Cylinder Lock & Related

[DBinSV]

Today we discovered that our storage unit at an A-1 Self-Storage facility was broken into, after the cylinder lock was picked. The onsite manager, a very nice woman who has been working there for a number of years, told us that this was the first break-in ever in the facility. She expressed surprise how expertly the thief (items were stolen from our unit) had picked the cylinder lock, which had been purchased from their office.

All units in the facility are supposed to be alarmed. If the code to a particular unit has not been entered into an access door keypad and that unit's door is opened, an internal alarm is supposed to sound. We witnessed this on one occasion when we entered through the door that someone had propped open to move things in and out, without entering our access code. After we opened our unit, the manager came over, alerted by the alarm. To make a long story short, the alarm system apparently was not working or activated when our unit was broken into.

In any event, my first question on this lock picking forum, for the experts here, is: How difficult is it to pick a cylinder lock? Does the manager's account that this was this is the first incident in roughly a decade of a cylinder lock being picked open seem credible? (It's a large tri-level facility, which I would estimate to have hundreds of units.)

Another question relates to an offer that the manager made us when we asked her about using a second lock on our unit's door, given that the cylinder lock doesn't offer much security. She said that, as a rule, customers are not allowed to use a second lock, a padlock. These are used by the facility for units whose contents are going to be auctioned. Given the circumstances, however, she said that she would allow us to use a padlock, in addition to a new cylinder lock. In order for the padlock to serve its purpose, we would have to have a lock plate, like the red one uploaded here: http://a2zwriting.com/images/red_lock_plate.jpg

The manager said that we could find such a plate at our local Home Depot. But the expert at Home Depot said they did not have such an item in their inventory. Trips to two other major hardware stores, OSH and Lowe's, had the same result. And we have been unable to find the item online.

Does anyone know the correct technical term for this plate and where we might purchase one?

Thank you for educating us on these matters.

[greengrowlocks]

Your first question regarding how difficult the cylinder lock was to break into is hard to answer because we don't know what brand/model of lock was on your unit. Do you know or have pictures of the lock that was picked or the brand used on the units in that facility?

If the lock was a Kwikset or Schlage (Those are some of the most common brands in the US.) then it is within reason that somebody could have picked those without much difficulty. A complete beginner to lock picking can usually open a Kwikset in 5-10 min. Somebody more experienced would be able to open them in just a few seconds.

It seems odd that the alarm system was not working when your unit was broken into. Is it possible that a storage unit employee could be to blame? If the business has video surveillance maybe there are tapes to identify the thief.

[Squelchtone]

I think by cylinder lock you probably mean what we call a tubular lock such as an ACE II, but Chateau does have pin tumbler cylinders as well. Either style of cylinder can be picked, but typically, when I hear of storage units being broken into it's 20 at a time, or 50 at a time over night, not just 1 unit and it's usually cut or drilled locks, not picked. This seems targeted. Did someone know you guys had some good stuff in your unit? Was there a vehicle inside? guns? I agree with greengrowlocks, the alarm not working sounds really fishy as well. where is the picked lock? did the storage place provide it? I wouldn't rule out inside help. File a police report if you have not already.

Does your cylinder look like this? http://berkeleylocksmith.com/product/ch ... latch-key/ or
like a regular house key like this https://picclick.com/Chateau-C482-Cylin ... 91325.html

Here is the Chateau catalog, please enable Flash Player in your browser, look at top of page 87, that's the overlock plate you need, no way in hell would Home Depot have that, your storage employee is pulling your leg, they should just give you an over lock plate, they have them.

http://www.chateauproducts.com/html/2018-72-flip.html
call Chateau and order direct from them or see the link below:

$0.97 each
https://www.supplyside.com/item.aspx?catid=281


Here is a few examples of recent storage unit break-ins in my area:

160 units in 1 night: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... ew_of.html
40 units in 1 night: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... tolen.html
82 units in 1 night: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... en_in.html

hope this helps,
Squelchtone

[DBinSV]

Thanks very much for the helpful responses!

Yes, the type of lock used at the facility looks like the one in @Squelchtone's first link: http://berkeleylocksmith.com/product/ch ... latch-key/

I think I got the answer on YouTube to my first question, with various videos showing how easy it is to pick open this type of lock. A skilled practitioner needs only a few seconds.

Management at A-1 Self-Storage is now working on investigating the break-in. When I spoke with them this morning, they determined that the two men (as seen on video outside the facility) entered the facility after 7 am last Thursday morning, before the office was staffed. The alarm to our unit went off at 7:19 when they broke in. I was told this was the first break in at the facility in its 15-year history. Today they are reviewing the video to find where the men exited and see what they looked like (the camera that covers the door into which they entered is not close enough to get a very clear shot). One of the perpetrators left finger prints on the underside of the fold-up door but we don't yet know whether the police will be interested in recording and tracing the fingerprints. "To be continued" on this one.

To contribute to the forum, I would like to include the answer I found to my question about what I now know is called an "over lock plate" (also known as a "lock-out plate"). The red plate shown in the photo to which I linked is a Chateau C-489. It cannot be purchased by consumers from Chateau, which will only sell to owners and management of self-storage facilities because they don't want ordinary consumers to have such plates. They restrict those plates to use for lock-out units. There is a record of occasional availability on eBay but only twice, as far as I was able to determine. Management at A-1, however, has agreed to issue us an over lock plate, so we can put a second lock on our unit, for some added peace of mind. There is nothing of great material value being stored there: mostly just books and papers. No electronics, no jewelry or anything like that.

[Squelchtone]

Thank you for taking the time to write your detailed follow up, we always appreciate when folks let us know how things end up.

I wonder if your unit was a test drive for the bad guys or if they hit the wrong unit. I would have the management look at the video and see if the people on the video look like the customers who have units next to you on either side or across the aisle, if I wanted to hit a unit, I'd probably rent a unit next to the one I was interested in, but that's just starting to sound like an Oceans Eleven movie.

May I ask if or what was taken from your unit?

good luck, and do let us know if you find out who done it.
Squelchtone

[DBinSV]

What was taken were family keepsakes (mostly porcelain pieces) and a box filled mostly with personal photographs, cards and letters. The latter have no material value, which prompts us to wonder why that box was taken.

Management is in the process of reviewing the video footage. They can see two men entering the facility (picking the front door lock). The camera does not get them very clearly, however, and management has not yet found footage of whichever door they exited from.

There is a set of clear fingerprints near the lower edge of the roll-up door but the (San Jose, CA) police don't seem interested in coming out to the unit. I am thinking about contacting our alderman or the office of the mayor (who is running for re-election), to see whether I might be able to get some action that way.

[billdeserthills]

What was taken were family keepsakes (mostly porcelain pieces) and a box filled mostly with personal photographs, cards and letters. The latter have no material value, which prompts us to wonder why that box was taken.

Management is in the process of reviewing the video footage. They can see two men entering the facility (picking the front door lock). The camera does not get them very clearly, however, and management has not yet found footage of whichever door they exited from.

There is a set of clear fingerprints near the lower edge of the roll-up door but the (San Jose, CA) police don't seem interested in coming out to the unit. I am thinking about contacting our alderman or the office of the mayor (who is running for re-election), to see whether I might be able to get some action that way.

Good luck, getting the police to do their job sometimes requires the use of a private detective