Do you rely on padlocks?

[lendaddy]

My dad recently got his explosives use/manufacturing license from the ATF. With this he can blow stumps, buy and use professional fireworks, etc..... Just something that he got interested in. Anyway, the ATF has very specific requirements on the "magazine" (a secure storage chest for the explosives). He had to get five-pin tumbler locks with non-exposed latches so they can't be cut with bolt cutters. This made me laugh, I'm kinda an amateur lock picker and there is nothing easier in this world to pick than a padlock. Took me 3 - 5 seconds to pick the German made "pick resistant" locks. He was not happy.

Anyway it got me to wondering how many people rely on these stupid little things to protect real valuables? I understand that the visual deterant is important, but don't trust these stupid things. Get a combo lock.

[M.D. Holloway]

Locks keep the honest people out - I think that many folks think they help but really they only keep teenagers from monkeying around. Anyone who wants in can. We do locks so my wife has peice of mind.

[tabs]

I used to work with a guy I'll call Mr S, that had taken Lock Smith courses...he and his buddy were known as Sanford and Son....they're hobby was going around to DWP gates and taking the brass padlocks...which they would sell in Mexico.

Also his buddy would take a key from every lock set at Home Depot etc and put it on a board so that he had all the different key codes for the various lock manufacturers....

Let me say in conclusion that Mr S is a very beguiling indivdual whose darkside would never even be suspected....

[rcecale]

Made in America.

Randy

[widebody911]

Originally posted by rcecale
Made in America.

I don't know a lot about locks, but it looks and sounds impressive!

[Oh Haha]

We use "hockey puck" style locks on the back of our route trucks.
Thought they were the ultimate. Uh yeah, a couple skilled trades guys
drilled through one in about 20 minutes after my driver broke his key off in it. I am going to install alarms as backup now.
Wayne

[lendaddy]

The Hockey Puck ones are what my father used. Picked in seconds. They are all a joke. The fact that someone spent the time drilling one should be a clue that they were amateurs.

[Oh Haha]

They were UAW guys helping me get the lock off because my goofy driver broke his key off.
Not sure about their amateur status but they helped us out greatly.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Oh Haha
They were UAW guys helping me get the lock off because my goofy driver broke his key off.
Not sure about their amateur status but they helped us out greatly.

Oh, I'm sorry. I read it quickly and assumed they had broken in, my mistake.

[Oh Haha]

No problem. It was a good lesson in security for me, anyway.

[id10t]

There was a student busted at UF a few years ago (early 90s). Had access to liquid nitrogen via his lab job on campus. There was this rash of bike thefts (for $1k+ bikes) where they had been locked with a Kryptonite U-lock which was left in pieces at the scene...

[pwd72s]

I use 'em...on 2 gates bordering my property. Gates that can be walked around with a little hike. The fence and it's gates are there to keep neighbors from using my property as a lane turnaround. The locks? Just to keep honest people honest. I really don't know of any padlock that does more than that.

[campbellcj]

Likewise. I padlock stuff like our side and pool gates, the storage box on my trailer, bikes, and so forth.

The locks are really just to prevent casual meddlers but certainly would not stop anybody with the slightest determination and a bolt cutter.

That's where the 115lb Akita, Remington 12ga, and Glock 23 come into play...

[M.D. Holloway]

I'd be more wigged by the Akita - specially if one of your kids was around, those dogs are incredibly protective of kids - I think more so than Rottys or Shepards, and at 115lb - dang, thats a lot of jaw!

[adamred]

Wasn't there something on the web recently about picking a kryptonite lock with a bic pen?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I'd imagine padlocks also demonstrate due diligence to protect you from liability in all sorts of situations.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
I'd imagine padlocks also demonstrate due diligence to protect you from liability in all sorts of situations.

Interesting...so:
If I have my gate closed but not locked. Someone enters the gate and gets stomped on by one of my longhorns, am I liable?
or
if I left the keys in my car, unlocked and it was stolen and it was involved in an accident that killed someone, would I be liable?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I was thinking more along the lines of "neighbor's kid wanders into pool area, drowns in pool".

Padlocked, you're OK. No lock, your skrewed.

But then, IANAL.

[M.D. Holloway]

or if he hops the fence. I guess if I have it posted NO TRESPASSING I'm safe, but then a again I would also have to have NO ENTRADA! because 50%+ es no habla.

[mattdavis11]

LubeMaster77, you are safe in Texas with only a fence around the pool. No signs necessary. Our female 10 yr. old Cheapeake keeps guard, and does a fine job, she wanted my arse last night when I didn't have keys to the house. Hehe, the rotty was dead asleep, as were the 2 labs.