Padlocks and chains

[aggiegrads]

I recently spent some time and money on a new locking strategy for all of the trailers and equipment for my kid’s marching band program.

I also spent some time during the pandemic at home picking locks as a hobby, and I was appalled at how easy to pick Master Locks are. Bridging the gap between pick resistance and convenience, I ended up with Abus 83 series locks (55 ”Rock” models) with Schlage cores. I also ended up with Laclede security chain, and am very happy with my choices.

What are everyone’s choices here? I know that there are lots of “non-lock” strategies for keeping things secure, I’m just curious what brands people choose for locking things up.

 

[General Geoff]

I like Pewag security chain, and Abloy padlocks with Protec/Protec2 disc detainer cores. Expensive but essentially unpickable. The pewag chain basically requires an angle grinder to cut through.

Bear in mind that is not a very high bar these days, with high power battery-operated angle grinders available for about $100 (or free if shoplifted).

 

[aggiegrads]

I like Pewag security chain, and Abloy padlocks with Protec/Protec2 disc detainer cores. Expensive but essentially unpickable. The pewag chain basically requires an angle grinder to cut through.

Bear in mind that is not a very high bar these days, with high power battery-operated angle grinders available for about $100 (or free if shoplifted).

I considered the Granit series, but needing multiple copies of keys made that option prohibitively expensive. I also liked the idea of being able to rekey a dozen locks for less than a hundred bucks.

 

[F-22]

Locks and chains keep honest people honest and that's it.

I'd not waste too much over the locks, get an affordable Abus or Assa Abloy and it'll work as well as anything. Master locks seem to have so many widely known issues/hacks, so they're the only ones I'd avoid.

Maybe some locks and chains and cables withstand the regular cable cutters. Very very few will withstand a hydraulic cable/rebar cutter (20-30$ on aliexpress), or a cordless cutter. None will withstand a cordless angle grinder....

 

[Walkers]

I have never seen something broken into or stolen where they picked the lock. Bolt cutters used to be the go to, now it’s battery cut off tools. I just try to have multiple things to cut so I takes more time.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm wondering if tire boots, like cops use in some places would be more effective. Sure, you could cut it off, but it would take a long time.

 

[mogandave]

Insurance.

 

[cvairwerks]

For locks, browse the Lockpickinlawyer youtube channel for how hard it is to pick various locks.

 

[mike93lx]

Paclock. Really nice quality and it's easy to get matching keyways. If you understand picking, you can get number combos that make it more difficult, too

I have an abus chain that I use for locking bikes on my bike rack

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

Paclock. Really nice quality and it's easy to get matching keyways. If you understand picking, you can get number combos that make it more difficult, too

I have an abus chain that I use for locking bikes on my bike rack

Seconded on Paclock. Quality above what you'll see at a big box store for not many more dollars. It's surely stronger/harder to pick than a $5 Master Lock, but that doesn't matter much when a cordless angle grinder or ramset can bust just about anything open.

There is some truth to the statement that locks keep honest people honest. A lot of thefts are crimes of opportunity. There is something to be said about making your items harder to steal. The presence of quality locks can be a deterrent if there is other low hanging fruit in the area.

Make no mistake, no lock is going to stop a motivated thief. Act (and insure) accordingly.

 

[honcho]

Having lost a trailer to thieves, I think the best way to prevent easy theft of a trailer is removing the wheels and storing them elsewhere.

 

[MushCreek]

When we went on a one month trip, I pulled the shackle bolts out of the springs and rolled the whole axle assembly out from under and locked it in the barn. Of course, the local meth-heads around here would probably try to drag it home (literally) anyhow. Small trailers are at great risk here, because they don't title or even tag them in SC.

 

[mogandave]

Master lock keys all had numbers stamped on them, and the locks used to have the key number on bottom that you were supposed to clean off.

When I traveled with a carnival, there would be hundreds/thousands of them on a fairground.

I had a buddy that had a huge ring of the keys in numerical order. He liked to find a couple locks that still had the numbers on the bottom, take them off and switch them…

 

[May Pop]

I’m starting to think like mogandave.
Insure the heck out of anything of value. Keep stuff out of site.
. I hope this isn’t political but locks and security mean so little to a large portion of our society. Absolutely no response from the police for thefts. More worried about parking violations and traffic tickets. Easy hanging fruit is all they are capable of or decided by their supervisors .
I apologize for the rant.
Ron

 

[mogandave]

I’m starting to think like mogandave.
Insure the heck out of anything of value. Keep stuff out of site.
. I hope this isn’t political but locks and security mean so little to a large portion of our society. Absolutely no response from the police for thefts. More worried about parking violations and traffic tickets. Easy hanging fruit is all they are capable of or decided by their supervisors .
I apologize for the rant.
Ron

The locks mean a lot to criminals, they know the better the lock, the more valuable the contents.

 

[aggiegrads]

My own approach to locking is informed by my experience locking up bicycles. I have commuted for over a decade, and often park my bike in downtown Portland OR as well as in the burbs. My strategy has always been to park next to a nicer bike, and to use a nicer lock than they do. It has worked out well so far; I haven’t had a bike stolen in 40 years.

Using a chain with a closed shackle lock I think also deters grinder attacks because it is very difficult to hold the chain taut enough to use a grinder without a vise or blacking it against the ground.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I don't have much need for padlocks after buying a house with a big garage. When I did I used Stanley 24/7 locks.

They offered shielded molybdenum shackles, multiple layers of drill protection, stout hardened steel bodies and 6-pin cores with security pins and excellent bitting. Before they were discontinued you could pick them up for between $17 and $30 depending on size and body style.

 

[MushCreek]

Of course, if they break into your big garage, the rest is easy. Speaking of which, I've heard that digital deadbolts are nearly unpickable. It sure is handy so you don't have to lug a bunch of keys. I'm thinking of putting them on my house and shop, more for convenience than security. Then I can let in friends without being there; just give them the combination.

 

[gleman]

Of course, if they break into your big garage, the rest is easy. Speaking of which, I've heard that digital deadbolts are nearly unpickable. It sure is handy so you don't have to lug a bunch of keys. I'm thinking of putting them on my house and shop, more for convenience than security. Then I can let in friends without being there; just give them the combination.

I'm interested in the deadbolt too. I'm looking at replacing the locks on a pole barn man door. Anyone have a decent recommendation?

 

[larry4406]

I saw the title and immediately thought this had to be about @PelicanPines

sorry moving on...

 

[PelicanPines]

I saw the title and immediately thought this had to be about @PelicanPines

sorry moving on...

I visited... I liked a few posts... I also moved along.

 

[reader2580]

For locks, browse the Lockpickinlawyer youtube channel for how hard it is to pick various locks.

I don't think he has ever featured a lock that he couldn't pick. Now, disk detainer locks seem to be the most pick resistant and LPL only gets into them because he has a special homemade lock pick.

Locks really only keep the honest people and the opportunists from stealing or breaking into things. Is there really a lock and/or locking mechanism that can't be defeated with enough time and some tools? I don't think many criminals are picking locks unless there is a really high value target behind the lock. For a house a criminal will just break down the door or break a window to gain access. A locked shop or garage they can cut through the wall with cordless tools if there is time and no witnesses. A trailer or van they can cut through the outer skin.

A bored teenager might take an unlocked bike and ride it somewhere. They aren't going to take a bike locked with even the cheapest most basic lock if they didn't bring any tools to defeat the lock.

 

[reader2580]

When I traveled with a carnival, there would be hundreds/thousands of them on a fairground.

I worked at a fairground for seven years as a summer employee. There were hundreds of those super cheap Master padlocks with the stamped steel keys. You can open any of these Master locks with a key with all but the very last "tooth" on the key ground off. The year round and summer employees pretty much all had one of those keys so they could open locks without a ring of keys or the fairground needing keyed alike locks. The locks were all to secure electrical boxes and the like so the public wouldn't do stupid stuff, or get hurt.

 

[mike93lx]

I worked at a fairground for seven years as a summer employee. There were hundreds of those super cheap Master padlocks with the stamped steel keys. You can open any of these Master locks with a key with all but the very last "tooth" on the key ground off. The year round and summer employees pretty much all had one of those keys so they could open locks without a ring of keys or the fairground needing keyed alike locks. The locks were all to secure electrical boxes and the like so the public wouldn't do stupid stuff, or get hurt.

MasterLock® when you need just barely better than a ZipTie®, we are here for you©

 

[mogandave]

I worked at a fairground for seven years as a summer employee. There were hundreds of those super cheap Master padlocks with the stamped steel keys. You can open any of these Master locks with a key with all but the very last "tooth" on the key ground off. The year round and summer employees pretty much all had one of those keys so they could open locks without a ring of keys or the fairground needing keyed alike locks. The locks were all to secure electrical boxes and the like so the public wouldn't do stupid stuff, or get hurt.

I remember the keys being brass, did not know about the ground off tooth thing.

 

[reader2580]

I remember the keys being brass, did not know about the ground off tooth thing.

I'm talking this type of Master Lock key which I assume is steel. Maybe it is some other metal? A key cut like this could open any Master Lock that used this style of key.

 

[Zewnten]

To prevent them stealing the trailer, wheel lock like the police use. For locking the contents, no point theives just destroy more the harder it is to get in. At one point a previou boss decided to go all out preventing theives, all it meant was now they smashed in the roll up door with axes or sledges and fixing it was a lot more work than replacing the hasp.

 

[cvairwerks]

I don't think he has ever featured a lock that he couldn't pick. Now, disk detainer locks seem to be the most pick resistant and LPL only gets into them because he has a special homemade lock pick.

True, but when he shows you how to pick some of the more common locks with a piece of a drink can, or a bobby pin or the like, you know to look for something better.

 

[dutchgray]

In the UK it has become common that thieves just cut a big square out the sheet metal of your van and take your tools, at least when the door locks were rubbish and they used to hammer a screwdriver in you only had to replace the locks and your tools.
Its so common in some areas that insurers are refusing to provide cover.

I like Abloy padlocks, the biggest ones they make, though they only take minutes to cut off with a cordless grinder.

 

[mogandave]

I'm talking this type of Master Lock key which I assume is steel. Maybe it is some other metal? A key cut like this could open any Master Lock that used this style of key.

Yeah, I was talking about these:

Back when I was with it, we did not have to lock the junction boxes and whatnot.

 

[reader2580]

Back when I was with it, we did not have to lock the junction boxes and whatnot.

I worked summers from 1988 through 1994. With upwards of 225,000 people on 330 acres on a single day it was important to lock all the various outdoor junction boxes and other things the public should not being into. There were also the brass key style Master Lock padlocks on some things.

 

[mogandave]

I worked summers from 1988 through 1994. With upwards of 225,000 people on 330 acres on a single day it was important to lock all the various outdoor junction boxes and other things the public should not being into. There were also the brass key style Master Lock padlocks on some things.

Was that the Minneapolis State Fair?

That was after my time. I worked year-round with Atlas Greater Shows from '76-'78 and then with the James E. Strates Shows from '78-'88.

 

[Al Borland]

And the brass key master locks can be opened by smacking them on the side. Latches "pop" if you hit them just right...

 

[reader2580]

Was that the Minneapolis State Fair?

I suspect it is the Minnesota State Fair you are thinking of. Technically considered to be in St. Paul.

Let's just say I would not use a Master Lock for anything other than keeping curious kids and adults out of things like electrical boxes, water shutoff boxes, and the like.

 

[Two Speed]

Of course, if they break into your big garage, the rest is easy. Speaking of which, I've heard that digital deadbolts are nearly unpickable. It sure is handy so you don't have to lug a bunch of keys. I'm thinking of putting them on my house and shop, more for convenience than security. Then I can let in friends without being there; just give them the combination.

You will want to check out lockpickinglawyers videos then. Those digital locks ain't all that secure.

 

[mogandave]

I suspect it is the Minnesota State Fair you are thinking of. Technically considered to be in St. Paul.

Yeah, that was what I meant, I think the Royal used to play it, we never did.

Is that where you worked?

Except the airport, I've only been to Minnesota/Minneapolis once for a few days back in 2020, seemed nice.

 

[reader2580]

Yeah, that was what I meant, I think the Royal used to play it, we never did.

Is that where you worked?

Yes. Royal American ran the midway, but the State Fair went to an independent midway a good two decades ago.

 

[mogandave]

Yes. Royal American ran the midway, but the State Fair went to an independent midway a good two decades ago.

Too bad about Royal, it was a great show.