At what point is a lock too good that it becomes bad?

[Paranoid Squirrel]

Hi everyone! Paranoid Squirrel here.

I have a few things to mention to help you better guide me to the right lock. For starters, I live in a well populated part of Florida. And while I don't normally trust a storage unit, I don't exactly have my own place yet since leaving my mom a few years back... On the bright side, my unit isn't big and has 24 hour cctv. I could never afford much. So most of my valubles are mostly cheap junk to others. But I still have a paranoya of losing what cherished acorns I have gathered when I was a kid.

Being the internet nerd that I am, I have come across many warnings of both storage units and the locks that guard them. I had originally started with a cheap made in china lock with no brand name and 4 pins. Then I upgraded to a Public Storage disk lock (made in germany) 5 pin later on. When I changed units for a better deal, I changed locks a third time to a master lock 185D with shrouded shackle and 4 pins (3 mushrooms) as the Disc no longer fit. Then I saw a youtube video recently warning of easy to pick locks that had less than 6 pins. So I naturally decided to browse for better locks. Then I came across internet posts both here and abroad warning of going too fancy with locks. But the thing is that you don't often find high pick resistance or bump resistance in cheap locks. And from one poster here, an $80 lock is still expensive enough to draw unwanted attention...

So this has me stumped. I though going overboard would be a $100+ dollar lock. But if 80 is still high, where is a good mid level lock price that isn't going to invite trouble?

I was tempted to buy the Abus Diskus 20/70 "high security" with 6 pins to replace the other disc. It will run me under $35. Not sure what to replace the master lock with. Disc is a 10mm shackle. Master is 8mm. I may change units again thus needing the 10mm size.

So what is the best I should get that isn't going to make me stand out? It would bring peace of mind to me. If only a little more.

(Lock preferences)
1. I like shrouded locks due to the added difficulty of bolt cutting & prying.
2. I like the lock to be fairly tough to drills.
3. I really like exceptionally high pick & bump resistance. Who wouldn't!

Thanks and firts post! Wewt!

[MBI]

It's late and I'm literally falling asleep at the keyboard so I can't write a clear sounding recommendation right now. BUT, I know this question has come up on the forum several times, one particularly long thread about it was somewhat recent as well. Do a search, either with the search button on the left, or a site-specific search of lockpicking101 on google. Try several search terms if needed, storage unit locks... try a few word combinations if it doesn't work at first. The answer you seek is already here.

[Squelchtone]

That Abus 20/70 with black cover is a good choice for your needs, but will it not fit onto the storage door that you have the 8mm Master on right now? I'd ditch the 185D consumer model and get this Master ProSeries instead: http://www.taylorsecurity.com/master-no ... s-padlock/ If it looks too expensive and might make people think you have some nice sh*t in your storage unit, then scuff up that black plastic against the pavement, spray the shackle flat black and over spray some grey paint onto the lock body to make it look very used and old.

Also, whatever you heard that locks with less than 6 pins, I can assure you I have 4 and 5 pin locks that are a real pain to pick, and 6 and 7 pin locks that are easy to rake open in 10 seconds, so take that for what it's worth.

Here's the 185D being picked just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L36N1L3l9GY

and yes, the ProSeries can be picked too, you'll find that most of the locks you buy can be, even if they say "virtually pick-proof" in the specs or on the back of the package. That Abus 20/70 is nice because while it can be picked using a special custom made tool that folks in our community have made, it's not something a normal pick set can open *easily* and certainly not by some criminal who just bought a pick set on Amazon.

We just had a massive storage unit break in where over 50 units were broken into. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... tolen.html
They did not pick the locks, they just used brute force, so if your stuff is really valuable to you, don't leave it at a storage unit for months and months and years, not only is it very expensive to rent those things, water, critters, and meth head break ins can rob you of all those special memories.

Squelchtone

[LocksportSouth]

FWIW, I have a small garage close to my house that stores some stuff - nothing of great value, and it's just protected by the normal garage door lock and a Master lock with hexagonal shackle on a hasp & Staple that I fitted. I can't remember the number of the lock offhand but I found a picture on Google from this forum from our very own Squelchtone: Link (third post down, the lock on the left hand side).

The way I figure it, as you say, if the lock is too secure then people will wonder what's in there. The only way you're going to get a practically pick-proof lock is to get an Abloy Protec or Protec2, everything else AFAIK has been picked at least once on camera somewhere, and I think even the Protec has at this point, probably. These Master locks look the business and most average people and even criminals would probably assume that they look tough to break for destructive entry (and they are, AFAIK) and therefore must be tough against picking, or more likely not even know about picking at all. Now, they're not at all secure from picking, but the average criminal probably wouldn't bother picking anyway.

Ideally if you can have more than one hasp or locking device on the unit, that would slow down criminals and make them think twice about bothering with yours when there is another unit right next door with only one lock on it. You could also get some kind of shrouded enclosure such as those truck locks that hide the lock and keyway from plain sight, or invest in a very beefy lock such as a nice Abloy lock (they do come in a variety of sizes and price ranges; check Here for a sample. But of course anything that increases your security will also increase the suspicion and attractiveness to a thief. I like Squelchtone's suggestion about spraying and bashing the lock up a bit to make it look old and worn. You could also get a cheaper lock with a removable core and then re-pin it with a challenging bitting and lots of security pins (or even modify it yourself if you're handy).

Just my rambling thoughts .

[kwoswalt99-]

The only way you're going to get a practically pick-proof lock is to get an Abloy Protec or Protec2, everything else AFAIK has been picked at least once on camera somewhere, and I think even the Protec has at this point, probably.

Evva MCS has never been picked, as well as the Fichet F3D and many safe locks. The Fichet 787 used to be on that list, but there is a decoder tool for it now. There have been many videos of picking the Abloy Protec, but none have been verified.

[LocksportSouth]

The only way you're going to get a practically pick-proof lock is to get an Abloy Protec or Protec2, everything else AFAIK has been picked at least once on camera somewhere, and I think even the Protec has at this point, probably.

Evva MCS has never been picked, as well as the Fichet F3D and many safe locks. The Fichet 787 used to be on that list, but there is a decoder tool for it now. There have been many videos of picking the Abloy Protec, but none have been verified.

Oh, yeah, I knew about the MCS, forgot to mention it though. At any rate, it's overkill for a garage. Also the MCS from what I remember is somewhat more vulnerable to destructive entry - not much point in having a super unpickable cylinder if you can smash the thing off with a hammer or drill it out. Of course in a lock that pretty much depends on which lock body you use - I wouldn't trust an MCS for a front door as much as an Abloy though for that reason. But again, not the point.

The Fichet 787 is a gorgeous lock, BTW. I'd love one. I've seen one going for sale for more than I can justify at the moment but looking at it's workings on Google, what an awesome lock. Would be amazing part of any collection. Wouldn't use one on a storage locker though - they'd cut it off and just steal the lock, screw the container contents

[Squelchtone]

keep it on topic fellas..

[pcm81]

OP,
If you are good with your hands, get Abus 34/55 for $10 from ebay. Replace couple spools with serrated pins and if you really want to go the distance, thread the chambers that have serrated pins. $10 lock, 20 minute mod = very decent security. I usually put 2 spools and 4 serrated when i mod these locks.