About Our Company

Why Robblee’s Total Security?

Over the last Century, Robblee’s has been fortunate to have had an extremely loyal customer base. We have provided and installed many different types of systems over the years. From mechanical locks to electronic security, we have always worked hard to stay in front of the technology curve. We have worked under tight deadlines and have always been able to meet and exceed our goals an the expectation of our customers. We have worked hard to earn an maintain a level of trust for such an important piece of your business.

Our History

Founding through World War II

The J. A. Robblee & Company was founded in 1913 by James A. Robblee for just $40.00. It was first located in the Lincoln Business District at South 38th and Park Avenue. James and his brothers worked hard at selling and repairing bicycles along with selling wheels and other items for a new invention – the automobile.

In 1918, William A. Robblee joined his brothers and brought with him the skills of locksmithing. William was kept busy handling the safe and lock work and also taught some of his brothers his skills as business increased.

Early in 1920, the company moved to downtown Tacoma where their commercial clientele were located. Over the years, the business relocated several times and continued to prosper and grow. In 1930, James died and the remaining brothers incorporated and renamed the company Six Robblee’s, Inc.

Robblee’s Safe and Lock

After World War II, the younger brothers still working at Six Robblee’s wanted to expand into other areas and discontinue the safe and lock work. In 1947, William Robblee wished to retire but wanted to see the safe and lock work continue as he had worked so hard to promote that side of the business. He encouraged his son, William H. (Bill) Robblee and his son-in-law, Thomas H. (Pat) Patterson to buy out the Safe and Lock Division of Six Robblee’s, Inc. from the corporation. They did this and renamed the new company Robblee’s Safe and Lock Company. They remained in the present location and Six Robblee’s again relocated.

A window sign from Robblee’s Safe & Lock Company.

In 1962, Robblee’s Safe & Lock Company was expanding and growing and needed more room. The Company was moved to the comer of 9th and Pacific Avenue. The store was years ahead of what most typical locksmith stores looked like at that time. Ten years later in 1972, Pat Patterson died, and Bill Robblee became the sole owner. In 1975, Bill wished to retire and sold the business to Pat’s son who was employed at the store. John W. Patterson bought the business and became a third-generation owner of the company. Soon after purchasing the business, John incorporated the Company and it was renamed Robblee’s Safe & Lock, Inc.

Robblee’s Total Security, Inc.

Robblee’s Safe & Lock, Inc. at 751 Tacoma Avenue South circa 1991.

In 1980, the Corporation was moved to its present location at 751 Tacoma Avenue South. In 1997, the Corporation reorganized with three divisions devoted to meeting changing marketplace needs: Access Control Systems, Contract Hardware, and Professional Locksmithing. At the same time, the name was formally changed to Robblee’s Total Security, Inc. and the showroom modernized to recognize those changes.

In 1988, due to overwhelming demand from their loyal customer base, Robblee’s branched into the unknown technology of electric card access and CCTV camera systems. The need for this revolutionary advancement in security was still in its early stages, but Robblee’s adapted to this ever changing industry with the same passion as they did in the locksmith industry. Changing from a mechanical security company to an electronic security company didn’t take place overnight. In 1992, an access control division was created, pioneered by a dedicated team of forward-thinking professionals.

The Next Generation

In 1993, John’s oldest son Jim came to work for the company, thus beginning the fourth generation of family at Robblee’s. Jim started out as a locksmith, but by 1994, he moved into a new position as an electronics apprentice. Eventually, he earned his journeyman electrician license and became an electrical administrator. In 2000, Jim became the company Vice President with an emphasis on electronic security. Jim’s brother, John, started in 2004 after graduating college and also became a journeyman electrician and eventually a project manager.

Jim Patterson, Chairman & CEO

After nearly 45 years with his hands at the helm, “John Senior” as he came to be known, retired in 2014, passing the torch to his two sons. Jim was promoted to President, and John was promoted to Vice President and transitioned from the field to become the senior sales lead for electronics.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while other businesses struggled to stay open, Robblee’s met the challenge head-on. In 2020, Robblee’s created a new Alarm.com Cloud Division. In 2021, Robblee’s purchased Guardian Security Group, Inc., a staple of South Tacoma for over 40 years, bringing their successful Gate Service Department, Automotive Locksmith Department, and retail store into the Robblee’s family. These two major additions to the business ushered in an unprecedented era of rapid growth, expanding Robblee’s from a small shop of 18 people to a diverse team of over 50 employees in just three short years.

Today

New Logo showing the merger of Robblee’s Total Security, Inc. and Guardian Security Group, Inc.

Today, Robblee’s Total Security, Inc. is a leader in Western Washington for complete security solutions for business and home with five departments and a retail showroom to serve our customers.

• Our showroom and corporate office have moved to 5424 South Tacoma Way, with our downtown location being converted to private office space.
• The Alarm.com Cloud Department is one of the most successful installers in the nation, with leadership providing keynote speeches at conferences across the country.
• The Automated Gate Department services thousands of homes and businesses throughout the region, being only one of a handful of licensed and legally operating gate businesses in the Puget Sound region.
• The Locksmith and Automotive Departments continue to grow as more customers seek out the quality, professional service that they can’t get from a self-service kiosk at the big box store.
• Commercial Electronic Security is growing rapidly as large businesses, casinos, and government entities turn to Robblee’s to modernize their security systems.
• Robblee’s has begun to roll out a bright, modern new logo, with matching branding, marketing, and website, to better position themselves to compete against larger, national corporations.

Robblee’s Total Security, Inc. is grateful for the many talented employees and long-term customers who, over the years, have contributed to the success of Robblee’s as a company today. Robblee’s was built by a family six brothers and founded upon the values of trust, quality, integrity, and family. After four generations of local, family-ownership, with two brothers still at the helm, Robblee’s intends to continue that legacy for the next 100 years and will always continue to view their customers as family.