[_Jim]

. I think now they are more along the lines of switch locks

What are the chances these are trimpot adjustments and not lock cylinders?

Sample:

There are several styles and shapes that could take the appearance of that seen in the photo above ...

[stlnative]

it is possible, but he had to go to 4 places for "keys" to unlock them and in the picture they look to have phillps screw head slots. It makes me wonder if they would have just snipped the wires or one wire if that would have stopped it from going off or was it more advanced than that and if a wire was snipped would it have set it off?

[stlnative]

I think I am getting closer - Here is a large Brazilian High Security lock notice the key slot.