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Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:03 am
by locked_inside
Hi All,

I recently bought a place that has an Avocet ABS MK3 locking the back door (closed), but no key! I have keys for the rest of the place (more Avocets), but none turn the back door lock.

I know my options are limited, and I've seen various defeaters/unlock tools being advertised, and they might actually be cheaper than getting a locksmith in (who may just drill the lock anyway). And I don't have the patience to learn to lock pick, and attempt to pick something like that.

And then I thought about snapping it. I know it has a sacrificial front to prevent this, but since I have access to the inside, I wondered if that was worth a go?

Has anybody done this? If so were there any complications after the snap?

Or would anybody recommend some good drill bits :soldier:

Thanks!

Re: Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 11:55 am
by Anarchy_won
if you have access to the back of the door why would you drill it? Remove the lock and rekey or replace.
you only need to drill a lock if you cant access the room/building the lock is protecting.

Re: Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:04 pm
by locked_inside
Anarchy_won wrote:if you have access to the back of the door why would you drill it? Remove the lock and rekey or replace.
you only need to drill a lock if you cant access the room/building the lock is protecting.


Hi, forgive my noobness, but do I not need a key for this? I would rekey - but I wasn't left the unique number card they come with either!

The door is closed and locked, i just don't have the keys. Luckily there's a way into the garden without this door, but it's a bit frustrating :D

Thanks for answering, though!

Re: Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:05 pm
by Anarchy_won
locked_inside wrote:
Anarchy_won wrote:if you have access to the back of the door why would you drill it? Remove the lock and rekey or replace.
you only need to drill a lock if you cant access the room/building the lock is protecting.


Hi, forgive my noobness, but do I not need a key for this? I would rekey - but I wasn't left the unique number card they come with either!

The door is closed and locked, i just don't have the keys. Luckily there's a way into the garden without this door, but it's a bit frustrating :D

Thanks for answering, though!


I am not familiar with the Avocet line of locks (I have never seen one here in Canada) is it keyed on both sides? or is one side a thumb turn?
but that is besides the point if you just acquired your house. I would recommend having a locksmith rekey your whole house as you dont know who had keys for those locks before you acquired it.

Re: Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:56 pm
by MHM
Hi locked_inside. Much as I love working on locks, I gotta be honest - jobs like this are *exactly* what locksmiths are good at and you're crazy to attempt this yourself.

The options you mention are crude at best and have all kinds of implications for insurance and security and potential damage to your door and locking hardware. Just ring a locksmith.

Re: Avocet ABS MK3 - No Key

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 5:46 am
by huxleypig
Don't snap it!! If the core pops out a little (from snapping, drilling, pulling, or whatever) the cam locks down and then you are in a real world of pain.