matching coil in the dead key fob using inductive charging.

Slots have proven to be problematic, as they can go wrong and the key becomes locked in and cannot be removed. Another problem with the slot is it can't compensate for a fob battery below certain operating threshold. Most smart key batteries are temperature sensitive causing the fob to become intermittent, fully functional, or inoperative all in the same day.

Special cases

[edit]

A Keyless Entry / Go system should be able to detect and handle most of the following cases:

  • SmartKey Transponder was forgotten in the rear trunk
  • More than one SmartKey is present inside the car
  • SmartKey getting lost during the drive
  • Smartkey battery low (Limp-Home)

Effectiveness

[edit]

A test by ADAC revealed that 20 car models with Keyless Go could be entered and driven away without the key.[13][14][15][16] In 2014, 6,000 cars (about 17 per day) were stolen using keyless entry in London.[17]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Clark, Mitchell (31 May 2022). "The push-button ignition was a luxurious way to start your car until it wasn't". The Verge. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  2. ^ "DPMAregister | Designs – Registerauskunft zum Design". Archived from the original on 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  3. ^ "Auto Express: Micra's Top of the Fobs". Archived from the original on 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  4. ^ Saylor, Michael (2012). The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. Perseus Books/Vanguard Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1593157203.
  5. ^ "Vehicle theft post Sixth Consecutive Yearly Decline". NICB. 2010-09-20.
  6. ^ "DPMAregister | Designs – Registerauskunft zum Design". Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  7. ^ "DPMAregister | Designs – Registerauskunft zum Design". Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  8. ^ "DPMAregister | Designs – Registerauskunft zum Design". Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  9. ^ "DPMAregister | Designs – Registerauskunft zum Design". Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  10. ^ "KEYLESS-GO®". Mercedes-Benz USA.
  11. ^ http://essatech.de/produkty/ Archived 2019-04-14 at the Wayback Machine - Keyless Defender
  12. ^ https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/ford-fiesta-focus-theft-proof-keyless-entry-fobs/ Archived 2019-04-14 at the Wayback Machine - Ford Fiesta and Focus keyless entry fobs are now theft-proof
  13. ^ Saarinen, Martin (18 March 2016). "Tests uncover major security risk to keyless cars". Auto Express. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  14. ^ Keyless-Diebstahl - vom ADAC untersuchte Autos Archived 2016-03-27 at the Wayback Machine ADAC, 15 March 2016
  15. ^ Autos mit Keyless leichter zu klauen Archived 2016-03-28 at the Wayback Machine ADAC
  16. ^ ADAC demonstrates keyless theft on YouTube
  17. ^ Finnerty, Joe (5 February 2015). "Keyless car crime up as gangs target vans". Auto Express. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
[edit]

 

An illustration of a German locksmith, 1451.

Locksmithing is the work of creating and bypassing locks. Locksmithing is a traditional trade and in many countries requires completion of an apprenticeship. The level of formal education legally required varies by country, ranging from no formal education to a training certificate awarded by an employer, or a full diploma from an engineering college, along with time spent as an apprentice.

Terminology

[edit]

A lock is a mechanism that secures buildings, rooms, cabinets, objects, or other storage facilities. A "smith" is a metalworker who shapes metal pieces, often using a forge or mould, into useful objects or to be part of a more complex structure. Thus locksmithing, as its name implies, is the assembly and designing of locks and their respective keys by hand. Most locksmiths use both automatic and manual cutting tools to mold keys, with many of these tools being powered by batteries or mains electricity.

Work

[edit]

Locks have been constructed for over 2500 years, initially out of wood and later out of metal.[1] Historically, locksmiths would make the entire lock, working for hours hand cutting screws and doing much file-work. Lock designs became significantly more complicated in the 18th century, and locksmiths often specialized in repairing or designing locks.

Although replacing lost keys for automobiles and homes, as well as rekeying locks for security purposes, remains an important part of locksmithing, a 1976 US Government publication noted that modern locksmiths are primarily involved in installing high-quality lock-sets and managing keying and key control systems.

Locksmith specialisations

[edit]

Most locksmiths also provide electronic lock services, such as programming smart keys for transponder-equipped vehicles and implementing access control systems to protect individuals and assets for large institutions.[2] Many also specialise in other areas such as:

  • Auto Locksmithing
  • Safes

Regulation by country

[edit]

Australia

[edit]

In Australia, prospective locksmiths are required to take a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) course in locksmithing, completion of which leads to issuance of a Level 3 Australian Qualifications Framework certificate, and complete an apprenticeship. They must also pass a criminal records check certifying that they are not currently wanted by the police. Apprenticeships can last one to four years. Course requirements are variable: there is a minimal requirements version that requires fewer total training units, and a fuller version that teaches more advanced skills, but takes more time to complete. Apprenticeship and course availability vary by state or territory.[3]

Ireland

[edit]

In Ireland, licensing for locksmiths was introduced in 2016,[4] with locksmiths having to obtain a Private Security Authority license. The Irish Locksmith Organisation has 50 members with ongoing training to ensure all members are up-to-date with knowledge and skills.

United Kingdom

[edit]

In the UK, there is no current government regulation for locksmithing, so effectively anyone can trade and operate as a locksmith with no skill or knowledge of the industry.[5]

United States

[edit]

Fifteen states in the United States require licensure for locksmiths. Nassau County and New York City in New York State, and Hillsborough County and Miami-Dade County in Florida have their own licensing laws.[6] State and local laws are described in the table below. 15 states require locksmith licensing: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia

US Locksmith Licensing[7][6]
State Regulatory body Requirements
Alabama Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure Certification course, continuing education, background check every two years
California California Department of Consumer Affairs, California Contractors State License Board; California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services California requires a C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor license, with renewal every two years, in addition to a background check.[8][9]
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Background check, registration (renews biennially)
Florida No statewide regulation. Counties of Hillsborough and Miami-Dade require licensure for locksmiths and locksmith firms. Miami-Dade's ordinance covers locksmithing, as well as the installation of security alarm closed-circuit television systems. Miami-Dade: must register with county and receive license. Each business performing locksmith services must have at least one license-holder in its employ. Fingerprinting and criminal background check accompany license application. Initial applicants must have a locksmith permit for one year before full licensure. Any work involving electrical systems must be done by someone who also holds a state electrician's or contractor's license.[10] Hillsborough: must apply for a biennial locksmith license. The cost is $500 for an individual or firm of up to five employees, $750 for a firm of six to ten employees, and $1000 for a firm of more than ten employees. A background check and proof of insurance are also required.[11]: 1 Pinellas County: The City of Clearwater requires fingerprints applied by Clearwater police.
Illinois Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Must not have been convicted of a felony in the last ten years, must take twenty-hour licensure course, must pass examination[12]
Louisiana Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall Must pass examination, pay initial registration of $250, and maintain registration for $50 annually thereafter. Additional training and certification are required for locksmiths dealing with locks on fire and safety equipment and alarm systems.[13]
Maryland Maryland Locksmith Licensing Program, Maryland Department of Labor Must apply for a license and submit to a criminal records check, and after issue, must carry a state-issued locksmith license card at all times when performing work. Prior felony and misdemeanor convictions will be weighed by the Secretary of Labor according to statutorily-determined factors, including length of time since the offense and applicant's behavior since, when deciding to grant or withhold a license. The licensee must carry liability insurance, and submit proof of insurance to the secretary.[14]
Nebraska County Clerk Registration with the county clerk in the county in which the locksmith's business is located
Nevada County Sheriff Must not be in arrears on child support, and must register with the county sheriff of the county in which the business is located
New Jersey New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Must be at least eighteen years of age, must complete three years of supervised locksmith work, working an average of at least twenty hours a week, or complete a formal two-year apprenticeship in a program approved by the United States Department of Labor, must not have been convicted of certain crimes within a ten-year period prior to application, and must pass an examination before being granted license.[15]
New York No statewide licensing requirement. In Nassau County, a county license is required.[16] Nassau County requirements include submission of passport-style photos for photo identification license card for the principal applicant; business or home address and phone number and proof of number operability in the form of a recent telephone bill; a listing of all employees and officers of the company along with passport photos; recent utility bill for the business location if the business is not operated from home; a statement of all criminal convictions for all employees and officers, along with court records if requested; statement all trade names used by the business, and incorporation documents, if applicable; proof of insurance; proof of workers' compensation registration; a federal employee identification number, and a state sales tax number, if applicable; and fingerprint records for all applicants, in addition to a non-refundable processing fee.[17]: 2–3 
North Carolina North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board Must submit documentation of criminal history. Must submit documentation of out-of-state licenses, immigration status, and military discharge, if applicable. May optionally submit training certifications and other data. Must pay an initial license fee and subsequent annual renewal fees and keep license on person at all times. Must notify state of any employees operating under the owner's locksmith license. All apprentices must be themselves licensed under an apprentice license, and may not perform certain services, except under the direct supervision of a full locksmith license holder.[18][19]
Oklahoma Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program, Oklahoma Department of Labor Must not have been convicted of a felony and must register with Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program[20]
Oregon Oregon Construction Contractors Board Must pass a criminal background check, pass a license examination, and renew registration biennially
Tennessee Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Must provide documentation of citizenship or legal residency, any criminal convictions, all changes of address; business license in county or city where business operates, or a notarized statement that services will be for an employer or association and not offered directly to the public; otherwise, must submit documentation of application for, or employment by, a Tennessee Locksmith Company duly registered with the state. Conviction of a felony, or any level of drug, burglary, or breaking and entering offense may bar the applicant from licensure.[21]
Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board The owner or manager of a company providing locksmith services must hold a Locksmith Company License. To qualify for a license, the applicant must have two years service as a locksmith for a licensed company. Alternatively, the applicant may substitute one year's experience plus successful completion of a forty-eight hour licensure course, followed by successful completion of a comprehensive license examination.[22]
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Must be over eighteen years of age. Must complete an eighteen-hour training course. Must undergo a criminal records check and submit fingerprints. Anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (excluding traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction must complete a supplemental Criminal History form detailing the circumstances of arrest and conviction, completion of sentence, and any record pertaining to parole or probation. Any false statements or omissions can provide grounds for denial of license and possible criminal sanctions.[23][24]

Employment

[edit]
A Locksmith, 2013

Locksmiths may be commercial (working out of a storefront), mobile (working out of a vehicle), institutional (employed by an institution) or investigatory (forensic locksmiths) or may specialize in one aspect of the skill, such as an automotive lock specialist, a master key system specialist or a safe technician.[2] Many locksmiths also work as security consultants, but not all security consultants possess locksmithing skills. Locksmiths are frequently certified in specific skill areas or to a level of skill within the trade. This is separate from certificates of completion of training courses. In determining skill levels, certifications from manufacturers or locksmith associations are usually more valid criteria than certificates of completion. Some locksmiths decide to call themselves "Master Locksmiths" whether they are fully trained or not, and some training certificates appear quite authoritative.

The majority of locksmiths also work on any existing door hardware, not just locking mechanisms. This includes door closers, door hinges, electric strikes, frame repairs and other door hardware.

Full disclosure

[edit]

The issue of full disclosure was first raised in the context of locksmithing, in a 19th-century controversy regarding whether weaknesses in lock systems should be kept secret in the locksmithing community, or revealed to the public.

According to A. C. Hobbs:

A commercial, and in some respects a social doubt has been started within the last year or two, whether or not it is right to discuss so openly the security or insecurity of locks. Many well-meaning persons suppose that the discussion respecting the means for baffling the supposed safety of locks offers a premium for dishonesty, by showing others how to be dishonest. This is a fallacy. Rogues are very keen in their profession, and know already much more than we can teach them respecting their several kinds of roguery.

Rogues knew a good deal about lock-picking long before locksmiths discussed it among themselves, as they have lately done. If a lock, let it have been made in whatever country, or by whatever maker, is not so inviolable as it has hitherto been deemed to be, surely it is to the interest of honest persons to know this fact, because the dishonest are tolerably certain to apply the knowledge practically; and the spread of the knowledge is necessary to give fair play to those who might suffer by ignorance.

It cannot be too earnestly urged that an acquaintance with real facts will, in the end, be better for all parties. Some time ago, when the reading public was alarmed at being told how London milk is adulterated, timid persons deprecated the exposure, on the plea that it would give instructions in the art of adulterating milk; a vain fear, milkmen knew all about it before, whether they practised it or not; and the exposure only taught purchasers the necessity of a little scrutiny and caution, leaving them to obey this necessity or not, as they pleased.

-- From A. C. Hobbs (Charles Tomlinson, ed.), Locks and Safes: The Construction of Locks. Published by Virtue & Co., London, 1853 (revised 1868).

Notable locksmiths

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lock Manufacturers and Brands". 24 7 Locksmiths. Archived from the original on 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  2. ^ a b Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor (1976). Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Occupational Outlook. pp. 416–417. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Certificate III in Locksmithing". TAFE Queensland. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ^ "Licensing of Locksmiths".
  5. ^ "Are locksmiths licensed in the UK?". The National Guild of Certified Locksmiths. April 9, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "State Licensing Laws". Associated Locksmiths of America. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Carpenter, Dick M. III; Knepper, Lisa; Sweetland, Kyle; McDonald, Jennifer. "License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing". Institute for Justice. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Locksmith Company and Locksmith Employee Fact Sheet". California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. July 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "Licensing_Classifications: C-28 Lock And Security Equipment". s. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Locksmith License". Miami-Dade County. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hillsborough County Locksmith Services Business Licensing Application and Important Information" (PDF). Hillsborough County. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Locksmith". Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "Life Safety & Property Protection Training Requirements". Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshalln. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Maryland Locksmith Licensing Program". Maryland Department of Labor. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "New Jersey Office of the Attorney General: Application for a Locksmith License" (PDF). New Jersey Attorney General. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "Local Law 19-2007: A Local Law to amend the Administrative Code in relation to locksmith licenses". Nassau County Legislature. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  17. ^ "General Instructions for the Locksmith License". Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board: Application for a Locksmith License" (PDF). North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board: Application for a Locksmith Apprentice License". North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program". Oklahoma Office of the Department of Labor. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  21. ^ "TN Regulations: Locksmith". Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Private Security Administrative Rules:RULE §35.123 Locksmith Company License" (PDF). Texas Department of Public Safety. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Licensure and Regulatory Affairs: Locksmith". Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "Licensure and Regulatory Affairs: Criminal History". Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. ^ Lea, Robert (2010). "Going for Growth: why Banham is not going to bolt now" The Times
  26. ^ Evening Standard. 9/25/2014, p73. 1p.
  27. ^ "Lock cylinder". Archived from the original on 2017-12-31.
  28. ^ "Door fastening device". Archived from the original on 2017-12-31.
  29. ^ "Banham - Experts in Security Services". Banham. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25.
  30. ^ "Opening an Antique Bramah Box Lock". Hygra.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  31. ^ "Bramah Locks". Crypto.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
[edit]

 

A typical modern padlock and its keys

A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object (such as a key, keycard, fingerprint, RFID card, security token or coin), by supplying secret information (such as a number or letter permutation or password), by a combination thereof, or it may only be able to be opened from one side, such as a door chain.

A key is a device that is used to operate a lock (to lock or unlock it). A typical key is a small piece of metal consisting of two parts: the bit or blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. In its simplest implementation, a key operates one lock or set of locks that are keyed alike, a lock/key system where each similarly keyed lock requires the same, unique key.

The key serves as a security token for access to the locked area; locks are meant to only allow persons having the correct key to open it and gain access. In more complex mechanical lock/key systems, two different keys, one of which is known as the master key, serve to open the lock. Common metals include brass, plated brass, nickel silver, and steel. The act of opening a lock without a key is called lock picking.

History

[edit]
Bronze lock in the form of a scorpion, from Nalanda, India, 10th century

Premodern history

[edit]
Medieval Gothic lock, from the 15th–16th centuries, made of iron, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

Locks have been in use for over 6000 years, with one early example discovered in the ruins of Nineveh, the capital of ancient Assyria.[1] Locks such as this were developed into the Egyptian wooden pin lock, which consisted of a bolt, door fixture or attachment, and key. When the key was inserted, pins within the fixture were lifted out of drilled holes within the bolt, allowing it to move. When the key was removed, the pins fell part-way into the bolt, preventing movement.[2]

The warded lock was also present from antiquity and remains the most recognizable lock and key design in the Western world. The first all-metal locks appeared between the years 870 and 900, and are attributed to English craftsmen.[3] It is also said that the key was invented by Theodorus of Samos in the 6th century BC.[1]

The Romans invented metal locks and keys and the system of security provided by wards.[4]

Affluent Romans often kept their valuables in secure locked boxes within their households, and wore the keys as rings on their fingers. The practice had two benefits: It kept the key handy at all times, while signaling that the wearer was wealthy and important enough to have money and jewellery worth securing.[5]

Drunk man's lock at the bottom (black lock) and a regular modern lock at the top

A special type of lock, dating back to the 17th–18th century, although potentially older as similar locks date back to the 14th century, can be found in the Beguinage of the Belgian city Lier.[6][7] These locks are most likely Gothic locks, that were decorated with foliage, often in a V-shape surrounding the keyhole.[8] They are often called drunk man's lock, as these locks were, according to certain sources, designed in such a way a person can still find the keyhole in the dark, although this might not be the case as the ornaments might have been purely aesthetic.[6][7] In more recent times similar locks have been designed.[9][10]

Modern locks

[edit]
Tibetan Lock and key – Dhankhar Gompa, Spiti. India. 2004
Chinese lock and key from Yunnan Province, early 20th century
Key anatomy

With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century and the concomitant development of precision engineering and component standardization, locks and keys were manufactured with increasing complexity and sophistication.[11]

The lever tumbler lock, which uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock, was invented by Robert Barron in 1778.[12] His double acting lever lock required the lever to be lifted to a certain height by having a slot cut in the lever, so lifting the lever too far was as bad as not lifting the lever far enough. This type of lock is still used today.[13]

Diagram of a Chubb detector lock

The lever tumbler lock was greatly improved by Jeremiah Chubb in 1818.[12] A burglary in Portsmouth Dockyard prompted the British Government to announce a competition to produce a lock that could be opened only with its own key.[5] Chubb developed the Chubb detector lock, which incorporated an integral security feature that could frustrate unauthorized access attempts and would indicate to the lock's owner if it had been interfered with. Chubb was awarded £100 after a trained lock-picker failed to break the lock after 3 months.[14]

In 1820, Jeremiah joined his brother Charles in starting their own lock company, Chubb. Chubb made various improvements to his lock: his 1824 improved design did not require a special regulator key to reset the lock; by 1847 his keys used six levers rather than four; and he later introduced a disc that allowed the key to pass but narrowed the field of view, hiding the levers from anybody attempting to pick the lock.[15] The Chubb brothers also received a patent for the first burglar-resisting safe and began production in 1835.

The designs of Barron and Chubb were based on the use of movable levers, but Joseph Bramah, a prolific inventor, developed an alternative method in 1784. His lock used a cylindrical key with precise notches along the surface; these moved the metal slides that impeded the turning of the bolt into an exact alignment, allowing the lock to open. The lock was at the limits of the precision manufacturing capabilities of the time and was said by its inventor to be unpickable. In the same year Bramah started the Bramah Locks company at 124 Piccadilly, and displayed the "Challenge Lock" in the window of his shop from 1790, challenging "...the artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock" for the reward of £200. The challenge stood for over 67 years until, at the Great Exhibition of 1851, the American locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs was able to open the lock and, following some argument about the circumstances under which he had opened it, was awarded the prize. Hobbs' attempt required some 51 hours, spread over 16 days.

The earliest patent for a double-acting pin tumbler lock was granted to American physician Abraham O. Stansbury in England in 1805,[16] but the modern version, still in use today, was invented by American Linus Yale Sr. in 1848.[17] This lock design used pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. In 1861, Linus Yale Jr. was inspired by the original 1840s pin-tumbler lock designed by his father, thus inventing and patenting a smaller flat key with serrated edges as well as pins of varying lengths within the lock itself, the same design of the pin-tumbler lock which still remains in use today.[18] The modern Yale lock is essentially a more developed version of the Egyptian lock.

Despite some improvement in key design since, the majority of locks today are still variants of the designs invented by Bramah, Chubb and Yale.

Types of lock

[edit]

With physical keys

[edit]

A warded lock uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has notches or slots that correspond to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside the lock. Warded locks are typically reserved for low-security applications as a well-designed skeleton key can successfully open a wide variety of warded locks.

The pin tumbler lock uses a set of pins to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade that limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock, the horizontal grooves on the blade align with the wards in the keyway allowing or denying entry to the cylinder. A series of pointed teeth and notches on the blade, called bittings, then allow pins to move up and down until they are in line with the shear line of the inner and outer cylinder, allowing the cylinder or cam to rotate freely and the lock to open. An additional pin called the master pin is present between the key and driver pins in locks that accept master keys, to allow the plug to rotate at multiple pin elevations.

A wafer tumbler lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle. However, unlike the pin lock (where each pin consists of two or more pieces) each wafer is a single piece. The wafer tumbler lock is often incorrectly referred to as a disc tumbler lock, which uses an entirely different mechanism. The wafer lock is relatively inexpensive to produce and is often used in automobiles and cabinetry.

The disc tumbler lock or Abloy lock is composed of slotted rotating detainer discs.

The lever tumbler lock uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock. In its simplest form, lifting the tumbler above a certain height will allow the bolt to slide past. Lever locks are commonly recessed inside wooden doors or on some older forms of padlocks, including fire brigade padlocks.

A magnetic keyed lock is a locking mechanism whereby the key utilizes magnets as part of the locking and unlocking mechanism. A magnetic key would use from one to many small magnets oriented so that the North and South poles would equate to a combination to push or pull the lock's internal tumblers thus releasing the lock.

With electronic keys

[edit]

An electronic lock works by means of an electric current and is usually connected to an access control system. In addition to the pin and tumbler used in standard locks, electronic locks connect the bolt or cylinder to a motor within the door using a part called an actuator. Types of electronic locks include the following:

A keycard lock operates with a flat card of similar dimensions as a credit card. In order to open the door, one needs to successfully match the signature within the keycard.

The lock in a typical remote keyless system operates with a smart key radio transmitter. The lock typically accepts a particular valid code only once, and the smart key transmits a different rolling code every time the button is pressed. Generally the car door can be opened with either a valid code by radio transmission, or with a (non-electronic) pin tumbler key. The ignition switch may require a transponder car key to both open a pin tumbler lock and also transmit a valid code by radio transmission.

A smart lock is an electromechanics lock that gets instructions to lock and unlock the door from an authorized device using a cryptographic key and wireless protocol. Smart locks have begun to be used more commonly in residential areas, often controlled with smartphones.[19][20] Smart locks are used in coworking spaces and offices to enable keyless office entry.[21] In addition, electronic locks cannot be picked with conventional tools.

Locksmithing

[edit]
Locksmith, 1451

Locksmithing is a traditional trade, and in most countries requires completion of an apprenticeship. The level of formal education required varies from country to country, from no qualifications required at all in the UK,[22] to a simple training certificate awarded by an employer, to a full diploma from an engineering college. Locksmiths may be commercial (working out of a storefront), mobile (working out of a vehicle), institutional, or investigational (forensic locksmiths). They may specialize in one aspect of the skill, such as an automotive lock specialist, a master key system specialist or a safe technician. Many also act as security consultants, but not all security consultants have the skills and knowledge of a locksmith.[citation needed]

Historically, locksmiths constructed or repaired an entire lock, including its constituent parts. The rise of cheap mass production has made this less common; the vast majority of locks are repaired through like-for-like replacements, high-security safes and strongboxes being the most common exception. Many locksmiths also work on any existing door hardware, including door closers, hinges, electric strikes, and frame repairs, or service electronic locks by making keys for transponder-equipped vehicles and implementing access control systems.

Although the fitting and replacement of keys remains an important part of locksmithing, modern locksmiths are primarily involved in the installation of high quality lock-sets and the design, implementation, and management of keying and key control systems. Locksmiths are frequently required to determine the level of risk to an individual or institution and then recommend and implement appropriate combinations of equipment and policies to create a "security layer" that exceeds the reasonable gain of an intruder.[citation needed]

Key duplication

[edit]
Video showing the process of cutting a key

Traditional key cutting is the primary method of key duplication. It is a subtractive process named after the metalworking process of cutting, where a flat blank key is ground down to form the same shape as the template (original) key. The process roughly follows these stages:

  1. The original key is fitted into a vise in a machine, with a blank attached to a parallel vise which is mechanically linked.
  2. The original key is moved along a guide in a movement which follows the key's shape, while the blank is moved in the same pattern against a cutting wheel by the mechanical linkage between the vices.
  3. After cutting, the new key is deburred by scrubbing it with a metal brush to remove particles of metal which could be dangerously sharp and foul locks.

Modern key cutting replaces the mechanical key following aspect with a process in which the original key is scanned electronically, processed by software, stored, then used to guide a cutting wheel when a key is produced. The capability to store electronic copies of the key's shape allows for key shapes to be stored for key cutting by any party that has access to the key image.

Different key cutting machines are more or less automated, using different milling or grinding equipment, and follow the design of early 20th century key duplicators.

Key duplication is available in many retail hardware stores and as a service of the specialized locksmith, though the correct key blank may not be available. More recently, online services for duplicating keys have become available.

 

Keyhole

[edit]
A traditional keyhole for a warded lock

A keyhole (or keyway) is a hole or aperture (as in a door or lock) for receiving a key.[23] Lock keyway shapes vary widely with lock manufacturer, and many manufacturers have a number of unique profiles requiring a specifically milled key blank to engage the lock's tumblers.

Symbolism

[edit]

Heraldry

[edit]

Keys appear in various symbols and coats of arms, the best-known being that of the Holy See:[24] derived from the phrase in Matthew 16:19 which promises Saint Peter, in Roman Catholic tradition the first pope, the Keys of Heaven. But this is by no means the only case.

Artwork

[edit]

Some works of art associate keys with the Greek goddess of witchcraft, known as Hecate.[25]

Palestinian key

[edit]
Palestinian key at a Nakba Day demonstration in Berlin

The Palestinian key is the Palestinian collective symbol of their homes lost in the Nakba, when more than half of the population of Mandatory Palestine was expelled or fled violence in 1948 and were subsequently refused the right to return.[26][27][28] Since 2016, a Palestinian restaurant in Doha, Qatar, holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest key – 2.7 tonnes and 7.8 × 3 meters.[29][30]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b de Vries, N. Cross and D. P. Grant, M. J. (1992). Design Methodology and Relationships with Science: Introduction. Eindhoven: Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 32. ISBN 9780792321910. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24.
  2. ^ Ceccarelli, Marco (2004). International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 43. ISBN 1402022034. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24.
  3. ^ "History". Locks.ru. Archived from the original on 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  4. ^ "Key | lock device". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  5. ^ a b "History". Slate. Slate Magazine. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  6. ^ a b R. De Bruyn, ‘Oude sloten op deurtjes in het Liers begijnhof’, in: 't land van Ryen jaargang 17, aflevering 3–4, 1967, p. 158, article in Dutch
  7. ^ a b Echtpaar schrijft eerste boek sinds twintig jaar over Liers begijnhof Archived 2022-11-07 at the Wayback Machine nieuwsblad.be, Chris van Rompaey, 17 april 2018, article in Dutch
  8. ^ Dictionary, Lexicon of locks and keys Archived 2023-05-27 at the Wayback Machine historicallocks.com
  9. ^ United States patent keyhole guide for locks and method of using the same Archived 2020-04-07 at the Wayback Machine patentimages, Eugene Toussant, 1990
  10. ^ V-Lock Helps Drunks Get Home to Bed Archived 2020-04-07 at the Wayback Machine wired.com, Charlie Sorrel, 5 April 2010
  11. ^ Abreha, Kaleb G.; Kassa, Woubet; Lartey, Emmanuel K. K.; Mengistae, Taye A.; Zeufack, Albert G. (2021-12-18). Industrialization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Seizing Opportunities in Global Value Chains. World Bank Publications. ISBN 978-1-4648-1721-2. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  12. ^ a b Chatwood, Arthur Brunel (1911). "Lock" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 841–844.
  13. ^ Pulford, Graham W. (2007). High-Security Mechanical Locks : An Encyclopedic Reference. Elsevier. p. 317. ISBN 978-0-7506-8437-8.
  14. ^ "Lock Making: Chubb & Son's Lock & Safe Co Ltd". Wolverhampton City Council. 2005. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2006.
  15. ^ Roper, C.A. & Phillips, Bill (2001). The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing. McGraw-Hill Publishing. ISBN 0-07-137494-9.
  16. ^ The Complete Book of Home, Site, and Office Security: Selecting, Installing, and Troubleshooting Systems and Devices. McGraw-Hill Professional. 2006. p. 11. ISBN 9780071467445. Archived from the original on 2016-11-21.
  17. ^ The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive. O'Reilly Media, Inc. 2009. p. 445. ISBN 9780596555627. Archived from the original on 2016-05-01.
  18. ^ "Inventor of the Week Archive". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 2013-05-29.
  19. ^ "Ditch the keys: it's time to get a smart lock". Popular Mechanics. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Kisi And KeyMe, two smart phone apps, might make house keys obsolete". The Huffington Post. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  21. ^ Kurutz, Steven (11 June 2014). "Losing The Key". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  22. ^ "What qualifications do I need to be a locksmith?". Master Locksmiths Association. Archived from the original on 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  23. ^ Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1981). "keyhole". Webster's Third New International Dictionary of English Language. Merriam-Webster Inc. p. 1239.
  24. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. New York: Dodge Publishing. p. 291. ISBN 0-517-26643-1. LCCN 09023803 – via Internet Archive. cite book: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  25. ^ Oskar Seyffert (1901). A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities: Mythology, Religion, Literature and Art (6 ed.). Swan Sonnenschein and Co. p. 271. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  26. ^ Meital, Y.; Rayman, P. (2017). Recognition as Key for Reconciliation: Israel, Palestine, and Beyond. Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-35580-4. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-04-06. Michal concedes the fact that Israelis do the same thing to the memory of the Nakba when saying "it was in 1948, enough talking about the past, let's talk about the future." When the Palestinians come with their keys [the Palestinian symbol of their lost homes], she says, "it's the same thing, it's a memory still burning in the hearts of families
  27. ^ Fisk, Robert (2018-06-28). "'I spoke to Palestinians who still hold the keys to homes they fled decades ago – many are still determined to return'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-04-06. Keys must always be the symbol of the Palestinian "Nakba" – the "disaster" – the final, fateful, terrible last turning in the lock of those front doors as 750,000 Arab men, women and children fled or were thrown out of their homes in what was to become the state of Israel in 1947 and 1948.
  28. ^ Feldman, llana. 2008. Refusing Invisibility: Documentation and Memorialization in Palestinian Refugee Claims Archived 2023-04-11 at the Wayback Machine, Journal of Refugee Studies 21 (4): 4, page 503: "Anyone familiar with Palestinian visibility practices will certainly be aware of the importance of certain central objects within this field. Many refugees still have the keys to their houses in Palestine. Keeping these keys, and showing them to visitors and researchers, is part of a hope for return and a claim to these properties. Given this widespread practice, these keys, with their distinctive old-fashioned look, have also become symbols of refugee commitment to Palestine. At demonstrations in support of Palestinians one can often find people carrying enlarged replicas of these keys—in the process transforming individual objects into collective symbols."
  29. ^ The Peninsula Newspaper (2016-05-16). "'Largest Key' dedicated to refugees around the world". The Peninsula Qatar. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-04-06. The gigantic key, dedicated to all the refugees around the world, was unveiled in a spectacular show at the Katara Amphitheatre last night featuring Palestinian Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf. "This key symbol for all the refugees in the world. We want to set a Guinness World Record to say that it is the right of these refugees to return back home. Actually this is linked particularly to Palestinian refugees."... Around 4,000 people filled the Katara Amphitheatre to witness the unveiling of the enormous key and enjoy the concert highlighted by the performance of the young Palestinian singer who is the first United Nations Relief and Works Agency regional youth ambassador for Palestine refugees.
  30. ^ "The Largest Key in The World". Ard Canaan Restaurant. 2016-12-08. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-04-06.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Phillips, Bill. (2005). The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-144829-2.
  • Alth, Max (1972). All About Locks and Locksmithing. Penguin. ISBN 0-8015-0151-2
  • Robinson, Robert L. (1973). Complete Course in Professional Locksmithing Nelson-Hall. ISBN 0-911012-15-X
[edit]

 

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The price depends on several factors, including the cars make and model, the time of day (nights and weekends often cost more), and your location. We can provide a more accurate quote after getting some details from you.
We strive to arrive within [Timeframe, e.g., 30 minutes] of your call. However, traffic and other unforeseen circumstances can sometimes affect arrival times. Well provide an ETA when you call.
We can unlock most makes and models of cars, including foreign and domestic vehicles. Let us know the year, make, and model of your car when you call.
Yes, for security reasons, we require proof of ownership, such as your drivers license and vehicle registration, to verify that youre authorized to access the vehicle.
Our technicians are trained to use specialized tools and techniques to unlock your car without causing damage. In rare cases with older or specific lock types, some minor marks may be unavoidable, but we take every precaution to minimize any potential damage.