All businesses worldwide, including locksmiths, took a bad hit from the recent COVID-19 crisis. No one probably imagined that a pandemic like this would hit us in 2020, when we thought we are safe and secure in an era where you can turn off your lights at home from the supermarket using your phone.

The days of walking into a hardware store and getting duplicate car keys made for pennies are long gone. In fact, many drivers today have never seen the older metal car key that looks like a house key. Today’s cars use everything from the simple black-headed transponder chip key to the much more complex keyless […]

If you own a home, you may have a yard. A yard is a beautiful extension of your interior living space. It can be a joy to use in pleasant weather. Many of us who are fortunate enough to have pretty outdoor space go to great expense to decorate it with landscaping and furnish it […]

When most people think about unlocking a door without a key, their first thought is burglary. After all, wouldn’t anyone who is supposed to enter a home or business have a key? Well, of course that is not always the case. We don’t believe we will ever get locked out of the house. The truth […]

You love your motorcycle. It gives you a sense of freedom when you are on the open road that is hard to duplicate. Motorcycles are often targeted for theft, though, so it’s important to take every possible precaution to secure your bike when you leave it outside in order to prevent motorcycle theft. The Most […]

In today’s electronically-oriented world, we keep many important records in digital form. We go to great lengths to protect our digital files.  We password-protect our computers and encrypt individual computer folders and files. Yet many people still rely on flimsy file cabinet locks to keep prying eyes away from sensitive papers. These locks prevent drawers […]

Society is changing. Many people are waiting longer to marry so the number of young people living alone is higher than ever. And, people are living longer, so many seniors can live alone for many years after a spouse passes away. Whether you are living alone by choice or necessity, take these steps to improve […]

Anyone who owns a bicycle these days knows that a quality bike is expensive. Prices range anywhere from $500 to a whopping $500,000 for a bicycle. Alright, so perhaps you won’t be buying a bicycle that is covered in real butterfly wings and was ridden by Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France! But, whatever […]

On February 14, 2018, a school shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, FL. This event took the lives of 17 people making it one of the worst school shootings in American history. As a result of this horrific event, guns are a hot topic, with heated arguments on both sides of […]

An Illusion of Security Nostalgic people in small towns often fondly remember the days when they never felt the need to lock their car or house doors – a time when one could leave your car keys in the ignition without fear of someone stealing the car. Today, in most places, it is unheard of […]

Sliding glass doors are a common feature in today’s homes. They allow lots of light into the home while providing easy access to backyards, decks, and balconies. Unfortunately, sliding glass doors offer very easy access into a home, so you must always strengthen sliding glass doors. Why Sliding Glass Doors Are Weak They Have Poor […]

Anyone Can Put “Do Not Duplicate” On a Key Did you ever get a key that was stamped with the words do not duplicate? Did you feel more secure? Maybe you shouldn’t have! Anyone can stamp any key with “do not duplicate” or similar words. These words alone don’t stop a locksmith or hardware store […]

Door locks are your first line of defense in keeping unwanted intruders out of your home. Most burglaries involve entry through front or back doors, and it is critical to always know who has keys to your home. That is why it is recommended that you change your door locks when you move into a […]

Americans have a long-standing love affair with the automobile. We are a big country, with millions of miles of roads, and we just love to get behind the wheel. Many forms of crime are decreasing in frequency. Unfortunately, car theft is not among them, especially in certain geographic areas, and, car theft statistics show it […]

Searching for the best door locks for your home has never been more complicated because there have never before been so many choices. You are not just choosing between different brands of deadbolts, you now have to choose among several different modes of operation. The range now runs from a basic deadbolt lock with a keyhole […]

Retail shops have unique security challenges. Many are right on downtown streets that may have very little pedestrian traffic at night. And, most have large glass display windows. Here are some quick tips to help ensure you are protected from retail store burglaries when no one is minding the store. Use Reinforced Glass If your store […]

Lost Car Keys Happen to Everyone Everyone occasionally searches for lost car keys. Usually, keys are not actually lost, they are just misplaced. However, when you’re running late and trying to get out of the house, misplaced keys can put a serious damper on your day. Or, suppose you wander in and out of 20 stores […]

You’ve lived in your home for many years. You haven’t changed the locks since you moved in. Over time, you lost the original keys that came with your lock. As a result, you’ve made many duplicate house keys along the way. Does this sound like you? Don’t be surprised! Most of us, over time, lose […]

New technologies improve our lives. However, these improvements almost always come at a cost. Cable television gave us many more channels, but our TV viewing was no longer free. And, our electronic car keys are no exception to this rule. They offer many conveniences we really enjoy. Isn’t it nice to have doors that unlock themselves […]

Burglaries are a fact of life. There is nothing we can do that will eliminate them completely. The best we can do is take a thoughtful, careful approach to protecting our homes in the best possible way. This includes properly securing doors and windows with good locks. And, it also means sometimes changing those locks. Here […]

Most people think home security systems just protect against burglary and property theft. And, in the past, that was the primary reason for having an alarm system. Today, though, thanks to big advances in technology, home security systems can do so much more! Here are some of the life-saving protections and benefits available to you […]

We constantly deal with locks and keys. Between house keys, car keys, and office keys, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. And, it never happens at a good time. If you have a house key broken in the lock, or your car key broke in the ignition, there’s nothing more frustrating […]

A black BMW rockets down I-95 in South Florida at more than 80 mph. Inside, the driver looks down at his smartphone, his thumb moving wildly over the screen. The highway is crowded, the driver is dangerously close to the car in front of him, and cars are changing lanes all around him. And this, sadly, […]

A real estate lock box is a little secured container that holds the keys to properties that are for sale. It is impossible for every local agent to have individual keys to every home for sale in the area. So, realtors commonly hang a lock box on a home’s doorknob to allow property showings by […]

It seems as though, as time goes on, it becomes more and more difficult to find quality service-people. There are so many people out there who will promise you the moon, but they just don’t deliver the goods. Here are some things you can do to find a local locksmith you can trust. Don’t Wait to Find […]

Shed Security is Often Overlooked If you own a single-family home, you may have (or want) a separate backyard storage shed. Many people prefer storing gardening equipment and other large tools in sheds instead of their garages. This clears the space along the walls of the garage, leaving more room to get in and out of […]

My Toyota is 9 years old. It is not a luxury car, but it takes me where I want to go and gives me no trouble. Unfortunately, I just discovered that it has been deceiving me all these years, as well. You see, all this time, my car has created a false sense of security by […]

The rooms in our homes may vary, with some high-end homes having media rooms, exercise rooms, and even wine cellars. One room all our homes have, though, is a bathroom. It is constantly in use, and we don’t think much about it. However, the ubiquitous bathroom is the scene for a great many home injuries. It […]

Most people these days have electric garage doors. And, because the door is essentially locked when it is closed, they don’t really think about garage door security. But, did you know that anyone can open that garage door in as little as 6 seconds? It’s true. And, it requires no fancy tools, skills, or technology. This […]

In recent years, many high-tech  changes have occurred in the locksmith industry. This is specifically true in terms of the types of locks that have become available. For example, who would have imagined not long ago that cell phones could unlock house doors? However, I am more fascinated by the creative mechanical designs people invented […]

It’s an old story. As fast as the good guys can invent new technologies to make it harder for the bad guys to operate, the bad guys invent ways around them. For example, EMV chips in credit cards were supposed to make it harder for thieves to commit identity theft by copying your credit card. […]

Do you think about installing a home security system, but the cost puts you off? Are you concerned you may not get value from this home improvement? You might consider that home security systems can actually pay for themselves, while protecting your family and valuables. Different Types of Security Systems Before we discuss how home security systems […]

You’d think it would be a no-brainer. Buy a big, heavy metal box with a sophisticated lock, insert valuables, and rest easy knowing your jewelry, cash, and important documents are secure, right? Not so fast. It’s just a little more complicated than that. For example, you might think that home safes are a replacement for bank safety-deposit boxes. […]

It’s a common problem for people who have vacation homes. This is especially true if these homes are in areas where weekend or seasonal visitors are common. Aside from stopping mail delivery, what steps can you take to beef up your vacation home security? Install the Best Window & Door Locks If it is important […]

Many home locks are made with pins and tumblers, and these locks are vulnerable to a technique called lock bumping. This method of breaching a lock is shockingly easy to do, yet most people are unaware of it. How a Pin Tumbler Lock Works via GIPHY A pin tumbler lock has a rotating cylinder, or […]

The holiday season is here, and for most people that means parties, gifts, family, and fun. For some, though, it means opportunity — to steal, that is. For those on the wrong side of the law, Christmas season = hunting season and you are the prey. While there were fewer robberies statewide in the first […]

This article is part of our series, “Burglary Prevention Starts at your Door.” With more than 50% of burglars entering homes through either the front or the back doors, it is no surprise that you should take every precaution to secure these entry points. In our previous post, we talked about how to choose burglar-resistant […]

Burglars Like to Use the Door Previously, we discussed that 56% of the time, burglars use front and back doors to enter homes. Either the door is left unlocked (don’t do that, especially when you are home), the door has a poor-quality lock that is easily breached, or the door is kicked in. Doorways have three separate weak […]

Burglaries are a fact of life. They are constantly occurring. In fact, an unauthorized home entry occurs every 13 seconds, with many of them happening in broad daylight. It can happen to anyone, renters and homeowners alike. So, if you don’t want to be a target, it’s important to know how burglars think, and how […]

We live in a dangerous world. If you have any doubts about that, just listen to the news on any given day. While we are living in a time and place in which women have all the opportunities and rights that men have (at least in theory), we still have to face the fact that […]

“The freedom that comes with these security devices make them a pleasure to include in our daily lives.” I have seen plenty of changes in the world in my lifetime. When you were born before color television was invented, that’s an easy statement to back up! While keyless locks are not as life-changing as cell […]

4 Tips For Child Safety inside Locked Cars Lock-N-More cares that people don’t inadvertently leave their kids locked in the back seat of their cars. It seems unthinkable. But the people to whom it has happened report that they are generally careful and it took just one moment of inattention. Occasionally, we all get overloaded […]