Thief steals Everett locksmith\'s tools

Tag : Hands On Tools
A locksmith's tools were stolen over the weekend,prompting fears that they could be in the wrong hands and that asavvy thief could use the tools to get into cars and homes.
Everett area locksmith Lisa Lowe is now unemployed.
"This is how I feed my kids," said Lowe.
Someone stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment out of hervan where she operates AAA Lowe Cost Locksmithing.
"This whole shelf had all of my hardware, duplicator, about$10,000 worth of equipment," said Lowe. "Some of the keysI had in my van were like master keys to cars."
Lowe said she walked outside of her house Friday morning to findthe side door to her work van open and the shelves empty. Sheimmediately thought of all of the ways a thief could use thatequipment.
"And then if they're skillful enough, they could figure outhow to make a key for a house," said Lowe. "And then caropening tools, they could use those to open any car."
Members of the locksmithing community say often a thief may alsouse stolen equipment to start up an illegal business.
Last year we, there was a scam where fake locksmiths wereadvertising in the phone book, then overcharging unsuspectingcustomers. Some have even been known to copy the keys of customers,later returning to burglarize their homes.
As for Lowe's business, it's licensed and bonded. And mostreputable locksmiths will offer their credentials.
"If you have the time try to substantiate the locksmith'sbusiness does exist in our area," said Barbara Lowe, a budgetlocksmith.