Christmas 2020.
It’s been a difficult year for all of us, but, hopefully, the new vaccines give a light at the end of the tunnel.
I would just like to remind you that I am available as normal over the Christmas period with no nasty price hikes for attending on bank holidays or out of office hours.
From myself and my family, I hope you can make the most of this strange Christmas and look forward to a better 2021.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Christmas present ideas
I’ve noticed the Christmas goodies starting to pop up in the shops so thought I’d get in there with some early Christmas present ideas:
Do you get frustrated every Christmas trying to find a present for your parents that isn’t a boring jumper they never wear? Do your parents have pretty much everything they could want that doesn’t cost thousands of pounds?
Why not get them a new security feature? The older generation are the most at risk of burglary, and many just don’t get to see the products that can make them much safer.
From upgraded locks to burglar alarms with SOS features so they can call you if they have a fall, there are products to suit every pocket and you will be buying your parents (or grandparents) something that is genuinely useful.
Collaborating with other family members will allow for even better products.
Here are just a few ideas for security features;
Lock upgrades.
Safes.
CCTV.
Video Doorbells.
Wireless alarm systems with connection to your phone.
Why not talk to your local locksmith today for a free consultation?
If you would like any information on any of the products stated, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading
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
Now the clocks have changed, bringing the dark evenings with them, we have to prepare for the sadly inevitable increase in burglaries.
Time and again I hear the phrase: You will never stop the determined invader getting into your home. This is true, but your aim is to make life so difficult for him, he goes on to an easier target. If he gets in through a window, make sure he has to leave through that same window while he is carrying his ill-gotten gains and hopefully he will cut himself on broken glass leaving DNA evidence. The police are hard stretched to even investigate most burglaries, so any evidence you can provide will be a good thing, and while it might not get your possessions back, a very nasty person might just be prevented from stealing someone else’s irreplaceable family heirloom.
Smart technology is making life easier, but too many people think it is out of their price range. That is simply no longer true. DIY kits can be bought on line with cameras small enough to not be seen. If your parents or anyone you care about are technology illiterate, why not set them up a system that sends images to your mobile phone? Not only can you keep them safe from invaders, but also keep a check on them if they fall. Obviously professional installations are better, but no one needs to be unprotected. Doorbell cameras synched to your mobile phone allow you to not only see who is at your door, but talk to them too, even if you are on the other side of the world. This technology allows you to vet whoever comes to your door without you needing to get up from your chair, a great defence against door step scams and distractors.
Bright sensor lights always make burglars jumpy, so make sure there are no dark spots around your perimeter. Good ones can distinguish between humans and smaller animals so they are not going off like discos. Window locks are required by insurance companies on ground floor windows and usually first floor windows as well. But make sure these are visible to someone scouting. In all honesty, most window locks are fairly easy to bypass, but cable restrictors add a second line of defence and are especially good upstairs in summer for rooms you want aired, but without danger of children managing to open the window enough to fall out.
Your door locks should always carry a British Standard Kite Mark. It is required by your insurance company if you have a wooden door, but anyone who has seen me bypass a door with multi-point locking mechanism in seconds will always upgrade to a kite marked cylinder without hesitation. Again, you can buy these in DIY stores, but it takes a professional to know which kite marked ones are best. Even some of the kite marked ones can now be bypassed with a cheapish tool, so contact your local locksmith before buying any old lock, even if you trust the brand name. Also beware of smart locks. In some cases, making life easier by switching to a keyless lock is also making life easier for the burglar. By ditching the key, you may well also be ditching security. Smart locks are a new thing and a good locksmith will be able to show you the good from the bad. I personally have several orders on hold because I awaiting the launch of a smart lock that will be perfect for wooden doors.
With the run up to Christmas, don’t forget to keep yourself safe in the crowds as well. Put your wallet in different pocket to usual so you will feel it more if someone tries to pick pocket you. Put cards and cash in separate places about your person so if one gets stolen, you still have the other for emergency use. Keep bags zipped up and a tight hold on straps. Wear straps across body as this makes them harder to cut for the bag thief.
If parking in a roofed car park, park with your boot facing outwards. That way, anyone trying to open it will be easier to spot by cameras and passers by. When you open your boot, take the extra seconds to pocket your keys rather than putting them down in the boot. No one wants to add the cost of an auto locksmith having to come and open the car that has been locked with all keys still in the boot. Yes, it does happen a lot.
If you have any questions regarding the above or any information in any of my blogs, please do not hesitate to contact me via me via any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading!
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.
In 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.
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
