R.J. Bent

Age: 60

Hometown: Auburn

Family: Girlfriend

Education: High school and some college

Occupation: Owner of RJ's Lock & Key

Hobbies: Scuba diving

Each Monday, The Citizen features someone from the Finger Lakes community.

This week, we spotlight R. J. Bent of RJ's Lock & Key.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. Every day is a different challenge, and it's always rewarding to see people excited when I gain entry into their home, business or car.

Q. What is the most challenging?

A. My job is to gain entry without causing damage and that can be hard. The hardest jobs are when the key goes into the lock and turns, but the lock is mechanically broken. When that happens, picking the lock won't work.

Q. Why did you switch careers from an officer with the Auburn Police Department.

A. I retired and this was really my second career. I did this even as an officer and I loved it.

Q. What's the funniest thing to ever happen to you on the job?

A. I was helping a landlord and a deputy evict a tenant one night, so I was on my knees trying to gain entry into the apartment. Suddenly the door flew open and there was a man standing there with a wad of cash in his hand. I recognized him as a prior customer who never paid his bill, so I quickly grabbed the cash, counted out what he owed me and gave the rest back to him within five seconds. The look on his face was classic.

Q. What's the best way to relax after a tough day?

A. I like to cruise the Finger Lakes, the St. Lawrence waterway or the canal systems while dining at some of the waterside restaurants.

Q. What do you like most about the Finger Lakes region?

A. I love the seasons, especially summer and spring, and it's a relatively safe area to live.

Q. If you had a choice of meeting any two people in the world, who would they be?

A. Jacques Cousteau and Lloyd Bridges because they helped to develop scuba diving into a safer sport.

Q. What would people who think they know you be most surprised to find out about you?

A. I am a pretty open book, but maybe that I like to listen to classical music.

Q. What are some hints that you have for people who get locked out of their property?

A. Don't use those magnet holders for a spare key on your car, they don't work. Instead unscrew your license plate and slip the key behind it and screw it back on. Don't ever tell anyone its there, but if you ever get locked out, all you need is a coin or a screwdriver to get it. Also never let someone use a Slim Jim to unlock your car, especially if it's newer. It will only break the lock, preventing you from opening the door in the future. Also, if you have collision on your insurance, you are most likely covered if you ever get locked out. It won't raise your premium and you won't have a deductible.

Q. If you were mayor, what's the first thing you'd change?

A. I would change the way we use our taxes for budgets. If departments don't completely use their budget, they have to return the extra money and face cuts for the next year. This causes departments to spend their extra money on unnecessary items. Instead we should reward department heads that don't use all of the money.