Rightful property ?

[Magic]

O.K. guys - you get called to a nice, shiny BMW/Porsche/Rolls/Ford/Whatever by a guy who has lost his key. How do you go about verifying that he is the genuine owner of said vehicle before letting him into it and sending him on his way with a lovely new key ?

[unbreakable]

O.K. guys - you get called to a nice, shiny BMW/Porsche/Rolls/Ford/Whatever by a guy who has lost his key. How do you go about verifying that he is the genuine owner of said vehicle before letting him into it and sending him on his way with a lovely new key ?

Personally, Im not a locksmith, but some of the guys on here have said that they check the papers (insurance papers? Registration papers? not really too sure.......)in the car against the ID of the "victim".

Thats about all I know.

[Raccoon]

There are already a few threads created on this matter. I refer you to those I can remember.

viewtopic.php?p=164354#164354

viewtopic.php?t=14192
keywords: legal identification verification driver's license breaking entering neighbor police

[Raccoon]

Oh. I mentioned in one of my posts in those threads that I don't typically bother asking to see the owner's vehicle registration if it's simply a lockout opening, and the keys are inside the car. But if I were to actually create a key, I would require that information as well as their drivers license, plates, vin, etc etc.

Check out my invoices at the first link to see just how much info I collect about my customers. I collect everything except blood type and DNA sample, so I have no worries about theft.

[Magic]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. On this side of the pond it is not considered a good idea for anyone to keep the vehicle ownership document in the car and not many people carry insurance docs with them.
Any comments from the U.K. guys ?

[NickBristol]

One good tip I was passed by a police officer mate if there is any suspicion was to check the car over and take careful note of the dealer of the car, usually in small print on the registration plate or on one of those annoying stickers on the rear window. Asking the 'owner' casually in coversation might pick up something that doesn't fit. Might be a bit odd to be be saying 'Nice motor, where did you get it?' to a guy with a J-reg Escort but I could see it working on a £50k Merc.

I guess trusting a gut feeling and erring on the side of caution is the best approach.

[Shrub]

Ask them whats in the glove box and/or the boot and once open check it,

You get a good feel to be honest and a wrong 'un shows up like hes painted red,

[p1ckf1sh]

One good tip I was passed by a police officer mate if there is any suspicion was to check the car over and take careful note of the dealer of the car, usually in small print on the registration plate or on one of those annoying stickers on the rear window. Asking the 'owner' casually in coversation might pick up something that doesn't fit. Might be a bit odd to be be saying 'Nice motor, where did you get it?' to a guy with a J-reg Escort but I could see it working on a £50k Merc.

That would leave me stranded. The license plate frame on my set of wheels is on the car since it was bought from the dealer by the 1st owner. Now, it has changed hands twice by now, and I could not even remember which city the dealer is in although I once took a look at it.

[NickBristol]

I know what you mean (it would also leave me stranded on one of our cars too) but if you were called out at 3am to a guy wanting entry to a week old Porsche I think it'd be a reasonable extra test - I know I'd remember where I'd handed over that many notes.

It could never be a 100% foolproof system tho.

Nick

[Raccoon]

Simple one line phase that ought to work really really well, but probably wouldn't.

"Don't mess with me. I'm a locksmith, and I know where you live."

[Magic]

I guess these suggestions are better than nothing - but I'm worried just where we stand if H.M. Constabulary arrive and it transpires that the vehicle 'owner' is actually a local n'er do well ?

[Shrub]

As i say you will get a feel for it,

You will find someone wanting to steal a car will not call a lockie out who can later id them, they also wont pay you £200 to program a key for a high end car and they also wont wait the time it takes to program the key,

You can always turn away and say no if you feel somthing isnt quite right,

You should be more worried about being called out to a dark alley where 6 blokes jump out on you with baseball bats and want all your nice shiney picks including your van,

[Magic]

er.... thanks for your kind words of encouragement.

[raimundo]

carry a digital camera, ask the customer to stand by the car with the liscense place showing, and hold his ID at arms length in front of him, then take his picture, no thief would go for this, but a true customer will understand the concept and given the predicament they are in will allow it. digital film costs nothing, and you can put it in a computer or forget it until the cops come and ask questions, for that matter it dosent matter if your camera is charged or even works, its just street theater/theatre.

[bonez]

most mobil phones have cameras now,

that's a good shout take a pic of the client if it's all
legit then delete it after.