burglary

Lock Safety and Tips to Prevent Home Burglaries

Home burglaries can occur in any neighborhood. Many homeowners underestimate their risk or inadvertently make their houses easy targets. There are several simple habits you can establish that can make your home less likely to be burglarized.

Secure Doors and Windows

Locking your doors and windows may seem obvious, but many people get careless or develop a false sense of security. Thieves often enter a house through an unsecured door. If you are going to leave your house, even for a short time, lock the doors. It’s also a good idea to keep the doors locked when you are home so someone can’t barge in and catch you off guard. Always secure patio doors and keep your garage door closed unless someone is going in or out.

First-floor windows are other frequent entry points for burglars. Keep windows locked, especially if you are planning to go out. Windows that you open should have screens to keep someone from slipping inside. If your home has a window or door leading from the garage or porch to the rest of the house, always keep it locked.

Don’t Make Your Home a Target

Don’t advertise valuables inside your house to potential thieves. If someone walking or driving down the street could see your TV or stereo through a window, use blinds to block the view.

If you are planning to go away on vacation, don’t make it obvious. Have the post office hold your mail or have a neighbor pick it up daily. Use a timer to automatically turn lights on in the evening and off in the morning. Set it for a random pattern so it will seem that people are home. If you will be away for an extended period of time, have someone take care of your lawn and remove snow so it won’t be apparent that the house is unoccupied. Don’t talk about a trip on social media until you have returned.

Call a Locksmith

If you recently moved into a new home, have the locks changed or rekeyed by a professional locksmith. You never know who might still have a key for an existing lock. If you lose your keys along with your identification, have the locks changed or rekeyed immediately.

If your doors don’t currently have deadbolt or high-security locks, All American Locksmiths can install them to keep your home secure. We can inspect your current locks and recommend any other changes that could improve security. One of our locksmiths can also change or rekey the locks if you have any concerns about safety.

Contact All American Locksmiths today to discuss your options.

vacation

Lock Your Home Securely for Summer Vacation

The summer season is arguably one of the favorite times of the year for most. It’s not only when most of the nation experiences hot, sunshine and dry days, but it’s also vacation season. Schools out for those with kids, most who like to travel can do so with beach days lined up and of course, it means no work or boring responsibilities for a few days.

While we certainly are all for fun and advocate vacations as a great way to decompress, there are some things you must keep in mind before you take off when it comes to keeping your home secure while you’re gone.

Don’t forget that while the average person is only thinking about sun and fun come summer, criminals also know this is prime time when many people will be away from extended periods of time.

Here are some tips to lock up your home properly before going on vacation.

Double and Triple Check Every Access Point is Locked

Before leaving on your trip do a perimeter check around the entire home to ensure you haven’t missed locking any door window or another access point where someone could walk into your home. It also helps to use security monitoring systems. Many on the market today will even alert you via text when there’s movement on your property.

Never Advertise Your Extended Leave Publicly

While it’s okay to gloat about your trip, it’s never okay to tell people, especially on very public social networks your entire itinerary including how long and when you’ll be gone. You never know who can gain access to that data and use it as an opportunity to break into your home.

Too Late? Call a Locksmith!

The last thing you want to do is return home and realize your home’s been breached. The door lock is broken, or that your hidden spare key has gone missing. But if you do, we’re here to help! All American Locksmiths provides fast, dependable service for all of your business and residential lock needs.

Contact us today!

new locks

Who Actually Uses Locksmiths?

We use locks for a variety of reasons. We use them to keep our homes and vehicles secured from theft. We use them to make ourselves feel more secure. Businesses, schools and other community buildings use them to prevent not only theft but unauthorized entry and mischief. And while they generally work well for all these purposes, there are times when they work TOO well and they wind up keeping us out of our home, vehicle or office. Time to call a locksmith.

Lockouts, however, aren’t the only reason to call a locksmith. There are other circumstances when we would want the services of a professional locksmith. These include:

·  To install locks.

If you have a shed, garage, barn, outbuilding or other building that is currently unsecured, consider having locks installed on it. It may lower your insurance rates, and it will prevent theft or damage from unwanted intruders (of the two-legged and four-legged variety).

· To replace locks.

If you believe that too many unauthorized people have access to your existing locks – such as your home’s former owners, ex-employees or even Airbnb guests – you may wish to have the locks changed. It’s a great way to ensure you can control who has access to your property.

·  To repair locks.

Even if you’re confident in your existing locks, they may not be working well anymore. If the lock is still and you find it’s hard to turn the key, it may be time for repair. After all, you want to avoid a scenario in which the key breaks in the lock. Bringing in a professional locksmith service will allow you to determine whether the lock can be repaired, or it needs to be replaced.

·  To determine your needs.

If you’re not sure what type of lock you need, a locksmith service can advise you on the best choices for your circumstances and your property. Not all locks require physical keys anymore, and you may find that your needs have evolved to a more high-tech solution, such as a keypad that keeps a log of who has entered and exited the property. A professional locksmith can provide you with the understanding you need for each type of lock, ensuring that you choose the right type for your home or business.

Call a Professional Locksmith Service

In Connecticut and Westchester County, New York, All American Locksmiths provides residential, commercial and automotive services for customers of all types, as well as emergency lockout services. We are a family-owned and operated locksmith business; we care about every job and offer professional, reliable, fast, and affordable service to the community. For more information, visit our web site or call us at 203-752-1464.