crime scene

October Is Crime Prevention Month

The National Crime Prevention Council designated each October as Crime Prevention Month. Since 1984, governments, schools, businesses, and community organizations have focused each October on teaching members of the public how to avoid falling victim to crime, highlighting their accomplishments, and seeking new ways to collaborate to keep communities safe.

This Year’s Crime Prevention Themes

Each year, NCPC chooses several themes in response to crime trends and feedback from across the country and provides educational resources to help local communities address crime and increase safety. This year’s themes include bullying, preventing crime, avoiding counterfeit products, and staying safe when using a rideshare service, as well as planning to celebrate McGruff’s upcoming 40th birthday.

How to Improve Security at Home

Many people focus on safety when they are in unfamiliar locations but have a false sense of security in places where they spend a lot of time and feel comfortable. That can make them easy targets for crime.

Lock the doors to your home, whether you are there or not. If you go to the backyard or upstairs and leave a door unlocked, someone can enter your house and steal a laptop, cellphone, or other valuables. If you walk in and surprise a burglar, you may be attacked.

Don’t hide a spare house key in an obvious place, such as under the doormat or in a planter. Those are the first places thieves look. Find a secure hiding place or give a neighbor you trust a spare key and knock on that person’s door if you lock yourself out.

Many people feel so safe in their communities that they leave their vehicles unlocked. Some even leave a spare key in the car. Thieves count on that false sense of security and walk through neighborhoods looking for vehicles that will be easy to steal. Don’t overestimate the safety of your neighborhood. Always lock your car.

If you are planning a vacation, only tell people who need to know about your upcoming trip and tell everyone else after you get back. Burglars search for victims on social media. People who write online about how much they are looking forward to going on vacation can return home to find valuables stolen. Have someone pick up your mail or have the post office hold it until you return. Use timers to make lights turn on and off without a clear pattern so it won’t be obvious that the house is vacant.

Trust a Qualified Locksmith

All American Locksmiths can install deadbolt locks, if your house doesn’t already have them, to keep you and your family safe. We can also change the locks if you lose a key so someone can’t enter your home without permission and help if you lock yourself out of your home or vehicle. We’re available 24/7. Contact All American Locksmiths for help with your routine or emergency security needs.

woman screaming in fright

2 Extreme Reasons You Need a Locksmith

Happy October!

We’re getting into the spirit of this SpoOky month of October and thinking about the extreme, horrifying and eerie reasons why you might be in need of a locksmith. Our services are here to protect you from panic and terror. If you run into a hair-raising situation, knowing your locksmith is only a call away can keep you from screaming in fright.

Here are 2 extreme reasons why you might need a locksmith in New Haven, Connecticut.

1.    Spine-Chilling Weather

New England is home to one of the most finicky seasons of the year. Our winter months can go from mildly cool temps to being bone-chilling, ice cold and unbearable outside. If you’ve realized that you locked yourself out of your home or lost your car keys and you’re standing outside in the frigid cold with hypothermia at risk, then calling a locksmith is critical.

2.      Creepy Vibes Around

If you’ve ever had to walk by yourself through a large empty lot, or even the woods alone, at night, then you know how creepy this can be. Maybe you’re the last one to leave work at night and suddenly the bustling garage is now just a big black, empty space where you find yourself searching for your keys and trying to get to your car before all those masked murders from your nightmare suddenly appear (okay this is extreme but some of us have been there). If you can’t seem to find your keys or remember where you put them, you can call a locksmith to come out and help get you unlocked and safely inside without having to navigate through the situation alone.

While the scenarios above are just a fun way to incorporate some Halloween festivities and you’re likely to never run into some of the extreme situations we mentioned, it is important that you find a local locksmith in the area that can trust to come whenever you have a lock emergency or fix.

All America Locksmiths has been serving the local Connecticut community and Westchester County, New York businesses and residents with fast reliable locksmith services for years.

Get in touch today!  

key in door lock

How to Tell If Your Lock is Broken

If you’re thinking about calling a Locksmith for some help, then chances are you’ve either misplaced your keys, had them stolen or something’s broken and you don’t know how you’re going to get in. Whatever the reason, we’re glad you found us!

All American Locksmiths offers fast, reliable services for emergency, auto, residential and commercial needs all across Connecticut and in Westchester County, New York. Whenever you’re in a jam or if you need someone you can count on to come get the job done, we’re here for you.

If you’re still in the early stages of trying to figure out whether you may need a locksmith at all, we’re here to offer you some help too.

Here are some signs that your door lock is broken and you’re going to need a locksmith to come out and help.

Door Won’t Lock

One of the first and not obvious signs that your door isn’t working as it should is that the lock won’t work. You turn the key and nothing happens. It’s stuck. No matter what you try, the door just swings right open anyway.

Key Spins in the Lock

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is the instance of your key just spinning round and round when inserted into the lock. Again, this issue means there’s an obvious problem to address or an entirely new lock needing to be installed.

The Knob Wiggles

Even if the door closes okay and the lock seems to work, there could be an issue that puts home security at risk. A wiggling doorknob is a telltale sign that the lock is malfunctioning. Whether it’s loose screws or bolts or something else is happening, it’s best to address the problem with a professional as soon as possible or risk an intruder easily forcing their way in through a damaged door.

Don’t let any of these reasons worry you into thinking that a solution to your door issues is complicated. Our team of professionals will be there to your Bridgeport location promptly to assist you with broken locks, rekeying and entry into your home or business.

Get in touch today!