lock recommendation?

[dbhdbhdbh]

Hi! I am a new poster. I have read the FAQ, and I hope I am posting in the correct forum and following the rules. If not, please let me know and I will fix it. I am hoping to get some expert advice about what kind of lock to use.

I have read suggestions not to worry about lock quality for a gym locker, since one does not put valuables in them. However, I have a slightly different situation. I am a professional and I travel a fair amount. When on the road I work out at the nearest health club to my hotel, and then have to get to meetings. I try to use high quality health clubs that are careful about who they let in, require ID’s at the desk, etc. However, it can be catch as catch can, with limited choices. I used to figure that simply having a lock made me safer than those who did not, and I did not know any better than to think “a lock is a lock”. That was until someone opened my cheapo Master combination lock and stole my stuff. The financial loss was minimal, but having to deal with the hotel to get a new room key made me late for my meeting, and it was a hassle when I got home replacing my driver’s license.

I read this site and bought a new Abloy PL330 with a Protec cylinder as well as two used S&G 8088’s. I have been using the Abloy, but it is a hassle dealing with keys, and I worry that if my key were lost or stolen I would be out of luck. I have a spare, but only bring one to the gym. One of the 8088’s has a metal shroud and a metal plate on back. It looks hefty, but it is also very heavy, and I have not wanted to lug it on the road. The other 8088 does not have all the metal around it. It is much lighter. I set up the combination on the light 8088; have not yet done anything with the heavier one. Dialing in the combination takes a while, but I cannot lose it, which is reassuring.

Now my questions.

Which of these offers the best security?
Against a casual criminal who breaks into gym lockers?
Against a criminal who breaks into gym lockers, but has lockpicking skills?

Does the metal around the heavy S&G improve security to a meaningful extent?
Is the Abloy better than, or worse than the S&G's?

I suppose I could consider getting something else, but having already bought these, I would like to use one of them. Question? Which one?

Note: I am not interested in HOW a criminal might attack these locks, just how successful they are likely to be.

I find the lockpicking forum fascinating, but I am afraid I might spend too much time on a new hobby, rather than getting my work done. Therefore, I am not looking for details, probably would not understand them anyway.


Thanks

[globallockytoo]

personally I'd stick with the protec....the keys should be registered with the company that made them, so getting a key cut to code should be fairly easy. No one will pick that lock or bypass it in a hurry....or even if they have time uninterupted

[Evan]

This boils down to essentially the SAME discussion as the recent thread on which lock to use on a storage locker...

You want to use a lock on a gym locker that looks no better nor worse than any of the others in the locker room as most of the common bypass problems on lockers don't involve even touching the lock in any way at all...

So your locker with its shiny Abloy lock or S&G 8088 will say "break this one open first"...

Leave all your valuables locked up in the trunk of your car, out of sight of anyone with ill intent...

~~ Evan

[cledry]

I think a small pry-bar would open the best lock on a gym locker. As Evan says, you are sending an invitation.

[dbhdbhdbh]

Good ponit about breaking the locker rather than the lock. And about avoiding an obviously high security lock. The S&G's are old, and look it. Abloy is new and shiny.

Trunk of car is not an option as I rarely rent a car, hence the need to go to the nearest club (on foot). If I had a car, I would still need to secure the key, and my ID.


I have not seen that other similar thread. Can you point to it? Thanks

[globallockytoo]

In a gymnasium scenario....i highly doubt someone would be in there with a prybar or other break in tools, unless they worked there in the maintenance dept (but you never know).

Whereas some might consider a quality lock to be an invitation....i think the contrary.

Many gyms today use fixed keypad locks (battery powered) that you set your own comb to. In the case that the battery runs down, staff usually have access to an override token.

[cledry]

In a gymnasium scenario....i highly doubt someone would be in there with a prybar or other break in tools, unless they worked there in the maintenance dept (but you never know).

Whereas some might consider a quality lock to be an invitation....i think the contrary.

Many gyms today use fixed keypad locks (battery powered) that you set your own comb to. In the case that the battery runs down, staff usually have access to an override token.

I've seen quite a few break-ins on lockers in health clubs, schools, even private clubs and almost all used some sort of prying action. A big screwdriver fits nicely in a gym bag or rolled up towel. The doors on lockers are quite flexible. The lockers with the electronic locks that you set yourself shared use Digilock are in my experience not deadlocking, easily opened with a bent wire in a few seconds. I work on these almost weekly at Apple stores where the employees use them, had to open one yesterday.

If you want something tricky to open but not too obvious why not use a Diskus but install it backwards so the keyway is facing the locker, you can swing it out enough to get the key in but not enough to flip it so a pick can be used.

[Evan]

Good ponit about breaking the locker rather than the lock. And about avoiding an obviously high security lock. The S&G's are old, and look it. Abloy is new and shiny.

Trunk of car is not an option as I rarely rent a car, hence the need to go to the nearest club (on foot). If I had a car, I would still need to secure the key, and my ID.


I have not seen that other similar thread. Can you point to it? Thanks

@dbhdbhdbh:

If you do not have a vehicle to secure your "valuables" in when you need to work out, then it seems your problems are not buying and using a better mousetrap, err, lock, for the locker you will use but one of scheduling or sequencing your day...

If you walk to the gym from the hotel, that is great, just leave yourself enough time to go back to the hotel to get squared away for whatever meeting it is you have to go to later on so you can leave all your stuff in your room...

Still concerned about losing your ID and stuff like all your credit cards, etc from the locker ? Don't bring them, secure them at your hotel, you only need your license, a single credit card or cash and your hotel room key...

As to the issue of various "tools" being difficult to conceal in a gym ? LOL... Seriously ? People bring backpacks or gym bags with a change of clothes to the gyms, pry bars, screw drivers, even medium sized bolt cutters can fit in such luggage... A thief brings what they need to gain access to their prize...

~~ Evan

[dbhdbhdbh]

Evan,

You got it almost exactly right. It is not a scheduling problem, and it is not a problem of what I bring to the gym.

When I go to the gym I leave almost everything at the hotel, but I bring my room key, ID, one credit card, and my phone. When my lock was defeated I lost my room key and ID. Getting back into my room required convincing the hotel that I was who I claimed to be, without my ID. That took time, and that made me late. I cannot get to the gym earlier than they open, and I cannot control when the meetings start.

So I need to be able to keep a few "valuables" in my locker at the gym.
Hence the need for a reliable lock.

I have heard that the 8088 is "easily bypassed". Does it mean "easy for an expert lockpicker", like those who apparently hang out on the advanced forum"? I have to assume a criminal who was an expert lockpicker could find something more lucrative than breaking into gym lockers. Or does that mean "easy" like shimming a Masterlock combination lock- in which case it is essentially worthless?

Thanks

[Evan]

Evan,

You got it almost exactly right. It is not a scheduling problem, and it is not a problem of what I bring to the gym.

It is sounding exactly like a people problem, not a lock problem... Perhaps you should invest in one of the traveler's money pouches worn around the neck under the clothing commonly used to conceal cash while in far and away countries, such a pouch will fit your CC and hotel room card key with no problem... If they aren't IN the locker they can not be stolen FROM the locker...

When I go to the gym I leave almost everything at the hotel, but I bring my room key, ID, one credit card, and my phone. When my lock was defeated I lost my room key and ID. Getting back into my room required convincing the hotel that I was who I claimed to be, without my ID. That took time, and that made me late. I cannot get to the gym earlier than they open, and I cannot control when the meetings start.

So I need to be able to keep a few "valuables" in my locker at the gym.
Hence the need for a reliable lock.

Yup, a scheduling problem, you choose to go to the gym before the meeting rather than after when you have more time and greater flexibility...

I have heard that the 8088 is "easily bypassed". Does it mean "easy for an expert lockpicker", like those who apparently hang out on the advanced forum"? I have to assume a criminal who was an expert lockpicker could find something more lucrative than breaking into gym lockers. Or does that mean "easy" like shimming a Masterlock combination lock- in which case it is essentially worthless?

Thanks

What you have not apparently been able to understand from this thread is that the LOCKER DOOR is the most easily defeated link in the chain and if you put an expensive lock on one it will be painting a target on your locker for the thieves to open in first before any of the other ones with normal looking locks on them...

That fact can not be spent away no matter what lock you buy for the locker in question...

~~ Evan

[dbhdbhdbh]

Evan,
Again, thanks for the advice.

you choose to go to the gym before the meeting rather than after when you have more time and greater flexibility..

Unfortunately, the morning is the only time I have any time. Meetings go into the night, well after the gyms close. It is morning or nothing.

Same problem. need to secure my locker.

Thanks

[dbhdbhdbh]

As far as I can tell, the lock is the only thing under my control.

I cannot control
A. Design or composition of the lockers.
B. Opening time of the gyms
C. Closing time of the gyms
D.Starting times of my meetings
E. Ending times of meetings, usually late in the evening.

I cannot leave the few items I bring in the car, because I don't rent a car.

So, I don't have a choice about when I workout, strength of the lockers, or what I bring to the gym. Since I have to use SOME lock, and this is the only thing I control, the question is WHICH lock?

Since my only experience with theft was by defeat of the lock, clearly it makes some difference which lock one uses.

Thanks

[Evan]

So, I don't have a choice about when I workout, strength of the lockers, or what I bring to the gym. Since I have to use SOME lock, and this is the only thing I control, the question is WHICH lock?

Since my only experience with theft was by defeat of the lock, clearly it makes some difference which lock one uses.

Wow, still not able to understand it...

Buy your fancy lock, then you be become experienced with theft by defeating the locker door...

The difference here is clearly you think a stronger lock is better rather than using a normal locker lock and not placing anything in the locker you can't deal with losing...

~~ Evan

[Squelchtone]

How about just come to the gym ready to work out and all you do is change your sneakers and leave your street shoes in the locker locked with a cheap padlock, and wear your gym locker and car key around your neck or in your gym shorts pocket. Leave phone, and other keys and wallet in your car trunk outside the gym.

Cheers,
Squelchtone

[globallockytoo]

Why dont you purchase a Meroni Luccotto modern era padlock that uses a tubular key. I highly doubt someone will have a tubular pick on them in the gym. It is simple, easy to use, small and aesthetically pleasing. It comes with three keys, so you can put a spare in the car glove box, right?