Dark Nights

Now the clocks have changed, bringing the dark evenings with them, we have to prepare for the sadly inevitable increase in burglaries.

Make your property more secure

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!        

admin November 15, 2018

Smart technology / Winter home security /

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 /

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 /

Are you inviting Burglars to look at your Home?

Unfortunately, I seem to be attending more houses that have been burgled recently, so I decided to write this piece that just might help you send the would-be intruder on to another property.

Look at your security

Burglars love dark shadows to hide what they are up to. Having motion detector lights around the outside of your house is one of the best deterrents. Also timer switches on interior lights will make your property look lived in even when you are on holiday, or out for the night. Neighbours who will draw and open your windows for you are a big help if you are going away for a few days. Can’t decide on dog or a cat for a pet? People get used to barking dogs, so they are only good as security if you are home. And people take dogs away with them or put them in kennels when they go on holiday. Cat people tend to get family or friends to feed their moggies at home while they are away, so these people are more likely to have someone make the property look lived in. Crunchy gravel is also a great turn off for burglars who want to be stealthy. If you can, make sure you have to cross some crunchy gravel to access any part of your house, not just the drive.

Driveway A C LocksmithsSpeaking of driveways, an empty one for any period of time indicates a vacant house. Most homes have two or more cars these days. Ask a neighbour to use yours while you are away. And have someone put your bins out just like you would if you were home. Don’t just leave next week’s bin at the end of your garden unless you would do that normally.

Thieves often use open windows as their entry points. Visible locks that are obviously locked are a great deterrent. Secondary locks like cable restrictors show you mean business. It’s nice to have maximum sunlight pouring in through windows, but blinds or even nets, block out easy vision of what’s on display in your home. If they can see something worth the effort of trying, they might not get in, but they might also do a lot of damage to your door or windows trying. The trick is to make them walk away before they even try.

Overgrown lawns show someone is not taking care of the garden, ask or employ someone to keep your plants and grass in order while you are on any extended absence from your home.

Social Media is the biggest advert that your home is empty. Why post that you are going away next month? Surely the people that need to know can be told face to face. And is it not more important to enjoy your holiday while you are there without reminding the world you are enjoying a beach in the Balearics? Post your pictures when you get home.

I help my kids do a paper round (I know they should do it themselves, but I spoil them!). I see plenty of properties that have days of post in plain view to anyone who happens to be interested. Also, with online shopping getting to be as big as it is, not only to packages left in plain sight advertise you are not home, but those vary packages are saying: “I’m free! Steal me!” Nowadays, no one is going to question a white van pulling up on your drive. And if someone is carrying stuff away from your house to load the van, it just looks like a common return. So the burglar gets an unknown item free, and knows you are out.

Don’t Sheds & burglarsneglect the security of your shed, either. I recently had a case where a customer wanted a top level lock for his shed. I pointed out that the hinges were simply screwed to the outside of the door and demonstrated how the shed could be broken into in just seconds with a battery operated screwdriver, giving me access to thousands of pounds worth of bikes, gardening equipment, etc. Plus tools in the shed could help the burglar get into your home. Make sure it isn’t easy to get into.

Spare key under a plant pot? Or in the broken brick? Or on that secret ledge in the porch? Chances are, if you have a key hidden about the outside of your property, no matter how inventive you think your hiding place is, the burglar is likely to have seen it before. The other problem with doing this is when someone calls me out and tells me they have hidden a key in the garden, but they were incredibly inventive and actually forgot their super hiding place, so still needed me in the end! Leave a spare with a trusted neighbour or invest in a good quality keysafe and put it somewhere that can be seen from the road in built up areas, so that anyone attacking it will be obvious, or hidden in quiet areas, somewhere that the intruder might have to get down on his knees to attack it, or in a recess so that he can’t get to it with a lever.

Just bought a big television? Don’t leave the box by the side of your recycling bin. Break it up and put the box pieces inside the bin. Otherwise, you advertise the sort of expensive items you have inside.

Not everyone can afford expensive alarm systems, but you can get dummy devices that are easy to install. Stickers saying beware of the dog, or alarm protected, stuck on windows that have to be passed will deter the opportunist. But you can now buy out of the box alarm systems from DIY stores that really are cheap enough to be affordable if you can afford a holiday. They don’t need much skill to install either, and come with all sorts of add-ons that will do things like capture an image of the intruder and message you direct when the alarm is triggered. Wireless and simple, no one should go on holiday without at least installing a basic alarm. It might mean you have to do one less excursion, but it might also mean your valuables are still there when you get back.

Finally, I hear this said a lot: “If they want to get in, they will.” Yes, that is correct, but they want to get in quickly without anyone knowing about it. The harder you make it for them to get in quickly and quietly, the more likely it is that they won’t even try. And while they might prefer to get in through a window, they want to leave via a door because their hands will be full. Don’t leave keys in back doors, French doors or on pegs close to doors. What could be easier for the burglar than to get in through a window, open your front door with a key from the hook just by it, take your jewellery and also get to take your car with the keys from the very same hook. Which has just reminded me, if you are going to leave a car for a couple of weeks, why not disconnect the battery or, if you know more about cars, immobilise it further?

If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact me via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading!

admin July 27, 2017

Burglary prevention / Home security /

Which lock have I got?

Can you see your lock? Do you know what type of lock you have? Is it secure? Is it insurance standard? – All are important questions to look at your home security.

This weekend, I found myself walking through the high street of a Norfolk coastal village. One that is much quieter in winter because most of the homes are holiday lets. My wife, who is usually bored by my lock information, has obviously been taking in a lot more than she cares to admit, because she pointed to a door and told me it was not insurance rated. She was correct. This prompted me to look at all the other doors we passed and I soon discovered the majority of houses in that street would not receive insurance pay outs if they were burgled. On top of that, many would have been extremely easy for the burglar to gain access to.

So here is another visual guide to what makes you a burglar’s target, and what makes him look elsewhere.

If you have a door with one of these Horizontal sashlocks;

Sashlockthen beware! Most of these in Norfolk at least are three lever locks. If this is the only lock on your door, the burglar might just have a go because they have short bolts, no anti-drill reinforcement and are usually quite old. The five lever versions are very strong, but equally very expensive and require more holes in the door. Having a five lever deadlock fitted as primary security is the cheapest option that will satisfy the insurance people.

If I see a door with handles like the one in this image below,

Door handle
then I have no clue as to the strength of the lock fitted into the door as the mechanism is essentially hidden when shut. While your insurance is still going to demand a five lever version of this sashlock, the burglar is less likely to waste time on this unless he knows what is in your house and is specifically going after it.

 

Yale lockNow, if you have a lock like this as your only security, then get it looked at right now. This is the nightlatch (often called a “Yale” lock) and will probably take seconds to bypass. Seriously, I could walk up to one of these and be in so fast, a passerby wouldn’t even notice I didn’t use a key. There are some that have handy little additions to slow the burglar down, but mostly it is so easy, the burglar has nothing to lose when attacking this type of lock. The outside of the British Standard version of this type of lock looks like this.


Nightlatch

When I am faced with this type of nightlatch as a locksmith, I know I’m going to be earning every penny of my fee and there is probably going to be sweating and cursing going on before that door is open. The burglar is simply going somewhere else. Again, these are more expensive than their basic cousins, but they do have many features to make life harder for the intruder.

 

UPVC door

Next, we have the upvc door;










Or composite doors;

Composite door

These doors are supposed to be super secure. After all, they have all those extra hooks and bolts and rollers that engage when the handle is lifted. But the door is only as good  as the lock, and the standard locks are not very good.

                                               standard lock

Here is the standard lock,









Snapped lock cylinder

And here is what happens with cylinder snapping.

So, while these locks are still acceptable by your insurance provider, they will not deter the burglar. 





Kite marked lock
To do that, you need a cylinder like this one;
From a distance, the intruder can see the lock is not standard. If he does get close, he will see the kite mark. These locks are reinforced where the standard ones are weak, and actually designed to break closer to the front, meaning the attacker still cannot get to the bits he wants to.





Finally, if you have any version of a rim lock which will be in a similar style to this,

Rim lock









as your only door security, then you need something else as well. I find these on many farm houses and older buildings. They are very poor for stopping the burglars and easy to spot from the outside because they look like the horizontal locks but the key hole is usually lower or higher than the knob handle, so the intruder can identify them with ease.

There are many variations to all the types of lock mentioned above and this information is for guidance only. If you feel your security is not adequate, then ask your local locksmith for a security check. If he/she is any good, they will provide this service for free. Please also check elderly friends and relatives. I often visit older people who have lived with the same locks since before British Standard kite marks were even thought of. By talking to them about their security, you just might be saving them from an intruder.

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

Thanks for reading.

admin March 1, 2017

What lock have I got? / What's wrong with my lock? / Which lock? /

Burglaries in Norfolk

Burglaries Alert

In the last month or so there have been some burglaries in the North Norfolk area. I know of at least one in Holt and two in Stifkey. In the last year, I have also attended burglaries in Wiveton and other villages along the North Norfolk coast.

Norfolk Winter sky and beach

In general, Norfolk has a low crime rate compared to the rest of the country, but it is not immune. And I still see properties without insurance standard locks every week. At the time of writing this, I am ordering locking products for one property that has two main doors and two sets of French doors. The locks I am replacing are so poor, that it only takes a hard shake to force the French doors open. The customer only called me to replace one lock that they thought was temperamental, and that was the good one. The cost of the job is now four times what the customer had anticipated, but at least now if they fall victim to the burglar (less likely as the locks are much better), their insurance will cover the material loses.

Kite marked lock AC LocksmithsPlease, for your own peace of mind, check your locks right now. Try to see if they carry a British standard kitemark that will tell you they are insurance approved and a better deterrent to the burglar. If you are unsure, call your local locksmith. If they are any good, they will do a free security check (or for little cost if you live remotely). If you have elderly relatives or even know older people who might not be able to get this message or might not be able to check themselves, take a few minutes to talk to them about their locks, especially if they live in older properties or have lived in the same one for years. Remember, the locksmithing industry recommends that you change your locks every five years anyway as often keys go missing, or accidentally get kept by someone you might have given access to your property etc.  

Burglary is an awful crime that leaves one with feelings of violation, but the nightmare is much worse if you find the insurance company will not pay up due to invalid locks. Be wary of the requirement that states you must have a five lever mortice lock. This does not mean the hooks and bolts on a upvc door – it means the ‘Chubb’ type lock on a wooden door. These locks come in two, three and five lever configurations. Only a five lever will satisfy the insurance and anything less is easy pickings for the intruder.

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch via any of the methods on my contact page.

Thanks for reading.

 

admin January 18, 2017

Burglary prevention / Burlaries in North Norfolk / Crime prevention / insurance standard locks / kite marked locks /

Key Safes

Don’t hide a spare key:

Key safes are not just for holiday homes and people who need multiple carers. There are many advantages to having key safe for every home. Many people ask me to do work when they are not home and often, I am told that there will be a spare key hidden under some obviously different stone or other hiding place. This is just asking for trouble because an experienced burglar knows to look out for these things. You have to hide the key somewhere pretty obvious or else you forget where it is and can’t find it when you need it. And so, all the burglar needs to do is think to himself where he would hide a key and that’s an easy entry into your home. Your key might go undisturbed for years, but if your sentimental belongings are stolen, you will wish you had done all you could to make that as hard as possible.

Keysafe

The other advantage of a key safe is convenience. As I write this, I am stuck with my vehicle in a garage having repairs. Typically, my phone has not stopped ringing as people need me to let them in because they have lost their keys. Customers I could have got to in minutes are now waiting hours for locksmiths who are out of the area. If they had a spare key in a key safe, they would not even have had reason to call me. Teens are also great at losing keys, so having a key for them in a key safe can save you having to change your locks, although regular changing of the code would be advised in this instance. I have also had customers with dementia constantly losing keys, having a back-up in a key safe can save them having to wait in the cold for a locksmith.

Key safes come in many shapes and sizes. Really good ones might be more expensive, but cheap ones are of little use if they are easy to break into. Burglars, like locksmiths know if it is going to be worth their time attempting to get in. Many people believe that if an intruder wants to get in, he will. If he has to destroy your key safe to get a key, that will work out a lot cheaper to replace than if he does serious damage to your door and frame.

If you would like any more information regarding key safes or any other topics discussed in my blogs, please you the contacts page to find out how to get in touch.

Thanks for reading.

admin April 27, 2016

Hiding keys / Key safe /

Keys & security

Do you have your front door key on the same keyring as your car key?

Does your car have an inbuilt sat-nav or do you hide your sat-nav in the glove compartment?

If so, you could be seriously compromising your home security.

Keys & security

Sat Nav theft

Most of us set a home destination into our sat-navs. Some keep a record of your journeys. This means if someone steals or finds your keys, they could have all the information they need to find out where you live along with the keys to enter your home easily and take what they want. Even if you use your mobile phone as a sat-nav, all that needs to happen is for your bag to go missing with your keys and phone in it, and they have all the info they need once they have hacked your password.

So how do we protect ourselves?
For a start, never save your home address in your sat-nav. Use an address a couple of roads away. You should be able to find your way for the last bit of your journey. Try to keep door keys and car keys separate. This may be a hassle, but could save you from burglary. Keep your phone and anything else that holds personal information away from your keys. Not only does keeping your phone out of your bag/case make you safer, it has the added bonus of making you easier to contact as you are more likely to hear it ring. Yes, your phone might be more exposed, but better your phone than the irreplaceable things like Grandad’s war medals, or a young one’s christening bracelet (two items stolen from a recent burglary victim I spoke to).
If you would like any more information about the above issues then please feel free to contact me via my the ways listed on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin September 24, 2015

Keys & security / Sat Nav risk /

Specialist burglars

Is your property a potential target for specialist burglars?

Make your property more secure

I was saddened this week to be called out to a remote farmhouse in Norfolk that had been attacked by a particular sort of criminal. The property, over 400 yards from it’s nearest neighbour, is a second home for a couple who only use it for a couple of nights each week. The thieves could tell the property was empty and broke in, stealing antique furniture. To make matters worse, they repeated the process a few days later, going back for bigger items they had obviously checked out on the first break in.

A number of factors made this break in possible: Firstly, it was a remote property, with out buildings that shielded any lights the burglars used from the neighbours, who would have had no reason to suspect anything was going on, even if they did see any lights from a distance of four football pitches away. Secondly, the locks were inadequate; Three of the four doors were not up to BS3621 standard, and there were no window locks. The burglars gained access through a window. Although hidden, one of the door keys was in an obvious hiding place and thus it was easy for the intruders to exit the house with their ill-gotten gains and use the same key to let themselves back in on their second visit. Thirdly there was no alarm/CCTV in place or any visible deterrent.

If your property is in any way cut off from the main view of other properties, it is a potential target. If your property is unattended for periods of time, even just a few days a week,  it is an increased potential target. Holiday homes and lets are a particularly vulnerable.

So what can you do?  . . . . .  You can improve your security with simple measures; –

  • Start with the correct locks. All final exit doors should have a kite mark. UPVC multipoint doors are no good if they just have a standard locking barrel – these take less than a minute to bypass.
  • Have window locks installed. Better still if they are obvious from the outside. Burglars don’t want to smash windows – the chance of a cut leaves DNA evidence.
  • Bright sensor controlled lights are fantastic. Especially when visible to the neighbours.
  • Indoor timer controlled lights are great as well.
  • Get to know your close neighbours, if possible, and get them used to the times you are away. People notice car engines in remote areas and are more likely to look when bright lights come on.
  • Alarms and CCTV can now be made to suit most budgets. With internet linkage, they can now also message you direct with alarm and send you pictures in real time with CCTV. The burglars know this and it’s no longer the case where they can remove the recorder to erase their images. They know the pictures have been sent to you and you are contacting the police. They will steer clear of properties that are protected.
  • If you have a holiday let, you could change the locks at the end of the high season. This cost comes within your allowable expenses so there is no reason not to. Any of your guests can get a copy of your keys (unless your locks are very high spec) and then use the copies whenever they like. You might only have a TV and music centre in the property, but what if they break in when your current guests are out for the day? Despite any notice that disregards your responsibility for the safety of their belongings, how would you feel?  At least if your locks are changed yearly, your suspect list goes down.

Rural Norfolk may not have high levels of social problems that give rise to the opportunist burglars, but we do have properties that are better targets for the specialists. A security check costs nothing and could save you your prized possessions. And despite the material loss, most burglary victims say they never get over the violation of a stranger entering their home and going through their personal belongings.

Don’t be a victim. Check your locks today and if you have any doubts, call us for confidential advice.

Thanks for reading.

AC Locksmit

admin January 14, 2015

Crime prevention / Specialist burglars /

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