We had the pleasure of catching up with one of, if not the, UK’s oldest locksmiths! Dennis Cozzi is still working in the locksmith trade at the grand age of 85, running A & D Cozzi based in Stevenage along with his son Chris.
An experienced veteran locksmith, nicknamed “Willo The Wisp”, Dennis has encountered a variety of challenging situations throughout his career – much like a wisp of smoke that is hard to catch – Dennis is ‘in and gone’ without leaving a trace.
Dennis told us:
Prestigious Projects & Living Life on the Edge
One of my most prestigious projects was repairing the metal gates at Windsor Castle. Many would shy away from such a tricky job, but I’ve always liked a challenge! The job involved refurbishing the locks and replacing the lead in the hinges, which had worn out over time. I had to remove the old lead, ensure everything was smooth and in good condition, and mix some clay to form a mold. Then, using a cast iron pot, I melted the lead. With my son passing me the ladle full of molten lead while I stood atop a ladder, I carefully poured the lead into the top hinge. It was a meticulous and dangerous task, but immensely satisfying once completed.
I have also done work on The Houses of Parliament’s terrace around the back by the river – I worked on the posts with hardened colour-tinted glass.
I worked on the big GPO tower in London, travelling in a cradle attached to a rope on the outside of the tower. I soldered zinc panels all around the tower after the bomb damage in 1971. I’m not just a locksmith, I get involved in all sorts of things. I’ve repaired sliding sash windows on a vicarage property, a lot of locksmiths wouldn’t touch those!
My work often involves creative solutions. I remember an old, large house where the local ironmonger had provided old-fashioned keys with intricate mazes cut into them for the gates. These cast-iron keys were tough to cut and had to look like part of the original lock. I used a technique called smoking: I would blacken the key over a candle flame, then file down the shiny marks left by the lock’s internal mechanisms. Repeating this process until the key fitted perfectly and it became indistinguishable from the original.
Still Locksmithing at 85: Recent Work
I’ve done a big job recently for a museum, repairing big hardwood doors and replacing the locks (because they didn’t have a key). It was quite a challenge picking 10-lever Ingersol locks, but I did it. Another locksmith quoted £2800 for two new locks. I restored the lock casing, and made cylinders to fit inside – keyed-alike from the outside and keyed to differ from the inside.
An especially harrowing experience occurred in Hatfield three years ago. I had changed the locks at a new shop in the town centre eight months prior. Two weeks after the installation, a woman phoned me asking if I could come over. Upon picking the high-security locks, I discovered it was ‘booby-trapped’ with explosives. When triggered, the explosive blew the door right back, a stark reminder of the dangers that sometimes accompany locksmithing.
I used to break into locks and houses, dealing with 10 to 20 locks per day. One memorable instance was with a Chubb AVA lock, a high-security rim lock with no picks available for it. I had to break into a house in Luton. After careful consideration, I drilled a small hole, inserted a screwdriver, and turned it around until I hit a ratchet. By applying pressure on the frame, the door eventually flew open.
Born to Fix
I left school at 15, but before that I worked at a local hardware shop, it was actually called an ‘Oil Shop’ back in the day. I was from a big family one of six children, my father was Italian and my mother a Geordie, back in those days it was all about learning a trade on the job. My father used to fix watches, so all of us were taught how to fix things.
I joined the air cadets when I was 11 years old, which progressed to doing jobs for the MOD. When I was 17, they got me breaking into safes and then the technical work really started. I really love problem-solving and learning how to do everything in the trade, it really fascinated me.
Talking About Top Skills
I would say my top skills are picking locks and gaining access to properties quickly. Sometimes it’s knowing the ‘tricks of the trade’ which can only be learnt on the job and over many years. Everything a great locksmith needs to know cannot be learned from a course, but is gained from working in the trade, it takes time to pick-up the skills. If someone is locked out, don’t pick the front door lock as the cylinders tend to be higher security and harder to access, pick the back door lock it will be easier. When UPVC doors are stuck, simply adjust the hinges – there’s often an easy fix.
Windsor Castle had a majestic gate that required repairs – specifically, the lock needed fixing, and a new key required. As a locksmith, this was right up my alley! Even though I had the original key (a worn-out relic made by blacksmiths of old, forged from real steel and practically indestructible) the task was to ensure everything was in perfect working order.
Paul Souber, a longtime friend, and I often shared our lock-picking experiences. A true locksmith’s skills are being able to get into places without leaving a trace.
I’ve always been known as “Willo the Wisp” due to my knack for flitting from one job to the next, a master of bypassing locks rather than breaking them. In my line of work, handling 15 to 20 locks a day under magistrates’ warrants is part for the course. My speciality is overriding locks without causing any damage, a skill I’ve honed to perfection.
One memorable challenge was in St Albans. I was called to deal with a high-security 10-lever Ingersoll lock. Four locksmiths before me had tried and failed to open it; the client insisted on wanting it opening without damaging the lock. With my expertise, it took me just one minute to open it, leaving the lock intact and fully functional.
In all my years, my work has been a blend of skill, knowledge, and a touch of finesse. Whether it was bypassing a high-security lock or finding a way into an impenetrable warehouse, I always took pride in my ability to solve these puzzles without causing damage. My reputation preceded me, and many would say you wouldn’t even know I’d been there.
As Hard as Nails
I used to do parachute jumping back in the day. I’ve had a lot of joints replaced – I’ve had two new shoulders, I’ve got a plate and screws in spine, and a false eye – but I’m still going strong. I’m not so much of a dare devil as I used to be, but I’m still going and I challenge myself every day. I’m waiting to retake my driving test.
I did a special job in Columbia and was stung by a scorpion! I dropped something in a grass and when I went to pick it up it stung me. I sucked my finger and spat out the poison, I felt OK and thought I got away with it. But, after a few months back in the UK I started to lose a lot of weight, so went for health checks. It was discovered that my pancreas has completed melted away! Now I’m on 15 tablets per day, including a special drug formulated from pig enzymes to help regulate my blood sugar and support digestion.
Looking Forward
I feel very fortunate to have lived a great life. I’m looking forward to going to Australia this year to visit my other son Anthony and my wonderful grandchildren who live there. I will continue to work as a locksmith as long as I’m physically and mentally able to, supporting my son Chris and other local locksmith friends. I cannot wait to see my story printed in The Locksmith Journal.