Landlord Installs 'Unpickable' Lock, Tenants Discover Screws Are on the Outside

Tenants of the Riverside Arms apartment complex have expressed concern after building owner Frank Hasp installed new high-security deadbolts on all 48 units, only for residents to discover that the mounting hardware is accessible from the exterior side of the door. 'He sent an email about the upgrades,' said tenant Jasmine Strike. 'He used the phrase military-grade three times. He said these locks were pick-proof, bump-proof, and drill-resistant. He did not mention that anyone with a number two Phillips screwdriver could remove the entire lock assembly from the hallway in about forty seconds.' The locks, an off-brand model marketed under the name FortressMax Pro, feature hardened anti-drill pins, a six-pin restricted keyway, and a sidebar mechanism that would typically resist sophisticated picking techniques. The mounting plate, however, is secured to the door by four exposed Phillips-head screws on the corridor side. 'That's not how doors work,' said locksmith and security consultant Barbara Latch, who inspected the installation at a tenant's request. 'The whole point of a deadbolt is that the securing hardware is on the inside. These are installed backwards. Every single one. It's actually impressive in its consistency.' Hasp has defended the installation, noting that the locks 'look very secure from the inside, which is where tenants spend most of their time.' He also pointed out that the hallway has a security camera, though tenants note the camera has been broken since 2021. 'I've asked him to reinstall them correctly,' said tenant association president Omar Cylinder. 'He said he would, but he also said the current installation provides what he called reverse security — the idea that a burglar would be so confused by the unconventional mounting that they wouldn't know what to do. That's not a real concept.' Hasp has ordered new screws that he describes as 'tamper-resistant,' which Latch confirmed are 'star-drive instead of Phillips, which adds approximately nine seconds to the removal process.'