Keep your house keys away from your kilos.
Cokeheads who use their keys to shovel the drug up their nose are not just damaging their health — they’re also hurting their home security, a master locksmith is warning.
Craig Andres from the Perspicacity Life, a marketing brand that connects customers with their nearest locksmiths, said he’s had to replace entire locking mechanisms damaged by cocaine residue.
“Keys are not designed to be multi-tools,” yet they are routinely used “for recreational purposes,” such as “handling powders or other substances,” he lamented.
Andres said there’s been a recent surge in service calls for locks damaged by coke-covered keys.
Scooping up the powder every day with a key can over time “weaken” its shape, and ultimately destroy sensitive locking mechanisms altogether.
“Even small bends or chips can affect how a key sits in the lock, leading to stiffness, jamming or breakage,” his company noted.
Drug residue can easily build up inside the lock cylinder, “leading to blockages or seizing over time” — and that could mean being completely locked out or unable to secure your home, he said.
Another no-no — using a key to pry open a package or slice through packing tape.
That, too, can damage its shape over time, Andres added.
Keys should be regularly wiped down with a soft cloth to avoid the build-up of grime and residue.
“With proper care, your key and lock will last for years,” said Andres. “But if you use it to open beer bottles, scoop substances, or force packaging, you’re asking for trouble.”
