Lock and Key Examination and Analysis
We at Sterling / APG maintain a fully equipped lock and key laboratory. In recent years, it has become obvious in the industry that one of the most important items that were sometimes overlooked by technical firms when conducting a forensic vehicle origin and cause and / or theft examination of recovered vehicles was a microscopic examination of locks and keys. A microscopic examination of keys for a specific vehicle is as important to formulate an expert opinion on how the vehicle was last operated as the forensic examination of the subject vehicle itself.
The importance of key accountability is of paramount importance in determining if any other object other than a key of the correct type and with the correct bittings that correspond with the wafer tumbler configuration of the vehicle locks was used to either start and operate or bypass the vehicle locking system. This fact is especially important with a transponder-equipped vehicle. Each vehicle, of different manufacture, normally leaves the factory with a certain amount of keys programmed into the transponder system and a corresponding number of keys and remotes accompany the vehicle. Depending on the year, make and model vehicle, anywhere between 2 and 16 keys can be programmed into the system.
The following are just some of the information that can be obtained from keys and remote transmitters:
- Is the key OEM issued or a replacement key?
- Has the submitted key(s) ever been used in the past as a pattern key to cut a recipient key in a key duplicating process
- Has the key been cut from a pattern key as a duplicate key?
- We can obtain the original factory key code that was assigned to the specific vehicle by VIN when it left the factory.
- Do the submitted key(s) have the correct bittings (spaces and depths) that cross reference with the factory key code?
- Decode the key cuts to spaces and depths and cross-reference to a specific key code.
- Is the submitted key a first generation key, or what generation is the key?
- Are the wear patterns obtained through microscopic examination consistent with the age and mileage of the vehicle?
- The degree of insertion and extraction wear patterns on the key blade, are they the result of long-term or short-term usage
- Of the keys submitted, and after a microscopic wear pattern analysis of the keys and key usage analysis, which key has been predominately used as the “daily use, alternate use of occasional use key
- Do the submitted keys have the same bittings?
- Does the degree of wear patterns exhibited on a specific key compliment the remote that accompanied the key as a submitted key "set"?
- Obtain the individual transponder code data from the key(s)
- Test the keys for active and type of transponders, fixed code, encrypted code or rolling code.
- Obtain the mileage and VIN and specific vehicle data from BMW keys, which will establish the mileage recorded in the key memory of the last time the BMW key was used in the ignition lock.
- Microscopically examine the secreted mechanical key stored in the proximity key bodies (housings).
- Test the proximity key to determine if the signals from the key are being received by their specific vehicle transponder or remote keyless entry system
- Examine the circuit board and batteries of the remote transmitters.
- Obtain the Mhz RF codes from the submitted remotes
- Determine if the vehicle has a multi-function after market antitheft system or remote start system from the submitted after market or OEM remotes.
When shipping keys to our lab, always ship the keys protected and individually wrapped, and ship by Express mail delivery with tracking and delivery confirmation. Remember, when obtaining keys from a subject, ask for all of the keys and remotes.