Sex Offender Locksmiths

You’ve just locked yourself and your children out of your home.

You borrowed a neighbor’s phone book, picked out a locksmith and called him.

What are the chances you've just called a sex offender working as a locksmith?

How safe would you feel after he left?

Think it can't happen? Think again.

Anyone can unintentionally call someone of disreputable character in states that do not require licensing for locksmiths.

In June 2008, WHAS 11 NEWS in Kentucky had an investigative report about just such a locksmith. The story is no longer available on their website, so I’ve summarized it here:

Registered child sex offender Charles Raisor opened up Charlie’s Locksmith and Maintenance Company in Shelbyville, Kentucky. If that was not bad enough, Raisor hired another registered child sex offender who had also been convicted of drug possession and carrying a gun by a convicted felon.

Raisor was operating as any locksmith would – unlocking doors, and rekeying or installing new locks - securing people’s homes and businesses. The fact that he had a secret any parent would need to know didn’t seem to bother him. Two months prior to the television station’s report, Raisor had been charged with failing to comply with the sex offender registry and violating sex offender residence restrictions. But he wasn’t in jail when the news channel found him. He was out working.

Apparently there are no occupational restrictions against convicted sex offenders owning locksmith businesses since there are no locksmith licensing laws in Kentucky or in Florida for that matter. Such laws would require State and Federal fingerprint and criminal background checks.

Since city and county business registration personnel do NOT cross-check business registrations with the sex offender database, consumers must do all they can to investigate before inviting someone into their home or business.