Expert Locksmith Advice

How to improve the security of your doors

I've been thinking about doors recently. There are many different types of doors, of course, depending on your cultural references. There's THE Doors, naturally, with your man Jim Morrison's insistence on having his fire lit. Let's not forget the blonde bombshell, Diana Dors (real name Diane Fluck, fact fans), and of course there's George Dawes, the character played by Matt Lucas on Shooting Stars. Yes, lots of doors indeed. But this diversion is just a roundabout way of getting round to saying that today I'll be talking about a specific type of door - the front door to your property.

Who wants a less secure door?

You might be reading the title to this blog and thinking - 'well, nobody', but you'd be surprised at just how lax some people are with their home and office security.

Your door and its locks are the only things preventing unwanted visitors from entering your property. It therefore makes perfect sense to have the best, most secure locks possible… right?

Home and property security tips

Ah, there you were. I was just thinking about you and wondering what you'd like for Easter. I considered the obvious option of chocolate eggs, but you said they went straight to your thighs. So then it was going to be daffodils, but they make you sneeze. So eventually, I decided my gift to you would be a blog about keeping your house safe. No, it's NOT just what I do each month. This is a special Easter edition, replete with Easter references, and to claim it isn't would just make me cross. Cross - see, there's another of those Easter references. 

5 signs it's time to get your locks changed

The security of your home couldn't be more important. No matter what type of alarm system you have, your exterior locks are still your first line of defence, so ignoring any problems you're experiencing with them simply isn't an option.

While you won’t have to change your locks regularly, there are some situations when you may need the services of a South Yorkshire locksmith. Here are just a few.

Security advice for student accommodation

Flicking through the channels on the TV the other night I happened across an old episode of The Young Ones. Those of you of a certain age may well remember this early 80s comedy with fondness as we followed the anarchic adventures of four students - the punk Vyvyan (Ade Edmondson), the wannabe anarchist Rick (the much missed Rik Mayall), the delightful hippy Neil (Nigel Planer), and Mike, the "other one" (Christopher Ryan).

Anyway, this trip down memory lane does have a connection with what I'll talk about today.  Because although the quartet of students in The Young Ones provided plenty of laughs, I'll wager they didn't give a great deal of thought to the security of the accommodation they rented from Jerzei,  their landlord. And to be quite honest, I'm not sure Jerzei himself would have given a lot of consideration to it either.

What should you look for in a locksmith?

When choosing a locksmith, you should go through the same process as you would with any other professional trade. Not only should they be experienced and competent, but also have a strong track record that shows they're up to the job at hand.

Here are just some of the qualities you should be looking for the next time you need a locksmith in South Yorkshire.

Winter home security advice

So here we are again. It's 2017 (Happy New Year to you all, by the way), a time for new beginnings, new hopes and dreams; and frankly,  another chance for me to crowbar the mention of current events into a blog about home security.  I'll do it as seamlessly as possible though - you'll hardly notice it, honestly. 

A glance across the pond - that's the Atlantic, by the way, not the pond in Thorne or something - is something of a nervous one right now. In a few days there will be a new President installed in the White House as the Americans say goodbye to their first black President and hello to their first orange President. It certainly seems as if we're living in uncertain and divided times. 

But hang on, you don't come here to read about the state of the world. You might be wondering when the subject will change from that of the US President to that of home security. Don't worry, it's coming, and you'll be amazed at the seamlessness with which it occurs.

You see, when Trump becomes President he will take an Oath of Affirmation as part of the inauguration, stating that "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  This got me thinking (get ready) about the oaths and pledges the rest of us could take, at a much less high profile level of course. And so...(this is it, right here) I put together a set of 10 pledges each of us could take as home owners to improve the security of our properties during  the winter months. 

It's cold outside... but that won't stop thieves

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid, as Band Aid told us in 1984. And then again in 1989. And then again in 2004. And then in 2014...well, basically they told us it a lot. And you have to admire their positive mental attitude. Especially given that home insurance claims for burglary rise by 25% every Christmas time. December can be rich pickings for burglars - sadly it's not just the bearded old man dressed in red trying to get into your house at this time of year.

In the lead up to Christmas, many homes will be fortunate enough to fill with high-value gifts and expensive gadgets. An exciting time for the intended recipients but sadly also for the potential burglar.  Opportunist thieves thrive at this time of year, not only with gifts aplenty, but also knowing many houses will be left unattended in the evening for Christmas parties, family visits, or winter getaways.  However, there a few ways you can reduce the risk of the anti-Santa Clauses ruining your Christmas, and to keep those presents safe.

Great security tips you should teach your children

I don't know about you, but I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside... ah, sorry about that, segued into a bit of Whitney Houston there. But anyway, kids, hey? They're like adults but smaller and haven't lived as long yet. Okay, I'm a locksmith, not an anthropologist, but I reckon that's pretty accurate. 

Anyway, many of you reading this will have children (may God have mercy on your souls), and will naturally want to protect them from what seems like an increasingly strange world. And whilst you may not be able to shield them from the after-effects of the US election, political upheaval closer to home, or escaped lions from the Wildlife Park (I'm sure that won't happen), you can certainly give them pointers of how to keep themselves and their belongings safe in terms of home security. It may seem a small thing, but teaching your children a few valuable lessons is far more likely to increase their chances of staying safe than any number of lion-avoiding classes. (seriously, I'm sure they have fences and everything to keep the lions inside.

What burglars look for

*taps on screen* Is this thing on? Ah, yes, sorry about that, I got a bit distracted watching Bradley Wiggins winning gold. And then Laura Trott winning two golds. And then Jason Kenny winning two golds. And then Mo Farah winning two go... well, you get the idea, I’ve been watching the Olympics. And now there’s something of a comedown as our TV schedules get back to their dreary normality of soaps, reality TV, and the latest depressing news from around the world. But anyway, let’s try and remain positive – after all, you’ve got a free blog to read now so what more could you possibly want? (Don’t answer that, it was purely rhetorical).