AFTER SCHUMER PUSH, eBAY WILL REMOVE NEW YORK CITY ‘MASTER KEY’ FROM SITE’S LISTINGS; SCHUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED SALE OF ‘FIREFIGHTER’S KEY’ A DISATER WAITING TO HAPPEN & URGED ALL OPERATIONS TO CEASE ONLINE LISITNG
Following a Report That So Called New York City Master Keys—Which Unlock Elevator Control Panels in Office Buildings, Construction Sites & Subway Entrance Gates Across NYC—Were Being Sold On eBay, Senator Publicly Urged the Site to Remove All Listings; Senator Said Access To Key Is A Potential Danger To New York City
Schumer: eBay’s Swift Action Was The Right Thing To Do & Could Avoid A Turnkey Disaster
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer recently announced that after his push, eBay will remove all listings that include a copy of the master key firefighters, law-enforcement officers, elevator contractors and inspectors use to access elevator banks in New York City. The key, also referred to as the ‘Yale 1620’ was purchased twice by a reporter via ‘UltimateSecurityDevices.com,’ an eBay community member.
Following the report, Schumer publicly urged eBay to remove the key from its site. The Senator’s office also reached out to eBay and urged for the keys to be taken down from the site immediately. Schumer said that eBay has now admitted that such items are prohibited from being sold on their site and are working to remove all current listings of the firefighter’s key.
“This ‘master’ key belongs in the hands of a very limited circle of responsible law enforcement and emergency response personnel and nobody else,” said Schumer. “I am pleased that eBay has so quickly heeded the call to remove these listings. Selling this ‘master’ key online could open the door to potential danger and that’s a risk that shouldn’t hinge on some lock company looking to make a few bucks. I will continue to press eBay or any other online sites willing to put this key up for sale to do the right thing and immediately remove the listing.”
According to a New York Post article published on September 20th, the “1620” keys that provide firefighters access to elevator control panels and subway entrance gates in New York City were being sold online through eBay. It is illegal for unauthorized individuals to possess or sell this key in New York City.