Are locker keys magical?

December 11, 2009 11:53 AM

Can one make a copy of a public locker key?

Inspired by this question last week, I started thinking about good places to steal bags from. An obvious place was from the luggage lockers at train terminals. It seems like a thief could put in some money, get the key, make a copy (if he had a complicit locksmith buddy), and then wait for someone to use the locker after him. He waits for this guy to leave and then uses the fake key to open the locker.

Is this uncommon only because locker keys are somehow uncopyable? Does it have something to do with the orange blocky thing at the end? Is it because it's under surveillance and too risky? Is there not enough of a payoff?

I know some museums that won't allow you to take in backpacks and instead provide lockers; these seem like easy targets for finding tourists' bags with cameras or wallets.

Thanks for any help!

posted by amicamentis to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

Assuming a complicit locksmith, it wouldn't be particularly hard to copy those keys. There isn't anything special about them, and the orange blocky handle at the end is just to stand out as a "different" key so people don't forget it.

There's just a super-low expected return on investment for this sort of thing. Unlike the movies, real people aren't likely to be putting cash or other valuables in public lockers. So you've spent a good $200 to be able to steal someone's jacket or shoes, and when they complain to the authorities, you may well be on camera.
posted by explosion at 12:04 PM on December 11, 2009

I'm sure they could be copied. The trick is I seriously doubt there are readily-available blanks. You'd probably have to craft a copy from the ground-up.

The other little drawback is that the key will be locked into the locker when you use it to re-open the locker to pilfer the contents. So, it's really a single-use forgery. When it's discovered that the locker has been compromised, undoubtedly, the lock would be re-keyed, rendering your copy useless.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:04 PM on December 11, 2009

In Germany you can copy the keys and there had been some incidents like this. However, in general I think it does not happen that often because (a) there video surveillance everywhere and (b) it usually works only once until the lock is changed and you need to make another new key.
posted by jfricke at 12:09 PM on December 11, 2009

Probably the level of security and the probability for payout are big detractors. If you're looking to make money off of stolen items, there are better options.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:11 PM on December 11, 2009

Thorzdad writes "The other little drawback is that the key will be locked into the locker when you use it to re-open the locker to pilfer the contents. So, it's really a single-use forgery."

You just pay the locker as if you were a regular user and retrieve your key and no one would be the wiser. It'd cut into your profit margin though.
posted by Mitheral at 12:53 PM on December 11, 2009

You just pay the locker as if you were a regular user and retrieve your key and no one would be the wiser. It'd cut into your profit margin though.

Yes, I thought about that, but that would prohibit anyone re-loading the locker with new stuff to steal. And, of course, you would still run into the issue of the victim returning, discovering the theft and the locker being re-keyed. It's still a single-use key, really.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:18 PM on December 11, 2009

Response by poster: Would it prevent anyone from reusing the locker? I would think that if the keys were identical it wouldn't matter. The thief uses the fake key, opens the locker, takes some things from the bag, puts the bag back, redeposits some quarters, and locks it back up. The victim returns, opens the locker, takes out his bag, and leaves. The original key is back in the locker. Shouldn't it be able to work as normal?
posted by amicamentis at 1:27 PM on December 11, 2009

if you're going to go to all that trouble, you're better off manufacturing some kind of master key. an added bonus would be access to change, too.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 2:08 PM on December 11, 2009

The thief uses the fake key, opens the locker, takes some things from the bag, [gets caught going through the bag by the owner,] puts the bag back, redeposits some quarters, and locks it back up.

(If not on the first try, then on the third.)

I know some museums that won't allow you to take in backpacks and instead provide lockers; these seem like easy targets for finding tourists' bags with cameras or wallets.

Wherever I've seen this policy, the establishment strongly advises to take all valuables with you. Cameras and wallets are usually not prohibited, and you are not likely to find many.
posted by Nameless at 3:17 AM on December 12, 2009