Police warn to look out for locksmith scam

Newport Beach police Thursday warned about a possible scam in which suspects posing as locksmiths install locks that are easier to pick.

Last month, police said, a resident hired what he thought was a local company to install new locks at his home.

When the workers showed up, they arrived in an unmarked van and couldn’t provide a business card or other proof of where they worked, according to police.

The resident let them do the work but later found out they weren’t employed by the company he thought he’d called.

Police said the unidentified workers had installed substandard locks and modified them in a way that made them easier to pick.

The Newport Beach Police Department advised residents to be careful when hiring workers.

“When calling a business, ask the representative to identify their company name and location before providing them with any of your information,” the department wrote in a news release. “You may also ask workers providing services at your home for a business card or other form of verification that they are employed by the company you have intended to hire.”

In this case, the resident told police he found the locksmith company by searching online and calling the number that popped up. When he called, however, the person who answered gave a generic greeting instead of the name of the company.

Police are asking residents to report any similar suspicious activity by calling (949) 644-3717.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck