FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
March 17, 2010

Missing Master Mystery Solved
Re-keying Operations Halted, Saving Town of Cary $15K

CARY, NC – Thanks to an attentive employee, the missing master key to 992 Cary business lockboxes lost almost a week ago has been returned to the Town of Cary’s Fire Department. At this time, officials do not believe it will be necessary to execute re-keying operations, which would have cost an estimated $15,000.

Talie Madans, Community Services Manager at Carolina Preserve, 115 Allforth Place in western Cary, found the key in a landscaped area near the building’s lockbox.  Firefighters had responded to a fire alarm activation at the community’s recreation facility on March 10, the same day the key was discovered missing. When Madans saw the key near the lockbox, she remembered reading about a missing master key and called the Fire Department.

The lockboxes, commonly referred to as a Knox Box, hold keys that firefighters use to access businesses during after-hour emergencies and calls for service. This was the first time in 24 years that one of the 20 master keys had been lost.  Firefighters had been searching for it since Wednesday night, and over the weekend, each of the 992 effected businesses had their Knox box keys collected out of an abundance of caution.

“We’re taking this opportunity to review our internal processes to look for ways to improve accountability,” said Town of Cary Fire Chief Allen Cain. “We expect to return each business’ key to the proper Knox box over the next several weeks and will contact each business or property owner directly. We appreciate their support as we take time to complete this internal review.”

Business owners with questions or concerns should call the Fire Department at (919) 469-4056 or visit in person at 100 N. Academy Street, Cary during regular business hours.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: 
Allan Cain, Fire Chief, (919) 469-4058
Jay Poole, Deputy Fire Chief (919) 460-4962
Deanna Boone, Deputy Public Information Officer,(919) 462-3908
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951