System for lock keyway access monitoring

A system comprising:

• a lock assembly for selectively securing an object, the lock assembly having a secured condition and an unsecured condition, the lock assembly having an opening for receiving a lock actuating object, the lock assembly includes a lock housing and a lock cylinder positioned in the lock housing, the opening being located on the lock cylinder;
• an access restriction element positionable with respect to the lock assembly to affect access to the opening of the lock assembly, the access restriction element having a blocking condition in which the access restriction element at least partially obstructs access to the opening of the lock assembly, the access restriction element having an access condition in which the access restriction element is configured to permit access to the opening of the lock assembly, the access restriction element including an access cover configured to cover the opening of the lock assembly in the blocking condition of the access restriction element and be removed from covering the opening of the lock assembly in the access condition of the access restriction element, the access cover being removably mountable on the lock housing, the access cover being movable between a mounted condition on the lock housing and a dismounted condition off of the lock housing, the blocking condition of the access restriction element being further characterized by the access cover being at least partially positioned in the access cavity of the lock housing, the access condition of the access restriction element being further characterized by the access cover being removed from the access cavity of the lock housing to expose the opening for receiving the lock actuating object;
• an access detection assembly being configured to detect attempted access to the opening of the lock assembly by sensing removal of the access cover of the access restriction element from being at least partially positioned in the access cavity of the lock housing in the blocking condition to the access condition, the access detection assembly including an access sensor configured to mechanically sense movement of the access cover of the access restriction element and thus out of the mounted condition with respect to the lock housing;
• wherein a relationship of the access cover of the access restriction element to the lock assembly has a magnetic interaction aspect, the magnetic interaction aspect providing a degree of securement of the access cover to the lock housing to hold the access cover in the blocking position by a magnetic attraction force;
• wherein the magnetic attraction force between the access cover and the lock housing is configured to permit separation of the access cover from the lock housing into the access position of the access cover, the access cover being movable with respect to the lock cylinder from the blocking position to the access position by application of physical force to at least one of the access cover and the lock assembly that overcomes the magnetic attraction force between the access cover and the lock housing, at least one of the access cover and the lock assembly incorporating a magnetically-active element and another one of the access cover and the lock assembly incorporating a magnetically-receptive element such that the access cover and the lock assembly are magnetically attracted toward each other;
• and
• an alarm interface configured to send an alerting signal to a security apparatus, the alarm interface being configured to send the alerting signal wirelessly to the security apparatus;
• wherein the relationship of the access cover of the access restriction element to the lock assembly has a physical manipulation aspect, the physical manipulation aspect providing detection of the access restriction element in the blocking condition, the lock housing including an access cavity extending into the housing, the opening of the lock assembly being located in the access cavity such that insertion of a said lock actuating object into the opening requires movement of the actuating object into the access cavity, the access cover being movable between a mounted condition on the lock housing and a dismounted condition off of the lock housing, the mounted condition being characterized by at least a portion of the access cavity cover being positioned in the access cavity when the restriction element is in the blocking condition.