The Lockout Specialist Course from LBT Locksmithing (
www.locksmithbiz.com) is one of those rare build-a-business courses that delivers what it promises. Chris Pearcy currently runs a lockout service in Arizona. He has put forth a great effort to produce a course that will help others avoid the mistakes you can make in starting their own business.
The course is available a basic or deluxe package. The basic package includes his Lockout Specialists Manual, lockpicking kit, and a resource guide for ordering tools and supplies. The deluxe package includes an instructional video. His website lists one video as included but I received 2 tapes with the package as well as a practice cylinder, plug follower and some spare pins and springs for the pratice cylinder.
The manual is a well written resource with basic lockpicking instruction. It also contains some of the more common bypass methods used in the locksmithing industry. The lockpicking information is basic enough that experienced lockpickers will recognize it as MIT Guide inspired overview with some personal observations included. I don't believe his intention is to pass himself off as the paragon of lockpickers. He even includes a copy of the MIT Guide with the manual.
The real wealth in this manual is the presentation of a step-by-step method for starting up a lockout business. Take it from a guy who has done this on his own...He knows what he is talking about and he's offering you the information you need to start a successful lockout business. He pays some special attention to the fact that the locksmithing trade is still full of suspicious people. He gives valid advice on the ways you should approach people in this trade to build good relationships for the future. He also offers advice on marketing and building this specific business not generalities from an SBA pamphlet.
He includes appendices in the manual with samples of a work authorization form, a press release for use with local newspapers (useful in small communities), plans for some simple tools that you will find helpful, and a copy of the MIT Guide.
The first video included with the course "Lockout Specialist Seminar" is an introduction to the tools and methods used to pick locks and open locked cars. No it is not flashy or professionally produced but it is worth watching. He actually shows some openings in the real world where knobs are close to the door frames and the sunlight is reflecting off car windows so you can't see what you're doing. He also demonstrates bypass techniques (including rapping combination locks) and shows the use of the tools he has provided plans for in the manual. He also stresses that when opening cars, knowledge is much more important than a big set of tools.
The second video "Professional Lock Opening Techniques". Is a well made intructional session on lockpicking. That's it over 1 hour of the tools and techniques for picking pin-tumbler locks. The material is well lit and framed, the narration is clear and concise. He presents the basic picks and how they are used. He also goes into some detail on the importance of tension tools and presents a variety of the tools that are available including a homemade hands-free tension tool. He has taken some effort to build cutaway cylinders to show you what is happening inside the lock when you're picking it. He also gives good demonstrations on the use of a manual pick gun and an electric pick. In my humble opinion he could make money just selling this video. Throughout the video he stresses that his opinions on tools are indeed "his" opinions and that whatever works best for you is what you should use.
If you are interested in starting a lockout business for extra cash or as an entrance into the locksmithing trade I would recommend buying this course. For experienced lockpickers, the basic course has the information you need to start using your skills in a profitable manner as quickly as possible. If you're just starting out with lockpicking, the deluxe course's videos would be a valuable tool to help you understand what happens inside a lock while you're picking it.
I realize that this course is not cheap at $247 for the deluxe package but I believe that the information he's presented is worth what he's charging. Even if you started charging at the low end of the scale for lockouts ($25-$30) you would be looking at paying off this investment in a couple of weeks. Don't overlook the fact that he is offering his own time and advice to help you out if you have questions. Ask any locksmith, and they'll tell you that having someone with more experience to call on for questions is one of the most valuable tools you can have.
I was not paid to review this material and have no relationship with the author.
Note: And in case you didn't read the subject line, this review was by randmguy, not Varjeal
Thats a pretty nice job on the review.
Here's something funny.. this course says it can make a beginner into a licensed locksmith is just 30 days.. yet you have 2 months to try out the course..
