How Illegal Locksmiths Hurt the Public
How Illegal Locksmiths Hurt the Public
Illegal locksmiths caused annoyances in New York and several
other states by placing hard-to-remove stickers on private
property. They further insulted residents and business owners by
using fake addresses and phone number to avoid getting caught.
This is a popular scam tactic for locksmiths who are in the
business for the wrong reasons.
There are an unbelievable number of illegal locksmiths across
the United States who operated many different businesses under
many different names while being licensed under only one name.
Many illegal locksmiths place ads in yellow pages with phone
numbers that connect to national call centers. The addresses
they use in their ads either don't exist or belong to abandoned
buildings. Operating under a business name other than the one
under which the locksmith is licensed makes it impossible to
verify their license for any state level recourse of action for
recovery when there has been a scam.
It is recommended that any locksmith's state license be
verified before you hire him/her. Taking the locksmith's word
for verification only makes your family security vulnerable. The
scam artists have access to your home, your personal belongings,
private information, keys, codes, and safe combinations. If your
instinct tells you there is something vague about their answers
to your questions, it may be best to follow your instincts. The
locksmiths who are doing business legally and who are
trustworthy should not mind satisfying your curiosity about
their legitimacy.
Fake locksmiths get away with their illegal scams because
they catch people in a jam, in a hurry, too upset to take the
proper precautions, and either too lazy to take the time to
check credentials or too naïve. They also get past the legal
system because of the cracks in the system. Sometimes the very
laws we make to protect us are the laws that can also harm us
when misused.
One way to tell if a locksmith is honest is to check the
advertising for their locksmith license number. It should be
posted on all ads, invoices, and business cards. The locksmith
should also carry an embossed pocket version of the locksmith
license. He/she should be willing to give you the license number
when you contact him/her.
There are some other problems with illegal lock pickers. Code
grabbers are illegal in the United States, so an individual who
refuses to show proper credentials and possesses one is
obviously not a certified, registered locksmith. Although there
are tools that a burglar uses that are legal for a person to
have in possession, such as lock picks, these are not legal in
all states. In New York, Illinois, and the District of Columbia
lock picks are illegal. In some places, potential burglar tools
are only incriminating if you've been suspected of committing a
crime or are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
How could it be feasible to carry lock picks and other
locksmith tools and be at the wrong place at the wrong time?
There are lock picking games and events that allow for a lock
picker to have possession of these items. There are people who
are interested in such a past time solely for the entertainment
value. So, not everyone who might carry the tools is an illegal
locksmith or a criminal.
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