helping people who've locked themselves out of their car

[Memphisman]

Hi guys, I'm 43. Engineer with the local utility here in Memphis. I see a lot of people who have locked themselves out of their car. I've always wanted to help these guys more than just helping them "fish" to open their door with a coat hangar.
What's the easiest solution. I"ve seen tow truck drivers use a bar and I just wonder if that's easier or would lock picks be easier?
Appreciate any feedback.

Gary

[logosys]

Hi guys, I'm 43. Engineer with the local utility here in Memphis. I see a lot of people who have locked themselves out of their car. I've always wanted to help these guys more than just helping them "fish" to open their door with a coat hangar.
What's the easiest solution. I"ve seen tow truck drivers use a bar and I just wonder if that's easier or would lock picks be easier?
Appreciate any feedback.

Gary

Auto locks are a known pain in the butt. Best bet is to "slim jim" them. You can get a car opening kit from http://www.lockpicks.com that works a lot better than just a clothes hanger. Or, you can get some "try out" keys, but they won't work all the time. Hope this helps.

[CaptHook]

Please bear in mind the society we live in though...... if you accidently damage someones vehicle, you could be sued. If you are on the clock, its possible your employer could be also (kinda doubt they would like that). Where I work, there are always folks locking themselves out of their cars, when they come to me I refer them to a locksmith. If the local smith isnt available.... I have been known to open the car if the situation warrants it, knowing the risk I am taking if I screw something up. Generally speaking, I tend to stick to only doing openings for friends and coworkers.
Chuck

[toomush2drink]

I have to agree with capthook on this one, if you dont have public liability insurance and damage someone cars watchout !!. Remember cars are peoples pride and joy and they react badly to anyone marking/scratching them however much you are helping them. I myself wont go near them till i have taken a course on them and have myself covered fully insurance wise. Also do you know how to dismantle a door trim ? It is not unheard of for your tools to get stuck in the door requiring the trim to be removed to get access to them.

[logosys]

I have to agree with capthook on this one, if you dont have public liability insurance and damage someone cars watchout !!. Remember cars are peoples pride and joy and they react badly to anyone marking/scratching them however much you are helping them. I myself wont go near them till i have taken a course on them and have myself covered fully insurance wise. Also do you know how to dismantle a door trim ? It is not unheard of for your tools to get stuck in the door requiring the trim to be removed to get access to them.

Both of the above points are correct - you probably ought to be careful opening strangers' cars, seeing as you aren't a bonded and insured locksmith...

As for the door trim - if you have wedges, it would be a strange circumstance to have a tool get stuck. You would have to either a) drop the slim jim or b) get it caught on something you shouldn't be messing with in the first place.

[Memphisman]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I only gave my age and occupation for a little background. I actually don't see most of these people while I'm at work. It's usually when I'm off work and during the weekends, etc. I agree about the liability thing by the way but most people I encounter are desparate and are wanting to avoid the cost of calling a locksmith. Thanks for the tips and where exactly does one take a locksmith course?

Gary

[Guitar_J]

Well, Foley-Belsaw offers a course, but it may not be exactly what you're wanting as it covers a variety of aspects of locksmithing. Someone posted a link to a course at http://www.locksmithbiz.com which supposedly trains you to be a lockout specialist. This is more up your alley I think. This course is discussed more in this thread http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=1162&highlight=lockout+specialist it is mentioned in another thread but I forget which, either way it was a positive comment about it.

If you do try it, make sure you come back and let us know how it goes and what you think of it.

[toomush2drink]

Logsys have a look around the forum as others on here have said about the tools getting stuck. Cars carry more and more wiring in the doors these days and also things like side impact bars etc al hamper the working space. Also think about the tools that go down then back up the other side of the glass and down again to reach the handles these are a strangeshape and are bound to get caught on something on there journey.

[logosys]

Logsys have a look around the forum as others on here have said about the tools getting stuck. Cars carry more and more wiring in the doors these days and also things like side impact bars etc al hamper the working space. Also think about the tools that go down then back up the other side of the glass and down again to reach the handles these are a strangeshape and are bound to get caught on something on there journey.

Good point, I haven't dealt with any cars past 2000 models. The snakes that go up and down and up again do get stuck a lot, but when you open the door they generally get "unstuck"

[Eyes_Only]

Even if there may be more and more ppl getting locked out of their car in your area and you're able to help them out and be known as a "hero", there may be a time when there are more and more car thefts in your area and you'll most likely end up being the #1 suspect for these crimes if you are known to have lockpicking skills. I personally would never pick a lock for any stranger, only for friends and family just cos of this reason.

[OpenSays-a-me]

I guess it just all depends.

The odds of you being accused of a crime... much less punished for one... on the basis that you know how to unlock cars are practically nil to none.

No honest citizen SHOULD have to be worried about being accused of a crime. But then again... in the US these day.. theres no telling.

I help people all the time. My dad was no locksmith but he was dangerous with a coathanger... it seems every vacation we went on at some point he was helping fish somebodys keys out of their car.

I have personally asked cops if I could use their lockout tools to help friends or strangers get into their cars. Three sheets to the wind (not driving) in the parking lot of a club one time.... guy joked I could get in faster drunk than he could sober.

I have even stopped to help an officer who was having a tough time opening this ladies car that she left running at the gas pump next to me.

Around these parts most cops have at least a lasso and a slimmy in thier cars.... some have even more elaborate kits.

All I'v ever gotten is handshakes and thank you's.

Maybe it's not the best of ideas... but i usually don't hesitate to help a person if it's within my means.

If a few minutes of my time can save somebody a whole lot of anguish... I am usually willing to help.

Good point about damaging the property though... sometime helping someone is as simple as realizing the task is out of your means and letting them handle it themselves.

[/b]

[Guitar_J]

I've had to have the cops open my vehicle a few times... around here they have quite a set of tools, Quite a set indeed... I'd like to get ahold of one of thier sets... though seems like all I've ever seen them use is a J hook and slim jims.

Typically the cops do about 10-15 lockouts per week here... I'm trying to find a way to capitalize on this. There isn't a locksmith within 45 miles of here... so if I could get even half of the lockouts and make (not charge... ) $20 per call.. It would be a nice chunk of extra change for me...

I guess if I stick to a certain area I could keep costs down to about $25 - $30 per job during the day... 40-50 at night... depending on mileage and such...

anywho... yea...