Keys from VIN numbers?

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Good idea. However, the thief stole all my keys. Maybe I'll end up posting a WTB for orphan keys!

[wybnrml]

Good idea. However, the thief stole all my keys. Maybe I'll end up posting a WTB for orphan keys!

Well if you get a blank key from a hardware store, then you can get into any of the cars that way you can get the codes off the door lock.

[Zanzer]

A Slim Jim should make quick work of it too. I carry one in my rollback and have popped many locks with it. Plus, at less than 10 bucks it's much cheaper (and easier to find) than new glass

http://www.keepshooting.com/lockpicks/autolockouttools/slimjim.htm

[darrenryall]

Today is one of those rare days in Seattle when the atmosphere is not in the liquid state, so I'll dive into this today.

It's going to be more difficult for the 4 cars where he didn't break the windows (and are parked in a row 4" from each other). I suppose I'll bust out a rear flipper window on each of those to get in and use up my supply of spares! I guess for those cars I can access the inside of the pax door with the door closed, right?

You might be able to spring the lock mechanism for the back hatch if it's like mine.. there's a lock lever on the mechanism you can pull forward a bit and that'll unlock the back hatch. At least on mine it does.

May be able to get to it with a long wire coathanger. Chances would probably be better with a slim jim though..

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I picked up the proper blank -- says "Mazda" on it. It fits into all 24 cylinders (8 cars * 3 per car) but opens only one of the 24 locks, a driver-side door. If this were a viable way to enter vehicles, wouldn't every two-bit thief just carry around a bunch of blanks?

I removed the pax side lock cylinder from the smashed-into car and found a stamped 4-digit code on it. The only locksmith I find open on Saturday says he'll make me a key for $35. This isn't going to be cheap .... $35 times 8 plus about a man-day of my time by the time it's all done.

With the right kind of fiberoptic device, I wonder if you couldn't simply roll down the window and look down directly at the lock cylinder. Mine had the stamped numbers facing directly up.

Methinks it's time to install security cameras -- just in case the bozo who created this problem comes back with his buddies and a bunch of batteries to steal my entire fleet!

BTW, does anybody have any ideas how to repair the damage this guy caused when tearing out the driver side lock (see photo)? I'm guessing that cutting this out to a clean hole and welding a new rectangular piece over it is the way to go. Probably at least $100 if I take it to a body shop (I don't have welding equipment).

[blkfordsedan]

I would call a another locksmith and explain your situation. Around here, they charge $25 to come to your house with a slim-jim and open a car. I would think they would be willing to make you a "quantity break" deal if you explain your situation. It would only take them a few seconds per car to "jimmy" the lock with the proper tool. Then once you get all the codes they can make you a key for each. I would think someone would do it for $150 total. Maybe your home owner's insurance will cover it?

[darrenryall]

I'd suggest waiting for Monday.. $35 is a bit steep IMHO.

I paid $25 with tax included up here in Canuckustan, and the other price I've seen was $20 USbux.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I just spent $80.21 incl tax (the rate here is almost 10%) -- $35 to make a master key from the coded pax cylinder, another $35 to shuffle a parts-car cylinder's tumblers to replace the driver side cylinder the crook augered out (which I'll pick up Monday), plus a few bucks for a 2nd master key. The new master key DOES work smoothly in the ignition!

Remember, Seattle is latte-land, where (as I understand it, not being a coffee drinker), people willingly pay more than $5 for a 25-cent cup of coffee.

At least this gets me a reliable 2nd Seattle car (1993 GL with AC with only 101K on the meter) back on the road in case my daily driver (a pristine 1988 LX with 190K, but only 60K on a an engine overhaul) should die. Our definition of "public transportation" here in the burbs is a bus coming within a half-mile or so every few hours.

I'm going to wait a bit before doing any more. There's always a chance the donut squad will catch this dude. They know that if they find a stash of simple metal keys, each on a different-colored plastic key fob, to contact me. He'll probably also have some Icelandic krone in his pocket that he hasn't been able to use to buy his next fix.

Before doing more, I'll certainly shop it around for a good quantity come-to-me price.

The moral of this story is KEEP YOUR MASTER KEYS WELL HIDDEN. Mine were conspicuously hanging all together on the wall right inside the front door.

[wybnrml]

Have you tried the key you just got made in any of the other cars, it may work.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Wybnrml, that's an interesting idea. I just now tried it in the other seven cars, with no luck on any of them.