Special Report: Protecting Those Who Protect Others

In recent months, our profession has been shaken by a disturbing trend: locksmiths being targeted and killed while responding to service calls. These are not abstract headlines. These are our colleagues, our peers, and our friends — men and women who dedicated their lives to helping others in moments of need. As President of the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), I feel it is my responsibility not only to acknowledge these tragedies but to confront them directly and take meaningful action.

One of the most widely reported cases occurred in South Florida, where surveillance footage captured the final moments before a locksmith was ambushed and murdered after arriving on what appeared to be a routine service call. He showed up prepared to help, unaware he had been lured into a fatal situation. His family, like so many others, was left to pick up the pieces of an unimaginable loss.

In another recent incident, a locksmith responding to a late-night automotive lockout was attacked and killed. The call appeared legitimate but was later believed to have been orchestrated under false pretenses. The technician was alone, performing his duties as countless locksmiths do every night across the country.

A third case involved a locksmith servicing a residential lock change who was confronted and fatally shot during the appointment. These tragedies share common threads: isolation, unpredictability, and the inherent risk of entering unfamiliar environments without knowing the full context.

We can mourn these losses, and we must honor their memory — but the real question is this: What can we do right now to prevent this from happening again?

After consulting with members of law enforcement and fellow security professionals, I’ve outlined a practical, multi-layered safety plan. This approach is designed to deter threats, increase awareness, and give technicians additional tools to protect themselves in the field.

A Locksmith Safety Plan – 10 Action Steps

1. Start Before Arrival: Use your field service system to automatically notify customers that technicians are GPS-tracked and audio-video recorded. Transparency deters criminal intent.

2. Situational Awareness Training: Invest in training that teaches technicians how to assess surroundings, identify risks, and trust their instincts.

3. Vehicle and Body Cameras: Install forward and rear dash cams at minimum. Consider full vehicle camera systems and body cams to document every interaction.

4. Real-Time GPS Monitoring: Ensure vehicles or phones are GPS-tracked and monitored by a dispatcher, colleague or trusted contact.

5. Tell Someone Your Plan: Always notify someone where you’re going and when you expect to return — especially on after-hours calls.

6. Ask More Questions: Verify customer identity and collect more information before dispatching, particularly during after-hours service calls.

7. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, leave. No service call is worth risking your life.

8. Keep Emergency Access Ready: Have your phone accessible and be ready to activate 911 or SOS instantly.

9. Wear Protective and Visible Gear: High-visibility clothing improves safety. In certain situations, additional protective equipment may also be appropriate.

10. Lead Through Communication: Business owners and managers must actively discuss safety with their teams. Make safety part of your company culture.

I do not claim to have all the answers. However, doing something is always better than doing nothing. Leadership requires action, and I believe that by working together as an industry we can reduce these risks and protect the hardworking professionals who serve our communities every day.

To the families of those we’ve lost: we honor their memory, and we remain committed to ensuring their legacy leads to meaningful change.

Stay safe, stay aware, and look out for one another.

Wayne Winton, CRL, AFDI, CAI is the president of the ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. and owner of Tri-County Locksmith Service, Glenwood Springs, Colorado.