How Locksmiths Deal With the Law

Locksmiths have the power to break into any house or car. Robert Campbell, a locksmith who owns Advantage Locksmith in New York City, says locksmiths are often hired by police, security agencies, military and other government agencies. Considering locksmiths have the skills needed to break into almost any premises or vehicle, there are stringent standards regarding licensed locksmiths and government, who often work together.

Police Hiring a Locksmith

He says he used to get calls from a big bank periodically. A detective would meet Campbell at the bank at a certain time so he could open a safety deposit box in the bank’s vault. He says that what happens is somebody may be detained by police or be under suspicion or in the middle of a court case. The police or court may want to determine what documents or what items are in a safety deposit box because they may be relevant to the case or need to be seized. (Campbell says he assumes the detective gets the warrant and proper paperwork but he is not required to see that.) He takes the detective’s name, badge number, precinct and other information. But as long as a detective is there, Campbell will open a locked item in deference to the police.

There are cases when the police might call a locksmith in the middle of a situation because they need immediate help to gain access to a property. Sometimes Campbell goes to someone’s home where police were called because of domestic dispute and someone may have been beaten or waving a gun or some other wild situation. In many of those cases, he will say, “Listen, the circumstances are too dangerous, we will not enter the premises unless there is a police escort.” He does this whenever he feels that entering the property might endanger him. Sometimes he has refused to open a door, but he has had clients call back and say, “The police are now here, so please come as quickly as you can!” Then he will do the job.

He says he went to a site years ago in the Chinatown section of New York City. Blood was along the doorway and on the lock and handle. He asked the guy if somebody got hurt or even killed. The guy spoke poor English and kept shaking his head, saying “No!” suspiciously. In that case, he suspected something had happened so he did not want to open that door. He told this guy that safety trumps any situation; so if he wants the door opened, he will need a police escort. Sometimes the client will say the cops are on the way so meet him at the location. If the cops show up and he feels the situation is safe, he will do the job. But if the police don’t show, he won’t do those jobs. Above all else is the safety of our workers and he will not put them in harm’s way.