Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Locked Out


If you lock yourself out of your condo and the bldg holder of the keys has gone away leaving no substitute in command. How can you open the door?
In order of least damage to door and pocket book please. (I think it is only the handle lock, not the dead bolt.)
e.g. Call Pop-a Lock or WeKey.

Does Weisner Security help?
Have extra key and better plan in future, understood.
And do not wake me up!!
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Your BLOGMEISTER replies:
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Above I have added a photo; it's all about the gap between the door and the frame; and this photo. is very typical.
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The gap is 3/8ths. of an inch, the lower bolt is 1/2 inch in length. Thus, the "bite" is a mere 1/8th. of an inch.
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Worse yet, on these home locks, this bolt can be pushed back, even when the door is locked. So, with a solid flat head screw driver, engage the bolt and lever it back into the door while pulling the handle; pop, the door opens, no damage whatever.
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Clearly, the lower bolt offers zero security; the upper bolt in this example is a full inch long and cannot be pushed back.
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What's the answer, use no lock at all on the bottom knob; this results in no more being locked out, and forces you to carry your key and lock the upper dead bolt from the outside when you leave the house!
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Dave Israel

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why not leave your key with a good friend that also lives in the building. I am sure if you are a snowbird, this is already done because they can check on your place every so often.

Weiser said...

Weiser will not touch the unit, “that is unit owner’s responsibility” they will give you the Pop-a-Lock suggestion.

elaineb said...

Thanks Dave, add B&E to your resume. It was not my door, I will pass your key carrying logic along.