Personal Security

It’s that time of year again. With a great summer and mild autumn, Christmas seems to have crept up on us and many of us are all going to be making a mad dash to get our presents bought. So, with the prospects of larger crowds, it might be a good idea to think about staying safe. For men, the advice is quite simple. When you go out, put your wallet in a pocket you don’t usually use. The slightly different feeling, will help to alert you if unwanted fingers come along looking to relieve you of your hard earned cash. With cash in mind, carry as little as possible. I know it’s easier to keep track of how much you are spending if using cash, but your kids won’t be happy on Christmas day if all you can afford is a tangerine! If you have difficulty remembering the pin to your card, don’t write it down. Put a false entry in your phone and place the pin somewhere in the false phone number. But make it look real! Ladies, make sure your handbag has a zip and preferably a covering flap that can be closed with a clasp of some kind. Make sure you close it completely with all features. If you are pushing a buggy, do not rest your hand bag on top where it is easy to snatch by someone passing. Use the bottom near the ground. It’s harder to snatch something subtly, if they have to bend down. If your bag is carried over your shoulder, wear the strap across your body and have a handbag with a thick strap. This will make it harder for the strap to be cut, no matter how sharp the knife. Do not carry information with your address anywhere you are carrying your keys. Keep the contents of your bag to the essential items you will need for the day. A bulging bag might be more of target as it suggests more to be had. On a similar level, designer bags may be more of a target as they suggest a richer owner with possibly more cash. Use a cheaper one instead if possible. So now we are safely shopping, if it is all in one go, there are inevitably going to be trips to the car to unburden the weight of all those precious new items. Please don’t leave bags of goodies on the seats. It’s an open invite for the window to be smashed and the items taken. Put everything in the boot and make sure it is covered. Don’t leave anything in the passenger area. Car windows have been smashed for such little things as a packet of cigarettes or a few CD’s and once they are in, they can pop the boot. When you are putting things in your boot, check around you to see if anyone seems to be paying you any attention. Similarly, if you are using your card either at the till or cash point machine,look back over your shoulder to make sure no-one is trying to see what numbers you are pressing or how much you are getting out. Don’t be afraid to politely but firmly ask the next person in the queue to give you more space. More often than not, the next person is just in a hurry and/or doesn’t realise they are so close. They will step back. If they don’t, go to a different place to make your transaction. It might take more time, but you will be safer. If the worst happens and your bag or keys are stolen, contact the police and start thinking about changing your locks and contact a locksmith as soon as you are home. It’s also party season, so be just as vigilant when you go out for drinks. Again, only take what you need. I have felt a finger slide across my back pocket looking for a wallet. Luckily, my wallet was in my front pocket and therefore safe. I was naïve at the time but interested and observed a group of five people moving around this particular nightclub. When they did strike it lucky, the wallet had been passed to the end of the line before the victim registered anything. Without going into details, it seemed the staff were in on the whole affair as well, so you can only rely on yourself to stay safe. If you have any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact using the details on my contacts page. Also if you have any tips to add, please use the comments section on this page. Thanks for reading!

admin November 30, 2014

Personal security /

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 /

Holiday Home Locks

I have just returned from yet another Job where the multi-point locking mechanism has seized and needed replacing. The property in question was a holiday home near Sea Palling and very close to the beach,the mechanism had shoot bolts top and bottom, which had rusted and jammed – probably due to the salt and moisture in the air. While they were in the process of rusting, various users of the property had used ever increasing force to operate the mechanism until the latest customers just couldn’t open the door.
This made the room incredibly hot as the only other method of ventilation was a small window, and the non-opening windows were large and in direct sunlight. (It would appear that in addition to the cost of the work being done, the property owner is going to have to refund some of the cost of the clients’ holiday.)

But as in 99% of these cases, the costs could have been avoided with just a little maintenance. All multi-point locking mechanisms need oiling, at least on a six monthly basis. However you should also check for signs of rust. With mechanisms that have shoot bolts, water often collects in the bottom bolt hole which seeps up and makes the bottom bolt rust. This one was unusual in that the water must have been slowly dripping and pooling at the top of the door and it was the top bolt that rusted. When I took the mechanism off the door, I also found it to have sand grinding in places you wouldn’t normally see. Were this to be a normal home, I could have shown the customer what to do and everything would have been fine, but here’s where holiday homes can get difficult. I was asked to do this job by a holiday let company who in turn use a property management company. The owner is happy for them to do what needs to be done when they see fit. But the property management company has lots of properties to get through on change over days and therefore only has time to do the necessary cleaning, etc. The letting company do not have time to be anything more than reactionary to problems either, especially during high season.

With all this in mind, if you run a holiday home through a company, be specific about anything beyond standard requirements, including regular servicing of the locks, or if you use the property yourself, make time during your own visit to do the maintenance yourself, especially if your property is near the beach.

If you are unsure of how to proceed, contact your local locksmith. He or she should be able to set up a schedule around your bookings to service everything properly. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us via the contacts page or call us 07846643176.

Thanks for reading!

admin September 10, 2014

Holiday home locks / Multi point door mechanisms /

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 /

Double Glazed Wooden Doors

I have noticed a steep rise in the number of wooden doors with multi-point locking mechanisms this year, and I am noticing them because they are having problems. These problems tend to stem directly from the wood holding water and causing rust to the metal moving parts. The problem is compounded if the mechanism has shoot bolts because water collects in the bottom shoot bolt hole and rusts the bolt itself  – causing problems. Wooden doors are also less easy to adjust than their UPVC counterparts and therefore, if anything comes out of alignment the problems start, remember these doors are wood so they will swell in the winter and dry out in hot weather.

So what can we do about these problems? 
Firstly, if you are thinking about installing wooden double glazed doors, consider the potential problems for the future. Yes it is true that you get more window space than a UPVC door but things are a lot harder to correct with wood and often more expensive. In my travels, I have seen only one set of double glazed wooden French doors with hinges that were adjustable to make the doors fit better, however these adjusters were extremely fiddly and without going into technical detail, I wouldn’t expect them to make too many adjustments. Therefore the customer has a finite life on this door. If you really must have wood over UPVC then see if your installer can provide a door that has a mortice lock rather than a multi-point mechanism. Multi-points are still being fitted with standard locking cylinders which means the intruder can gain entry in less than a minute. So unless you are sure your installer is going to fit a BSI 3621 or better cylinder, then a mortice lock is safer anyway. Always seek independent advice before committing your money to these doors.

If you already have these doors in place, then make sure they are oiled regularly. With the door open, lift the handles and inspect all the hooks, rollers, etc for any signs of wear. Even if there are no obvious signs of wear, the handles should lift nearly as easily with the door closed as they do with the door open. If they do not, then there is probably an alignment problem and if this is the case, get your local locksmith to take a look. A small cost now will save a greater cost in the future. Just in case you glossed over the first instruction; oil regularly! Rust is more likely to appear at the bottom of the door, so concentrate your oil here. If the mechanism has shoot bolts top and bottom, make sure the bolt holes are free of water and debris. I see these doors a lot on holiday let homes so if you own a holiday cottage take the time to do the maintenance yourself as many management companies work reactively when the damage is already done.

Should you require any more information about this topic or any of the other lock related matters, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin July 31, 2014

Double Glazed Wooden Doors / Home maintenance / Home security /

Are your locks up to standard?

One of the most frustrating things about my job is knowledge. For example;- I know of a widely used mortice type lock (often called ‘Chubb’), that is excellent for security purposes, yet prone to fail. In fact I often get called to open locks that just suddenly stop working. Before I even put the phone down, I am 99% sure of the brand of lock I will be dealing with and I would love to be able to name and shame here, but obviously cannot for legal reasons. The only thing I can say is if your mortice lock feels like it is starting to stick, check it is still having problems while the door is open and if it is, have it changed straight away before it seizes on you when you are desperate to get into your home. Personally, I only use Yale or ERA brands as I have yet to have a problem with either. As mentioned in previous blogs, keeping your locks oiled every six months or so is the best way to get the longest life out of them.

Mortice locks are also prone to rust as they sit inside wooden doors that naturally hold moisture. If you possess a couple of screwdrivers, it is worth taking the handles off your door every couple of years and removing the lock to check its condition. Many people are surprised at the state of their locks when they are removed, but then say things like; “It’s done well for ten years!” Ten years? It seems we live in a time when many are prepared to change their cars every three years or so (not all of us by far, but enough to use as an example), cars that are precision made with amazing technology, yet we hang on to locks until they fail. I know if you keep hold of a car long enough, it might eventually be worth more than you pay for it, but most of us get rid of our cars, trading in for new ones, usually making a loss, especially where loans are involved. Now compare that to the cost of a new lock which is designed to keep you and your possessions safe.

“But why should I change a perfectly good lock?” I hear you ask. My response is this; How do you know it is a perfectly good lock? You might be lucky and have a lock that lasts a lifetime. You might still be using the same lock your grandparents used when they were young, but you might also arrive home from the supermarket with bags of frozen food only to find your lock has seized and your local locksmith is still hours away stuck on another job. Please don’t think this is a sales pitch. By all means, change the lock yourself, or ask some friends if you are unsure of how to do it. I recently did a job where the front door to a block of flats was changed. I understand that changing the lock meant new keys for all the residents, but the managing company said they expect to see me again soon as the other blocks in the complex had similar locks that were “probably coming to the end of their lives.” These are high usage doors and we are talking about multiple families being locked out should just one lock fail. This highlights how we think about potential problems. We know something could fail any day, but are willing to take the risk anyway.

So, my advice is this: If your locks are more than a few years old, put yourself in the worst possible situation for the lock to fail and ask yourself what you would do. If you don’t have a very workable plan ‘B’ then it might be worth replacing the lock to reduce the likelihood of that scenario happening.

Thanks for reading.

admin July 2, 2014

Lock maintenance / lock repair / lock replacement /

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 /

Key Cutting

One of the advantages of having a locksmith supply your locks is that you can order however many keys you may want, along with the new lock at the point of ordering.(Although not always available when a lock is being replaced in an emergency situation.)  However, if you buy your new lock direct from the shop, it will only come with two/three keys. In my experience, most people want around four keys and that number goes up if there are more adults living at the property.

So buying your lock from the shop then entails a further visit to a key cutter. But a job I did yesterday reminded me of how annoying this can be. The customer in question had keys cut to the cost of £50.00 at a well known key cutting chain. She lived in a small village, so the round trip was over an hour. When the keys were cut, Mrs X compared the copies to the original and could see that the unbranded blanks were slightly different to the originals from which they were cut. Bear in mind that within the workings of a lock, just half a millimetre can be the difference between it working and not working – so if an untrained eye can spot the difference, a professional should know that this is not going to work. However when Mrs X challenged the key cutter, the response she got was: “Just try them.” At this point, most of us will accept the ‘professional’s’ word and go on our merry way. Guess what happened when Mrs X tried her new keys? – Not a single one worked! So Mrs X now has to take another one hour round trip to get her money back and find another key cutter who can actually do the job. Had Mrs X only had one key cut, the expense of the return trip would not have been worth the bother, but she still would have been out of pocket due to a wasted journey and a useless key. This is a situation I hear about lots and surprisingly, it is often the chain company key cutters who are the biggest culprits (although this could be just down to average numbers of keys cut).

How then, do we lower the risk of new cut keys not working? Of course, my best advice is to order direct from your locksmith who can have your lock supplied with keys that have been tested and working. The second option is to have a good think about how many keys you need when you buy the lock, and take it direct to your key cutter where you can try the keys in the lock before you take it all home if possible. Or, if your lock is already installed and you are just needing extra keys, make sure the key you take to the key cutters is an original and insist upon an original branded key blank to be used. Even if the key cutter uses an unbranded blank that works, the metals will be sub standard and this will either wear out the key sooner or potentially damage your lock, leading to more expense.

I personally do not cut keys but I know of a few who do, local to me, and while I do not have concrete evidence to say who is better (remember I get my locks supplied with the number of keys I need), when I do use them, I find them to be very good as compared to the branded chain key cutters whose names I hear often when complaints are being made.

I am always happy to recommend a key cutter (please ask via the contacts page), but as I am associated to none, can take no responsibility for the odd occasions when they might get it wrong.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 22, 2014

Keys cut /

1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 15