ANAMOSA- Eastern Iowa's maximum security prison is changing a dozen locks. .

The warden of the Anamosa State Penitentiary says there is no danger and doesn't want people to worry. But there's a chance someone bought keys that could open one of the exterior doors to the prison.

The newest part of the Anamosa State Penitentiary is more than 70 years old. The oldest section is pushing 135.

"It certainly is technologically behind the times. But many of the old technologies work remarkably well," said prison warden Jerry Burt.

Old technologies like ancient looking keys that recently showed up in an estate auction and then eBay where at least seven keys were billed as Anamosa State Penitentiary originals- and they just might be.

"We don't have any information that says any particular key that fit any particular lock may have been compromised. We do know that there were a number of keys, and that's a possibility," said Burt.

That's why they've already spent $6,000 on 12 new keys and locks.

Of the 1,290 men living at the prison, at least a few know about the key auction.

"I understand that one of them today said that we wished we could get on eBay. He can't," said Burt.

But anyone outside prison walls can make a bid. That's why perimeter locks are changing and eBay monitoring is higher.

This all started back in 1974 when the prison locksmith retired.

He had some keys that went to his wife when he died two years later.

After her death last year the family auctioned off her estate.

Someone bought those keys and put them on eBay. At last check, the keys weren't on the online auctioning site anymore.

But again, the prison is taking precautions to be safe, but the warden doesn't think there is really cause for concern.