Business Profile: Pop-A-Lock, White Plains
A new business launched about eight months ago by two lifelong friends can help drivers anywhere in Westchester who unexpectedly run into trouble with their car.
Longtime Thornwood resident Richie Harold and his friend Bill Collins of Larchmont are co-owners of Pop-A-Lock, a franchise service that can be called to help those who have made the frustrating mistake of locking themselves out of their car.
The company also offers emergency roadside service that includes boosts, changing flat tires and bringing gas to stranded motorists along with a host of lock and key services for vehicles and residential and commercial properties. Reliability and professionalism are Pop-A-Locks’ hallmarks.
“Every technician is going to be dressed in uniform, the (Pop-A-Lock) car is going to be clearly marked and we’re going to charge you what we say we’re going to charge you,” Harold said.
Based in White Plains, motorists can call Pop-A-Lock around the clock 365 days a year. Harold and Collins currently employ a full-time locksmith and five technicians. They derive some of their car business from the auto clubs and insurance companies, who use subcontractors for the work. Increasingly, more individuals are calling for help.
The company, started about 20 years ago by two police officers, have also saved many municipalities thousands of dollars because local law enforcement would previously be called to help with lockouts.
“A lot of communities, police stations wouldn’t do it anymore because they’d go into a BMW, they’d scratch the car and then (the driver) would charge them $2,000 for trying to help,” Harold said.
One of the advantages for customers’ is that Pop-A-Lock technicians are specially trained by the company, which is headquartered in Louisiana, to know which tool should be used to properly open almost any care regardless of make or model. Whatever the job, proper procedures and protocols are always followed.
“It’s a franchise that will enforce the standards of the service,” Collins said. “We’re going to show up when we say we’re going to show up. They’re going to maintain all that.”
Harold estimated that since they started, calls for vehicle lock service, roadside assistance and residential and commercial properties are probably evenly split.
Collins said that they have networked with realtors and property managers to change locks and install a variety of electronic security measures for residences and commercial premises. Many homes have multiple doors, sometimes each with its own key, which can cause confusion for the residents living there, Collins said. It can also be a safety concern if all locks aren’t changed when a new owner moves in because it may be unclear how many different people were provided keys by the previous homeowner, he said.
New locks should also be installed each time a restaurant, bar or other commercial establishments change managers.
Opening the Westchester franchise for Harold and Collins, who grew up together in New Rochelle, followed careers for both in the financial industry. For nearly 25 years, Harold worked on Wall Street in commodities. Both wanted to open their own business but didn’t care for retail. However, both had experience working in various service businesses in their youth and were attracted to Pop-A-Lock because of the support they receive and the potential for growth. There are franchises throughout the United States and Canada.
One of the notable auto services they provide is free emergency door opening when a young child or an elderly or disabled person is unable to get out of the vehicle.
“It’s gotten a lot of good feedback,” Harold said. “You have to do something for the community and that seems to be well responded to.”
For more information about Pop-A-Lock’s services, visit www.popalockwestchester.com or call 914-253-9725. For roadside or automobile lock service, call 914-251-9725.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
