Could Online Key Duplicators Make It Easier For Home Break-Ins?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Camera phones and cyberspace are making it easier to make copies of your keys without ever stepping foot inside a hardware store.

But as CBS 2's Andrea Grymes reported, the new technology could also make it easier for criminals to break into your home.

"Most of the images we get are just house keys of people who are just trying to copy the keys from their houses," said Ali Rahimi, founder of Keysduplicated.com.

Cyber locksmith's like Rahimi's company are easy to find online. Rahimi's site only needs two uploaded pictures of a key -- the front and back -- to make a copy.

A computer program then analyzes the images, takes measurements, then cuts a new key.

"We ask for both sides of the key in part to make sure the person taking the picture has enough physical access to the key to turn it over," Rahimi said.

The process is so simple, all you need are the pictures.

The company confirms by email, makes the key, then mails it to you no questions asked.

Keysduplicated.com, however, said its site does require a credit card number and billing address. And the business doesn't accept photos that look like they were taken at a distance, Grymes reported.

Still, the cyber locksmith process is a bit unnerving for some.

"That's not very good, that's very distressing," said Clare.

Making it all the more reason to make sure you keep your keys in sight.

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