The Illusion of High Security Locks

[rondavidnyc]

I am a licensed locksmith in NYC so for me it does not matter if the lock is high security or standard as i am usually in a rush and do not have much time to spend trying to manipulate a lock. The reality is most locksmiths pitch there customers high security locks and hardware but do not take into consideration nor point out other lags in security which make the high security lock useless. I mean seriously everybody wants anti pick anti bump etc, but the truth is most criminals cant get there hands on lock picks and dont want to spend the time doing so. Now high security locks are great but only if proper security measures are taken before installing the locks. Truthfully a crow bar is the worst enemy to a wooden frame as a brick is to a window so in order to be a true security professional one must take all this into consideration before recommending high security locks as you will be mis leading them.

[globallockytoo]

welcome to the forum.

I disagree with your statement that High security locks are an illusion.
You are quite correct that strengthening the frames or making destructive entry techniques that much harder are vital and important, but HS key systems are primarily suggested as a key control product. yes there are a significant quantity of products out there that all do pretty much the same thing and rarely does any lock stand up to the destructive entry methods employed by butchers.

But HS restricted key systems can thwart picking/manipulation or bumping and most often are sold by locksmiths to customers intent on knowing exactly who and how many can have access to their dwellings.

I rekeyed a customers home today. Standard kwikset. She is going thru a divorce. I happened to mention to her, that it doesnt matter how much she spends on that you beaut fancy expensive lock, the burglar doesnt care and either kicks the frame in or busts a window. First and foremost, she should strengthen the door frames, apply security window film to the glass windows. I mentioned to her about a customer 4 years previous, that was also going through a divorce. Her ex-husband grabbed the childrens keys and got copies made for himself, so he could access the ex-wifes house at his leisure. She had changed the locks 4 times before she wised up and had me install a Bilock key system. Now - 3 years later - the ex has not been able to get in (ever) and even if he nics the kids keys, he cant get them made anywhere.

HS key systems are more of a key control feature than necessarily providing greater security strength

[Josh66]

You have to figure out what the weakest link is - more often than not, it is something other than the lock.

[raimundo]

Good call on the bi lock, I will remember that one and the circumstances and problem as you described it. definatly worth knowing.
sometimes someone can have an ID that gives an address that was before the breakup or divorce so they can cause problems for locksmiths.

Could it be that the original poster was refering to locks that say "high security" on the packaging? Because most of the assa ll and newer abloy and scorpion locks would be hard to get a key copied,

perhaps if keys are made for children, who often have short nicknames, the childs first name could be steelstamped on the keybow just to cause any legitimate locksmith to start to ask the right questions and remember the customer. Memory could be important if a Kari Koskinen type of case comes up.

[minifhncc]

@Globallockytoo

Just a quick question out of curiousity. What other restricted key systems do you deal with? Because I know that in the US Medeco and others seem to be quite popular.

[Wizer]

Sorry to highjack the thread, but Raimundo, could you enlighten us what is a

Kari Koskinen type of case

The name is as Finnish as they come, but I´ve not heard of him.

[raimundo]

theres a lot of finns in minnesota.

That was a sad case of a woman who was murdered by an apartment caretaker who had masterkeys.
Her mother then became a legislator and now Minnesota has the Kari Koskinen law requiring background checks on caretakers or something like that, I don't remember the whole details of the case but the guy probably had a record that could have predicted the crime.

You can google Kari Koskinen law. it should come up, perhaps use google US version.

[raimundo]

Kari koskinen was the victim, that was not clear in previous post.

[globallockytoo]

@Globallockytoo

Just a quick question out of curiousity. What other restricted key systems do you deal with? Because I know that in the US Medeco and others seem to be quite popular.

Personally, I see very few restricted key systems here. I do, from time to time, see Primus and only occasionally Medeco or Mul-t-lock. I can work on Best systems and have a medeco pinning kit but if the customer wants key control i always try to talk them into Bilock.

It is, in my opinion the best $ for $ value of the available systems on the market.

[MBI]

Personally, I see very few restricted key systems here. I do, from time to time, see Primus and only occasionally Medeco or Mul-t-lock. I can work on Best systems and have a medeco pinning kit but if the customer wants key control i always try to talk them into Bilock.

It is, in my opinion the best $ for $ value of the available systems on the market.

I agree that BiLock gives a customer much higher security than most of the regular locks on the market, but as for key control, most of the ones I've seen are all the same keyway.
I know they make different keyways, but I rarely see them.
It's mainly the scarcity of BiLock dealers that gives it key control since it's hard to find a place that can punch out new keys.

In terms of price, I've been a bit annoyed with them, they've raised their prices so much every year in the past four years that they cost me as much to carry as Medeco or Abloy Protec.
It varies a bit depending on the specific item, but on average I haven't found any real cost savings with BiLock over other high security locks. There used to be, but not so much anymore.