Helpful Locksmith Tips

Ways to protect your property to 10 from  Locksmith security tips

Over the years as a locksmith you seem to collect a lot of information on this to do and things not to do with your keys and locks. Most of the locksmith tips provided is commonsense, but we all seem to forget to do them or overlook them from time to time and find ourselves locked out or in a position with no key.

Tip 1. House Locks.

Some of the most common ways to get in trouble with your locks is to forget your keys and lock them inside. As easy as it is to take then before you lock the house, it’s not always the first thing people think of when rushing out of the house. To stop you from having this problem you can do a number of things that will save you time and money.

• ·         Set up a spare key holder

• ·         Hide a key about 5 min walk away from your home

• ·         Install a keyless digital lock

Three easy things to have in place that will save you if you forget your keys. By having a friend or family hold your spare key, they can also come in handy if you need someone to enter your home and do something you have forgotten to do, such as turn off the iron.

Tip 2. Window locks

Always lock all your windows, if it is summer and hot and humid you may leave your windows open to let fresh air into your place. By leaving windows open you leave yourself open to intruders, you may even forget to lock the windows when you leave the house, leaving the house vulnerable to a robbery. If you need to have your windows open, try locking them in the open position so that the window cannot be opened any more.  You can do this with most window locks that our locksmiths install. You can also improve your window security by using a length of wood or pole behind the window that will sit in the window track and make it harder for burglar’s to break in.

Tip 3.  New Keys

Have your locks recoded when you move in or lose keys. The cost of recoding locks is a lot cheaper than buying and installing new locks. You can use the same lock you have now and have the key changed to a new key so the old key cannot work in the same lock. When you have house mates move out or you have just moved in, it’s worth having the locks recoded. The chance of unwanted visitors is slim, but the chance of a burglary from someone who passes the key to someone else they know is more than possible. The cost of recoding your locks far out ways the risk if you don’t have them changed

Tip 4. Use your Alarm

We see lots of people that have been robbed and ask us to upgrade their locks after the fact. One of the interesting things that out locksmiths have noticed time and time again is the place or house has an alarm fitted.  Probably from the last tenant or owner and the current owner has no idea or pin number to use the alarm. By having extra security and not using it is not a recommended.  The truth is you’re your alarm system can be repaired and new codes can be installed, normally for less than $200, this included a new alarm battery and a check for the system. People that have been burgled and have an alarm installed should now that it’s a security device just the same as your front door lock. The next tenant or occupant can use it just the same as the person who had it installed. Our alarm technicians may even be able to find some user manuals to help explain how the systems work. You can also have your alarm on when you are home, by having your alarm on at night you are protected from burglars entering your home while you sleep. You can have your alarm protecting all your doors and you can walk around within the house without triggering the alarm system.

Tip 5. Have your Bins Brought back inside the property

It’s a clear sign to any burglar that if the bins have been out for the last few days, that the occupant of the house is not using them and is most likely not home. We all have rubbish and we all use our bins, by asking a neighbour to take them in or put them out, help make your place look occupied. You can have this service done for you. There are lots of people that will do this service for you for a small fee while you are away from your property, such as lawn maintance people or gardeners.

Tip 6. Have your mail collected

You mail is another sign of the occupant of the house not being at the home, when the mail box is full of mail it send a clear message to the burglars. You can have your mail redirected for a small fee. Talk to Australia post, they can setup a mail redirect. You can use a friend or family member to collect your mail. You also have a much greater chance of not losing important mail.

Tip 7. Burglar Deterrents.

If you are thinking of leaving your TV on for a few days, you might get a shock when you see your power bill. Some of the new flat screen do use the power and do consume electricity more than expected, just because they are flat and slim does not give you any guarantee that it’s not costing you money. With the cost of power not a lot higher than previous years, saving power is a more favourable solution. You still want to give the impression that the house is occupied and make the place look as if someone is home, perhaps watching  the television. Smart people have made a device that uses very little power and shins LED lights to simulate that a TV is on, the light s change shape and colour just the same as a TV would if it was left on. The clever little device turns on when it goes dark and you don’t need to change any batteries or worry about it again, you can find more information on this product in our online locksmith shop or click this link to the product.

Tip 8. Security Stickers

Security stickers are a good way to show that your house is protected. By using a window sticker with the big words “Warning” you may stop a potential burglary. Window stickers and security sign are a cheap form of security that can work and have worked to frighten burglars away. The trick to security stickers is to make them noticeable and to use fresh new stickers. Old stickers that have faded don’t offer much protection. You can buy new window stickers in our online locksmith shop, just scroll up and click on shop from the top menu. They also need to look authentic!

Tip 9. Security Cameras

You don’t need to spend a fortune to have security cameras installed, the price has come down in the last few years and the features of security cameras has increased. You can have security cameras on your computer or ipad/iphone and see a live view of your house or property. Security cameras offer much more security than just a physical deterrent. Burglars that see security cameras are less likely to want to stand in front of them and try and break in, the thing about security cameras is “you never know who is watching”. If your budget does not allow you to have security cameras, we do sell dummy cameras that look the same and can give you security. They can work as a visual deterrent.  Dummy camera start from $50 and are available in our online shop. Its worth the money to install a dummy camera, if it saves you once from a burglar that it has done an excellent job, Its most likely that burglars will get frightened off just with the thought they are being watched. Security stickers are included with dummy cameras.

Tip 10. Don’t forget to lock up

Double locking deadlocks are only good if you double lock them. If you have a glass window next to your door its best to lock the inside of your lock and then lock the door. This stops burglars from smashing the window and unlocking the door. It makes it harder for burglars to remove your property if they only have a limited entry and exit point.

Security Tips -

The security tips have been compiled from what our locksmith have seen in the past years.

Please call the number above or email our locksmith Sydney team.