SANTO DOMINGO – As long as there are humans on Earth, the locksmith trade will always have work, even in the most severe crises, because it is a practice basically designed to “correct mistakes.” And nothing is more common than making mistakes, consciously or unconsciously; that's why the phrase “to err is human” is not accidental.
And Osvaldo Cabral, a wise locksmith with nearly 40 years in the business, is more than clear about it: "One makes a living from the mistakes people make by throwing away keys and leaving them inside the vehicle or the house," he says.
Born in the municipality of Las Matas de Farfán, San Juan de la Maguana province, Cabral came to the trade by pure chance, when in 1984 he came to visit from his homeland to the house of an aunt, whose husband was dedicated to that practice and he began to work in the company.
He remained there long enough to learn the trade, but not before joining the National Police, where he was persuaded by a military friend, an institution in which he only lasted three years; returning to his locksmithing work.
In 2011 he took flight on his own and opened the “Centro de Llaves Cabral”, at kilometer 11 of Avenida Independencia, where he offers a varied menu of services and where he has cultivated a loyal clientele that supports his work.
With this business, Cabral has raised four children and employs two people who help him with daily tasks. In addition to locksmith services, his shop offers locks, padlocks, gate and vehicle remotes, fire extinguishers, and household tools. “One thing leads to another,” the shrewd businessman remarks.
“I have clients who have called me at 3:30 AM or 4 AM to come and help them with their vehicle or their house key, and if it is a long-time client and says that they don't want me to send anyone, I go personally,” he explains.
Cabral maintains that he loves his job, which he attends Monday through Saturday from eight in the morning until 6:30 or seven at night. He recounts that during the pandemic his business closed for almost two months, but he survived because he is an organized man who saves for a rainy day.
Regarding prices, he explains that they don't change frequently because customers complain. A simple house key copy costs sixty pesos, and a car key copy starts at 150 pesos. His services also include unlocking vehicles, houses, and businesses, with a mobile service option.
Regarding the risk involved in going out late at night to help people, he clarifies that he only does so when it comes to regular clients; in addition, the years have developed his sense of risk and he always pays attention to his hunches.
If you have an emergency and need a reliable locksmith service, Don Osvaldo Cabral will help you if you contact him at 809-882-2740. He lives by the motto that "if you work by the book, everything is fine, because not all money is earned.".
