Alarms/Lockout calls

[Eyes_Only]

Ohhhhh, ok. Ill ask my auto instructor about that since im in an automotive electrical class. Thanks.

[Romstar]

At this stage, I do not take lockouts where there are no keys. I lack the equipment necessary to create keys for any of the new transponder systems.

For older vehicles, that may not be a problem.

In either case, every alarm system has a noise maker. Find the siren, and disable it. This can be as simple as finding the main box, and pulling the connector wire.

In any case, I would advise the disabling of the alarm system, until the owner can obtain a new remote for the alarm. This will require you to be a bit of a mechanic for a little bit as you crawl around figuring out how it is connected.

Romstar

[toomush2drink]

I may be off track here and without going into too much detail if you open it up the electrical route it should deactivate the alarm as well as unlock it. Also a lot of alarms are operated off of the key anyway so if the lock is picked it should turn off the alarm. These kits can get a lot of cars open via the keyway http://www.mblocks.co.uk/tool3.html

[Eyes_Only]

Yeah, right after the alarm went off my friend turned the key in the door lock and that turned off the alarm. So i guess my lock technology auto pick set will come in handy for that reason as well.

[mcm757207]

If I unlocked someone's car and they claimed the keys were inside, only to find the keys weren't there I would probobly call the police just to make sure (depending on the situation).

[Eyes_Only]

I think thats one of the many scary situations that can happen when you're in that kind of industry. If its residential maybe theres a way to prove the customers residence there one way or another but i dont see how you can make sure of that when it comes to automotive lockouts

[Romstar]

For all the people that have said you may be opening a car for a thief....

That is a distinct possibility, however there are a number of things you can do to help lessen this possibility.

First off, ask for proper ID from your client. While this does not prove ownership outside of the car, a thief most likely will not want to show you ID. In many cases, the name on the ID will match the registration in some way. Especially the last name of the registered owner if you are opening for the owner, spouse or other family member.

Ask who's name the vehicle is registered under. Verify this information the moment you enter the vehicle.

Ask the client to step away from the car before you open it. Explain that it is as much for their protection as it is for yours because you are sure they wouldn't want you opening THEIR car for a potential thief. This allows you to verify the information you have obtained.

Ask if there is anything special or unique the client can identify in the vehicle that shows an intimate knowledge of the vehicle.

It is highly suggested that you carry, and UTILIZE a vehicle opening waiver form. Fill out all the blanks, and make sure it is signed by the client. Include a section that indemifies you against damage claims, and point that out to the client. Include a section to record the vehicles license plate number, driver's license number, as well as any other pertinent information you deem necessary. Below is an example of such a form.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emergency Service Authorization - Automotive
Please print all information

Date ____________________ Invoice # ___________________________
Notes

Name __________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________

City/St/Zip _________________________________________________

DL/ID# ___________________________ Exp/DOB ________________

Make _______________ Mod ____________ Color _______________

Lic# _____________ St. _______ Vin# ________________________

Year _________ Phone # ( ) ________ -- ______________

Location of Veh. _____________________________________________

Locksmith __________________________________________________

Call Rec'd __________________________________________________
Registered Owner Family Member Employee Agent

Dispatched _________________________________________________
Shop hours Evening Morning W/E Holiday Late night

Time arrived __________________________
Local ________________________________

Time departed _________________________
Out of base area _______________________

There HAS NOT been a previous attempt to unlock this vehicle.

Signature ________________________________________

There HAS BEEN a previous attempt to unlock this vehicle.

Signature________________________________________

Authorizing Signature _______________________________________________

There will be a $25.00 charge on all returned checks. NO EXCEPTIONS!

My signature affirms that the above information is true and complete. I hereby authorize the Locksmith to perform the work indicated and accept responsibility for payment upon completion (Unless advanced credit approval). I agree to indemnify and hold blameless the Locksmith and the Lock Company in the performance of this work. I have disclosed any unusual problems that would affect the unlocking of this vehicle. An express mechanics lien is acknowledged on this vehicle to secure the fee for service provided thereto.

There will be a $25.00 paperwork fee & 1.5 % per month finance charge on all overdue invoices.
All invoices are due 10 days from date of work.

Service call (inc 1ST 1/2 hour labor) $45.00
Parts $_____________________________________

Add'l repair labor $___________________
Total parts $________________________

Total $_____________________________
Sub-total $__________________________


Sales Tax $__________________________


Total $___________________________

[Rath]

i agree with the pop the hood thing but my friends eclips has a system that when the power is dissconected that when you juce it up again you need a password or some other form of security feature to be reset i would just locate the siren and dissconect that directly.

i know im new but just giving my opinion

[Rath]

heh heh no edit my bad delet the post above^

[randmguy]

One tip for dodgy car openings is to just call the police and tell them that you are leery of opening the vehicle. They will usually send an officer down to meet you if you'd like and they can run the plate/drivers license of the customer to tell you what's up. I've only had 2 cases where someone was obviously trying to steal the vehicle. On one they bolted before I got the car open...They hauled out as soon as they saw the patrol car roll into the lot. The second couple tried to brazen it out with stories of borrowing the car from a friend etc. That plan worked right up until the woman's name came up with 3 warrants for (you guessed it) grand theft auto. I've never gotten grief from the police about asking to have an officer present for an opening and they're usually quick about getting to the site too.

Another tip is to ask for a credit card number before accepting the job. I had an associate who opened a truck for a thief. He had charged it to a Visa and received authorization for the charge. He was contacted 2 days later by the police accusing him of stealing the car. He gave the police the credit card info and they arrested the thief at his home with the truck in his garage.

On a sort of funny note he had to go to small claims court because the thief disputed the charge with the credit card company.

[toomush2drink]

One tihng im confused about is that over here a lot of alarms have battery back up systems in case of tampering, dont they have these stateside yet ?

[Rath]

not that im aware of maby in high quality alarms or in luxury cars

[randmguy]

toomush2drink, remembering that my alarm knowledge is getting out of date at this point, yes there are battery back-ups on US car alarms. The scary part of this is that I've seen back-ups on even lower priced after market alarm systems but very few on factory installed systems (outside of high priced and luxury vehicles). So yes, sometimes you do have a battery back-up to deal with. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for us, no one reads the manuals and very few people check the batteries for such a system. Usually (in my experience) the back-up batteries are dead or dying. As Romstar said earlier most people are used to car alarms going off at random anyway and ignore them. The only time I ever saw the police show up to investigate a car alarm they were there in response to a noise complaint.

[Romstar]

How to get the Police moving

George Phillips of Meridian Mississippi was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things. He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and he said no. Then they said that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available. George said,"Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now cause I've just shot them all." Then he hung up.

Within five minutes three police cars, an armed response unit, and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips residence. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

A little food for thought,
Romstar

[spiritshaper]

awesome invoice Romstar. hope you don't mind i copied and pasted it in a word document lol. i've had little practice...well no practice actually in locksmithing, but i do want to open up a part time business eventually and i figure your invoice will save me the time of thinking one up lol.

Been reading up on this stuff for 2 days so far, i've realized my father has a lot of locksmith related stuff in his maintance shop at work (dont know the names of the tools offhand, but i recoginize them visually) so that should get me off to a good start. you've got some really informative posts man, good thing i found this site before i bought some crappy guide off ebay rofl.


i'll have to show this place to him next time i'm over there, he'll appericate it i think. mebbe he'll post here too lol. who knows =P