Andy Dunn is based in Leeds, and has been locksmithing for around four years. Not content with being confined to an office job, led Andy to turn a hobby of lockpicking into a new career. And, a love of learning meant door repair turned to commercial, which turned to van lock installation. Here’s how Andy did it, and you can too…
I have a degree in product design and, after university, got into designing underground water pipes for Yorkshire Water. But after a few years of office work I didn’t feel it was for me. Like many other locksmiths, I initially became obsessed with learning how to pick locks. I did this for months and then I booked a course at a locksmith training company.
My ‘bread and butter’ is mainly door repair. So, a typical day is going to doors which are jammed shut or won’t lock. I’ve also recently started getting more into commercial work for companies which I enjoy. For example, I recently changed a lot of locks for a University near to me, I also installed deadlocks to a fleet of vans.
There have been many interesting parts during my four years of locksmithing. One interesting job was changing the locks for a couple who kept falling out. One week I would get a call from the girlfriend saying she had kicked the boyfriend out and wanted the locks changing. Then a few weeks later the boyfriend called wanting the locks changing after he had kicked her out. This kept going on for around two months. After a while I just said to them, look, I’ll show you how to change the locks yourselves, so you don’t have to keep calling me after an argument. But they still did anyway!
What excites and motivates me is learning a skill which most people don’t have. I have provided locksmith services for people who (in my mind) are far smarter than myself, doctors, lawyers (even a judge). Yet with all their intelligence and knowledge, in their mind I’m the genius. There are so many things to learn which can get you into doing more advanced jobs (and, earning more money). I believe any serious locksmith should be doing at least one training course a year to expand their skills. This makes you a better locksmith and allows to take on the harder jobs which most locksmiths can’t even provide a quote for. When it comes to van lock fitting in particular, it spans so many sectors. It is a matter of protecting people’s possessions and livelihood; the importance of doing it properly is very rewarding.
Having a van broken into is a terrible experience. In some ways it’s worse than having your house broken into. When your ipad, jewellery etc is stolen it’s awful but it doesn’t stop your life. However, when someone’s van is broken into and their tools taken that can completely destroy someone’s business. The worst part is, sometimes the van owners are very sensible and take their tools in at night instead of leaving them in the van. However, thieves will peel the doors open anyway, essentially destroying the vehicle, just to have a look. Imagine that, thousands of pounds of damage just so some thief could have a peep into your van.
I used to be so paranoid about van theft when I first started that I had a model dummy (like a clothes shop mannequin) in the back of my van. My van had a tinted window in the back, so my logic was, if someone had a look inside it would look as though there was someone sleeping in the van. I’m not sure if it worked that way but my van never got broken into.
I don’t do that anymore, now I have installed van locks on my own van. This is got me into installing them for other people too (locks, not mannequins!). I noticed many locksmiths were scared of fitting van locks due to the same old reason of: ‘I don’t want to cut holes in someone’s van,’ but with the right training, there really is nothing to fear.
Anyone interested in my online van locks training introduction course, please contact me through my website for further information: www.LemonLocksmith.co.uk