T I
‘Do Not Duplicate’ Words on Keys Don’t Mean Much By Jim Killam
E
ver wonder about those keys that say “Do not duplicate”? The answer is, no, they don’t offer legal protection for the owner, says Guy Spinello of I. Spinello Locksmiths, 225-B South 6th St., Rockford. “There is no law in the state of Illinois that says you cannot duplicate a key that says ‘do not duplicate,’” he says. “Now, a reputable locksmith like ourselves will not duplicate that key without the people bringing a letter from the owner. But you still have no guarantees, because you don’t know for sure if the guy that sent the letter is the owner.” So those keys – which cost only a few cents more than a regular, duplicated key – might serve as a small crime deterrent. A better solution, especially for business owners, is a Medeco-type of key, Spinello says. Medeco is one of several manufacturers of high-security locks whose keys can only be duplicated by dealers who have an agreement with them. The cuts can’t be made by a regular key-duplicating machine. And, all keys are recorded and accounted for. “Those keys cost more money, but they give a lot more protection because of the fact they cannot be duplicated,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what it says on it. The only guy that’s going to be able to duplicate that key is the contractor who’s been assigned that keyway (by Medeco).” Switching to the more-secure key system doesn’t require changing the entire mechanism – just the cylinder. Medeco keys are much more common for business use, but Spinello sees residential applications, too. “If you have to give a key to a baby sitter, or something like that, and then they decide to leave your employment, as long as you get that key back, you don’t have to worry that they’ve been out and had any other keys made,” he says. ❚ Get SLW Tips & Information articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving. com and start your E-Edition today.
I
A
Daily News Sites & Stations
Information Resources
n today’s fast-paced world, you can get breaking local and national news within minutes of when it occurs, from many different organizations. The following are reliable sources bringing you news and weather updates 24/7.
t Hughes Meda Corp., we’ve developed several sources of information you can utilize to enhance every aspect of your life. We’re interested in your thoughts about how we can make them even more valuable to you.
Northwest Quarterly Magazine, featuring Arts & Entertainment, Recreation & Destination and Mind & Spirit calendars as well as the Northwest Regional Dining Guide. northwestquarterly.com
• 13 WREX, WREX.com • 23 WIFR, WIFR.com • 17 WTV0, mystateline.com • WNTA 100.5 FM Radio, nta.fm • WNIJ Public Radio, 89.5 FM, northernpublicradio.org • WROK Radio, 1440 AM, 1440wrok.com • Rockford Register Star, rrstar.com • Rock River Times, rockrivertimes.com
WeBuyLocal Guide to Locally Owned Businesses, including a comprehensive medical guide to local physicians, clinics and hospitals. webuylocal.com Smart Living Weekly magazine, featuring weekly calendars for Family Fun and On the Town (nightlife) events. ❚
Smart Living Weekly
Dec. 4
31