Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
24th April 2024 Issue no. 702

Your industry news - first

We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Rogue locksmith must pay £700,000

Rogue locksmith Mark Makowski has been ordered to pay £700,000 following a five-year investigation into his criminal operation in London.
Makowski, the former director of Pronto Locks Limited, unnecessarily drilled through locks when a normal locksmith's method of entry could have been used, then charged "exorbitant" prices for new locks to be fitted for vulnerable customers who had been locked out of their homes, Westminster Council said.

A five-year joint investigation by Westminster trading standards and Scambusters began in 2007 following complaints from customers who had been "duped" when employing Pronto Locks to regain entry to their homes.

He also fraudulently obtained chip and pin payment devices from Barclays Bank to present to customers who did not have cash on hand to pay for his services.

Makowski, who was given a four-year prison sentence in 2010 for 15 fraud offences, was ordered to pay £703,349.82 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The court also decided that Makowski benefited to the sum of £806,315.76 from his criminal conduct, ruling that he will have to pay back this amount if any further assets are identified.

Westminster Council head of trading standards Sue Jones said: "I am delighted with the outcome of this confiscation hearing and that Mr Makowski has been deprived of the wealth he amassed through his criminal conduct.
"Trading standards will always consider using the Proceeds of Crime Act in appropriate criminal cases in order to confiscate criminally-derived assets."

9th May 2012