Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Locksmithing: An
Expanding Career Field
iii
Program Preview
· Define locksmith
· Name several tasks that locksmiths routinely perform
· Explain why today’s world needs locksmiths
· Discuss the security industry and how the locksmith fits
into it
· List several employment opportunities for locksmiths
· Discuss the type of certification, licensing, and registra-
tion that may be required of locksmiths
· Name several personal qualities of a good locksmith
vi Program Preview
Contents
LOCKSMITHING: AN INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
What Is a Locksmith?
Locksmiths Are Needed
The Jobs Locksmiths Do
Tools a Locksmith Needs
LOCKSMITH QUALIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The Mission of a Locksmith
Education and Training
Personal Qualities
Offering Outstanding Service
Locksmithing Laws and Ethics
Locksmithing Organizations
CASE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Case Study #1: Locksmithing and Business Growth
Case Study #2: Locksmithing and the Small Business
Locksmithing: An Expanding
Career Field
LOCKSMITHING: AN INTRODUCTION
What Is a Locksmith?
Locksmithing is an ancient skill that has been around for
thousands of years. From the earliest days of humankind,
people have needed some way to protect their valuables.
Today, we use locks to protect our cars and cash; thousands
of years ago, our ancestors protected their food supplies and
farm animals in the same way. Ancient paintings on Egyptian
walls show a lock being used to protect a king’s treasure. The
early locksmith who made that lock was as important and
highly respected as modern locksmiths are today.
The locksmithing profession is an honorable one, and locksmiths
have held a position of trust in the community for hundreds
of years (Figure 1). Professional locksmiths are guardians of
security. For this reason, locksmiths must be exceptionally
honest, trustworthy, and of good character. A good reputation
is essential to maintain the confidence of your customers.
FIGURE 1—The
professional locksmith
holds a position of
trust in the
community.
2 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
FIGURE 2—Locks and security devices come in many shapes and sizes.
FIGURE 3—A
locksmith helps
people feel safe at
home.
FIGURE 5—Installing a
Door Lock
FIGURE 8—Opening
a Locked Car
FIGURE 10—Standard
Tools Used by
Locksmiths
10 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
FIGURE 11—Specialized
Locksmithing Tools
Locking It Up! 1
At the end of each section in Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field, you’ll
pause and check your understanding of what you’ve just read by complet-
ing a “Locking It Up!” quiz. Writing the answers to these questions will
help you review what you’ve studied so far. Please complete Locking It Up!
1 now.
Indicate whether each of the following statements is True or False.
_____ 1. Some examples of specialized locksmithing tools are screw-
drivers, hammers, pliers, small vises, and metal files.
_____ 2. Local hardware stores can duplicate keys for customers, so
locksmiths seldom perform this service.
_____ 3. Locks almost never need cleaning to remove dirt, oil, and rust
from their inner mechanisms.
_____ 4. Lockpicking is the fastest way to get a lock open in an emergency
situation.
_____ 5. The term recombinating means to change the combination of a
safe.
_____ 6. If a person loses a car key, he or she can simply go to a hardware
store and purchase a duplicate.
_____ 7. An average car may have as many as eight locks on it.
_____ 8. Occasionally, a locksmith may need to make a special key by
hand for an old-fashioned or obsolete lock.
Check your answers with those on page 39.
12 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
Preventing Crime
Statistics show that 70 percent of all burglars are amateurs
who have no special training or familiarity with locks or
security devices. Most are simply opportunists who take
advantage of the first unlocked door or vulnerable target
they find. Most retail shoplifters are also amateurs, and they
tend to steal from stores where there are few or no preventative
measures against shoplifting. In contrast, many car thieves are
professionals. However, they’ll also seek an easy target. The
risk involved in stealing a car that has excellent security
protection is too great. The thief simply won’t have time to
disarm the alarm system before being discovered.
Target hardening is one of the best techniques for fighting crime.
The target is whatever the thief wants — cash, merchandise,
or entry to a home. Target hardening means making the target
harder to get to (Figure 13). An efficient burglar alarm or
electronic security system is one of the best methods of target
hardening, and more and more citizens and businesses are
installing these devices. A vast new market for security prod-
ucts now exists. The security industry dedicated itself to de-
veloping and distributing new and better products to the public.
FIGURE 13—All of these devices improve security by making a target harder to invade.
14 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
Subcontracting
Subcontracting is a form of self-employment in which you handle
contracted jobs for another business. The other business hires
you to complete jobs that it’s unable to handle. The other
business pays you, not the customer.
A variety of businesses may be interested in hiring a lock-
smith for subcontracting work. For example, an architectural
firm that builds new homes may need someone to install all
the locks in these buildings. Hotels or schools may hire you
to replace or repair locks in their facilities. Or, another lock-
smithing business may hire you to perform jobs that it can’t
do, either because of a heavy workload or because you have
specialized skills.
As a subcontractor, you’ll be responsible for your own trans-
portation, tools, materials, and record keeping. You may
need to invest in a car or van to get you to and from jobs.
However, you’ll be able to take on many lucrative jobs
without having the responsibility of running your own
business.
18 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
Security Consulting
Many individuals and businesses turn to locksmiths for advice
on how to prevent intrusion and protect property. For this reason,
in addition to selling, installing, and repairing locks, a skilled
professional locksmith who knows about crime prevention
can find work in security consulting.
As a consultant, the locksmith first confers with customers
to determine their security needs and fears. Then, the lock-
smith visits the customer’s business or home to make an
evaluation of the security of the property (Figure 15). Finally,
the locksmith offers recommendations on products and
techniques that can improve security. Security consulting can
develop into a lucrative full-time job or a profitable sideline
for some locksmiths.
FIGURE 15—A
Locksmith Working
as a Security
Consultant
You’ll have to outfit your van or truck with all the tools and
materials you’ll need to repair, replace, or install locks right
on the scene. The tools include a workbench, key-cutting
machine, and an inventory of parts.
A telephone is an important part of any mobile operation.
Since there’s no walk-in business, a mobile shop will be almost
entirely dependent on telephone requests. You may use an
answering service or take the calls yourself, depending on how
busy you are.
A mobile business has the advantages of low operating costs
(although there is an investment in tools and supplies) and
the ability to help customers whenever and wherever needed.
Since many locksmithing service calls are on the road where a
customer is locked out of a car, you can see the profit potential
of a mobile business.
Now, before you proceed to the next section of the text, take a
few minutes to complete Locking It Up! 2.
Locking It Up! 2
Fill in the blanks in the following statements.
1. The _______ is the number of crimes reported annually per 100,000
inhabitants.
2. The crimes included in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report are divided
into the categories of _______ and _______.
3. One of the best techniques for fighting crime is _______.
4. The _______ is a broad-based market of products and services that
protect life and property.
5. _______ are all those companies that make security products.
6. _______ is a form of self-employment in which you handle contracted
jobs for another business.
7. A skilled professional locksmith who knows about crime prevention
can find work in _______.
8. If you can’t afford to open a shop at a permanent location, but you al-
ready own a van or pickup truck, you could open a _______ business.
Check your answers with those on page 39.
22 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
LOCKSMITH QUALIFICATIONS
Personal Qualities
People Skills
Virtually anyone who’s willing to work hard to learn the job
can become a locksmith. However, learning to communicate
with other people isn’t easy. Developing “people skills” is as
much a part of locksmithing as any other business. People
skills are communication skills that strengthen understanding
between persons (Figure 18).
FIGURE 18—“People
skills” improve
communications
between persons.
Physical Requirements
There are no specific physical requirements for success in the
locksmithing profession. You may be tall or short, plump or thin,
young or old. You’ll need sharp eyesight, but it’s unimportant
whether you use corrective lenses or not as long as you can
see well enough to work with small parts.
Any professional career makes demands on your reserves of
strength and energy (especially if you open your own shop).
If you have any concerns about your health, consult your
physician. There are many opportunities in the locksmithing
field for all kinds of workers. If you feel you’re not up to
taking on a full-time job, consider working part-time or as a
subcontractor.
ADDRESS________________________________________
Locksmithing Organizations
Many trade organizations exist within the locksmithing profes-
sion. Their main purpose is to uphold high standards in the
business and fairness among their membership. Some well-
known and respected organizations are the following.
Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc.
3003 Live Oak Street
Dallas, Texas 75204
Institutional Locksmiths’ Association
P.O. Box 4097
Dedham, Massachusetts 02026
In addition, many state, provincial, and local organizations exist.
Later in this program, you’ll receive a full listing of lock-
smithing trade organizations that you may want to join.
Now, before you proceed to the conclusion of this study unit,
take a few moments to complete Locking It Up! 3.
30 Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
Locking It Up! 3
1. True or False? The mission of a business is its purpose for existing.
2. True or False? In locksmithing, having a formal education is far more
important than having an aptitude for the work.
3. True or False? Empathy is the ability to relate to and understand the prob-
lems of others.
4. What are three ways to offer excellent service to your customers?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What are three responsible practices that locksmiths should always fol-
low?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
CASE STUDIES
Ray thinks, “I can do that, too!” He puts two and two together
and realizes that the auto security business is growing fast. A
lot of very profitable work is being lost every time his boss
sends work out to Dave’s shop.
Ray is quick to get the message. First, he contacts an automo-
tive supplier to ask for all the available brochures and pam-
phlets on auto alarms and auto security. Ray spends several
days studying the materials until he finds two systems that
look easy to install and are affordable. Then, he orders one of
each of the systems and practices installing them in his own
car.
When Ray has learned the installation technique thoroughly,
he approaches his boss with his idea to start offering security
installations. He shows him the systems he installed in his
own car and explains the cost and the time involved. His boss
declares, “I’m impressed! I’ve been wanting to offer this service
for a long time, but I didn’t think anyone here could do it.
Maybe you’d like to be in charge of all these installations from
now on!”
This marks the end of Ray’s job boredom. He now looks for-
ward to work each day because he knows he has increased
his value to his employer. Many exciting possibilities have
opened to him, and he can hardly wait to cash in on them!
What’s the moral? By being aware of new trends happening
around you and improving your skills, you can increase your
value as an employee and increase your amount of responsibility.
His business cards start appearing all over town, even in such
places as supermarket bulletin boards and church vestibules.
Soon, Chris’s locksmithing van is a familiar sight to many local
residents.
Chris is on his way to a better future! Although he’s started
out on a small, part-time scale, his business is growing quickly.
Chris hopes that Superior Locks and Keys will expand into a
full-time business that will provide him with a secure, long-
term income.
What’s the moral? Assessing your strongest skills and matching
them with the things you enjoy doing as a basis for a career
change is an excellent way to achieve success and personal
satisfaction.
1 7. security consulting
8. mobile
1. False. Specialized locksmithing
tools include a key gage, pick gun,
broken key extractor, lock picks, 3
tension wrench, and formed-end
tweezers.
2. False. Key duplication is one of the 1. True
most common locksmithing serv- 2. False. An aptitude for the work
ices. is more important than a formal
3. False. Any lock can need an education.
occasional cleaning. 3. True
4. False. In an emergency, you would 4. Your answers should include any
force open a lock using a wrench, a three of the following: offer imme-
hammer, an electric drill, or bolt diate service, use quality products
cutters. and materials, be knowledgeable
5. True about products, set competitive
prices, offer more services than
6. False. A duplicate key must be cut your competitors
from a key blank.
5. Your answer should include any
7. True three of the following.
8. True · Abide by all local laws and regu-
lations applying to locksmiths.
EXAMINATION NUMBER:
03100101
Whichever method you use in submitting your exam
answers to the school, you must use the number above.
For the quickest test results, go to
http://www.takeexamsonline.com
When you feel confident that you have mastered the material in this study unit,
complete the following examination. Then submit only your answers to the school
for grading, using one of the examination answer options described in your “Test
Materials” envelope. Send your answers for this examination as soon as you complete
it. Do not wait until another examination is ready.
A. blank. C. copy.
B. pattern. D. original.
9. All of the following statements are true except for which one?
13. The first task an entry-level locksmithing employee would probably be asked to do is
15. A mobile locksmithing business requires all of the following except which one?
A. In residential homes
B. In a shop at a fixed location
C. For a school or large commercial complex
D. From a van
44 Examination
17. All of the following statements are true except for which one?