LockWiz Locksmithing and Security

Hi! I am Jan Wilson. Some of you know me as a computer programmer and system administrator, retired from Corozal Junior College. But I am also a locksmith, certified by the Foley-Belsaw Institute of Kansas City, Missouri, which has been training students continuously since 1926, and is the best known locksmith training in the world.

Please look over these pages, and if you have any locksmithing needs, call me at 422-2646 or 625-9892 (cell).

Key Duplication and Code Cutting

Key Duplication

If you need a duplicate key, the usual process is to take the key to a hardware store where they have a key duplicating machine. Then, if they have the proper blank key, they will insert your old key and the new key blank into the machine and it will make a fairly good copy of the old key.

This is like making a copy of a cassette tape, or taking a photo of a photograph. The copy may be almost as good as the original, but not quite. If you copy another copy, then eventually the key will not work, or may work with difficulty.

Code Cutting

There is another method of making a key, usually available only to locksmiths. Each lock manufacturer has standards they follow about the spacing and depths of the notches on the key. By analyzing the key you have, I can probably make a code cut key. This key will be just as good as the original key. It is like copying a CD or DVD … the duplicate is just like the original. In fact, if the key you have is a duplicate, a code cut key could be better than the key you have.

Key Blanks

There are thousands of different key blanks. Anyone who makes keys (including us) in Belize, will only have the most common keys, because none of us can afford to stock every kind of key there is. We stock over 1,500 key blanks for over 250 of the most common house, auto, and padlock keys. If you cannot find it elsewhere, check with us.

LockWiz Lock Selection, Maintenance, Rekeying, and Masterkeying

Lock Selection

Most door locks in Belize (or in the US, for that matter) are either made by Kwikset, or they are compatible with that company's locks. Most of these locks are inexpensive, and provide less security than more expensive locks.

The trouble is, that to get much better security, you need to spend a lot more money for a lock. Medium security home or business locks will cost in the neighborhood of Bz$100, and high security locks can exceed Bz$1000.

Also, high security locks often use key blanks that cannot be duplicated locally. If you lose a key, it might have to be ordered from the US, require proof of ownership, and may cost Bz$30 or more.

That said, I can help make an inexpensive lock a little more secure. Most locks have tiny pins that allow the proper key to open the lock, and one or more of these can be replaced with security pins that are harder to pick. In addition, the locks you can buy at hardware stores can often become more secure by changing the pinning pattern to one that is harder to pick.

Key in Knob

A key-in-knob lock is one that has the lock in the center of the doorknob. These usually have a button on the inside that is turned or pushed in to lock or unlock the door. They usually also latch or even lock when the door is pulled shut.

Handleset

A fancier (and usually more expensive) lock has a lever that turns, or a fixed handle with a lever you press to open the door. There is a lock either in the level or near the handle.

Deadbolt

A deadbolt is a lock that simply locks or unlocks. Deadbolts are usually a supplement to a key-in-knob or handleset.

There are two major kinds of deadbolts. One is single cylinder and the other is double cylinder. The single cylinder type has a key on the outside and a thumbturn or other hand device on the inside. The double cylinder type uses a key on the outside and on the inside. The double cylinder is more expensive because it is really two locks connected. It means that if you leave your house and you lock the deadlock, if someone breaks in through a window, they cannot just open the door and carry large items out.

One warning: if you do use a double-cylinder lock, you should never lock it if there is anyone inside the house. If you have a fire you might not be able to get to your keys and then you could be trapped inside the house. Even if you have a concrete house, you probably have enough combustible items to produce enough smoke to kill a person trapped inside.

Padlocks

Common padlocks are low security, and are not well protected against the weather. There are padlocks that are higher security, more resistant to weather, and/or can be rekeyed, perhaps even to the same key you use for your house. These are, of course, more expensive.

For inexpensive padlocks, if you want them keyed alike, you should buy them in a set. We have seen sets of up to 6 padlocks all keyed alike.

Lock Maintenance

Locks should be cleaned, inspected, and lubricated at least once every year or two. If the lock is exposed to weather (rain, blowing marl, etc.) then the maintenance should be more often. I can do this maintenance fairly inexpensively, especially if combined with some other locksmithing service.

Lock Rekeying

When you buy locks for your home, you can find kits that have two key-in-lock doorknobs and two deadbolts in a kit, all keyed alike. For most locks, I can key all the locks the same.

Masterkeying

For a hotel, a school, a large business, or anyone else with a lot of locks, you might want to have some locks keyed alike, while the owners or administrators have master keys that open all the locks. Or you might have guest keys that open only their own room, but any guest key will open the outside gate or the key to the exercise room.

I can set up a master key system that will make it much more convenient for your operation. In addition, there are locks that can be changed easily, using a special control key. For example, if a guest fails to turn in their room key on departure, the hotel manager could change just that lock in about one minute, insuring that the guest's key is not later used in a theft.

LockWiz Lockouts

Locks are designed to keep people out. But what if you have a legitimate need to get in, and you do not have a key, or the key you have does not work? A locksmith is trained to be able to get you back into your house or business with as little damage or expense as possible.

Lock Picking

First, I may be able to pick the lock. This is a technique, using special tools, to open the lock without a key. It isn't as easy as you see it in the movies, but it can be done unless the lock is a high security type lock.

Impressioning

This is a process of making a key by analyzing marks made by the lock on a key blank. It takes skill and can often succeed if picking fails.

Drilling

If lock picking and impressioning do not work, the next step is usually drilling the lock. Using special tools and techniques, it is often possible to drill just the center core of the lock, so only the inside part of the lock needs to be replaced. This may or may not be any cheaper than replacing the lock (that depends a lot on the value of the lock itself), but it is less likely to damage your door or the material surrounding the lock.

Auto Lockouts

At this time, we do not provide entry to vehicles. Auto and truck entry requires a different set of tools than that required for home or business entry. Also, there is professional information that I could buy that lists recommended entry techniques for each make and model of vehicle, but it is expensive. For now, we would refer requests to a good auto mechanic. We can, however, duplicate keys for most vehicles.

Authorization

The professional code of a locksmith requires that before bypassing any lock, there must be proof that the entry has been authorized properly. This may involve identification cards, confirmation by a known person, police consultation, or other supporting evidence.

LockWiz Security Concerns

Security is all about smart thinking and compromise. The compromise is that you probably cannot afford the highest security possible. The smart thinking is in knowing what to do that adds the most security for a reasonable cost, in money and effort.

First, make sure that you are not the most attractive target in the area. You may be able to hide or (better) get rid of some luxury items that tell everyone who passes by that you have lots of money. You can avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

Second, take a few extra seconds to lock doors, activate alarms, etc. Recently in Corozal we have had some daylight robberies, so even a simple act of locking the door when you're inside can make you a little less vulnerable to attack.

Third, add some security. If you don't have dogs, get one or two. Consider better locks, an alarm system, or even security cameras. We will add some suggestions to this website later.