Investigators warn of rogue locksmiths

By Carl Willis
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —

Rogue locksmiths are duping customers with misleading ads in Sandy Springs and then hitting them with outrageous bills and cheap locks.

Sandy Springs business owner Dan Fitzsimons had to have all new locks installed at his fitness center.

"The keys were cheap, the locks were cheap, the cylinders were cheap," he said.

And his bill was a sky-high $1,800 for seven locks.

Other victims said the locksmiths say old locks can't be picked, then they try to drill and that destroys the lock.

That's when they said they were convinced to buy all new locks.

Fitzsimons said the locksmith who came somehow intercepted his call to Sandy Springs Locksmith & Safe Co.

This story is one that's becoming all too common, said local police.

Burt Kolker, owner of Sandy Springs Locksmith & Safe Co., says Internet ads and duplicate yellow page listings are deceiving customers.

That robs him of 30-40 percent of his business.

"It's called brandjacking for businesses; it's called identity thefts for homes," Kolker said.

Locksmith Clint Jones questioned an address on a website labeled "Sandy Springs Locksmith."

"Quick 15 minute response time dispatch ffom 390 Sandy Springs Circle NE," he read.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Carl Willis checked the address. There was no locksmith, only a bank at the location.

"There's only about four or five of them around the country, but they have so many aliases into the thousands it's very difficult to gather information about one company," Kolker said.

It's a dead giveaway that you may be dealing with a questionable company if you call and everyone who answers uses a different company name.

He says you need to ask questions to protect yourself.

"I'll request a picture of your driver's license, a picture of your insurance certificate, a copy up front of your bill before you start the work," he said.

Kolker said if the deal doesn't seem right, call it off.

That's what Fitzsimons said he had to do when the locksmith who did his job came back for payment.

"He says, 'Well, you gotta make a living,'" said Fitsimons. "I said, 'You got to be kidding me. So, you know what's going on and you're fine with this? You're just going to take the business?'"

Fitzsimons said the man left when he threatened to call the police.

Professional locksmiths said it's a good idea to ask to see a company's insurance certificate and to get a copy of your bill upfront before the work starts.

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