# Why security screws in bathrooms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064 "2002-03-19T17:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfoldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@elfoldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfoldo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/1 "2002-03-19T17:04:43Z")
Does anyone know why bathroom stalls are assembled with security screws? Security screws have a special head design which allows them to only be screwed in. If you try to unscrew it, the screwdriver cannot grip it. I can’t figure out why anyone would think the doors and walls of a bathroom stall would be valuable enough to steal. And as a side note, does anyone know how the security screws are removed? (No, not because I want to steal a bathroom door! I was just curious.) ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/2 "2002-03-19T17:09:02Z")
You’d probably be amazed at who would want to steal bathroom partitions and the like. Not to mention your average run-of-the-mill wanton vandalism. I believe the only way to get them out is to drill them out. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/3 "2002-03-19T17:30:04Z")
You typically see these screws when the dividers are made of marble or stainless steel, both of which can command significant $$ in the scrap market. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/4 "2002-03-19T17:34:00Z")
Remove/losen all screws from partitions, wait until someone enters stall, knock partitions down, hilarity ensues 😃 . IE - I think it is more about vandalism than theft. ---
**Author:** ![JFMichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@JFMichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFMichael)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/5 "2002-03-19T22:31:05Z")
More information available at: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47163&highlight=security+screws](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47163&highlight=security+screws) ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/6 "2002-03-20T01:27:03Z")
Snap On sell a 3 piece set of drivers just for removing security screws. They apply pressure to the curve part when turned in a ccw wise direction. That is why the ramp part of the screw is curved, not flat. Vice Grips also work well. ---
**Author:** ![Finnie\_the\_Pooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@Finnie\_the\_Pooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finnie_the_Pooh)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/7 "2002-03-21T01:58:24Z")
I work for a schoolboard as a carpenter. The security screws you describe are there to discourage vandalism, as mentioned above. I personally chuck the buggers away as soon as I see them, because most damage is done to the doors and partitions by kicking and hitting, and it’s a real pain in the ass to remove the said screws even with a proper tool.I prefer to use #12 Robertson sheetmetal screws. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/8 "2002-03-21T03:28:49Z")
How did you come up with your nickname? I named a part of my Snack compiler “elfoldo” after something my high school physics/calculus teacher used to say… ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/9 "2002-03-21T06:06:01Z")
“El Foldo” is what the British tabloids would call golfer Nick Faldo after he choked. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/10 "2002-03-21T13:42:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Why security screws in bathrooms? Obviously, because they don’t have beds in the guard booths! Don’t you people know **anything**? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/11 "2002-03-21T14:12:31Z")
Clearly people will steal anything – I’ve seen too many restroom stalls in which the coathook has been removed – and always, it seems, when I have a coat to hang up. Security screws don’t seem to keep peoplw from running off with these. My question is – what happens to all those coathooks? I never see them anyplace else. People never have them in the rec rooms. I never see them discarded by the side of the highway (like all of those orphan shoes), or at flea markets. Why the heck DO people take all those coathooks, and where do they go? I think this might be the answer to the question of Missing Dark Matter. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-security-screws-in-bathrooms/99064/12 "2002-03-21T14:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > Clearly people will steal anything – I’ve seen too many restroom stalls in which the coathook has been removed – and always, it seems, when I have a coat to hang up. Security screws don’t seem to keep peoplw from running off with these. Actaully from what I understand the hooks are removed by the owners because it’s easy for theives to make off with your coat when your pants are around your ankles. 😃 They also said that some people actaully put new one in because it’s that easy to steal stuff that way.