Comments The Locksmith Journals

day late

money? whats that?
Interesting, I notice my last post and a couple of comments are missing. Well maybe it was because of the system update. Anyway this one is just one I have to talk about right now. Understand, I have nothing against gay people. If that is the lifestyle they choose then that is up to them and God. I don't judge, and in business their money is the same color as everybody else's. But some gay men just take it over the top. I went over to the U.F. campus to unlock a car. The 'guy' who met me was a six foot tall black male. He also had a waist length platinum blond wig, eye make-up, skin tight spandex and highly polished and manicured nails that were so long he couldn't sign his name on the phone for the credit card charge with his finger tip, he had to use his knuckle.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Holy cow! That must have challenged the old non-committal face, huh?

For sure, your job isn't boring!

Summerthyme
 

day late

money? whats that?
Holy cow! That must have challenged the old non-committal face, huh?

For sure, your job isn't boring!

Summerthyme

It makes me glad about the job I used to have. The one as a dental lab. tech. where I helped the doc with POST surgical patients. There is nothing in the world like being introduced to "Mr. Smith" and when you turn to greet him, he has no nose. Just a hole in his face. Try keeping a straight face on that one.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
DL,

You get all of the interesting calls....

Now why would that be????

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
God is teaching me to be patient.

The question is:

Are you learning????

Most keep on making the same mistakes again and again for they do not learn....

Been there did that a couple of times, but getting older has toned it down....

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
I have always said there's no accounting for people. Well here's what I'm talking about. Earlier today I had to open a 2008 Mercedes at a local golf club. One look at the parking lot and you know there is a lot of money around this place. That Mercedes was probably the cheapest car in the lot. After I open it, that's when I found out the keys are in the trunk. Too late. Once the alarm goes off the car thinks it's being stolen and turns off the ignition and the trunk release. Problem, the back seat in the car doesn't fold down. I mention to the owner that there MIGHT be a way to access the release inside the trunk under the fold down arm rest in the back. I pull it down and...no access. I call the shop to see if one of the other guys with a special tool can come out and pick the trunk lock. Nope. They don't make that tool for this type of car. In the mean time this guy calls Mercedes to find out if there is some way to open the trunk under these conditions. Nope. You'll have to have the car towed to the local dealership so that they can make a new key, to the tune of about $400. (Mercedes and certain other manufacturers don't release the blanks for their vehicles, so that if you need a key made, they get the money.) Behind that arm rest is a piece of plastic. SOMETIMES if you pull that out there is an access hole there. Not this time. Just a sheet of metal. So the customer looks at me and asks,

"Do you have a crow bar so we can make a hole in that metal and get the keys?"

"Well, no. No crow bar but I have an angle grinder. I can cut a hole in it, But that is going to damage your car."

"I don't care. I'll put the plastic back, fold up the arm rest and nobody will know it is there."

Needless to say, I'm stunned. I ask the customer three times about it, making sure he understands there WILL be damage. He insists I go ahead and do it. So I did. At least $1,000 worth of damage and he doesn't care. He just wants the keys and his clubs.

On the other hand I didn't have to even risk damaging that Maserati to open the door that the ankle biter dog had locked by stepping on the lock button. The window was down a good two or three inches so all I had to do was slide the rod through the open window and unlock it. That lady gave that car a near white glove inspection to insure there was no damage before she would pay the bill.

The there was late this afternoon. I get to a local drive through burger joint. The owner doesn't even have a key for the restroom. The door handle is an industrial type. (WHO puts heavy duty industrial door handles on the restroom at a burger joint?) The only way to get through those is to drill them. I do and after the door is open he is quite happy and says he wanted to change those handles for regular knobs anyway. But is there a chance that the door could lock again, possibly with someone inside? Yes, that could happen. But what I can do is take the handle off, remove the latch that holds the door closed and put the handle back on. The door will open and close but the only way to lock it will be the deadbolt on the door.

"That's okay. We have a key for that."

Once I was done with the job he actually gave me a $25 tip and a card to come back by and get free food.

There just isn't any accounting for people and how they are going to react. That's one of the things that make this job so interesting.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....

There just isn't any accounting for people and how they are going to react. That's one of the things that make this job so interesting.


DL,

You do lead an interesting work life....

Texican....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Quote Originally Posted by Texican View Post

There just isn't any accounting for people and how they are going to react. That's one of the things that make this job so interesting.

DL,

You do lead an interesting work life....

Texican....

Every day is an adventure.

DL,

Occasionally not having adventures makes the day go by easier, but then there would not be any challenges to overcome which adds spice to life....

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
Heard this one at the shop today and it's an adventure I'm glad didn't happen to me, and I'm sorry it happened to the new guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he quit over this one. He got called to re-key a house. In the house was an extended family as I understand it. You have grandparents, parents and adult children. While you're working, you're not eavesdropping but you hear people talk. It seems one of the adult children is really messed up with drugs and booze. And, of course, this leads to family problems. He's just getting started when the druggie comes charging out of a bed room and points a loaded pistol at the head of one of his siblings and is screaming all kinds of things. Our new guy decides that digression is the better part of valor and makes a hasty exit, right into the waiting arms of the local P.D. Things eventually settle down, the druggie is taken elsewhere for a little conversation and our guy is told by grandmother,

"I still want you to change the locks."

He insisted of getting a small cash payment for the service call and refused to re-enter the house. I wonder if he's going to be staying with us.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
You know when a drug alcohol imbecile starts pointing a firearm, it is definitely time to bug out.... :sh2:

DL, at least you don't get all of the exciting jobs.... :xpnd::xpnd::xpnd:

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
No account accounting for people. I just got back from a job. The customer is out of town and the girl who was dog sitting had locked the keys inside. I didn't spend a lot of time on deadbolt. It wasn't having any of it, and it is raining. So I start to look around for other options when she reaches out and opens a window. Okay, I grab my ladder and she climbs though and opens the door from the inside. No big deal, happens all the time. But here's where it gets fun. I call the customer for payment and he says;

"You may have noticed a lot of cameras around the place."

"No Sir. I'm a locksmith and I was looking at the locks."

"Well, I'm a criminologist and this is a test house we set up."

Well I offered a little advice about putting double cylinder deadbolts on the doors that have glass next to them but, WAIT A MINUTE! A criminologist? And he forgot to lock the window? Nope! no accounting for people at all.
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
No account accounting for people. I just got back from a job. The customer is out of town and the girl who was dog sitting had locked the keys inside. I didn't spend a lot of time on deadbolt. It wasn't having any of it, and it is raining. So I start to look around for other options when she reaches out and opens a window. Okay, I grab my ladder and she climbs though and opens the door from the inside. No big deal, happens all the time. But here's where it gets fun. I call the customer for payment and he says;

"You may have noticed a lot of cameras around the place."

"No Sir. I'm a locksmith and I was looking at the locks."

"Well, I'm a criminologist and this is a test house we set up."

Well I offered a little advice about putting double cylinder deadbolts on the doors that have glass next to them but, WAIT A MINUTE! A criminologist? And he forgot to lock the window? Nope! no accounting for people at all.

Sigh. Call him back and ask if he meant to do that. Sheesh.

Enjoy your tales by the way. Some good information about locks and even more about people. Amazes me.
 

day late

money? whats that?
No, he didn't mean to leave the window unlocked. Remember, I was letting in the dog sitter. He also hadn't thought of the double cylinder deadbolts. I wonder if I should have warned him of the hazard of having regular hinge pins on the outside of the back door instead of the security hinge pins that can't be removed without a great deal of very noisy grinding. That kind of slows the bad guy down and attracts the attention of the neighbors.

Speaking of that there was a family recently that was very happy that I could grind the pin instead of drilling that expensive key pad Smart Key deadbolt. But that was just another day at the office. It happened at about 3 in the afternoon. That security hinge pin is a LOT less expensive than the lock. And it was as I often tell my customers.

"The question isn't CAN I get you in. The question is what DO I have to do to get you in."

Honestly speaking to all who are reading these stories, you can do a lot better than asking the cop down the street about how to improve your security. Call a locksmith. After all I've had cops PAY ME to do things they put other people in jail for. It's a heck of a note to be knelling down in front of a door with a sheriff's deputy standing behind me, just waiting for me to get the door open and put money in my hand, because the tenants of the house he owns left in the middle of the night, taking the keys with them and owing him two months back rent.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Well I offered a little advice about putting double cylinder deadbolts on the doors that have glass next to them but, WAIT A MINUTE! A criminologist? And he forgot to lock the window? Nope! no accounting for people at all.

DL,

Just how wet did you get????

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
Fortunately not very. The front door had a porch and a roof. But the windows around the house had a lot less eve over them.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
After all I've had cops PAY ME to do things they put other people in jail for.

DL,

You mean the cops didn't run your sheet???? :xpnd::xpnd::xpnd:

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
A POX ON THE PUBLIC FOOL SYSTEM!!! And as R.A. Heinlein said, "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." I got a call last night. This college student is all in a tizzy because the engine is running and he is afraid that because he isn't in the car driving, it is going to stall, the battery die and then he'll need a jump to get it started again. It took five minutes for me to assure the guy that the car was fine and the only way it was going to stall out on him is if he runs out of gas. But college boy is just convinced that this is going to end in disaster. Don't these kids know ANYTHING these days? I mean, yeah sure, when a mother has a child locked in the car I can understand her distress, but believe me Ma'am the child is not going to run out of oxygen. When a mother is forcibly separated from her child, she begins to imagine all kinds of things. I might myself, but really. The car is going to stall and need to be jumped just because you are not behind the wheel? WHAT do they teach these kids these days? Or perhaps the better question is DO they teach these little darlings anything these days?
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The car is going to stall and need to be jumped just because you are not behind the wheel? WHAT do they teach these kids these days? Or perhaps the better question is DO they teach these little darlings anything these days?

DL,

Parents or parent do not teach there children common sense since they do not have common sense....

I will give odd money to kids behind the counter and ask them how much change am I do....

Way to many cannot tell me how much change I will be getting back without using the cash register, but then there is a kid that looks at me and gives me the right amount of change due back....

We have failed the younger generation by not making them learn instead of everyone getting a participation trophy when no trophy was earned by effort....

There will be a smaller group of kids that will run America due to this....

God help us.

Texican....
 

Shooter

Veteran Member
In Nebraska its illegal to have a double cylinder lock. fire codes. years ago several people died in a house fire because of that.
 

day late

money? whats that?
DL,

Parents or parent do not teach there children common sense since they do not have common sense....

I will give odd money to kids behind the counter and ask them how much change am I do....

Way to many cannot tell me how much change I will be getting back without using the cash register, but then there is a kid that looks at me and gives me the right amount of change due back....

We have failed the younger generation by not making them learn instead of everyone getting a participation trophy when no trophy was earned by effort....

There will be a smaller group of kids that will run America due to this....

God help us.

Texican....

All too true. I once had a person behind the counter look at me quite suspiciously because I gave them a $2 bill. They had never seen one before.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
All too true. I once had a person behind the counter look at me quite suspiciously because I gave them a $2 bill. They had never seen one before.

DL,

2 dollar bills are rare, but still spend....

Can see a young clerk not knowing what to do with a 2 dollar bill....

Texican....
 

Shooter

Veteran Member
Just a quick question if you will. Is that for businesses, homes or both?

I know for sure its for homes, was because of deaths caused by a lock,

thinking of it . ive seen businesses where they did have double set locks, but they are kept open during business hours
 

day late

money? whats that?
I know for sure its for homes, was because of deaths caused by a lock,

thinking of it . ive seen businesses where they did have double set locks, but they are kept open during business hours

Too bad. I know for sure that if the dead bolt is anywhere within arms reach of a piece of glass, that presents a security risk. Someone punches a hole in the glass, reaches in and turns the inside deadbolt handle and everything of value in the home now belongs to them.
 

day late

money? whats that?
Of course thieves play a part in my line of work. Mostly by trying to stop them before they do anything. But sometimes it's a matter of helping to pick up the pieces after they have come and gone. This morning I got called to a local park. The idea is you put your 'daily use fee' into an envelope and slide it into a locked metal box. Strictly honor system. Later the people who work at the park come by, open the box, collect the envelopes and relock the box. Some time last night someone came by and tried to get into the box. They tried to drill the lock and totally failed in that. Then they tried to cut the lock open and failed miserably at that as well. By the time the park people get there this morning all they have is a mangled piece of metal holding the box shut. Now I have to use an angle grinder inside a metal box that has an opening that is about six or seven inches high and ten inches long. What a way to start the day. I wish I could post the pictures I took for my boss, (He likes to use them in advertising) but they are too large for the system here.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
I wish I could post the pictures I took for my boss, (He likes to use them in advertising) but they are too large for the system here.

DL,

There is a program in Word that will allow you to resize your photos....

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
Trying to download picture. Success! As you can see they tried to drill the part you put the key in and screwed that up. Then they just attacked the thing and only did more damage. They never did get into the box with the park fees in it.
 

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Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Trying to download picture. Success! As you can see they tried to drill the part you put the key in and screwed that up. Then they just attacked the thing and only did more damage. They never did get into the box with the park fees in it.

Big bolt cutters or a cutting torch would have worked....

Texican...
 

day late

money? whats that?
The lock was located six inches above the top of this opening. You can see what a tight fit it was just for the angle grinder. (Sorry, but the picture came out sideways. the grinder is actually at an upward angle.)
 

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Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The lock was located six inches above the top of this opening. You can see what a tight fit it was just for the angle grinder. (Sorry, but the picture came out sideways. the grinder is actually at an upward angle.)

DL,

FYI....

There is software that will rotate your photos....

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
As I've said, every day is an adventure. Yesterday was my day off. I was sitting at the table playing on the computer near the front door. I noticed a black and white cat sitting on the front step. Then I remembered seeing signs posted around the neighborhood for a missing cat and the picture looked like the cat I was looking at. Not wanting to scare him away I waited until he moved off a bit and jumped in the car and went to the nearest sign. I wrote down the number and called a lady asking if I had just seen her cat. She thought so, so she left work and came to my place. After a short time of calling it this lady informed me that there actually two black and white cats missing. She promised to call the other lady and noticed the sign on my car saying 'locksmith'. She tells me she has an old lock on her front door that has malfunctioned and asks if I can come by and look at it. She's a neighbor and it's my day off, so why not? I get there later that day and she tells me,

"I took the lock off the door so I could paint it and after I put it back on, it doesn't work."

OKAY. Paint and locks don't usually go together very well. But she had actually done a good job. There was no paint in the lock, however this is what is known as a Mortise lock. Those kind have threads on the body of the lock and screw into the door. Then a set screw on the edge of the door is tightened to keep the lock from moving. The trick is that you don't screw the lock in all the way. You only do it far enough for the lock to work. Then you tighten the set screw. She had screwed it in all the way and then when she tightened the set screw, she went too far and snapped the set screw off. The lock was also positioned upside down. So I had to destroy the lock to get it out, then use the can opener blade of a pocket knife to get the remains of the set screw out. After that I put in a new lock and re-keyed it to match the deadbolt she had in the door. All of this took over an hour and since you have to look out for your neighbors she was only charged for the lock. My time and labor were free. But she was happy and the boss was happy since he made a little and we have another happy customer to recommend us to others.

Then we have today. I just got home after being sent on two different jobs. I didn't get paid for either of them. The first was a house lock out and I was working on that one and almost had the customer in when I got the second call. The second call was a case of the two year old locking herself and the infant inside the house while Mom, Dad and the girl who turns five tomorrow were outside getting things ready for the party. Children ALWAYS have priority. I explained the emergency to the first customer and he was understanding about it. He just looked at me and said,

"GO!"

So I get to the second job and reunite parents and children, for which they were grateful. Then they were stunned and Mom moved to tears when they found out there was no bill. As I've mentioned before, when a child is locked inside of something, home or vehicle, there is no bill. They are more important than ANY amount of profit. I did call the first guy back to see if he still needed me to come back and finish the job, but he said that someone else was already on the way. He apologized for that but I told him I understand and there is no problem.

Still, the mothers tears and reunion of both parents with their children is the kind of payment you can't get anywhere else. It is enough.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
All of this took over an hour and since you have to look out for your neighbors she was only charged for the lock. My time and labor were free. But she was happy and the boss was happy since he made a little and we have another happy customer to recommend us to others.

Still, the mothers tears and reunion of both parents with their children is the kind of payment you can't get anywhere else. It is enough.


DL,

Your karma account must stay full....

Way to go....

Texican....
 

day late

money? whats that?
Just a short one this time. Once again, there's no accounting for people. I've said before that when I get to a job it is 100% of the time that people are upset. With themselves, their spouse, children, room mate or someone for this happening. The vast majority of the time I'm seen as their savior and they appreciate me coming out to help them. But every once in a while they decide to vent on me for no other reason than I'm there. Yesterday I got called to a house that the folks were locked out of. From the looks of it, it was mother, adult son and teenaged grandson. Now this is a low rent neighborhood, but it isn't trashy like so many of them are. When I get there, Mom decides to sit in the truck while I work. Son and grandson want to see what it is that I do. I worked on that lock for all of forty-five seconds and it turned. I'm starting to put my picks away so we can settle the bill and that's when Mom comes storming up to the door demanding to know how long is this going to take and should she call another locksmith. I inform here that the door is open. I forgot to mention that this is a trailer park and I'm standing on the step in front of the door. As soon as she hears the door is open she barks at me,

"Well come on down so I can get in."

I collect my things and start down the steps when, this woman pushes past me without so much as an 'excuse me' and storms her way into the house. Slamming the door behind her. So I'm trying to settle things with the son and she interrupts three times demanding to know if he is paying cash or putting it on the card. Each time he gently tells her that he is putting it on HIS card. Anyway just before I leave I'm giving advice on how to open the door, should this ever happen again, at which point Mom snatches open the door I guess to give the son more trouble, sees me standing there and slams the door again. Even louder than the first time, without saying a word. The son just looks at me, shrugs and shakes his head. I get the feeling that upset or not Mom was just one of those "special" people that nothing is ever good enough to make her happy and then she spends her time complaining about what a horrible life she has.

Now I can understand people getting upset over something like this. I can even understand them wanting to vent about it. But I mean, come on lady. I'm the guy who just got you into your home. What are you mad at me for?
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Yep... it wasn't you, it was her. And I'm guessing your assessment of her normal personality is right on. Sure, she might have had a real bad day and getting locked out was the final straw, but for most folks, a quick, positive resolution helps turn the tide....and at least lets them present a decent public facade.

I'll bet holidays with her are a ton of fun!

Summerthyme
 
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