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Press Kit · HireLocksmiths

Press & Media

Logos, founder bio, brand colors, pre-cleared talking points, and the underlying numbers from State of Locksmith Pricing 2026. If you're working on a story about locksmith fraud, consumer protection, or service-marketplace verification — this is everything you need in one place.

2024Founded Austin, TXHeadquartered 534 metrosCoverage 330 prosVerified roster 6hPress response time
As featured in
Press logo 1 Press logo 2 Press logo 3 Press logo 4 Press logo 5 Press logo 6

Real publication logos backfill these placeholders as press hits land. Email press@hirelocksmiths.com if you'd like to be included.

Downloadable press kit

Logos, founder bio, talking points, brand guide, and the 2026 stats sheet. All assets pre-cleared for editorial use. PNG / additional formats available on request.

Founder & spokesperson

For interview requests, email press@hirelocksmiths.com.

Drew Stephens

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Drew Stephens founded HireLocksmiths in 2024 after watching family members get scammed three times in the same year — once for a $19 phone quote that became a $480 invoice on the porch. With a background in operations and consumer-protection journalism, Drew built HireLocksmiths to make verifying a locksmith on the doorstep as fast as Googling them. He oversees the editorial team and the verification network across 500+ U.S. metros.

Pronouns: he/him · Headshot available on request.

Brand colors

Hex values used across the directory. Full brand guide is in the brand-guide.md download.

Brand Blue 700 #1d4ed8
Brand Blue 600 #2563eb
Brand Blue 500 #3b82f6
Slate 900 #0f172a
Slate 600 #475569
Slate 50 #f8fafc
Red 600 #dc2626

Talking points

Pre-cleared editorial lines. Use any of these in print, broadcast, or web without further approval — please attribute to HireLocksmiths.

1

“Locksmith fraud is a logistics scam, not a small-business problem — a handful of dispatch call centers route to unlicensed contractors paid on commission for the bait-and-switch.”

2

“14% of U.S. locksmith calls in 2025 ended in a 2x+ markup vs. the phone quote — about one in seven.”

3

“The fix is verification at the doorstep, not more enforcement. Customers should be able to check a locksmith’s license + insurance in under 30 seconds.”

4

“Regional regulation works. New Jersey and New York licensing regimes correlate with the lowest fraud rates; permissive states see double the rate.”

5

“The Las Vegas Strip ZIP (89109) is the single worst-offending ZIP in the country — 30% of mystery-shopped calls flagged for bait-and-switch.”

6

“Tourist density and fraud cluster together. Hotel-heavy ZIPs in Miami Beach, Hollywood, and Las Vegas dominate the worst-offender list.”

7

“A legitimate residential lockout costs $75–$200 all-in. Anything below that range advertised as a "$15 special" is bait pricing.”

8

“HireLocksmiths is built around an editorial verification network: every locksmith on the directory is licensed, insured, background-checked, and publishes a fixed service-call fee + price ranges before being added to the roster.”

Key stats — 2026

Top-line figures from State of Locksmith Pricing 2026. Methodology in the report. Sample: 530,412 calls across 25 metros.

14%
of locksmith calls flagged for bait-and-switch in 2025
32 min
national average lockout response time
$480
average overcharge on flagged invoices
19%
fraud rate in the South — highest of any U.S. region
89109
single worst ZIP code (Las Vegas Strip)

Contact the editorial team

Working on a piece touching locksmith fraud, consumer protection, or service-marketplace verification? Drop a note. Average response time: 6 business hours.

Or email press@hirelocksmiths.com directly.

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