The UK Locksmith Journal meets the flip-flop-wearing locksmith who’s redefining field video content. He goes only by Gizmo, a high-school nickname he admits “kind of sucks, but it stuck.” Based in Slidell, Louisiana, he’s become a familiar face for locksmiths and enthusiasts around the world.
We caught up with him to see what makes him tick: from real-world lockouts and daring on-the-fly videos to a fearless, slightly unconventional approach that has earned him hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Behind the Myth
Before all this, I briefly dabbled in parkour – nothing too extreme, just enough to give you a hint at that daredevil streak I still carry. I don’t do it anymore, but the mindset remains confident, unbothered by judgement, and always ready to dive into something new. You can see it in my work, my videos, and my willingness to film during a lockout while wearing flip-flops in freezing weather.
Now, with hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, I’m known for showing locksmithing as it truly is: messy, unpredictable, and real.
I’ve always been interested in lock picking. A friend of mine worked for a local locksmithing company opening cars and houses. I started helping out there occasionally, and, after he (my friend) left, I took over his role. Professionally, I’ve been in locksmithing four years, but about six as a hobby. I realised nobody was making real field content. It was all lab shots and tidy benches, so I decided to show real life – whatever the lock deities gave me that day.
My Kind of Locksmithing
I do a mix of commercial and residential locksmithing, handling everything from home doors to business locks. I also do vehicle lockouts, but I don’t make new keys for newer cars yet -those require manufacturer accounts and programming I’m not set up for. Most of my work is non-destructive entry.
I also spend a lot of time helping people understand security beyond just locks. Cheap digital or fingerprint locks aren’t always secure, so I encourage cameras, alarms, and smart setups that actually protect people. A lot of locksmiths focus just on the lock itself, but I see the bigger picture and like to give people advice on how to stay safe.
Content Creation
Content creation has been my life for a decade. I’ve done all sorts of videos: story times, comedy skits, gaming – but locksmithing content has only been about three years. It’s harder because I have to wait for a job, record it, and hope it’s worth editing. I try to post every day, sometimes multiple times. With three kids – youngest two, oldest nine – it’s easy to fall behind.
Across platforms I’ve seen huge growth. TikTok sits at 202,000, YouTube 6,400, with Instagram and Facebook climbing fast. TikTok wasn’t even popular when I started. Now it’s blown up. I’ve become mutuals with locksmiths all across the US.
I wear flip-flops, even in a blizzard. Most of the hate I get online comes from locksmiths or people saying I’m teaching criminals how to break-in. Then there’s my flip-flops! Apparently, I shouldn’t be in business because of them. It’s a sensory thing. I lived in Florida, everyone wore them there, they’re easy to take on and off. I loved the Under Armour Ignite ones until they redesigned them. I’ve even started 3D-printing my own!
Everything I do is on the fly. All my videos are spur-of-the-moment. Some of the best things happen when my camera isn’t even on me. I’m respectful, I always let people know I’m recording. Someone once asked me to take a video down, so I did. Most people don’t mind. I blur them out anyway.
I edit my videos on either an ipad or PC in my converted garage, along with my mini-3D print farm, lock station, solder/repair station, and all-around workshop. Some would call it a ‘mancave’ but I like to call it my studio! The rest happens on the fly using the CapCut app. I find that CapCut is fast and simple, and enables me to put together videos without spending hours learning Adobe or DaVinci Resolve.
Sometimes I’m up late editing after a long day, sometimes I fall asleep at my PC. It’s hard work, but I enjoy it, and it keeps me connected to everything happening across social media.
Locks Aren’t Security
Locks aren’t security – that’s my biggest message. There are so many scammers who drill easy locks and charge $300. My area has a lot of low-income families, and that’s a month of groceries gone. You can survive without ripping people off.
Cheap fingerprint and digital locks? Some of them open with a pick and a twist. You can take the whole panel off of cheap digital locks and hotwire them without tools. They’re marketed as high security, but it’s false advertising. Locksmiths say I’m helping criminals, but I want people to know the truth. Don’t rely on locks! There’s always another way in. Cameras and alarms are real security. Even fake cameras deter criminals. I’ve got eight cameras on my own home.
Three years ago, there was a shooting outside my house. My cameras caught it and the police got the guy.
How I Become Park of Covert Instruments
I’d been a fan of Covert and LockPickingLawyer for years. I used their tools constantly and tagged them, hoping they’d notice me, but they didn’t, so I messaged them on Instagram and asked if we could collaborate. Sometimes you just have to ask, somehow, I had been overlooked.
Now I have my own creator kit. I didn’t design the tools, but I hand-picked everything. It’s the one minimalist set I think anyone in North America could use to get into almost any lock. I also speak highly of LadyLocks. She’s better than most lock sporters out there! We’ve talked a fair bit, she’s about 20 hours away, and now we’re both partners with Covert.
Locksmithing is Forever
I don’t ever want to leave this industry. I’ve worked in construction, IT, software engineering… I’ve dipped into everything. Locksmithing is the only thing I’ve stuck with long-term. Having executive dysfunction can make things tricky sometimes, I find it hard to keep track of everything; all the tasks I have to do, to stay organised. But I’ve learned to work with it, and blend it into everyday life. I love making videos and helping people, and I just focus on what I can control. I want to support my family, make an honest living, and provide great content to show what this locksmithing industry is really like.
About Gizmo
Gizmo is a Louisiana-based locksmith and one of the most recognisable digital creators in the trade. With 207k followers on TikTok, 64k YouTube subscribers, a growing Instagram audience of 18k and 9k Facebook followers, he reaches viewers across the U.S. and beyond.
Known for his real-world field videos, flip-flops-in-any-weather attitude and straight-talking style, he brings an authentic look at the job. A former light parkour enthusiast with a hint of daredevil energy, he approaches locksmithing with the same boldness: unconventional, practical and unafraid to challenge industry norms.
Partnered with Covert Instruments and committed to honesty and education, Gizmo has become a standout modern voice in locksmithing.
Connect with Gizmo
Web: www.gizmotherogue.com
Email: gizmotherogue@gmail.com
TikTok: @gizmotherogue
Instagram: @gizmotherogue
YouTube / Facebook: Gizmo