Schumer: eBay's Swift Action Was The Right Thing To Do & Could Avoid A Turnkey Disaster

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced, today, 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.

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