TRADE TIPS KeKab Bypass Fooling a Thief H PC offers a popular lockable cabi- net for key storage called the KeKab. Al- though these cabinets are not built for high security, they do present one major flaw for opening unconventionally without leaving a trace. Punching out the hinge pin can eas- ily open the cabinets. It sounds obvious, but it’s easily missed because many would think, “certainly there must be a fixed bolt on the inside to prevent removal of the door.” Is this a practical method for a thief that a customer should be worried about? Perhaps not, thieves like to break things. Is it a practical method for a locksmith when the cam lock is too hard O ne of the best philosophies I was taught in this field of work is that se- curity buys time. No safe, lock or door is ever burglarproof. There’s only a simple one-to-one ratio of security to the time and resources it would take to break that secu- rity. One-to-one being: the more security, the more time and resources (more is rela- tive and used loosely). However, this small tip will buy you and your safe customers more time. Stick a piece of paper on the safe and write down a false combination. As long as it looks real and is visible to the thief, you will most likely have bought more time to keep the safe secure (and possibly other items in the house or store). The thief will think he hit the jackpot by breaking into a space with a seemingly idiot owner who put the combi- nation on the safe. Why wouldn’t the thief try the combination before breaking in as originally planned? Five minutes of trying the false combination is five more minutes for the police to show up. This scenario is assuming there is no audible alarm caused by the break in. If a siren goes off, the thief wouldn’t spend more than possibly two min- utes taking whatever he can grab. Even then, if he sees a written combination on a safe, he may give it a try, to only waste valuable time. — Phil Domenici Putting a fake combination on the safe can improve security. Down GM 6-cut The KeKab lockable key cabinet comes in a variety of sizes. Have some tricks up your sleeve? Trade Tips is a monthly column where ALOA members share their tricks and tips of the trade. Members who are published will win $50 in ALOA Bucks.* Here’s what you do: Email your tip (200 words or less) and accompany- ing photographs to [email protected]. Tips will be judged on the basis of accuracy, professionalism, ethical standards and usefulness. *ALOA Bucks can be used at the ALOA bookstore, for membership dues or con- vention registration. been stamped. he next time you have to make keys for a GM 6-cut hicle, there’s a chance that you won’t have to tear own the steering column. If the ignition has been re- aced with an aftermarket brand, the likelihood of the afers having the depth of the cut stamped in plain site ll be very high. The numb asily read with any lighted linder scope. If you don’t wn a scope, buy one now. scope is almost as essen- al as a set of lock picks and will only set you back about $100. If the ignition does have the numbers stamped on the wafers, you’ll be set and won’t have to pull out the GM tear down kit. If not, you’ll be out the 10 seconds it took to scope the ignition (if the wafers are clean, you should be able to see the number on the very first wafer with the proper lighting. — Phil Domenici to see the stamped numbers. WWW.ALOA.ORG JANUARY 2014 KEYNOTES 13
