New Year – New Jeans v New Locks!

New Year – New Locks!

Christmas is over and the New Year is here. The sales are already in full swing and many credit cards are taking a full on battering! Somehow, we are even starting to think about holidays! This time of year seems to bring out the spend monster in many of us.

So if we can go all out to buy that new telly, or furniture, or computer, or washing machine, and save hundreds of pounds, why not seriously consider putting the savings to good use and making sure your home is secure? This morning I have transformed a property from one I could get into within seconds, to one that a burglar will look at from a distance and instantly look to the next property as a potential target  – and all for well under £200.

Many people live in homes that very often have old and out dated locks. But most information is online. Without stereotyping, many older people do not have/want access to the internet, so please if you know someone elderly or infirm, check their locks for them. Especially look for kite marked locks and if they don’t have them, help them look up the number of a local locksmith. So many homes that should have 5 lever mortice locks – the generally accepted insurance standard, only have three lever locks or even just two lever. These can be replaced for little over £100. And remember we are not talking about double glazed doors here which have multi-point locking systems.

On the subject of double glazed doors, those hooks, bolts rollers, etc, count for nothing if you have a standard locking barrel. These can be snapped and access gained in under a minute, so please make sure your barrel is kite marked and preferably given a three star rating as well; I had to gain access to one of these over Christmas, and the wear on my extra-tough drill bits was incredible. I can say it is possible to gain access through these locks, but the time and effort involved goes way beyond what a burglar would want to use, and as these locks are visibly different, they deter burglars from a distance. The upgrade for these high security locks is well under £100 per lock.

So, if you have waited until now to spend £200 on a pair of jeans because they used to be £300 ask yourself if you really need them? A new kite marked lock might not be as exciting, but it might just save you a future nightmare, not just on a material level. Unless something of particular family value has been stolen, most people get over the loss of replaceable belongings quite quickly. But most victims find it extremely hard to get over the invasion of their private space and almost all agree they would not have been victims if they had had the correct levels of security in place to begin with.

There is a certain feeling that goes with knowing your property is secure. I challenge you to try it. The excitement of wearing that new pair of jeans might diminish when you get your credit card statement or you desperately need cash for something else, but you will never regret upgrading your security.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

admin January 3, 2015

kite marked locks / New Year - New Locks! /

Beat the burglars!

When we say ‘Beat the burglars!’ we don’t meet mean literally – however tempting it may be!  But, we hope, by reading our blog, that we can help you make your home more secure and therefore much harder for the average burglar to gain access to your property.

Yesterday I attended a job where my unfortunate customer had lost his keys. Like some people he was more used to leaving his property via the back door as this was closest to the car which was parked out back, and it was his back door key that he had lost. As with most of my jobs, I spent my journey time thinking about the various methods I would be using to get him into his house and when I arrived, I discovered that all those thoughts were for nothing, because he informed me he always leaves his front door key in the lock. It therefore took me seconds to set up one of my gadgets and go in through the letterbox to hook the key and retrieve it for use. Everyone was happy. He was back into his house, I had earned some money and there was no damage to the property.

But again I came away wandering at how vulnerable people leave their houses. I read crime reports and study statistics, but it brings it all home when I see it for real. And I see it all too often! The tools I use are readily available to all on line, so if its easy for me, its really easy for a burglar who does not care about damaging things on the way into his victim’s house. If your keys are anywhere within a few feet of your letter box, you may as well, in my opinion have a sign in huge neon letters saying; “Come and take what you want!”

Home security do’s and do not’s:

• Do not leave any key in the lock at any time.
• Do not place key racks near doors with letter boxes.
• Do not put key racks in view of windows.
• If you need to keep a key near the door, put it in something that must be opened, like a drawer.
• Do invest in a post basket on the back of your door. This adds another layer of protection.
• Do check your locks are British Standard Kite marked, even if your insurance does not specify it.
ABS kite marked lock
• When going out, keep your keys separate from any documentation that may have your address on it.
• Do invite a local locksmith to do a security check. (Make sure they don’t charge!)
• Do pass on this information to vulnerable friends and relatives. (They are often victims and although you would never have the satisfaction of knowing you have helped them thwart a burglar, you may feel bad if they were to become a victim and you could have done something to help).
• Do make use of technology. Yale have an app that tells you what burglaries have occurred within a mile of your postcode in the last month.

On a final good note, I would like to congratulate one of my customers who owns a holiday home in Little Walsingham as being the only such person I know so far who regularly changes the code on his key safe. Yes, it does mean he has to take a bit of extra time to inform his cleaners every time he does it, but he keeps things like a TV and music centre in that house for guests’ use and it’s good that only the last few guests know the code, meaning that if someone were to come back and burgle the property, the list of suspects is very short, as opposed to the norm where the code remains the same for years on end.

Thanks for reading!

To beat the burglars – please feel free to call us for a free security check – I promise no hard sell, just honest advice!
Click here for genuine customer testimonials.


admin October 21, 2014

Beat the burglars! /

National Home Security Month (Part 2)



Week one of National Home Security Month has drawn our attention to a great smart phone app that tells you how many burglaries there have been within a one mile radius of your home recently. Apart from telling you there are home intruders operating in your area, it is also interestingly shows who does not have adequate security. For example, I know of a housing development in Aylsham where all the front doors are fitted with kite marked ‘Yale’ type locks. Locksmiths and burglars can tell at a distance that these properties are very secure, from the front at least. Unfortunately, most of these properties have double glazed back doors with standard cylinders which are easily broken into, but whereas the more determined home intruder might check out the back, the opportunist will scout the first few properties in the area and might well decide the pickings would be easier elsewhere. Therefore, the burglary rate is lower.

Some statistics taken from National Home Security Month:

  • Burglars typically spend less than one minute getting into a home.  That’s how easy it can be. And that’s what we want to protect against. If they can’t get into your home in less than a minute, then they may go and look elsewhere. I was speaking to a friend just yesterday who told me he is terrible for forgetting where he left his keys, but doesn’t worry about it because he has alternative ways into his house. I tried to explain that this is a terrible situation but some people will only learn the hard way. It also scares me that he tells other people that his house is easy to burgle. Don’t be like my friend. Have quality locks fitted and keep them in good working order.
  • 73% of burglars gain entry via a door.   Think about this. They want to carry as much of your stuff off as possible and that means going through a door. Trying to get out of a window with the loot runs the risk of injury or getting stuck, and therefore caught. So why break in through a window if you won’t be able to use a door to escape? I would take an informed guess that most of the remaining 27% were breaking in with intent of stealing specific items. That is a guess, but one that makes sense.
  • 1 in 3 people admit to leaving the door unlocked when they leave the house! When I was growing up, I remember just about everybody in our street popping in and out of other people’s houses – but in that long distant past, we all looked out for our neighbours. Nowadays it seems most of us only communicate with our neighbours with a quick hello in passing, so leaving doors unlocked just seems insane. If you are the sort of person that does this, then invest in the type of lock that will need a key to get back in. There is no excuse. About the only thing worse than leaving doors unlocked would be to paint a sign out side saying “Please come in and take what you want!”
  • People without window locks and double locks or deadlocks on external doors are six times more likely to be burgled. Quite simply, even if the burglar can’t see from a distance that you are well protected, a quick try at some of your windows might tell him to look elsewhere. Remember, when they do come in through the window, it is because they can force the frame. They don’t want to break the glass because that leads to the risk of injury and if they do cut themselves, they are leaving forensic evidence.

If you would like any advice about your home security, without sales pitch, please feel free to contact me via the contacts page on the web site.

National Home Security Month has been designed to create awareness around the importance of home security and get people security savvy in time for winter. The nationwide initiative, which runs throughout the month of October is supported by security specialist Yale, but is open to lots of organisations, including businesses, charities and not-for-profit groups, as well as members of the general public.

Thank you for reading.

admin October 6, 2014

Improve your home security / National Home Security Month /

National Home Security Month

This coming October is the second National Home Security Month sponsored By Yale, one of the biggest lock manufacturers in the UK. The aim of the campaign is to highlight areas where people can improve their home security. There is nothing to do with sales – just good honest advice and a look at what the future holds for home security, including the evolution of the “Smart Home” and some of the latest security gadgets. Anyone interested can go to www.homesecuritymonth.com throughout October to find out any information required. They will supply more information each week throughout the month. Domestic burglaries increase by 20% during the darker months, so this is the perfect time to make sure your home is as safe as it can be.

I hear time and again that if the burglar wants to get in, they will – but the burglar wants to get in quickly and quietly and if your home makes it difficult for them and next door makes it easy, he’s going to go next door! It really is that simple. Apart from conforming to insurance standards, it’s a bit like actually being ‘The Joneses’ and making sure you are way ahead of your neighbours!

Of course, you don’t have to wait until October to get unbiased, honest advice about your home security. I am happy to come and check your home for you and make relevant suggestions with a promise of no selling. If your home is secure, I will gladly congratulate you. If it’s not, I’ll tell its weaknesses and show you the products that can make it better and how. I will then leave you to carry out the work either by yourself, a friend or me if you want to. Even if you think your property is up to scratch, it will cost you nothing more than maybe a cup of tea to have it looked at. I have now been working in and around Holt for five years and while I would never say “I’ve seen it all,” I have seen a surprising amount of locks that are just not fit for purpose, so if you do have me stop by and I do tell you your lock is not adequate, don’t feel bad, it’s an easy mistake!

Alternatively, you can send a question about National Home Security Month or any other lock/security related issues through my contacts page on the website www.ac-locksmiths-norfolk.com  Thanks for reading.

admin September 17, 2014

Home security advice / National Home Security Month /

More News on Snap-Secure locks.

Readers of my previous blogs will know by now that I, along with the locksmithing industry, am keen to make people as aware as possible of the benefits of Snap-Secure locks. I have just read an article in an industry magazine that has further inspired me to re-iterate my focus, the main points of which I shall relay here.

The snapping of the barrel locks that run through double glazed, composite, aluminum and some wooden doors is now unofficially the main method through which burglaries are carried out in many areas. Insurance remit is to replace like for like, so if your home is attacked, the locks you get from your insurance company will be just as prone to attack and some burglars will return to the same targets.

West Yorkshire Police fitted 10,000 homes in Leeds with ABS 3 star diamond standard Snap-Secure Locks during 2012, along with other crime prevention initiatives, and over a 12 month period saw a 36 per cent decrease in burglaries in the trial area. As this was a high crime area, that 36 per cent equated to over 3,000 less victims of crime in just twelve months.

So let’s think about this for a moment; A high crime area means lots of criminals who know what they are doing. Even those who don’t know what to do can get instructions on the internet and could be inside your home in less than a minute – with no power tools required. Yet now 8 people a day are not victims any longer. Home Insurance companies must have saved huge amounts and if the whole country were to take up increased security, that would mean they save even more and we would surely notice a drop in insurance premiums that would allow the locks to eventually pay for themselves!

Now I know Norfolk is a comparatively low crime area but burglaries do happen, even in the `safer’ areas.

Now, I know that you can get BSI rated cylinders in DIY stores and on line. But these still have their limitations. I am not going to go into those limitations here, but there are ample sources elsewhere on the internet. These locks can cost between £50 and £60 in big chain DIY shops.

What I can tell you is that the ABS diamond standard cylinders go beyond anything else available right now. Even the key and pins are magnetic, making lock picking virtually impossible. I cannot say that these locks are impregnable, and I cannot say that the determined burglar will not seek out a secondary weak point in your overall security, but what I can say is if the burglar is going to attack your home through this lock, he is going to need a lot of tools and make a lot a noise and take a lot of time. I fully endorse these locks and currently only charge £62 for these locks, and if you have two fitted, there is no labour charge.

I would suggest to all readers that they call their home insurance company right now and ask what discount they can have for fitting a lock rated higher than TS3621. If they won’t offer a discount, tell them you will go elsewhere at next renewal and if they still don’t offer a discount, make sure you find a company that will. In the meantime, if you value anything in your home, talk to us about fitting ABS cylinders. And if you know anyone who is vulnerable, talk to them about being more secure as well.

My best customers are the ones who grumble about the cost of security without ever seeing the benefit. My least favourite jobs are the ones where customers wish they had taken preventative measures before their homes were invaded.

Thanks for reading.

admin August 29, 2014

home insurance / Snap-Secure locks /

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 /

New Home? Change your locks!

I have just installed some new locks for a couple who recently moved into their new home. When I say recently, I mean six months ago. The couple, both non-smokers, bought the property from a smoker and said it took ages to get rid of the smell, but just recently, when they have come home on add occasions they have smelled cigarettes. Not the old stale lingering smell they worked so hard to eradicate, but the fresh smell of a smoker having been in their home. Smokers reading this might not understand, but non-smokers will. Someone who smokes leaves a definite smell in the air, long after they are gone and it is different to the smell of carpets, or wallpaper that have been subjected to years of a smoking environment.

So knowing we have a fresh smell of tobacco in a non-smokers house can give us four possible options.

1. The smell is coming from outside through vents – highly unlikely as the property is detached with a good amount of all round garden and driveway. Once maybe, but not multiple times.

2. A tobacco smoking ghost – highly unlikely.

3. Someone breaking in – highly unlikely as no signs of damage and most house breakers will take stuff and only go in once.

4. The previous owner gaining entry – unusual but it does happen. Nothing can be proven but you can never be sure a previous owner has given you all the keys.

So the moral of the story is quite simple. When you move house, change the locks. There could be any number of keys out there. Some people have an army of carers (I knew a case of over 30 keys being distributed) and when that person passes, many of the keys do not get returned. Contractors are also very good at losing keys, so if the new property has had work done, there is a chance, some workman is going about his daily business with a key to your door floating around in his van. Would you feel safe knowing someone else has a key to your door? Kids are also great at losing keys, potentially with address information attached. Often, trusted neighbours or nearby relatives hold keys as well and in many instances, these are not returned. The potential for someone else to have a key to your new home is really quite large. Therefore, as a matter of standard home security, get your locks changed at the earliest opportunity.

Just a final note as a reminder, please do not hang your keys anywhere within 2 metres of your doors, and even better, use a small hanging key box rather than a line of hooks. It is amazing how easy it is to hook keys through the letter box, even around corners. I should know – I have hooked keys for owners on many occasions! As an extra precaution, invest in a letter box guard. For more information, please talk to me via any of the means on the contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin April 30, 2014

Change your locks / New home /

Better Locks for All

Big things are happening at AC Locksmiths; I went to an industry Expo this past weekend (exciting stuff, I know!) and came away with the feeling that while I have been happy with the service I have thus far provided for my customers, there is room for improvement.

Regular readers of my blogs will know I am driven to educate my customers that fitting BSI kite marked products ensures, at the very least, that insurance standards are met. Yet, I still carry many non-kite marked products as I have also had to compete with other locksmiths on price. This has always been hard, because I have yet to find another locksmith who advertises their costs. So therefore, I am contradicting myself.
With that in mind, come this Spring, instead of fitting like for like standard locks with the option to upgrade, I will be fitting the best standard locks I can in all cases, where possible.

To give an example of the difference, let’s look at the barrel lock of a UPVC door. If your barrel does not display a kite mark, it’s a bit like having a small factory standard hatch back car. It serves a purpose. There are modifications you can make, but the barrel is still vulnerable as the car is still a hatchback and you wouldn’t want to drive across America in one. You can now buy kite marked cylinders in the shops. These however, are 1 star rated and still vulnerable to attack and so you need extra products like armoured handles or cylinder guards. So this is like the factory standard family saloon car. More comfort, but you still need to buy the extras to want that something special. The locks I will be carrying to fit as standard are made by British Company ABS and they are a stand alone 3 star and Sold Secure Diamond rated. This is like the car you want to own. For me it’s a ’69 Corvette. For my wife it’s an Audi A4. For you it might be a Lexus, or a McClaren F1. The point is, this lock is that good! BS3621 has now been superseded by a new standard which is TS007, and this lock fits this standard without buying additional products. At the price I will charge for this product (more on that later) it will be cheaper to install than buying a 1 star rated barrel from the shops and the extra kit to achieve the same level of protection.

Of course it will not always be possible to install the very best and I am always understanding of budgets, so as always, I will be happy to order standard products and return within 48 hours at no extra cost with the lesser quality product. In extreme cases, second hand products will be available, subject to undamaged removal from previous properties (although these will not have the same guarantees).

In addition to the above, I can provide more security in the form of safes to fit all requirements, be it for documents, jewellery, lap tops and beyond, even up to commercial level. I have a full brochure of safe products, most of which can be delivered and fitted within the week.

Of course, for all the locking products in the world, I cannot make or install burglar proof glass and there is always the window as a method of entry for the determined intruder. And with that in mind, I also install wireless CCTV and alarm systems which can even send a direct message to your mobile phone and be pet friendly, allowing your animals to roam free while being alert for larger human size intruders.

I also intend to improve on my already outstanding personal service, (see testimonials page) by explaining the items I am fitting and what makes them great in more detail so my customers know that they are getting true value for money. So, what about cost? Well, the Spring and Summer seasons are going to be a trial period.

* I am freezing my labour cost at £50.00 flat fee regardless of time (remember most charge hourly).

* I am also going to keep my work labour free if the locking products come to more than £100.

* A full BSI 3621 Nightlatch kit will remain at £116.00 (cheaper than buying it yourself and paying labour to have it fitted).

* If it is just a Rim cylinder (Yale type lock) that you need the price is rising to £38.00 as I will be using the ABS range which are as good as the UPVC barrels described above.

* A mortice (Chubb) with handles will remain at £62.00

* A mortice deadlock (no handles) will rise to £44.00

* The ABS UPVC Euro cylinder will trial throughout Spring and Summer for £62.00

* The Standard UPVC Euro cylinder will remain at £42.00 (although you may have to wait 48 hours for one to be ordered)

Of course there are many more products that I supply and fit, all of which I will price for you before ever starting any work so you can decide whether to go ahead or not. Please check back for updates as to exact start dates for the new prices and please feel free to contact should you have any questions.

Thanks for reading.

admin April 3, 2014

insurance standard locks / Locksmiths norfolk / Safe installation /

Urgent – Burglary scam

I have just had to change the locks for an elderly gentleman in Holt because his keys were stolen through a doorstep scam. The victim in question has UPVC doors and the scam went like this:

* The victim answers the door bell as per usual to be confronted by a stranger

* The stranger reports seeing someone going over his back garden wall

* Immediately worried, the victim heads to the rear of the house leaving the ‘Good Samaritan’ with an open door and a bunch of keys hanging in the lock.

* The victim finds no evidence of an intruder in his back garden and returns to the front door to find no one there and his keys missing.

Now this could be a prank or it could be an organised criminal looking to come back at a later date with easy access to a victim’s home. Either way, the gentleman in question has had to change his locks for peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the vile people who carry out these scams will target areas where the older generations live. Suffice to say, if you are reading this in any area and you know older people, please, without scaring them, let them know about this scam. Do not leave strangers at your door unattended for any reason. It may seem impolite to shut the door on someone who could be doing you a huge favour, but better to be rude than out of pocket, or worse! Even a safety chain may leave enough gap for someone to reach around remove the keys. Crime prevention is the best way.

Finally, if you have been the victim of a scam and do need to have your locks changed, I am sympathetic and while I cannot change my prices, I will do my best to accommodate those who may not be able to afford the cost straight away. Also, do not forget to check your home insurance policy, as you may be able to have some of the cost refunded.

Thanks for reading.

AC Locksmiths

admin February 28, 2014

Crime prevention / Home security /

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.

Thanks for reading

 

admin September 26, 2013

Home security /

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