To avoid legal pitfalls in his risky profession, this locksmith listens with his fingers and works by three strict principles.
Practicing the art of “listening” with his fingertips, a locksmith in Ho Chi Minh City has set up strict personal rules to avoid crossing the legal line.
The craft of listening through the fingertips
Sitting in a coffee shop, Hong Lai (34), a well-known locksmith in Ho Chi Minh City, pulls down his shirt collar to reveal a large L-shaped scar on his shoulder.
He says it was the result of retaliation after refusing to unlock a door for a group of suspicious individuals likely involved in illegal activities.
The incident didn’t discourage him. Lai remains one of the most sought-after locksmiths in the city.
Hong Lai is one of the most recognized locksmiths in Ho Chi Minh City.
Born into a poor family in the old District 12 of Ho Chi Minh City, Lai had to drop out of school at the age of 8 or 9. His childhood home was located in an area rife with social vices, and he quickly fell into trouble and delinquency.
When the area was cleared to make way for the construction of the Tham Luong Bridge, his family relocated to the former Tan Phu District to live with his grandfather.
There, Lai learned the locksmith trade from his uncle.
Initially, he only learned to repair basic locks. Later, he began studying international materials to improve his skills. Today, he can repair, install, manufacture, and maintain a wide variety of locks, including door locks, safes, motorbike locks, car locks, and electronic locks.
According to Lai, locksmiths must develop the ability to “listen” with their fingertips.
“Because we can’t see deep into the structure of a lock, we rely on tools to feel our way inside and try to unlock it,” he explains.
“At this stage, the sensitivity of the fingertips is crucial. A locksmith must rely entirely on touch.”
Vibrations from within the lock are transmitted to the fingers and then to the brain. From these vibrations, the locksmith can sense the individual pins and their varying heights, allowing them to determine the mechanism and find a way to decode and open the lock.
“Nowadays, locksmiths also have to apply technology and science to deal with modern locks like safes, cars, or electronic door systems,” he adds.
The risks behind the craft
Lai says that a key skill in locksmithing is the ability to "listen" with the fingertips.
After years in the profession, Lai is confident in his ability to open, repair, and maintain various types of locks, which has helped him build a stable clientele.
However, due to the sensitive nature of the work, Lai has also faced many dangerous situations.
He recalls being called by a woman to unlock her home without knowing she was in the middle of a fierce marital dispute.
Returning home from a birthday party, the woman had been locked out by her husband. Knowing of Lai’s reputation, she called for help.
While Lai was busy unlocking the gate, a man rushed out from the house wielding a weapon.
After some shouting, the man swung it directly toward the area where Lai was working.
Reacting instinctively, Lai dropped his tools and quickly backed away from the door.
Seeing the situation escalate, he excused himself and left, letting the family resolve their issues on their own.
In another incident, Lai received a call from a client in the former Go Vap District, asking him to open a safe and replace its battery.
During the job, Lai insisted the homeowner be present.
Lai can work with a wide variety of locks, including safes, motorcycles, cars, and electronic systems. Photos: NVCC
The client excused himself to get a drink downstairs, but the next day called to say money had gone missing from the safe.
Anticipating such scenarios, Lai had recorded the entire process.
He offered to call the police to investigate and confirmed the existence of a full video.
Realizing he could not falsely accuse Lai, the client went silent and dropped the matter.
“To some extent, this profession is highly sensitive and fraught with unexpected risks,” Lai says.
“To protect myself, I’ve set three firm working principles.”
“First, the client must send a photo of the item to be unlocked and provide a clear and accurate address before I accept the job. Second, during the work process, there must be at least 2 to 3 witnesses present.”
“Finally, I reserve the right to film the entire process with a camera. If any of these conditions are not met, I won’t proceed,” he affirms.
Of the three rules, Lai considers the photo submission the most crucial.
This allows him to assess the type of lock and anticipate potential problems, helping him avoid accidentally becoming involved in illegal activity.
Vietnamnet.vn
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