Notice Board
a slight against our male peers in the industry , but we ’ ve encountered far too many women that have experienced domestic violence and other traumatic events – these situations have led to them needing their locks changing . I think in these situations and for these individuals , having two women turn up provided them with a heightened sense of safety and comfort .”
The three P ’ s …
Denise : “ I would encourage any young person to get into locksmithing . But it is never as simple as it would appear on the outside . Locksmithing requires practice , patience , and perseverance to really hone the craft . Many great and experienced locksmiths told us that learning and practicing is the key to being successful , and they ’ re absolutely right .”
Everything changed .
When the pandemic hit , every changed . With travel restrictions , there was no longer a need for both women ’ s services . This allowed Theresa and Denise time , time that they both hadn ’ t had before . They were able to get home and no longer live out of suitcases .
Theresa : “ During the pandemic , I met someone that worked for British Gas and was on the lookout for warrant offices . Both Denise and I seized the opportunity , after all , this role lent itself to our capabilities and experience . A lot of the time , we just didn ’ t know what we were walking in to – one property we entered was booby-trapped .”
Denise : “ Even though we ’ ve found ourselves in some tricky situations , the skills we ’ ve acquired over the years enabled us to be calm under pressure , stand our ground and deescalate situations that could have gone south . But this role exposed us to locksmithing – watching the guys pick the locks was fascinating to us , and it was from here that we entered an entirely new chapter .”
No less exhilarating . Theresa : “ Locksmithing , unlike our previous careers , offered all the comforts of home . We ’ re now able to come back in the evenings and spend time with family . But it is no less exhilarating . We were welcomed with open arms into the locksmithing community and supported endlessly by Derek Mercer , an outstanding mentor of ours .”
Denise : “ One of the great things we both enjoy is the complexity of lockpicking . No two locks are the same and we both get a real buzz whenever we succeed . It ’ s fulfilling to be faced with a challenging lock and we ’ ve often spent numerous evenings picking difficult locks , it ’ s a great feeling when you finally crack it .”
Theresa : “ However , one of the things we ’ ve discovered since being in the industry is how many women are grateful to see us turn up . This is by no means
Theresa : “ Yes , definitely . And it ’ s important to listen to your peers and learn from others that have been doing this for decades . Look at the tools that are needed , invest wisely , and explore all the new opportunities that the industry has to offer .
“ Looking forward , we ’ re planning on expanding our locksmithing services by exploring the opportunities in the automotive sector . This is an ever-evolving industry and as technology continues to advance , we all must continue to adapt if we ’ re to continue supporting our communities .”
To learn more about Theresa and Denise , aka MissPicks Locksmiths , head to their website : www . misspickslocksmiths . co . uk
DECEMBER 2023
7 locksmithjournal . co . uk