Dorm keys missing for two weeks

A locksmith has lost a set of 'control keys' used to remove lock cores for a number of University dorms' doors. A ring of control keys used to remove lock cores in several University residences was lost two weeks ago and is still missing, making it possible for whoever has the keys to enter any room in the affected residences. Although the University has changed some of the locks in the affected dorms, most have not been replaced since the keys were first lost, Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. Moneta said the Division of Public Safety and the University's lock company assessed the situation as posing minimal security risk to students, making more drastic measures to fix the problem unnecessary. During student move-in August 31, a locksmith in the Quadrangle lost a ring of keys containing the "control keys" that are used with an "extraction tool" to remove the core of a lock, Moneta said. One control key customarily removes the core of an entire dorm or dormitory section's locks. Officials would not specify which buildings the keys control. Moneta said even if anyone found the keys, it is unlikely he or she would know how to use them or have the necessary equipment to remove the cores. But West Philadelphia Locksmith Company employee Phil Paul said the necessary tools were commonly available. "There's no locks on the doors if you lose the control keys," Paul explained. "Stick in a screwdriver and the door opens up." A University administrator, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated the cost of lock replacements at $35 a lock -- or more than $100,000 to immediately replace every one. But Moneta said the University's decision not to replace all the locks in the affected buildings had nothing to do with cost, instead citing a desire not to "cavalierly inconvenience every student" with replacements that might not be necessary. University officials maintained that they have done everything needed to prevent security breaches as a result of the missing keys. Associate Director of Operations in Residential Maintenance Al Zuino said he contacted the University's lock company, Best Locking Systems of Philadelphia, and University Police Lt. Sue Holmes for a risk analysis, and that both the Best Locking Systems representative and Holmes played down the security risk. Best Locking Systems President Curtis Sharpp said he would neither confirm nor deny that the University contacted his company, adding that it would be impossible to remember any one specific call. He also refused to provide the name of the company's representative that handles the University account. Although Holmes acknowledged she had taken a call "related to" the lost keys, she refused to comment on the matter. Beyond the risk assesment, Zuino said he does not believe there will be any robberies as a result of the lost keys. "I am fairly confident that we are okay, because we have not had any break-ins yet," Zuino said. He said Spectaguards and University Police officers -- not locked doors -- provide most dorm security. If someone with a PennCard wanted to use the keys to enter individual rooms, however, security guards might never know. But Zuino also said University keys are coded so someone who picks up a key cannot tell what buildings the keys are for simply by looking at them. Only about seven people know the entire coding system, he said. Officials said all police and Spectaguards were notified of the possibility that an intruder might try to enter the dorms with the lost keys. But several officers and Spectaguards said they had not received any such warning. By way of explanation, Moneta said those guards and police officers may have forgotten about the incident, which occurred several weeks ago. He added that the steps the University took, combined with the fact that many people don't know how to use control keys, should ensure safety. "We identified what we thought were the most vulnerable locks, and we went about altering them," he said. Any locks that could be changed by replacing a pin rather than replacing the whole lock are already in the process of being altered. The situation doesn't call for anything beyond that, Moneta said. "It is a rare but occasional situation that some keys are misplaced, and our policy is to work with Public Safety, and we always work conservatively," he said. "If we felt there was anything unsafe going on, we would immediately rekey and recore." Although the University normally replaces its locks every five years, Moneta said the loss of the core keys would likely spur the University to begin looking for replacements sooner. Additionally, he said the University is examining the possibility of making all locks electronic by the end of the academic year. Some student leaders expressed disappointment that they and students in the affected areas were not notified of the potential risk, regardless of how small it may actually be. "I think it's a little weird that they haven't said anything," said Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Noah Bilenker, a College junior. "Students have thousands of dollars of merchandise in their rooms. It's got to be more expensive to replace their property [than to replace the lock cores]." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Ian Rosenblum contributed to this article.

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