How to stop a lock from being stolen?

Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
Accidentally I mean. I have a situation where I am setting up "contactless" pickup and drop off for clients to deliver paperwork back and forth with me. The drop off I bought a very nice unit which will be permanent. The pick up side is temporary. Once the virus scare is done people can come in and handle what needs handling. So I have two large traditional mailboxes. I am going to put a programmable combination lock thru a hole drilled in the door handle/latch at the top of the door. The lock will have a specific number customized for the client each time it is used which keeps me in compliance with federal law. What is going to happen is that people are going to lay the lock down on their car seat, take their stuff and forget and drive away with the lock. It may be days before I see the lock again and meanwhile, no one else can use the box. Any ideas on how to secure a thin braided cable or such to a typical padlock? Just to attach it to the box so they cannot get it in their car? Has to be a very small lock so drilling the case is not an option. Some type of epoxy? Or maybe one of those clips that you can push on but cannot pull off? Racking my brain, what's left of it.
 
The cable might be gust a bicycle brake cable with a stopper (round cylinder that fits into the brake lever). Fasten one end to the box with a screw and washer, and the end with the stopper can be hose clamped to the body of the lock. It is only to limit the removal of the lock, not to prevent theft of the lock. Jim
 
Lots of ways to go about it, but were it mine I'd run a crimping sleeve over the hasp, run a length of cable to it, and secure the cable to the box. Might have to cut the crimping sleeve in half to work it around the hasp to a spot where it won't interfere with the closing of the lock but it should hold, because as was noted you're only trying to prevent the lock from being accidentally taken, not vandalized or stolen. Link's just a visual of what I'm talking about--any decent hardware store will have the crimps available singly for purchase in a variety of sizes.
crimping sleeve
 
Get a piece of sheetmetal and bend it around the shackle, pound the end together, and drill a hole in it to attach a cable to.
cvphoto73811.jpg
 
Stanley and Master sell a hasp with a chain. Was a flat piece of metal with a rivet hole in it. Wrapped it around the shackle, put the chain between the ends of the piece and hammered the rivet. Wouldn't be hard to cut a thin strip of something like some duct tin and wrap around the shackle. Looks like you can buy just the chain for about $2.
Shackle chain.
 
How about clamping the chain or cable to the lock body with a stainless worm drive radiator hose clamp? If it is the type of lock with the tumblers on the side it may not work so well. Maybe another alternative would be a 3M Command style hook of some type? They seem to adhere well, surely there is some configuration that you could connect a small chain or cable to.
 
I would probably braze a light chain to the padlock case or shackle, assuming the lock is made of materials that can handle a bit of heat.
 
We use cable tie anchors at work- adhesive-backed little chicklets that you can thread a zip tie through, or lock wire, etc. They hold over 75lbs and the adhesive lasts a long time.

Epoxy is an alternative.



Or, make it like the gas station bathroom key and attach a two-foot long 2X4 to the lock, that'l keep 'em from driving off with it!
 
Shaking my head...... So everyone will touch the same lock? Just have their own number? What ever it takes to make folks feel "safe"???
 
For what they are worth just buy a few extra locks then you will always have one handy for the situation you described until the one or two forgotten ones get returned.
 
Well, here is one that nobody has thought of yet.

How about just buying a box of cheap combination padlocks? Each would have its own combination, and you would just use a new lock for each client. The cost of the locks could be factored into your bill for the services rendered. I'm sure it would not make a huge difference in the cost, and the locks that are returned could be given a credit and used again. Security would come from the fact that each lock has its own combination and there is no way for a customer to tell which lock is in use at the time.

This would account for privacy of your clients, the potential loss of locks, and the cost would be minimal.
 

I don't know but those bicycle chain locks are programable. Not sure if you are working on top secret plans for a new nuclear device or not, but I've been working on a mail and package drop for when they make us move the mail box out on the state highway. The old style corner mail boxes had a double door so you couldn't stick your arm in there. A mail box mounted on top of a barrel or pipe with holes cut so the papers fall down into the bottom. Or a slot in a pipe or barrel.

On the other hand if someone takes off with the lock, then they must not be too worried about the security of their paperwork.
 
Quote " a key for each client "

Well, then, any client with a key could look at any other client's paperwork couldn't they? Doesn't that defeat the whole idea of having a lock to start with?
 
(quoted from post at 12:53:30 02/02/21) Quote " a key for each client "

Well, then, any client with a key could look at any other client's paperwork couldn't they? Doesn't that defeat the whole idea of having a lock to start with?
Which begs the question, does each client have only their paperwork behind the padlock?
Or is there one box with several client envelopes behind the one padlock?
 
I guess I missed the part where he said the lock won’t ever be sanitized. Some of us are just trying to do our part to keep another 400,000+ Americans from dying.
 
No response that is dirty. I take it as he has business with client A, he puts their paperwork work in the box locks it to combination 1; they come pick up their paperwork. Next the same for client 2, he puts their paperwork in the box sets the lock for combination 2 they come and pick up their paper work. Client one needs something changed on their documents he set the lock back to combination 1 they come and lock their item in the box for the OP to take it out and do his deed. And so on, only 1 clients items are in the box at a time and only he and the client know the combination that will open it. My interpretation. He just doesn’t want the lock to walk off unintentionally.
 
would one of those real estate lock boxes work? A combo box with a key inside. I guess the key could end up missing though
 
(quoted from post at 10:01:31 02/02/21) I guess I missed the part where he said the lock won t ever be sanitized. Some of us are just trying to do our part to keep another 400,000+ Americans from dying.

Well, Knight, you must be doing a good job!

SRHZrEL.jpg


From this morning's New York Times.
 
I looked at those. Don't see how to lock a mailbox door with one though and I would have to drill a pretty good size hole in the door. I want to take these down next year and replace the mailboxes at the two houses with them so would like to keep them as whole as possible.
 
I'm not going to get into commentary on the merits of the whole thing. My sole purpose here is to provide a comfort zone for those of my clients who have been frightened half out of their wits. I don't want 10% of my business taking a powder because they are afraid of contact. Realistically...the virus is not going to survive on a metal lock, in full sun and the dead of winter. That being said, I will be wiping them down. Reason? Because I told people I would.
 
I ordered two of those today. I think it is the best option for what I need. Just a couple small holes in the side of the box. I don't have to source a lot of parts or do a lot of fabricating with clients starting to show up at a steady pace. Much appreciate the link!
 
Many thanks, you guys are awesome! Several good ideas. I considered them all. Eventually came down between the shackle chain and the carribeaner type lock. Really leaning to the latter because of the slim design, but ended up ordering two shackle chains because they are complete packages and I don't need to hunt up any more parts. Starting to get really busy here, thank heaven. Been a little worried. Thanks again!
 
Here's one more: My flying club has a standard sized combination lock on the gate to the field. To keep the lock from being lost, one of the members TIG welded a length of stainless chain to the shackle, and bolted the loose end of the chain to the gate.
 

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