The following list states the BBB rating of the company, and makes no other statement or claim as to the company, nor should any other statement or claim be derived from this. MANY, IF NOT MOST,  OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE SPREAD THEIR TENTACLES THROUGHOUT AMERICA’S  MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS, AND THE ODDS ARE IN FAVOR OF YOUR FINDING THEM IN YOUR LOCAL PHONE BOOK, TOO !

SO BEWARE OF THESE UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS AND , IF YOU FEEL YOU’VE BEEN TAKEN BY ONE OF THEM , REPORT THEM TO ALOA.ORG .

07 7 Day Emergency 24 Hr Locksmith – Jupiter, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)

• 1-800 LOCKSMITH – Brooklyn, NY – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (November 4, 2008)
• 3 1/2 hr locksmith co. – Woodstock, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 7 Locksmith or Pro Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 A Hour A Emergency Locksmith – San Diego, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Folsom, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Sacramento, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Temple City, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Always Locksmith Services – Los Angeles, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – Cypress, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith, LLC. (A) – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Falls Church, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 hour locksmith – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Oakland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Severn, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hours Emergency Locksmith – Henderson, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 HR Locksmith Inc. – Honolulu, HI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• 24 Towing & Locksmith – Westwood, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24/7 Locksmith, A – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A & A Locksmiths – San Rafael, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A-1 ABC Door & Lock Specialist – Sarasota, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A-1 Auto Reconditioning & Locksmith – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• A-1 Safe & Lock Co. – Columbus, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A-fast locksmith of Georgia – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A1 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Emergency Locksmith – Arlington, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 1 Competitive Lockout & Key Service – Indianapolis, IN – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• A 1 Emergency Locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Emergency Locksmith Inc – Fairfax, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Locksmith – Burlingame, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Always Available Emergency Locksmith – Philadelphia, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – Tacoma, WA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Locksmith – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Locksmith The Woodlands – Spring, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• A A Absolute Lock & Security – Hanover Park, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith a/k/a 24/7 Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith Las Vegas Inc. – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AAA LockSmith Service – Miami, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith Service of Memphis – Memphis, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AAA Pop-A-Lock – Crystal River, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A Absolute Best Locksmiths – Tomball, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• A Advantage Safe & Lock, LLC – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• AA Lockserv II – Wallingford, CT – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• AA Security Inc – Schaumburg, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• ABAC Safe & Lock – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• ABC Lock & Glass, Inc. – Sparks, NV – BBB Rating D- (April 16, 2009)
• ABC Lock & Key – Warner Robins, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Abe’s Locksmiths – Pleasanton, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Bonded Locksmiths Of Arizona LLC – Sedona, AZ – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• Accurate Locksmith Service – Wilmington, DE – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• Ace Lock & Key – Nashville, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• ACE LOCK & KEY SERVICE INC – Independence, MO – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Ace Lock and Key – Nashville, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Ace Locksmith – Encinitas, CA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AC Locksmith – Ellicott City, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A Kwik Key Locksmith – Sugar Land, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Alief Memorial Locksmith, Inc – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• All American Locksmith – Hercules, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Locks & Locksmith 1 A 1 24 Hours – Woodland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Locksmith – Pittsburgh, PA – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• A Locksmith – The Colony, TX – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• A Locksmiths – Omaha, NE – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• Always Available Locksmith – Garden Grove, CA – BBB Rating D (February 27, 2009)
• America’s Locksmith, Inc. – Hayward, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• AM PM Locksmith – Livermore, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Plus Lock & Safe – Sarasota, FL – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• A Re-Key Locksmith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Armor Locksmith and Security Solutions – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Arrow Locksmith Service, Inc. – Oak Park, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• A Team Locksmith, Inc. – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• A Team Locksmith – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• Atlanta Lock & Key – Marietta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Atlanta Solution Locksmith – Norcross, GA – BBB Rating D+ (April 7, 2009)
• A to Z Locksmith – Jacksonville, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Basad, Inc – Englewood, CO – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• BMY Locksmith – Somerville, MA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Chida Key & Locks – Fremont, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Coast Lock + Safe – Santa Cruz, CA – BBB Rating D (February 24, 2009)
• Daves Lock & Safe – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Davis Locksmiths – North York, ON – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• DC Discount Locksmith / AAA Locksmith and Hardware – Fairfax, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locks, Inc – Clearwater, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locks Inc. – Brookfield, WI – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• Dependable Locksith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Bronx, NY – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (November 4, 2008)
• Dependable Locksmith – Colorado Springs, CO – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Kent, WA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Dependable Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Seattle, WA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Desert Locksmiths – Reno, NV – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Emergency Locksmith – El Sobrante, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Flat Rate Locksmiths – Beltsville, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Golden Key Locksmiths, LLC – Waukesha, WI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• Houston Locksmith 24/7 – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Houston Safe and Lock – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 30, 2009)
• Jack’s Lock and Key – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• King Locksmith – Calumet City, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 26, 2009)
• King Locksmiths – South Holland, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 26, 2009)
• Laredo Lock Co. – Chicago, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• Lockmann – Salem, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Locksmith – Greendale, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24 Hour Inc. – Grand Prairie, TX – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24 Hour Incorporated – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24hr Incorporation – Hollywood, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• Locksmith Masters – Pomona, CA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Locksmith of Kissimmee – Kissimmee, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith Superior – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Metro Lock & Key – Detroit, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Mobile Locksmith – Silver Spring, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Neighborhood Locksmith – Laurel, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Neighborhood Locksmith – Pittsburgh, PA – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 10, 2009)
• O & O 24 Hour Locksmith – Rockville, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• On Guard Lock Smith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Pick ‘n’ Pull Locksmith – Oakland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• POP-A-LOCK – Dallastown, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Pop-A-Lock – Friendswood, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Pop a Lock – Brandon, MS – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock – Louisville, KY – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock – Panama City, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock of Louisville – Shelbyville, KY – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Prestige Business Solutions Inc. – Hackensack, NJ – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• Professional Locksmith – El Cerrito, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Reds Safe & Lock Service, Inc. – Pasadena, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Reliable Locksmith, LLC – Dania Beach, FL – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Reliable Locksmith LLC – Cooper City, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• Reliable Locksmiths – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Right On Time Locksmith Services – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Run Local Locksmith – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Secure Lox – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• ServiceEverywhere – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Speedy Key Lock Service – Newark, DE – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Locksmith Solutions – Sterling, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Solution, Inc – Arlington, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Solutions Locksmith – Philadelphia, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Super Locksmith – Owings Mills, MD – BBB Rating D+ (February 16, 2009)
• The Lock Doctor – Corvallis, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• The Original Mt. Clemens Lock & Key – Mt. Clemens, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Tri-City Lock & Key – Loughman, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Tri County Locksmith Services – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• U.S.A Locksmith – Boca Raton, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• United Lock Company, Inc. – Warwick, RI – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• U S A Locksmith – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Carrollton, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Garland, TX – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• USA LOCKSMITH – Golden, CO – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Marietta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• USA Locksmiths.com – Lemon Grove, CA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Village Lock & Home Repair – Grosse Pointe Farms, MI – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)

Please note that BBB ratings change daily and what may be an “unsatisfactory” report yesterday may not be “unsatisfactory” today. This list is not all-inclusive.

As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.

BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time.

More information and A Detailed Overview of the BBB Rating System.

Years ago, I was fortunate enough to have met a gentleman I will call Bob. Bob had been locksmithing for years, having grown up around locksmiths and others in the trades . Indeed, his father was a locksmith , his two brothers were locksmiths, and his mother held the key to their hearts. All in all, I imagine it would have been pretty hard to get locked out of their house. As luck would have it, Bob and I became pretty good friends over time, and I’m glad to have known him. He’s gone now, but I have a filing cabinet of memories by which to remember him. And one of those memories is this little gem:

BEWARE OF THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!

What he was referring to was a technique of lock picking which was developed in the late 20s to early 30s, by which a locksmith (or a thief) might easily manufacture a special key, cut from an ordinary blank, which would easily open as much as 75% of all locks he might come across. This startling thing about this technique IS THAT IT REQUIRES ABSOLUTELY NO LEVEL OF MECHANICAL APTITUDE TO MASTER ! All it really takes is a 15 cent key blank, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ILLEGALLY ENTER SOMEONE ELSE’S HOME! Can you imagine going inside to investigate a tapping noise on your back door, only to discover an absolute stranger in your kitchen staring back at you?

Now back in the 30s, this technique was called rapping, or tapping (or so I’ve been told). Well, you can call it whatever you like, BUT I CALL IT TROUBLE. For the purposes of this article however, I will refer to it as key bumping, and the the tool we will be discussing will be referred to as a bump key. Before I continue, I feel the need to assure you that it is not my intention to sound the alarm bells on this topic — awareness of the problem is at least half of the solution. Or, as my dear grandma used to say, “A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT”. In any case, it is my responsibility as a professional to raise your awareness of any potential deficiencies in your residential and commercial locking systems, and furthermore, to recommend sensible solutions for you to consider.

I’ll be talking about this in more depth sometime in January– Val

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