Numbers of unsolved burglaries

As I passed the papers in my local supermarket this weekend, a headline from the Sunday Times caught my eye. It read: Under 5% of all burglaries and robberies solved.

Make your property more secure
Now, that figure includes the recent rise in moped robberies that seem to be in fashion with the criminal element right now, but it does suggest that if you are burgled, the chances are slim that you will ever get your possessions back again, and while that is ok for the things insurance can replace like games consoles, laptops, etc, it is not okay when it comes to special one off gifts from a departed relative, or the files that you need off that laptop in order to start contacting all the people you are going to have to inform about the burglary.

The good news for where I live in North Norfolk is that detection rates are good in comparison to the whole of the UK, but I have personally seen a rise in burglaries and if the criminal is caught, it can be weeks later, long after your belongings have been stolen.

So what can you do? We all have heard someone say; ‘If the criminal really wants to get in, he can.’ And that is correct. What you want to do is make getting in a time consuming, noisy affair with as much light as possible. When I approach a job where a customer has locked themselves out, I can tell by looking at the door and its’ lock/s just how long I can expect to get them in. Sometimes it is seconds, sometimes it takes a good long while. But I am prepared for what I have to do through experience. The burglar is no different, If your lock has a British Standard Kite mark, he recognises that and knows that is extra time. He might well be able to get in faster than me, because I am taking my time to limit damage to door and lock, whereas he can be a bit more heavy handed. Believe it or not, the window is not a worthwhile entry point if you have to come back out over broken glass with hands full of stolen items, so the burglar always wants to leave by a door. So all those keys left in a bowl on the side or hanging from hooks nearby, are just making life easy for him, especially if they are visible from a window. If your car keys are there as well, you are giving him a getaway vehicle and the capacity to take more. Contact your local locksmith, If they are any good, they will offer a free security check. Whether you can afford to act upon their advice is down to you, but you will know your vulnerabilities and how to deal with them. If my customers want to take my advice, but cannot afford the whole job in one go, I make allowances to return at reduced rates within certain time frames. Do not think your UPVC doors are especially safe, cylinder snapping is a rising attack method and once employed, renders all the hooks and bolts in your door useless. Talk to your locksmith about anti-snap cylinders that are better than the ones you can buy in DIY stores.

Slowing the burglar down is still not going to stop them all. You have to allow for the opportunist and inexperienced intruders who will have a go at anything. Wireless alarm set ups are now available in DIY stores and all over the internet. They can be controlled by mobile phone apps and can have panic buttons and smoke detectors all linked in. A kit you can buy yourself is going to be the cheapest option, but they often come with sensors you don’t want and not enough of the sensors you do want. There is also the minefield of pet friendly devices and best possible places to maximise coverage with the simplest set up. Again, your local locksmith should be familiar with good alarm systems or able to point you in the direction of an alarm specialist who will be more expensive, but will have an even greater range of products such as central control centre monitoring. Alarm systems now come with CCTV which not only keeps you safer, but because it is mobile phone app controlled, you can also use it to check your kids are not having any parties while you are away.

Make sure your alarm box is easy to see and difficult to reach. Then put up plenty of warning signs that the house is protected by CCTV. I install alarms that let you communicate with whoever is inside the house. A burglar is going to scram quick when a disembodied voice starts warning him you are just around the corner.

Security light

Security lights are worth their weight in gold. Burglars are constantly on edge. A sensor light that shines bright at night illuminating their antics is going to make them jump like they’re watching a 90’s slasher movie. They can never be sure if it is a senor or if someone is actually in the house putting lights on.

Safes are now much more affordable than ever they used to be. And if you really want to protect that information on your laptop, or that piece of jewellery that belonged to your Nan, that might be worthless to anyone other than you, then you really should look into having a safe. If it is a small safe, do not mount it on a wall where it can be easily hammered down. Safes should always be on the floor where possible and if they are awkward for you to get to, then that means more time the burglar will have to spend trying to get into the thing. If you have a small safe with lots of room, I can get into it (destructive method) within minutes. Bolted down in an awkward position is going to make it much harder. If you have an electronic safe with override keys, do not keep those keys in your house. Trust two relatives or two good friends to look after those keys (but don’t trust them enough to tell them where the safe is). And please, change the safe batteries regularly. A safe not only helps protect from burglars, but from fire damage as well.

Having spoken to victims, a burglary is more than just having your stuff stolen. Many say they go months, if not years without being able to sleep properly. There is a feeling of personal invasion. A home sometimes ceases to be a home anymore and you can then add the expense of having to move to the cost of your belongings while the villain has just sold your heirloom for a fiver at a boot sale. Don’t be a victim. Don’t resign yourself to that ‘if he wants to get in, he will,’ mentality. If you have done everything you can to deter him, he will go elsewhere to where pickings are quicker and easier.

If you have any questions about this topic or any of my other blogs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 22, 2018

Minimising risk of burglary / More security / Rise in burglaries /

Security Advice for when you go on holiday

Holiday security advice
Peace of mind when you go away on holiday:

At Home:

1. Put lights on a timer

2. Use a trusted friend to do curtains/blinds for you and remove you post from the door mat.

3. Leave a car on the drive if possible.

4. Use that trusted neighbour to put your bins in and out the same as everyone else.Secure house

5. Don’t tell the world you are going away, instead tell them when you have been.

6. Invest in a safe for your more prized possessions. These days, a computer might be replaceable, but the information on it could be used for many things from password theft to identity theft.

7. All back up devices like memory sticks with important information should be left in the care of that trusted neighbour.

8. Be vigilant. Close to me, houses have been burgled while people have been on holiday, but these houses are in small closes where any watchers would be noticed. We pass on a lot of information when we book holidays. How well do you trust the travel agent/booking site?

9. Got a dog? A house sitter is probably on an even par with kennels. Even having a friend’s grotty teenager leaving an untidy house is better than an open invitation to the burglars, and that teen will love the freedom from Mum and Dad, so probably a cheap deal.

10. Another option is to take advantage of Airbnb. Your house is occupied while you are away and you make money!

While away:

1. Never carry your cards and money in the same place. If you lose one, the other is still available.

2. Enjoy your holiday. You can tell social media about it when you get back without alerting everyone to the fact your home is empty.

3. Spend that extra bit on the room safe. You have no idea who is coming in and out of your room while you are at the beach. Even if you have a private villa, someone, somewhere nearby has extra keys.

4. It might not be fun, but someone should always stay with your stuff at the beach. You might be told the beach is theft free, but locals are going to say that anyway.

5. If you have to get keys from a key safe, make sure the code is scrambled at all times. I have been outside a holiday apartment block where 5 or six key safes were left open. It would have taken minutes to copy the codes and be able to retrieve keys when people went out.

6. Check your wallet/purse often. Chances are you will be wearing clothes different to your routine wear. You get used to a feel of where things sit in your everyday clothes. It might be different in your holiday attire.

7. Make sure you have the numbers to call if you need to cancel your stolen cards quickly.

8. Be extra vigilant when drawing cash from machines. They often look different to the ones we know and therefore it is harder to tell if they have been fitted with card scanners.

9. Be aware of groups of children – they come and pat their hands all over you, making it harder to feel when they are lifting your wallet. If you see anyone or anything suspicious, keep your hand in your pocket and hold on to your possessions.

10. Never leave your drink unattended. If you need the loo, trust a friend to keep an eye on it.

11. Be extra careful to not need a tradesman. If you don’t know local prices, you won’t know if you are being ripped off. Back home, you can do something about it later. Abroad, you might get fleeced and it’s a lot harder to fight a case from home. So don’t lock your keys in the hire car, etc. As an example, when I was younger and more naïve, I broke a key to my apartment room. It was old, worn and the hotel would have had plenty more. But they still charged a small fortune for it, which ruined a great holiday.

Thanks for reading.
Please contact us via the contacts page for more information or 07846 643176

admin June 11, 2018

Holiday security / Secure home / Security when on holiday /

The Importance of a Safe


The other day, I did a job and the customer paid me with cash. Shortly after he went upstairs, I heard the comforting beeps of a safe combination being typed in. It sparked a whole conversation with the customer about just what a good idea it is to have a safe.

Safe
A safe is another layer of hassle for the burglar. Unless they know you have extremely valuable items in that safe, the effort of getting into it will not be worth the possibility there only being a load of legal documents that he/she can’t sell on easily. So having a safe is a really good idea, even if it’s for items that have sentimental value. A piece of costume jewellery handed down from your Grandmother that has a monetary value of £5.00 on a boot sale, but is priceless to you, stands just as much chance of being stolen as a brand new laptop if it is not locked away. Putting everything you want to keep in a safe while leaving out semi-valuable goods that can be replaced through insurance is not ideal, but a lot better than never seeing that heirloom again.


There is another good reason to have a safe as well. That customer I was talking to told me about a small fire he had in his house. Luckily he was in, and he managed to extinguish it before it could do much damage, but there was a big question of what could have been. Important documents such as passports should be kept locked away. We all have password protected online accounts for our banks, credit cards, bills, emails, social media, etc and all those passwords should be different, not obvious and difficult to crack. But if they are not easy to remember dates or mothers’ maiden names, then you are going to have to write them down alongside the particular site they allow you into. That sort of information needs to be locked away in a fireproof safe. If you don’t lock it away, either the burglar could come and have a field day while you are on holiday, or a fire could destroy it all and you would have a rough time getting back the personal information that is yours. In an age when we are all encouraged to switch everything from banks to credit cards to energy supplies, can you remember which ones you are with right now. Would you know where to start if all your documents went up in flames?


Safes don’t have to be expensive. They don’t have to be complicated either. A good local locksmith will help you choose the right safe for you and if it has a battery for digital combination, will check it over on an annual basis for a small service charge.


Should you have any questions regarding the above, or any of my other blogs, please get in touch using any of the methods on my contacts page.


Thanks for reading.

admin May 10, 2018

burglar deterrents / fire proof / safes /

Car Keys – To clone or not to clone?

When people ring me for a quote on replacing a lost key for their vehicle, they are sometimes surprised by my cost. They have had a quote from somewhere else that is much cheaper and if I don’t get my reasons in quick enough, I can lose the business.

So why are some much cheaper? It is because they are offering a cloning service as the first option. Cloning is where you take one key, read the information it contains and make an exact duplicate. You now have two keys, but the computer on your car thinks those two keys are the same one. But what about that missing key? Who has it and is there a possibility they could use it to easily steal your vehicle? So yes, cloning is cheaper, but it always leaves an opening for someone else to help themselves to your property.

Car locksmithWhen I produce a second key for you, I plug my equipment into your vehicle and have a chat with your on board computer. I tell that computer that the key you have and the new one I am producing, are the only keys that are allowed to start the vehicle. So while I can’t stop the missing key opening a door, I can stop it being able to drive the vehicle away. My key and the cloned key look exactly alike. But new keys are more secure and therefore, my first option. I can be as cheap as the next guy, but I’m putting your security above my easy quick buck (cloning is significantly faster than new key production). So if you are ring around for quotes, don’t automatically assume the more expensive quote is someone trying to extort money from you. If you ask why they are more expensive, there is usually a good reason.
Here is an example: I had a potential customer with a Ford vehicle and no keys at all. When I quoted, she was shocked at my price. I explained that you cannot just programme one new key into a Ford, but their particular set up wipes all memory of previous keys and starts from scratch requiring you to have two new keys created. I had to quote for two keys in this case. But a cheaper person was quoting for just one key. So while there is a work around of the two key requirement, how likely was it that this other locksmith was quoting low with the knowledge he could ‘spring’ the two key requirement on her once he had the vehicle and was in the middle of the job. Most people will accept the change once the trader is there and working, It’s what is often done to avoid a fuss.
I will always give you a fair price for any work I carry out, backed up with guarantees. I will always stick to my quoted price unless you make additional requirements, at which point I will tell you exactly how much more those additions will cost. I will always explain my pricing in a way you can understand.
If you have any questions regarding the above information, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading

admin April 28, 2018

car key cloning / car key programming / Car keys cut / Lost car keys /

Seasonal UPVC door Problems

After the Beast from the East has left us, the weather has finally started to warm up again.

And with the warm weather, comes the next round of problems with upvc door locks.

This is especiaSpringlly true for French doors that have been shut through the entire winter and lockingmechanisms on wooden doors as the wood starts to dry out. If you have any type of door where youhave to lift the handles to lock it, and the door has become hard to lock, then call your local locksmith now, before something breaks. Your local locksmith can usually make some dooradjustments to get everything working fine again, thus saving you the extra cost of replacingexpensive broken mechanisms. Check your door locking mechanisms for any sign of rust and oil twice a year- I suggest when you put the clocks forwards and back. When oiling, give a good squirteverywhere you can see a moving part, and if you push the handles down, the retracting latch willreveal a small hole into which you should squirt more oil to make sure everything is well lubricated.
Away from multi-point locking doors, I have been on a few jobs recently where the customers havecomplained of hard to operate mortice (often called ‘Chubb’) type locks. My first action upon arriving, is to try the lock for myself. When discovering that the lock is indeed difficult, I inspect thekey. Locks usually work or seize up. Intermittent problems usually point to something else, and ninetimes out of ten, I see the customer has given me a co
pied key, or one of the prongs is bent. Keys cutin chain key cutting shops are usually done by people who are not trained very well because the staff turnover is high because wages and career prospects are low. Cobblers, engravers, etc who do key cutting have usually been doing it for yearsand have a more practiced eye when comparing their cut to the original. You can also ask your local key cutter to provide genuine copy blanks for you. 
UPVC door
You might have to pay a bit more and you might have to wait while they order some in (some don’t stock because too many people want the cheap option when it is not properly explained), but your key will be better quality, last longer and protect the life of your lock. It all works out better value in the long
run. My main point on this topic however, is this; if you are having intermittent problems with yourlock, gather all your keys and try each one with the door open about ten times. Keep the keys that work. Get more copies from the originals that will have the lock bran
d on them, and ask your key cutter for original brand blanks from which to cut your new keys. Doing this yourself, will save the cost of calling me out to fix a non-existent problem. If all keys experience problems with the door open, or the problem persists when the door is closed, then by all means, call your local locksmith.
In other news, smart locks for wooden doors that are insurance standard are coming soon. If you want more information on this brilliant new product, please call or email using the in
formation on my contacts page.
A reminder that many elderly people do not have access to relevant information. If you know
someone without internet access, please check their locks for the British standard kite marks. If theydon’t have these marks, there is a strong likelihood that these people are not covered by the insurance they are paying for. Please give them the number of a local locksmith who will do a free security check (if he is worth anything) and give a no hassle, no obligation quote. And while UPVCdoors do not currently need a kite mark, cylinder snapping is on the rise and entirely preventable with the correct kite marked, anti-snap cylinders. I have tested ones you can buy in DIY shops and they are not as good as ones your local locksmith can provide.
If you require any more information about the topics raised in this or any of my other blogs, then please contact through any of the ways shown on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading.

admin April 9, 2018

UPVC door problems /

Smart Locks – What you need to know


With technology speeding us ever faster into the future, Smart locks are becoming more common. Lots of people want keyless entry or remote access.

There are lots of options available but if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, you could be spending a lot of money on an open invitation to a burglar. If you look on shopping websites, you can find lots of these new Smart Locks, but very few of them show you the actual parts of your old lock that you need to keep or install. You might already have an insurance rated lock installed, but the modification to smart lock could reduce your security, giving your insurer an excuse not to pay up if the worst should happen. Some people have two locks on their doors. If you stop using one because the other one has been changed to a Smart Lock and you don’t want to carry keys anymore, then you have instantly halved your security on that door. So think hard about whether or not a Smart Lock is right for you and whether or not it is actually going to improve your experience of door entry. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying they are all bad. Some have some great features and I will do my best to cover the more popular ones here.
For those of you with multi-point locking mechanisms there are two main options. Multipoint locking mechanisms are the doors like upvc, composite, etc. where you have to lift the handles before you turn a key to lock and hooks/bolts/rollers form multiple locking points for the door.
The first option is a full handle kit which can be unlocked by smart phone app or a tag you can carry with you that will open the lock from about 2 metres proximity.
Smart Yale lock
Or you can have a digilock with a pin code:
Digilock
Or even a finger print scanner:
Fingerprint scanner
The other option on a multipoint door is just to change the cylinder for a smart one. Like this:
Smart cylinder
These can also be phone app controlled or used with proximity tags…if you like great big bulbous protrusions on your door.
The main problem with all of the above is that you still need to lift the handles before you lock the door, so the locking up when leaving is just as time consuming as if you were using a key,  and with the handle smart locks, only certain types will fit certain brands, so they are far from universal.
So who are these good for? Well the good news is that on the day of writing this, multipoint locking doors do not need kite marked products to satisfy most insurers(although any good locksmith will strongly recommend that you do have BSI3621 kite marked locks). As long as the lock fits your door, you can have one and rest assured that your insurance will cover the worst case scenario. If you like to do everything via an app on your phone, then this is for you. Finger print technology is improving all the time, so if you worry about key and/or phone theft, then no one is likely to steal your finger print (unless you are a super-secret spy from some Hollywood film!). Do you have lots of things to carry from the car? Then something with a proximity tag can help, although you will still need a spare elbow to operate the handles.
My best use for these locks though, is for our elderly relatives. I see a lot of older customers who have poor eyesight, or shaky hands and they can have real problems getting keys into small holes. One of these locks with a proximity tag will help them keep independent for longer. Tags can also be worn around the neck meaning less chance of losing keys.
Smart phone operated locks can be used for restricted remote access as well. More on that later.
With wooden doors, there is a bit of a problem when it comes to Smart Locks. Here is where we need insurance rated locks. If you look at your insurance terms and conditions, somewhere it will require you to have a five lever mortice lock or BSI3621 equivalent or multipoint locking system. I have covered the multipoint locking system above, but will, just take a couple of minutes here to explain the other bits. A five lever mortice lock is one that sits inside a wooden (or metal) door and has a deadbolt that is operated by a key. Like this:
Five lever mortice & deadbolt
The levers are inside
Five lever mortice inside
And those levers are put into the correct position by the key to allow the bolt to move forwards and back. Just as often, the lock also has a latch which is operated by handles or a knob. Having a one, two, or three lever mortice lock on your final exit door is not good enough for your insurance. It must be five as a minimum. Better still, a BSI 3621 kite marked mortice lock will have a longer bolt that is resistant to hacksaws, an anti-pick curtain that makes picking the lock a lot harder, and anti-drill plates that stop standard drill bits and make most hardened drill bits single use products. On a wooden door, this is your main point of security. And I cannot find any smart lock that works with these locks. You can get mortice lock cases that take euro cylinders and therefore can take the cylinder smart locks mentioned above for multipoint locking mechanisms, but that takes away your insurance rating so it’s only practical for internal doors.
So what smart locks can you get for wooden doors?
They come in two types. The first is the handle smart lock and it looks something like this:
Handle smart lock
It can be operated by tag, pin code or even a key. But a lock is only as good as its’ weakest part and just look at the tiny latch this one has been fitted to.  These should only really be fitted inside commercial properties where you want restricted access but you are not trying to protect £1000’s worth of equipment or sensitive data. Alternatively, somewhere like a care home with restricted access to certain areas. You would not want one of these on the front door to your house.
For domestic properties with wooden doors, we have the Smart lock for a nightlatch (often called a Yale type lock);
Smart lock Yale
Again, you can have the proximity tags, code entry, phone app entry and some still have a standard key override, but an ordinary nightlatch does not meet your insurance requirements. Here are two examples of an ordinary nightlatch that you can attach one of these Smart locks to;
Nightlatch
Nightlatch 2
The nightlatch smart lock simply replaces the outer keyhole and keeps all of the internal parts. But if this is your only lock, then you are not insured. If you have a five lever mortice lock as well, but you don’t use the mortice lock because you only want to use the keyless smart lock, then you are still not insured.
This is a nightlatch that does meet insurance standards;
Nightlatch 3You can see it has the BSI3621 British Standard Kite mark. This lock auto-deadlocks when you shut the door, turning the latch into a bolt. The reinforced key housing is anti-drill and anti-pick. When I fit these locks, I tell my customer to not lose their keys because I really don’t want to be the one trying to break in for them. You can also lock the inside lever which means burglars know that even if they break in through a window, they can’t carry your possessions back out through your front door.
Now, you could put a nightlatch smart lock onto this and feel pretty secure, but as you are removing the anti-drill and anti-pick element that you get with the key housing, your insurance goes into a grey area and if that means the difference between an insurer paying and not paying, then you know what the most likely outcome will be. Now as a lock geek, I have my favourite locks, and the one pictured above is by far my favourite. It is made by a company called ERA and for a long time, I have wanted some sort of smart lock that would work with this nightlatch.
What I got, was something better. ERA are in the closing stages of making a British Standard Smart nightlatch that is a modification of the lock shown above. I can’t show you a picture yet because this is pre-launch, but I am told it will be available by summer 2018. And they have really thought about what the lock should do. It is phone app controlled, but whereas many app activated locks so far require you to get your phone out of your bag/pocket, switch the phone on, input your security code, search for the app, find the correct command within the app and finally use the app to unlock the door (a process that can take longer than just getting a key out and doing things the old way), this lock just requires that your phone is on your person and has power. Because it runs as a background app, you simply walk up to your door, push a small button (even with your nose if your hands are full!), and the latch retracts allowing you access to your property. If you go on holiday, you can give a neighbour a time limited access code on their mobile phone so they can feed your cat. Or you can give carers time limited codes to look after your elderly relatives.
Now, remember I spoke about restricted remote access.
Here is the really clever bit. Here are two more great items available from ERA.
First is the door intercom:
Door intercomThis device allows you to see and talk to anyone who rings the doorbell without even having to get out of your seat. It takes snap shots and even has night vision.
The second piece of great equipment from ERA is this home alarm kit;
Era intercomThis basic kit can have the following added to it wirelessly:
Smoke alarms, Extra sensors, Cameras, Window contact sensors, Remote controls, Proximity tags
The anti-hack technology has been rigorously tested with a super high encryption level.
You can record messages to leave for your partner or the kids. It can dial a pre-stored number and you can talk to someone hands free. The remote controls have an SOS so if, for instance, your infirm relative takes a fall, they can press the SOS and you can talk to them instantly and find out how serious it is. And it will pair up with the new lock, the video intercom and smart hubs like the Echo devices.
This means you can now be on the beach in Spain and still receive a delivery. Your complete system will ring your phone when the delivery person arrives and you can see them through the intercom and even talk about the delivery. You can then use the same app to disarm your alarm and let the person, watching them with the wireless cameras as they put the package wherever you like in the house. You watch them go and know that the door is locked and then you re-arm your alarm system, knowing it will alert you to any unauthorised access recording in HD and allowing you to ring a friend who can get there immediately, while you use the intercom to tell the intruder they are seconds away from being caught red-handed.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please get in contact using any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading.
Smart lock Holt, Smart Lock Sheringham, Smart lock Cromer, Smart lock Fakenham, Smart lock North Walsham, Smart Lock Norwich, Smart lock Norfolk, Smart Lock near me, Wireless alarm, Digital door viewer, Wireless intercom, Mortice lock, Nightlatch, Smart Lock Swaffham, Smart lock Dereham, Smart lock Burnham Market, Keyless entry, Finger print entry, Access control, Smart nightlatch

admin February 25, 2018

How good are smart locks / Remote access control / Wireless intercom /

The Future Of Home Security Is Here…Almost!

Up until about 6 months ago, I didn’t know who Alexa was or what she could do. I kept hearing about her, but just didn’t get the big deal. Then, I heard about the Echo device on a radio show and it all seemed a bit geeky. But at Christmas, I went to a friend’s house and my eyes were truly opened. The lights on, off and dimmed to perfection with a voice command. Information from verbal commands rather than sitting at a computer. The ability to control heating and music in any individual room. Gadgets galore! I even got excited about their robo-hoover.

Home security
All this new and exciting stuff and guess what they didn’t have? Adequate security. When light bulbs are now in the region of £20, everything in your gadget home is a draw for the opportunist burglar. If he can get in and out quickly, he will.

So why not get the full security set up? You can have a digital door viewer that takes a picture of anyone who approaches your door. Wireless alarm systems that can be programmed to set zones or individual rooms however you like, linked in wireless cameras and systems that allow you to talk to whoever has come into your home. These same systems can be used as emergency units for the elderly if they take a fall and need to get hold of a relative/friend. Through Alexa, you can answer your door from the other side of the world, let the delivery person into the hall while keeping the rest of the house alarmed and talk to them if needed before they leaves. No need to miss that delivery ever again, or have it left with the neighbour you really don’t want to get stuck talking to!

But there is a problem. All this requires a keyless entry system, and right now, no keyless home entry system is kite marked, meaning no keyless entry system is as secure as a keyed lock. And that means our opportunistic burglar can get in quickly, steal those gadgets and be out again before the alarm is noted.

So when I attended a seminar and found out that very soon a kite marked keyless lock will be out by mid 2018, I went lock geek gooey. The brand is ERA and my existing customers will know that I use this brand all the time because I know it allows me to leave a guarantee and not worry that I am going to be called back because something I have installed has failed. It will work with Alexa and the other similar devices. It will be secure. What’s more, current app activated locks mean you have to get your phone out, open it up, search for the app, open the app and then do whatever keyless thing you have to do, and it all takes longer than getting a key out anyway! With this new lock, you simply approach the door with your phone still in standby mode, and press a small button. The lock unlocks and you enter. It registers which side of the lock you are on to stop others opening the door while you are in the vicinity. This really is a product that needs to be seen to be believed.

If you would like more information regarding keyless entry and Echo compatibility, or anything else lock and alarm related, please contact through any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading

admin February 1, 2018

Home security technology /

Security in the run up to Christmas

It’s that time of year again when we go spend crazy trying to get those perfect pressies for our loved ones. But with dark nights and the promises of plentiful hauls, it’s also a ripe time for the burglars. Even the small presents are worth stealing because they are sealed and easier to sell on at boot fairs or on the web. So now is also a really good time to check your security precautions.

Ac LocksmithsIn the home:

Are your locks insurance standard? If you have a wooden door, with a mortice* deadlock, it must be one with at least five levers and should carry a kite mark. Kite marked mortice locks give your insurer less chance to back out, and tell the would-be burglar that you mean business. Remember, they are lured in by the presents under the tree, but they are also likely to take the stuff that has sentimental value to you that can never be replaced. Along with that, many victims tell me of long lasting feelings of violation that lead to sleeplessness and anxiousness. If you have a nightlatch* type lock then this too must carry a kite mark. Some insurers might allow you to not have kite marked locks if you have two or more on the same door, but you should really check this with your insurer. If you have a door with handles that must be lifted, you don’t need the kite mark…for now. But the standard cylinders are weak against an attack called ‘cylinder snapping.’ And it takes less than a minute with no power tools required. The damage can be extensive enough to require a complete new door. Kite marked cylinders have been on the market for a few years now, but they have various star ratings and you should consult a good local locksmith for advice. Remember, the cheaper ones are cheaper for a reason. It is worth noting that sensor lights put burglars off and while cctv and alarms might alert you to the fact someone is in your home, they are retrospective rather than a deterrent (unless very obviously present). You might draw your curtains early if you expect to be out late, but sometimes that can be just as obvious as open curtains at night (burglars work in daylight as well). Interior lights on timers and neighbours to draw curtains at an appropriate time or getting the bin back from the road on bin day, will all help. If you have invested in a good car cover for your vehicle, the chances are, you have a pretty good car  underneath it, and if the car is there, then there is a good chance the keys are in the house. Stealing a car from a drive way is easy, especially when most of us leave our car keys near the front door (I am often able to fish keys through a letterbox). Talking of letterboxes, get a cage for the inside of your door. Not only will it stop you having to reach so far down to get your letters, it also stops a variety of attacks that come through the letterbox. Many of my entries for people who have locked themselves out, involve using my tools to get through their letter box.

Out Shopping:

If you are buying lots, make several trips back to the car to deposit your items in the boot. If you are over burdened, it is easier for bag snatchers to make off with your handbag, or even snatch one of your bags. Remember, anything sealed is much easier to sell these days, so the opportunist cannot fail. But when depositing your goods in the boot, look around to see if anyone is watching you. Anything on display in a car is a magnet for thieves, be it a sat-nav, mobile phone, CDs, loose change, or even a packet of cigarettes. Got two cars? Take the older, plainer one shopping for Christmas. It may be seen as less of a beacon of wealth and less likely to be hiding more expensive goodies. Put money and cards separate, about your person (remember the bag snatcher) and in pockets you wouldn’t normally put your wallet in. The different to normal feel, will make you more aware if someone does manage to pick pocket. Dress down – who’s going to try and steal from someone who looks like they have nothing worth taking?

Don’t have a spoiled Christmas. My tips are just a few of many. Look elsewhere and take advantage of free security from decent local locksmiths.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please feel free to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading

admin November 22, 2017

Christmas security / Christmas shopping / Locksmiths at christmas /

When to call a locksmith

This is a piece I really should not have to write, but all too often, people call me out for reasons that could easily be avoided or they have called me out too late for an expensive repair, when avoiding the problem was possible.

Common reasons to avoid using a locksmith:

A C Locksmiths Norfolk

So, let’s start with cars. If you are going to lose your car keys, or lock them inside your car, the chances are, you are going to do it when your spare key is stuck back home at the opposite end of the country.  I have done a fair few jobs now where people have been on holiday/visiting distant relatives/doing distance work, etc and they leave their spare car key at home rather than bring it with them to leave in their temporary accommodation. Car entry is not cheap, and it might mean you lose a half day waiting for the auto locksmith to arrive, which will put a downer on your holiday, or might mean you have to see those distant relatives for longer than you wanted, or that you lose the sale you travelled halfway across the country to get. At the same time, please remember to actually remove the spare key from your car when you arrive at your destination. If you are locked out of your vehicle, having the spare in the glove box is no help.

The next common one with cars, is not having a spare. When I am cutting keys at local boot sales, people ask me about prices and sometimes, the spare key is as nearly as much as their second hand car cost them in the first place. But why buy a car with only one key, especially when that key is on its’ last legs? A bargain vehicle only remains a bargain if you can drive it. I also get to see some very sorry looking remote fobs for cars. Cloning a remote fob before it gets to be useless can be a lot cheaper than generating a complete new key from scratch, especially with Fords that must always have two separate keys programmed when starting from new. And, as I said above, a spare is useless if you keep it in the glove compartment.

Never, never, never put your car keys down in your boot area. So many people open their boot at the supermarket, put the keys just inside the boot and then load the shopping. They then close the boot, having not unlocked the rest of the car and are now locked out, often with the spare in the glove compartment! (Have I mentioned that common mistake?) If you are approaching your car, when you unlock your boot, make it a habit to unlock the doors as well. And do not put your keys down anywhere in your vehicle. It might not be cool to hang your keys from a belt loop, but it might just save you the cost of a weekly family shop if you don’t have to call the locksmith. When in and around your car, only let go of the keys when they are in the ignition, and you are sat comfortably ready to drive.

People make just as many mistakes in the home. Children should never be given keys to play with. Besides the whole hygiene issue, they have a nasty habit of sticking keys into keyholes that they were not built for, thus breaking the key and often the lock as well. While on the subject of kids, if you have a bathroom lock that is getting a bit stiff, have it repaired or replaced before a small child locks himself/herself in and you are faced with hours of panic waiting for the locksmith to arrive. I recently went to a job where a toddler had locked himself in the bathroom and the lock disintegrated, with the broken bits obstructing the bits that needed to move. You can imagine the stress that poor child was under when I came along with my noisy drills and hammers, taking my time to ensure nothing flew open into the child’s face.

Got a night latch (Yale type latch lock)? Don’t trust the snib to hold that latch back even if you are just popping into the garden for a few minutes. Take your key. Pets and children are very good at closing doors with enough vibration to release the latch and lock you out with themselves on the inside and pans on the cooker (it can and does happen).

If you have a door with a multipoint locking system, oil it twice a year. Make it part of your routine when you change the clocks in spring and autumn. Use a good quality lubricant and squirt it everywhere you can see moving parts (lift the handles up and down with the door open to see) and then, when you hold the handles down to retract the latch, you will see a small gap the allows you squirt more lubricant into the heart of the mechanism. Give this about a five second squirt and work the handles up and down a few times to get the lubricant into those moving parts. This simple exercise can save you a very expensive visit from your locksmith.

Lubricate all other locks as well. They get full of grit. Insects make nests behind handles and in lock cavities. Regular lubrication will keep your lock clean and lasting longer.

Finally, I get a lot of calls from customers telling me their key works on one side of the lock (Chubb/mortice locks), but not the other. My first reaction is to tell them to try a different key and more often than not, that sorts out the problem. They have just managed to bend a prong on the key itself. Always check other keys before thinking your lock is broken. Not all locksmiths will give you a free solution over the phone.

 

If you have any questions regarding the information above, or have any other issues, please get in touch via my contacts page.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

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admin October 9, 2017

auto locksmith Norfolk / Lost car keys / stolen keys / Who you gonna call? A C Locksmiths /

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