Lock Picking Workshop Threatens our Security

In today's LA TIMES in the LAEXTRAsection there is an article called "Picking this idea apart" which talks about a workshop approved by Oakland's mayor on how to pick locks. Really, this is not a joke and the community outrage is discussed in the article. Others in our local community, like greenleaf@watch2.org have also referenced this article

The reaction to the workshop caused only one change,even scarier, they cannot hand out lock pick sets which they do in other workshops. It is against the law for Flam's to sell lockpick sets to anyone not licensed in our trade so we are shocked they can do this. The rationalization stated in the article by one of the instructors says "As for the risk of educating burglars, most can find guidance online without having to pay $40.00 to come to an event where you have to use your real name.',
The article also states the workshop beckons:"In many cases, opening a lock without a key is easier than you think!" Open to participants 10-101, it has sold out.

As a side note, the article begins by opening "Burglaries have plagued just about every corner of this beleaguered city of late:Last year,Oakland averaged one break-in every 42 minutes-a 44% increase over 2011.

The take away from this article, as stated in my prior blogs is twofold:

1. Invest in high security locks like Medeco, Multi-lock, Primus, etc. because they are the most pick and bump resistent. Also, if sold the most recent patent, your key cannot be duplicated. It is 'real security' not 'feel good security'.

2. Vet the hell out of the lockmith you call because scams are on the rise, most are not properly licensed and all to many quote you on expired patents. Mobile locksmiths also cannot offer you 'non-carded' keys because they don't have a shop where you can get your keys duplicated. You don't have to know what this means today lest to say make a part of your education to compare apples to apples and reputation and ingrity before price.

We, at Flams's Lock and Key, have spent our entire career protecting your life and assets , that is the "why' of our reason for being in business, and we hope you are as enraged by this workshop as are we!

Yours in Security,
Jack and Vikki Flam