Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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Locksmiths see free police car door unlocking service as competition

Despite paying for local licences to operate their businesses some US locksmiths are increasingly unhappy that the police have started opening locked car doors for the public free of charge.

This has come about since the introduction of a device known as 'the Big Easy'. One locksmith claimed that not only does he pay $400 for his licence, but he is now losing out on charging up to 25 - 30 customers a week $40 or more for his services, now provided free by the police.

However Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt said that police across the nation have opened locked car doors for years, using the Slim Jim tool. "This is something we've always done", he said.

8th December 2010