The Washington times., 1923-10-11
RECORD Of KEYS
DUPLICATED
PROPOSED
Police Believe Regulation
Would Be Effective in
Checking Thefts.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.


be called upon to report the MAX
ing Of all duplicate keys turned out
TO, fit plate locks, according to
Washington police.
This action, it is said, follows
the discovery that many profes-
sional .cracksmen have duplicate
keys made here. In one instance
it has been learned that a single
crook obtained duplicate keys for
more than 800 plate or slot locks
from local key makers inside of
a. week.
Master Keys in Lot.
Among them, it was declared,
were three master keys. These
keys are so notched that they will
fit from fifty to one hundred locks,
each supposed to differ sufficiently
in the construction Of its register
guides as to prevent its being
worked except by a person having
a key made especially to fit it.
With aoproxenately 200 key max
ers m the city, all OF whom are
declared to be expert men at their
| trade, hundreds of keys can be OBJ
tanned by crooks without exciting
suspicion. 1t was the placing Of
sveral large orders involving the
| making of duplicate keys for
scores of locks, among them being
several master keys, which excited
the suspicion Of the key maker
who reported the matter to the
police.
Inside RObberies Reported.
In connection with several recent
robberies in the city it has been
evident, the police say, that the
criminal possessed keys opening
locks for which it was assumed but
two keys had been made. Two Of
these robberies proved to be inside
jobs. They were perpetrated by
men employed on the premises
where they occurred. These men
used duplicate keys. AS 1t takes
less than a minute for an expert
key maker to supply a duplicate
key, these men incurred little dan
ger by retaining keys in their pos
session long enough to obtain the
duplicates.
In one instance, it has been learn
ed. the keymaker was not even
furnished with the key to be du-
plicated. He was told the name Of
the lock manufacturer and was
supplied with piece of tinfoil on
which an impression Of the key had
been made. Guided by this a key
was made which operated the lock.
Would Keep Records.
Compelling keymakers to keep a
register of all duplicate keys made
and the name and address of the
party for whom they are made, the
police say, will provide valuable in
formation in solving robberies where
it is evident entrance to dwellings
Is effected without picking or fore
ing locks, and where receptacles
protected by high grade locks are
robbed and relocked by the thief
Local lockmakers frequently ad-
wise the police when called Upon
to make keys for men or women
whom they suspect of being crooks
It Is not obligatory that they should
make such reports, but the proposed
regulation governing them in this
particular, it is said, will make it
such, operating as do the regula-
tons requiring pawnbrokers to re-
port to the police all advances
made on personal collateral.
Personally, shall be glad to re-
port all keys duplicated to the DO.
lice" said Ninth street locksmith.
II will go further and demand that
customers I do not know identify
themselves when applying for dupli-
cate keys. Any person who is hon.
est will not decline furnishing such
information. Refusal to do so
would regard as evidence that they
planned using the duplicate key for
some questionable purpose"
we make thousands of duplicate
keys of all kinds each year. l have
often wondered if we were not fire.
quently the innocent agent assisting
| a sneak or burglar in his work.
Recently we adopted the rule of not
making keys from Impressions of
other keys, Or of locks, unless we
TOOK the impression ourselves"
Possess Master Keys.
According to the lockmaker, it
would be possible with a half dozen
master keys to unlock and relock
practically all of the slot locks used
IN securing doors and inside apart
ments. In the course of time, by
having a sufficient number of KEYS,
| thief accumulates a number Of
master keys. Frequently one of
these lock passes" can be borrowed
from the unsuspeCting custodian and
duplicate secured without exciting
his suspicion.
While the same key will some.
times unlock two or more locks of
| the slot variety such keys are
scarce. The burglar depending on
his passkeys must carry a large
collection Of them. This ne reduces
| as he picks up the master keys.
One sneak thief, recently searched
at Inspector Grants office in the
District Building, was found to
have more than. 200 pass keys in
his possession. The great majority
of them proved to be duplicates.
Changing Locks is Suggested.
1t Is understood that the police
order may require key makers to
inform owners of property where
duplicate keys are made fitting
locks of buildings owned by them,
as well as notifying the police.
There is but one safe way to pro-
tect offices in large buildings, it
is declared, and that is by chang
| ing locks at stated intervals
| Duplicate keys for office build
ings, it is insisted, should be sup
piled only to representatives of
the management in charge of the
buildings, and tenants occupying
offices in the buildings should be
| compelled to secure all duplicate
KEYS through that channel