Prank keys

[stick]

Just wondering, have any of you locksmiths ever run into a lock where a key that looked like this was inserted?

All a prankster would need would be a keyblank and a file, and could make a key that once inserted would be nearly impossible to remove. If something like this did happen, how would you deal with it, if there was no other means of entry?

[Chucklz]

Peterson sells a "sidewinder" extractor, which may be thin enough to slip down the length of the key, and depending on the keway, this may be enough to remove that nasty key. Another option would be to drill along the keyway, so that you could lift the pins up. The lock would still be useable, but with a substantially enlarged keyway.

[raimundo]

lock plugs can be made from any old key that fits the keyway, leave the slopes on that lift the pins while going in, and cut 90 degree angles on the slopes that are only used to remove it. if the lock is plugged withone of these, you must get to the other side of the door through another entrance if possible, and then open the door, remove the lock and if possible, disassemble the lock to get it out. This is where its good to know how to get the cap off a cylinder without destroying it, ( tap it out with a hacksaw blade as mentioned in another thread where some guy locked up his practice cylinder,) A more useful lock plug is designed to be removed from the front of the lock, with a wire that can lift the pins, the entrance slopes are such that the wire comes over the tops and follows this slope down til its under the pin and then can be used to lift the pin up, there can be as many as three pins holding one of these in. If its meant to be removed, there will be a little bit of the shoulder of the key left on it to keep it from going deeper into the lock. A real lock destroyer will have a breakaway key bow. (a cut to snap it off at)

[ufd538]

most key ways are pretty tight, so it would probably be hard to get something in there to lift a pin.

I would, after trying to remove it for a bit, would probably just cut off part of the bow to accomodate drilling. Drill and replace cylinder....unless it was an odd cylinder, and a replacement was not readily availible. Then I would try a bit more before drilling.

I hate to drill a lock...but when time is money, you could be better off drilling. When the time spent is going to cost the customer more than a new cylinder, it is time to drill.

[DeadlyHunter]

Wow this would be worse than a prank, could you imagine if someone cut a few key like this to put in someones car door locks.

[WhiteHat]

ahh... the joys of remote keyless entry..

[AUTOLOX]

yes i have come across a key like this. got a call to a lockout customer told us there was something in his lock so he could not push his key in the lock. when i got to the job i found a broken key in the keyway. after trying to remove the broken key with no success i slipped the lock, dismantled the cylinder and removed the key through the back. i thought it was odd but i got no good reasons from the customer. any way got my money and went.
a few months later i was talking to another locksmith who told me this was done to none paying customers
don't know how true it is but i can't see why anyone would go to the trouble otherwise

[capt.dunc]

i've seen a key cut like this before as part of a kit for a destructive bypass. it's not for discussing here. so someone has being "playing" with the lock since it seems a lot of work for a prank, and if it was to block off an unused lock you would remove the bow.

[BrownDwarf]

I saw something similar once, but with only one notch. It was being used to temporarily prevent access to a room. There was enough space for me to slide a thin pick in along the side of the modified key and lift the pins over the notch. Presumably whover put it there knew how to remove it when he wanted to restore access.

[raimundo]

its called a lock plug, locksmiths in sanfrancisco where I was a locksmith long ago, used to sell them to landlords to lock out tenants who had issues to settle with them, usually when they are made to be removed, a bit of the lower shoulder of the key is left on when the bow is removed, sok that it will not be pushed too deep in the lock. described this in a post earlier in this thread.

[plot]

Another option would be to drill along the keyway, so that you could lift the pins up. The lock would still be useable, but with a substantially enlarged keyway.

i wonder if anyone would leave that on there door when it was all said in done... would be the funniest keyway ever...

[CaptHook]

Also, some texts suggest similar methods on a dual cylinder lock if you want to make a nonremovable thumbturn on the inside cylinder.
Chuck

[Mr Ules]

I had nothing to do so I made one of these keys. I inserted it into one of my cutaway locks, and as expected, it wouldn't come out. Conveniently, one of my picks had broke shortly before this project which looked like a reader tool. I slid the tool along the side of the key and raised the pins and removed the key. This was surprisingly easy to do with the lock.
I will have to try this on different locks to see how much of a difference there is.
I just cut a pop can into a thin strip and cut an angle on the tip. This tip works the same way as the tip of the key, pushing all the pins up. This is a disposable tool which bent quite a bit. This technique does work.