Alarm systems | AC Locksmiths Norfolk

Smart Locks – Again!

Smart Locks – Again! I am having a growing number of people asking me for help with smart locks they are buying for themselves. Many of you are expecting simple installation (as advised by the manufacturers) only to find things a bit more complicated than you might expect. The same can be said for some smart doorbells and supposedly easy installation security equipment like smart CCTV and alarms.

Smart security is still a young technology. Smart locks can decrease your security level and even make your insurance void in many cases. A lot of smart locks are aimed at an American market and their lock requirements are not as stringent as ours.

Smart Locks - Again!

Smart locks are not always more convenient than key operated locks either. With a key operated lock, you take your key out of your pocket as you approach your door, and you are in without thinking about it. With a smart lock, you might have to carry a tag (easier to break than a key) or you might have to get out your phone, wait ages for the phone to recognise your face/thumbprint/pin code, find the app, open the app and then find the unlock button within the app.

Smart doorbells/doorcams can take loads of footage and send you endless emails of people passing your property but not actually approaching your door, or better still the spider web spun overnight and blowing in the breeze, setting off the sensor. You have to weigh up the options of battery (not good if your door opens onto a busy street) versus mains power (might need long wires or an electrician to wire it in safely).

Your smart CCTV might not be able to tell the difference between a small dog and a human, in which case you are going to be poring through hours of watching what Fido was doing while you were out all day while Fido himself is desperately waiting for you to take him walkies!

And smart alarms can be much better than you thought. Would you like your elderly Mum to just have an alarm for when she goes out to the shop, or would you like a system where if she takes a fall, she can press a button on a neck loop and the alarm system not only calls you, but lets you speak two-way to asses the potential emergency. Do you want your alarm system to incorporate a smoke detector and CO2 detector. Which virtual assistant device do you want it to be compatible with? Do you want it easy to take with you to a new property? Do you want it future proof or easy to do add-ons in order to keep the initial cost down?

There are so many things to think about when buying smart security products and they are rarely as easy to install as their blurb would have you believe. Any decent locksmith/security installer will provide you with free advice and quotations. You should always consult a professional before purchase. Not the person in the shop, but a person who installs and knows the pitfalls.

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone 07846643176

Thanks for reading!

Previous Smart Lock posts: When is a smart lock not so smart

Smart Locks – what you need to know

admin February 7, 2021

Smart lock installation / Using a professional locksmith /

Copy keys, insurance & locks

It’s been a while since my last blog, so there is plenty to update and remind.

Firstly, I hope all my customers and readers are well and that this Covid-19 Pandemic has not disrupted your lives too much. I know we have all been affected one way or another but can only wish that for you, reading this, those affects have been minimal.

That aside, the first lock related problem I want to talk about is copy keys. In emergency situations, your locksmith comes along and either fixes, or replaces your lock for you. You might get two or three new keys with the new lock. You also get a guarantee from the locksmith that the lock he has installed will last a certain amount of time. Now, you might need more keys cut. So, you go along to your local cobbler/engraver/chain key cutting company, etc and have some copies made. While I endorse the cobblers and engravers, as they usually have years of experience, the pride of running their own business and a local reputation to uphold, I am not so keen on the chain key cutting shops. These commonly have a high turnover of inexperienced staff who have no vested interest in getting the keys cut right. And the cost of returning to have the job done again, is barely worth the effort, so usually we let it slide. But 90% of the problems I encounter regarding badly cut keys come from these chain shops.

But all key cutters have one outstanding issue. Cheap blanks. There are hundreds of different brands of lock out there, and even more variants within each brand. But one cheap, unbranded blank might work for several different lock brands, so it makes sense for them to use the cheaper unbranded blank to copy your key. While this is all well and good for them, it is not so good for you. Using a badly copied key technically invalidates any guarantee your locksmith left you when he fitted your lock. I have encountered this very problem just this morning. A customer has called me back to a lock that has started to not work quite so well when being operated from one side of the door. The first key I was given to try was a copy. With the copy, the lock caught almost every time I tried to turn it. With an original, it took me ten tries to repeat the problem. Was the fault there before? Not when I first tested the lock. Would it have happened anyway? We cannot know because a new element has been added that is now a potential problem. And that is where the guarantee becomes invalid. Now I am not an evil locksmith. I have given my customer the benefit of the doubt and am replacing the lock with extra keys that will have been machine precision cut by my supplier and guaranteed with the lock. All the keys will be hard wearing steel rather than the soft brass alloy key cutters use to make their cutting blades last longer.

If you are having locks replaced, ask your locksmith to supply all extra keys at the same time. It will cost more, but your guarantee will remain valid and your locks will last longer. If you must get your keys cut elsewhere, ask for genuine steel blanks. This will cost more and you might have to come back after the genuine blanks have been ordered, but your key cutter will triple check he has made a good copy, because he will not want to throw away expensive blanks. Always use the originals as the most used keys. Don’t give an original to the cleaner if the cleaner only comes in once a week. Don’t give an original as the emergency spare to a neighbour who will hopefully never have need to use it. And if you need more than three additional keys, you will be better off buying a keysafe, putting an original key inside it and giving visitors the safe combination rather than a key they can lose anyway. For people who need carers, holiday lets, even long term tenancy lets, the people who use the door most are the people who should have the original keys. Especially the holiday lets. The very last thing you want is someone leaving a comment on trip advisor saying their holiday was ruined because the cheap key broke in the lock and they had to wait hours for the locksmith.

If you are having locks changed, ask your locksmith about extra keys at the time you are having the work done. You might have to wait an extra couple of days, but it will be worth it.

My next continuing point is to mention insurance requirements again. In your buildings and contents insurance there will be a sentence that says something similar to this:

All final exit doors should be secured by a five lever mortice deadlock or equivalent.

If you have a door where you must lift the handles before turning the key, that is fine with your insurance. While these doors often have approximately 5 different locking points, they are not what your insurance is talking about. These are called multi-point locking mechanisms. Some have just three locking points, while others have as many as nine. But all of those count for nothing if you have a weak locking barrel. While insurance companies are still satisfied with basic barrels (despite much lobbying from the locksmith industry), you should ask your locksmith to fit a BSI3621 kitemarked barrel for you. These can be anti-pick, anti-bump, anti-drill, anti-snap or all of these and more. You can get versions in your local DIY store, but your locksmith will know the very best ones around.

If your lock does not require the lifting of handles before locking, then it will almost certainly be a wooden door and that will require either a five lever mortice lock or equivalent as stated. A mortice lock sits mostly inside the door and many people in the UK still refer to these as ‘Chubb’ locks, which is ironic as the Chubb brand sold this branch of it’s company to Union and no longer manufactures them itself. But mortice locks come in three types. 2 lever, 3 lever and five lever. Technically, there are seven lever variants as well, but these are rare. The 2 lever and 3 lever variants are designed for low level security. Internal doors or locks on sheds, summer houses, etc. They should not be on final exit doors. Here in Norfolk, I find an insane number of inadequate locks on properties. I am about to start a job that is a relatively new self-build where the person who built the house did a lovely neat job of fitting totally inadequate locks. If you look at lock faceplate on the leading edge of your door, it will tell you how many levers the lock has. If it says 5 levers, you are fine. Better still if it has a British Standard Kite mark to show it has been tested against all sorts of attacks. Anything less than 5 levers and you are not up to insurance standards. If the lock is so old all indicators have worn away, then its time for a new lock anyway.

The other alternative is the night latch, often called a ‘Yale’ lock. These are only acceptable if they have the British Standard kite mark.

Please check your own locks and if you know people who might not know or be able to check for themselves, have a little look for them. If you are unsure, a good local locksmith will do a free security check with no obligations.

Finally, for this blog an update on my services. Covid-19 has forced me to branch out even further. So here is an updated selection of the things I can do for my customers in Norfolk.

Emergency call outs (domestic and commercial)

Free security checks (domestic and commercial)

Lock upgrades (domestic and commercial)

Vehicle key production and programming

Emergency vehicle entry

Wireless smart alarm supply and installation (domestic)

Interior CCTV supply and installation (domestic).

UPVC window valeting service (domestic – please check for details)

Light house clearance (please talk to me before paying others)

UPVC door adjustments (domestic and commercial)

Thanks for reading,
Alan

admin August 27, 2020

Copy keys problems / Extra keys /

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me

What I have learned after 10 years as a Locksmith?

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me:

1. The multipoint locking mechanism on a double glazed door (or any door where you lift the handles before locking) is NOT a five lever lock. Five levers refers to the internal levers in a mortice lock which sits inside a wooden door.

2. All of those hooks, bolts, mushrooms, and rollers on a lift handle door mean nothing when burglars can attack the lock barrel easily. Having the correct barrel is vitally important and while you might get the insurance company to reimburse your financial loss, they cannot replace the heirloom given to you by Grandma that has enormous sentimental value. If your locking barrels do not have British Standard kite marks, you are practically inviting burglars into your home.

3. Home security is not necessarily about keeping intruders out. We all know they can smash a window. But they do not want to leave through that window carrying your stuff. You are looking to make it as hard as possible for them to leave with their arms full.

4. Look at your neighbour’s house when thinking about home security. Your aim should always be to make them look like an easier target. Crunchy gravel, CCTV, alarms, sensor lights are instant barriers before they even reach your door. Burglars recognise good locks and will go elsewhere. Your local locksmith knows the best brands you can’t buy on the high street.

5. That sneaky place you hide a spare key in the garden is glaringly obvious to the burglar. You are much better off with a quality keysafe.

6. You do not need multiple keys for carers. A keysafe can be much cheaper and easier for all. No more worries when keys go missing.

7. A home safe is not just about deterring criminals. A good one will protect important documents in the event of a fire. But batteries should be changed annually whether the low battery warning beeps or not, and override keys should be kept with a trusted neighbour or family member. Leaving the keys inside the safe is not a clever idea.

8. Taking your car on holiday? Make sure your partner takes the spare key. Nothing worse than calling a locksmith to open your vehicle when you lock the keys in the boot knowing a spare key is at home. Do not leave the spare key in the glove compartment.

9. Very few smart locks conform to BS3621, meaning they are not covered by your insurance.

10. Most lock failures can be avoided. If you notice your lock is getting harder to operate, or you have a special knack for opening the door, then something is wrong and needs addressing. It will be cheaper to sort now and if you don’t, the chances are it will fail when you are stuck in the pouring rain and are desperate to get in because you need to get ready for that important date/job interview/wedding/etc.

11. Hanging keys on a hook in plain sight of your door, or putting them in a dish/on a saucer near the front door is not good. Most luxury cars are stolen from drives after thieves use tools to hook keys through the letterbox. Seal the letter plate on your door and install a post box at the end of your garden. The postie and those who deliver your paper will love you for it.

12. Burglar alarms are not just about burglars; They now come with optional extras like smoke alarms and panic buttons allowing you to call a family member and talk to them through the system if you take a fall and cannot get back up.

13. Modern CCTV puts you in control. If you post images or film of a crime, the local community might help. A friend knew someone who did this when Christmas decorations were stolen from their garden. The theft was captured by a smart doorcam and posted. Locals soon identified the thief and the stolen items were returned (along with a box of chocolates!).

14. If you need to get copies of keys made, still use the originals as your primary keys. Ask your local key cutter to order genuine branded blanks, even if it costs more and you have to come back. 90% of my recalls for faulty locks end up being poor copies not working properly. When you order a new lock, think about the number of keys you need, and order them at the same time. If you need more than four extra keys, a keysafe can be cheaper.

15. Plastic doors are just as prone to weather conditions as wooden doors. Be aware of direct sunlight and salty sea air. Check regularly for signs of rust. Lubricate your doors every time you change your clocks (spring and autumn). You can find out how by reading my blog on door maintenance.

16. The industry recommends changing your locks every 5 years, especially when keys have been handed to builders, carers, lost by teens, etc. While 5 years might seem a bit too much, adult children might do well to check their older parents’ locks. Many older houses are simply not up to insurance standard. If you cannot find a British standard kite mark on their lock, they are probably paying insurance for nothing as the insurers will not pay out in the event of a burglary.

17. Making a new car key when you have one to copy from is much cheaper than calling out the emergency locksmith when you are stuck in the rain and locked out of your vehicle because you just dropped your car key down a drain. And some cars, like Fords, will require you to make two new keys when all keys are lost as the car will not start without two keys programmed and the process automatically deletes all existing keys.

18. Cloning a car key means any lost/stolen keys will still start your vehicle. Making new keys allows you to ensure only the keys you hold will start the vehicle.

19. Car keys have a huge difference in prices from vehicle to vehicle for many reasons. Some can only be reproduced with genuine branded parts. Others require the removal of the dashboard in order to read a certain computer chip. While most can be done on the day, you might find yourself without the use of your vehicle for some time. Another reason to have a spare key made when convenient rather than leave it to an emergency.

20. Everything comes in all shapes and sizes. Locks are no different. Beware of what you buy in shops or on the internet as they might not be the easy DIY job you were expecting. Always consult a professional locksmith. For example, lots of internet-based car key makers advertise Landrover Discovery keys, but these can only be produced by the manufacturer. In the home, only Chubb branded locks fit exactly into the place where a Chubb lock has been before. Any other brand will need carpentry work and movement of handles (which might expose paintwork that needs touching up that might lead to the painting of the whole door, meaning a quick job becomes a whole day event).

Thanks for reading. Please call us to find out more or ask any questions.
07846643176

admin January 26, 2020

car keys / changing your locks / copy keys / Key cloning / smart locks /

Home security – The best Christmas present ever

What are you getting your parents for Christmas this year? Hankies? Pants and socks? A poinsetta plant? A box of chocolates?

Difficult, isn’t it. Maybe they already have everything they could want within an acceptable price range. Maybe you just get them the same things every year out of habit. Maybe they are just don’t make use of the practical presents you would like to get for them.

So why not think outside the box? How long ago did they change their locks? Do their locks even meet today’s insurance standards? How many keys have been lost over the years? How much safer will they feel when they have a nice, new lock fitted?

Better yet, why not get them a doorbell that links to a phone with a screen meaning they can see and talk to someone at the door without ever having to get up or open the door to a stranger.

Or, even better, how about a home security alarm system with added features like a panic button that can alert you if they take a fall, or will allow you to use your mobile phone to check in on them from time to time.

This Christmas, or birthday or just because you can, why not get your parents something that matters? Part of the joy of Christmas is seeing the people you love use the present you buy them. Pants and socks just don’t quite work.

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, and Merry Christmas

admin December 19, 2018

Alternative Christmas present ideas / Christmas present /

Digital Doorbells and Viewers

As we approach an ever more digital age, it seems the amount of computerised items we never we needed is getting ever bigger. I think then advantages of a digital door viewer are well worth the cost to anyone. But so few of us even know they exist.

So what are they? Door viewers have been around for a long time. They allow you to get a good look at who is outside, ringing your doorbell (unless you are in a horror movie when they never seem to work!). But the vision through one has always been a bit warped and if you are visually impaired, they are pretty useless. Digital door viewers are different. You can either have a camera placed centrally in the door, or attached to your doorbell with either a screen on the inside of the door that is large enough for you to see the person outside, or a message can be sent to your mobile phone so you can see who is coming to your house, even while you are sipping cocktails in your holiday bar. Some systems will either let you talk to the visitor from your phone, or from a special phone in the house, meaning the elderly and/or infirm don’t have to get out of their seats to deal with nuisance callers, or worse still con artists.

These digital viewers can be used as a stand alone product, or as part of an integrated security system. They can be set to take a picture of the person calling along with date and time stamp, or some will even record a continuous video loop so that you can monitor any suspicious activity going on outside your home. As an example, I was recently at a property where a suspected drugs deal was happening next door. Those who were allegedly purchasing the drugs parked right in front of a digital door viewer and the car number plate was easily observable, as was the driver exiting the car and returning with a bag he did not have before. All this recorded and kept in case of future need. As a stand alone product, digital door viewers are now affordable to most, and will act as a good deterrent to anyone seeking to invade your home, or the home of those you love.

I know it’s only just the end of summer, but as an idea, instead of buying your parents the usual this Christmas, why not buy them something that will boost their home security, save them having to get up every time a salesman knocks, and allow them to nose about at what’s going on outside?

While there are loads of designs and manufacturers to choose from, I personally recommend ERA products as they can be expanded for use with the ERA home guard system, which is almost completely wireless, remotely accessible and will be crowned by an insurance rated brilliant smart lock in the very near future.

If you have any queries regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading

admin August 31, 2018

Digital door viewer / Door cam / Lock tech /

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.

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 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 /

Burglar Alarms and CCTV Norfolk

Here is just a reminder of a few of the things I can install to help improve your home security:

Firstly there is CCTV; From small single camera units to large scale installations, these really can fit most budgets giving HD quality recording as evidence should your home be broken into. These systems are now installed with wireless technology, so disruption is kept to a minimum, and more time can be devoted to ensuring you are happy with the operation of the kit before I leave. It also means that should you want to install extra cameras at a later date, this can be done easily as well, allowing you to spread the cost making sure you are fully protected. CCTV Norfolk from AC Locksmiths is fully Insurance and Police endorsed.

Next are our tailor made Burglar Alarms; Again, these use wireless technology and can be as large or as small as you like with the ability to add more later. The motion detectors can allow your pets to roam freely without setting them off, whilst being triggered by larger, human sized intruders. What’s more, should the motion sensor be triggered, a message can be sent to your mobile phone allowing you to either return home and investigate or arrange for a neighbour to take a quick look. A bespoke alarm system to suit your budget. Burglar alarms Norfolk.

Now, how about a simple device to deter the con-men? This is a spy hole that has a screen on the inside of the door. With a standard spy hole, you have to put your eye right up to the hole to see what is on the outside. In doing this, you block off the light and anyone on the outside knows you are there. With the screen, a camera looks for you which can see better at night time and allows you to check who is there without being seen yourself. It can also take a picture of your visitor, so if it someone you do not know, you can capture their image, and should they attempt to con you, you can then take your story along with the image along to the police station and make them aware. These devices are especially great for the more vulnerable in our community.

While I do not break into safes, I can provide safes of all sizes and fire ratings, from small lap top size safes to large ones that are great for shops, etc. Key safes for holiday homes or for those who rely on carers can also be supplied.

Should you require any information regarding the topics discussed above, please contact via the contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 4, 2014

Burglar Alarms Systems / CCTV /

Commercial Locksmith Norfolk

On my outings as an average shopper, I cannot help but look at the locks I pass. I find myself guessing how quickly I think I could get into a lock should the owners lose their keys. For many shops and businesses, the estimate is scarily quickly, and I am not thinking about using power tools either, because it is my job to try and think like a burglar and they want to be in and out as quick as possible.

Just think about this for a minute: The intruder of a shop can usually see exactly what he wants or can legally enter and scout the shop during opening hours, so once he is through the door, it takes very little time to get what he wants and leave before anyone knows anything about it. He does not have to search room to room as he would in a house and so theft is much easier.

Warehouse type businesses have great big doors, often with ram-posts behind to stop them being driven through, but if the office door is easy to attack, then what is the point of the other security. It has to be all or nothing.

Complacency is easy, after all isn’t that why we have insurance? But insurance companies are businesses themselves and they are also about making money, so if they have to pay out for your loss, have a stiff drink ready for when your renewal time comes around. Or be prepared for business upheaval when they list a string of new measures to be put in place so that you can continue to be insured.

So, what is to stop you having the best security you can?

Is cost a factor? No. Quite simply, making sure your premises is as secure as it can be, is a business cost and therefore should be tax deductible. Yes, you may need to pay for it now, but the cost can be offset when you put your tax return in and therefore reduces your tax bill.

Will it interfere with my customers? Not so. Most residential or commercial locksmiths will work outside of normal business hours, so your customers won’t be inconvenienced and a CRB should tell you the locksmith is trustworthy should you want to go home yourself. I personally would be quite happy to work late into the night to get the job done if it was needed.

So what measures might one take?

Firstly, just about all new business premises have double glazed doors, be they UPVC or of metal construction. Unless they have a kite marked cylinder, they are easy to break into without power tools. Have these changed as a priority and ask your locksmith for a 3 star rated cylinder as these really are the best of the best.

If your business is based in an older building, how about fitting a magnetic lock with remote fobs? The power can be switched off during opening hours and then the staff who need to get in at opening times simply zap the device which will cut the power allowing entry.

Don’t rely on security grilles either. Inside ones are better as the locks face away from the intruder and cannot be got at easily, but the big shop front grilles are only as good as the locks and many can be picked in the same way a standard rim cylinder (‘Yale’) can be. And if they are held in place by padlocks, then the quality of the padlock needs to be of a suitable standard. I wouldn’t spend less than £60 for a top European rated one that will really slow the attacker down.

Of course we know that nothing is impervious to attack, but the idea is to make it as hard as possible. But what if they do get in? Do you have an alarm? And if you do, is it one that just rings, hoping for a passer by to actually contact someone who can investigate? How long will it be before you actually find out your business in under attack? There are now wireless systems that can send a message direct to your phone as soon as the alarm is triggered so you can act immediately.

There is CCTV that does the same; sending you direct images of what is happening in real time. And again, wireless technology makes these systems easy to install with minimum disruption.

So, why be a victim? If you own your business property, make sure your assets are protected. If you don’t own it, ask your landlord to make sure your property is up to scratch.

You can talk to me about any of the above issues by any of the means on our contact page.

Thanks for reading.
AC Locksmiths Norfolk

admin March 11, 2014

Business locksmiths / Commercial Locksmiths / Security advice /

Updating your home security

With the summer quickly coming to an end, it is now time to double check your locks. Wooden doors that have dried out and contracted in the warm weather will now start to expand again as the rains and damp cold arrive. UPVC doors are just as susceptible to weather changes, but help is at hand. When your locks start getting stiff, it usually takes just a little adjustment to get them back in great working order again and AC Locksmiths will always try to get your current locks working before saying you need new locks. But locks need to be looked at when they are starting to get stiff, especially UPVC door mechanisms, as they have very small moving gears and cogs inside which can be broken when too much force is required to lift the handles.

As the nights are drawing in, life is also becoming easier for the opportunist thief. In a street full of houses with lights on, is yours the only one in darkness signalling no one is home? It might use up electricity, but lights on timers are a good idea. Neighbourhood Watch and alarm stickers are great deterrents in the summer as they can be seen from the road, but in the dark, the intruder needs to be close to see them, by which point he may just try his luck anyway. A big, bright motion detector light at the front and back of your house (also useful when returning late an you don’t want to get your keys out until you are at your door) may be an ideal deterrent.

I would like to say a burglar alarm is a good idea, but recent events have really turned me away from this idea. I was asked to gain entry to a shop by an estate agent as the out-going tenant had kindly left with all keys (lesson to landlords-make sure you always have a set of spares). As I went about my work, only one person challenged my credentials as a locksmith, my id was under my coat and my vehicle was out of sight, and that was for potential work! (I am rarely, if ever, challenged to produce my ID, which I always have to hand. I think the assumption is that an intruder would have to be pretty brave to break in to a shop in plain view of everyone, but you never know.)

As I bypassed the locks and entered the building, the burglar alarm went off. It made a horrific noise, but did not seem to arouse any interest from passers-by. I did not know the code and when I asked the estate agent via telephone, they also had no clue. So I fitted new locks with the siren blaring while the estate agent phoned the alarm provider. My work was soon finished but I waited at the shop, hopefully not looking too shifty, unaware that my I.D. was still tucked out of the way. Hardly a soul looked up at the blaring racket that was the alarm. Eventually the estate agent got back to me with news that left alone, the alarm would go off in twenty minutes as long as its motion sensors were not set off again.

This whole situation made me think – What if this was a house being burgled??

An ex-neighbours alarm seemed to go off almost every time they went out for the day or on holiday. I would always look out of my window (from which I could see a limited view of their drive) and then spend ages annoyed that the noise was distracting to whatever else I may be doing. I often thought I should go and check on their house, but after the first few times, I never did (in the days before I was a locksmith). None of the other neighbours emerged either. The point is, unless you have a system linked directly to a central control centre that will respond to your alarm, are they any use? Like all things, you get what you pay for.

But there is another solution – wireless CCTV.There doesn’t need to be holes drilled through your walls,they can record images day or night and store the recordings for days, rather than the few hours of earlier models. Or you can have an instant image or video sent to your mobile phone if the motion sensors are activated, allowing you to call for help (even from abroad) while the intruder is still in your house.

Another new innovation on the market is a door viewer, with a screen on the inside of the door giving a recordable image of the visitor. When you look through a standard viewer, the person on the outside can tell you are in as the light is blocked off when you put your eye to the door. This can be annoying if the visitor is someone you would rather not see. A digital viewer allows you to see who is on the outside without them knowing you are in. So while it is great for security, it also acts as a means of screening your visitors.

Should you wish to discuss any of the topics in this blog, please get in touch via any of the methods on our contacts page.