A key duplication is a process that creates a new key from an existing one. Whether you need a spare for emergencies or to give access to friends, family members or employees, key duplication can be an effective way of doing this without needing to install and change the locks. However, a key copy can also turn into a security threat if it falls into the wrong hands and gives criminals easy access to your home or business.
There are some keys that cannot be copied, and it’s important to know if this is the case before having them duplicated. These are known as restricted keys and they’re designed to make it more difficult for people to illegally gain access to your property. These are usually found on commercial doors, safes and other secured items that should only be accessible to people who have the right credentials. If you lose your keys or they get stolen, it can be frustrating and dangerous.
Many locksmiths offer a key duplication service and this can be a quick, convenient way of getting a spare for emergency situations. It’s also possible to get a duplicated key at hardware stores and big box chains, but it’s important to check before you have any duplicated so you can ensure that the keys won’t be rejected by the lock they are intended for.
Almost any key can be duplicated, but there are some exceptions. For instance, most modern car keys have chips in them and can’t be duplicated using a normal key cutter. These need to be duplicated by a special machine that can read the unique code in the chip and make a new key that will work with the original lock.
Some padlocks have locks that can’t be copied, and these can only be replaced by a professional locksmith. This means that it’s important to check before having any padlocks duplicated so that you don’t have to worry about them being tampered with and potentially giving criminals access to your property.
Most padlocks are Yale keys and these can be copied quite easily. This is useful if you want to share access with someone, such as a house sitter or cleaner, and it’s a more secure option than letting them have a spare key that could fall into the wrong hands.
It’s not against the law to have your key duplicated, but it is against some company policies. This is because it can lead to unauthorised entry, and an estimated 40% of unexplained break-ins are caused by unauthorized key duplication. Despite this, it’s still the single most commonly violated security policy in many businesses.
It’s best to get your keys duplicated by a professional so that you don’t run the risk of losing them and not having a replacement. It’s also much safer for you and your family to have a spare in case of an emergency such as being locked out of the house, and it’s a lot cheaper than replacing your locks altogether. key duplication