Investigating locksmiths? Moi?

I know. I know. The title of my blog is The Locksmith Investigator, but that is really not what I’m doing. Genuine locksmiths don’t need to be investigated. Those who legally register with the state, county and city are doing every thing right.

 

What I am investigating are the phony “locksmiths” or “locksmith” companies. I hate to even use the word “locksmith” with these scam artists. These are those who are out there preying on the public — like the company who posted the following ad on Craig’s List. (Craig’s List has since removed the ad).

 

 

Locksmith (No Experience – OK) (Minneapolis+St Poul)

March 15, 2009  
Filed under Skilled Trades

We are looking for high motivated individuals who would like to establish a business relation with a nationwide company who can provide up to 30-40 service call a week on a 24/7 basis. our business model includes : subcontracting the Jobs to you, and you will receive a percentage of every invoice. Expected income, based on our subcontractors all over the Major US cities, will be 1000-1500 a week. we will cover 50 % of the travel expenses for the training. Locksmiths with experience are well-come to answer this add as well.

 

So let me see if I read this right. This national company wants to sub-contract locksmithing jobs out to inexperienced locksmiths?

 

An inexperienced sub-contractor is NOT a locksmith!!!

 

He’s just a guy with a drill who drills out perfectly good locks because he has no skills or tools with which to pick them open. He then replaces them with junk which he calls a high-security product so he can overcharge the consumer.

 

Okay, so how do I investigate phony locksmiths? Since the call centers change sub-contractors frequently, tracking down the sub-contractors won’t help.  Listing call centers and the various names they use would help, but the best course of action, I believe, would be to list all the genuine locksmiths out there.

 

 If people had the truth, it’s not likely they will choose a fake.  But first, I had to find the genuine locksmiths — and I did. I knew the tax collector was the best keeper of that information. Now all I needed was to speak to the right person in his office.

 

After two days of phone tag with three very helpful Orange County staff members, I finally did speak to the right person and he sent me a file with the information I needed. Thank you, Joe Giovanelli!  Of course, I still have to sort through 1114 pages to find the answers I need, but I’ll work on that over the next few days.

 

Hope to have time to get updated information from Seminole County this week. Last year there were 21 registered locksmiths.  I had to actually go to the county services building at the opposite end of the county from where I live to get the information, so I know it’s not easy for consumers to find the answers. Hope to have some answers soon on how many actually locksmiths are in these two counties. We know there are 1791 phone listings, so this should be interesting.

 

 

Sex Offender Locksmiths

You’ve just locked yourself and your children out of your home.

You borrowed a neighbor’s phone book, picked out a locksmith and called him.

What are the chances you’ve just called a sex offender working as a locksmith?

How safe would you feel after he left?

Think it can’t happen? Think again.

 

Anyone can unintentionally call someone of disreputable character in states that do not require licensing for locksmiths.

 

In June 2008, WHAS 11 NEWS in Kentucky had an investigative report about just such a locksmith. The story is no longer available on their website, so I’ve summarized it here:

 

Registered child sex offender Charles Raisor opened up Charlie’s Locksmith and Maintenance Company in Shelbyville, Kentucky. If that was not bad enough, Raisor hired another registered child sex offender who had also been convicted of drug possession and carrying a gun by a convicted felon.

 

Raisor was operating as any locksmith would – unlocking doors, and rekeying or installing new locks -  securing people’s homes and businesses. The fact that he had a secret any parent would need to know didn’t seem to bother him. Two months prior to the television station’s report, Raisor had been charged with failing to comply with the sex offender registry and violating sex offender residence restrictions. But he wasn’t in jail when the news channel found him. He was out working.

 

Apparently there are no occupational restrictions against convicted sex offenders owning locksmith businesses since there are no locksmith licensing laws in Kentucky or in Florida for that matter. Such laws would require State and Federal fingerprint and criminal background checks.

 

Since city and county business registration personnel do NOT cross-check business registrations with the sex offender database, consumers must do all they can to investigate before inviting someone into their home or business.