From scrapyards and libraries to £50k worth of kit, Paul Hanscombe explains why auto locksmithing is the ultimate problem-solving trade. Based in Chichester, Paul and his wife Joanne run All Locked Up Safe, a business that has quietly but decisively pivoted away from domestic locksmithing to focus almost entirely on automotive work.
Paul’s story isn’t about overnight success or shortcuts – it’s about obsession, integrity, deep technical knowledge that’s self-taught and a refusal to accept that something “can’t be figured-out”.
From Domestic to Diagnostics
I’ve been in the trade a long time. Before cars, I was doing windows, doors, UPVC repairs which was the family business. My father-in-law ran the original business before retiring, and Joanne and I worked together with him for years. I gradually branched out into domestic locksmithing and did this for around 20 years until the industry started changing. The £39 and £49 Google ads were everywhere and it was killing the trade. People expected miracles for nothing, and the work became more about speed than skill.
Domestic work was what we knew, I could do it in my sleep, I needed more of a challenge and I loved cars. Auto locksmithing was different, more complicated, and the more complicated it is, the more I enjoy it.
Why Auto Beats Domestic Every Time
Houses are similar, but cars are not; every vehicle is a different puzzle. Different modules, different software, different failure points. One day it’s a simple OBD job, the next it’s a BMW with corrupt data or a Land Rover that doesn’t even want to talk to you. That’s what gets me out of bed.
If something doesn’t work, I don’t get frustrated and lose hope – I get interested. I want to know why. I want to know what failed, what corrupted, what didn’t sync. I’ll deliberately corrupt a module just so I can learn how to recover it. That way, if it happens on a customer’s car, I already know the solution.
I’ve always loved puzzles. As a kid I’d take things apart just to see how they worked. I still do. I’ll go to the scrapyard, buy a console, strip it down, study it. I want to understand systems from the inside out.
Self-Taught, the Old School Way
I didn’t learn from weekend training or the internet, I started doing cars long before Google was even a thing! By going to libraries, studying manuals and going to junkyards; my method was by trial and error, proper old-school learning!
A lot of my knowledge comes from crashing things on purpose. When you update a module and it corrupts – which happens more than people admit – you need to know how to recover the data, not just say ‘sorry’ and walk away. EEPROM work is where the £49 guys disappear, because there’s no quick profit in it and no margin for mistakes.
I hate not being able to do a job. Hate it. If there’s a car we can’t cover, it stays with me. I’ll buy extra equipment, extra keys, even if we never see that model again. I once rebuilt the whole locking system on a 35-year-old motorhome just for fun.
£50k of Investment & No Regrets
You can’t do this level of auto work on the cheap. I’ve invested around £50,000 in equipment, and that’s not slowing down anytime soon.
If you look at our van on Instagram, you can see where our investment is and we now cover most vehicles. I’d rather have a new bit of kit for my birthday or Valentine’s than anything else. Joanne will tell you – I’m always ordering something. We joke about it. Joanne has introduced a ‘zero days since the last purchase’ board, but it’s best to ask for forgiveness than permission. I’ve just bought the G3 programmer and I want the Lock50 as well, but apparently, I’m “not allowed” yet. We’ll see…
Joanne: The Backbone of the Business
Joanne has been in business as long as I have. She handles the office, bookings, admin and she’s brilliant at it. She’s also the voice of reason when I’m about to buy yet another machine.
We’ve been together 34 years and worked together for most of that time. That’s not always easy, but it works because we trust each other completely.
We’ve also got two tiny Shih Tzus, Boo and Poppet. They’re our office dogs and completely obsessed with me, for reasons I still don’t understand; even though they’re around Joanne most of the time.
The Reality of Auto Work
I find every day is different and I love that. Simple car key fob? No problem. BMWs with modules, absolutely, and Land Rovers – love it! Then there’s temperamental keys, BCM issues when batteries run low, transponder faults that send you down the wrong path entirely – I love it all!
You have to think. Properly rack your brains, but the satisfaction of solving it, of getting someone back on the road, when they thought it was impossible, that satisfaction is my fuel.
Also, with auto locksmithing there’s no parking worries, which is a bonus.
Integrity Above Everything
My worst fear isn’t competition. It’s letting someone down. If I can’t solve the problem, I won’t charge. Simple as that. I’d hate to overcharge someone or leave them worse off than when I arrived. You need a strong moral compass in this trade.
There’s enough work for everyone. We’re happy to pass jobs on and we get work passed to us. The industry works better when people help each other.
Andy Perrin of Brighton & Hove Locksmiths is a good friend of mine, and I have been teaching him some advanced car programming as he branches out. I believe in sharing knowledge.
What’s Next: Training & One-Stop Auto Hub
We’re not standing still, we plan to get a unit – somewhere we can work on three or four vehicles downstairs, real-life scenarios, real problems. Mobile work will continue, but the unit will allow us to offer training as well. Small class sizes. Proper hands-on learning.
I want it to be a one-stop shop for auto locksmithing. Bring your car, bring your van, or we come to you. Training, tools, even key covers – add a bit of bling, why not!
We love this industry and we just get on with it.
Still Loving the Trade
I love every aspect of this job. Every car is different. Every fault makes you think. That challenge is what keeps it interesting.
We’re busy, we pay the bills, we get the holidays and we wake-up every morning excited to work. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.
More information
All Locked Up Safe is an auto locksmith business based in Chichester, specialising exclusively in automotive key replacement, programming, non-destructive vehicle entry, and advanced module and EEPROM work. Run by Paul and Joanne Hanscombe, the company serves motorists, car dealers, and garages across the region, covering approximately 95% of vehicles on the road using state-of-the-art equipment and deep technical expertise.
alllockedupsafe.co.uk
01243 967910
07368160296
info@alllockedupsafe.co.uk