Burglaries On The Increase

The latest National Crime Statistics released reveal an increase in domestic burglaries. 

Crime in England and Wales, in the quarterly update to December 2010 issued in spring this year, noted a 14% increase in domestic burglary. Insurance companies have found that only a small percentage of consumers take on board security measures such as installing or upgrading window and door locks.  Others are not even careful about locking up when they leave their home!  We would encourage both domestic and commercial property owners to review their security on a regular basis.  The commercial market needs to think about the security implications of locks where keys are available to staff and the risk they bring if keys are lost or stolen.  Likewise home owners should do it as a matter of course rather than just when they move house.  Burglars are becoming wise to the weaknesses of older type locks and how they can exploit this to gain fast and quiet entry into your property.

Most people change their phones every year or two and their car will often be replaced over a period of 2-5 years but do we ever think of changing our locks?  Now think of the valuables that you are protecting, not only in terms of contents, but family members.

Why not try contacting your local locksmith in Norwich for a free security survey to make sure you are not vulnerable to your local Norwich burglar.

Snap, Crackle & Bump

Did you know that PVC-u door locks have a weakness? The weakness lies with the type of cylinder installed, This is called a European profile cylinder and has a design fault. If too long a cylinder has been fitted the lock can be snapped and the door lock cracked in less than a minute. Another technique being used currently is Lock Bumping, this is the use of a Pre Cut Key being Bumped into the cylinder with a slight turning pressure being applied and effectively jumping the cylinder open.

If you are interested in how you can Protect your locks against these types of attack for a relatively small amount Contact Us.

PVC-u Doors

Many UPVC entrance doors have a multi point locking mechanism but how do you know if yours is secure. There are two main types of Multi Point Locks (MPL) that offer a minimal level of security. Firstly you have the MPL with 4 rollers and a latch, I refer to these as a balcony door lock, the other has 4 rollers a latch and a deadbolt. These type of locks were fitted before there were any regulations to comply with. If you have the first type I would recommend you upgrade as soon as possible, the second type is more secure but you only have one anti-separation point. I would always recommend upgrading this type of lock to include hook bolts, roller bolts, latch and deadbolt.
You could use a glazing company to upgrade your locks but you will find them very expensive and they will probably try to sell you a new door as this is easier for them. Why not try a local locksmith who specialises in PVC-u door locks. They should be able to give you a free security survey and advice to help you decide whether your door is as secure as you would like.

Something Fishy in the Locksmith World

We were called out today to an abandoned apartment. The tenants had left along with the keys! After picking the lock to gain entry to the property in a non-destructive way we were asked to look for the keys inside. Unfortunately no keys were found but we did make a fishy discovery...two goldfish had been left...abandoned. Needless to say my wife was thrilled with her new pets. So if you need access to a property in a hurry give us a call, we can even help with unwanted pets!

The Burglar's Gift

Did you know that some people make simple security mistakes despite investing huge sums in security lights, CCTV systems and high security deadlocks? These errors include keeping a spare key for easy access in the garden or even under the doormat, a phenomenon dubbed "the burglar's gift". In a poll Direct Line found that over 3.4 million people (7%) leave a spare key concealed near their home. Don't make it easy for a opportunist burglar install the right locks and if you need to leave a key outside think about a key box for secure storage of your keys instead. Contact us for more free advice.

Change Your Locks

Research by Direct Line has shown that 63% of people did not change the locks when they moved into their new home. Millions of people in Britain give out keys to their home to neighbours, trades people and family with no idea of how many keys they have given out. When you move into your new home who already has a key? A common misconception is that having a professional locksmith to replace your locks can be expensive. If you choose the right company this doesn't have to be the case. Contact us for a free survey.