Author: vc_locksmiths

Things that go bump in the …Day

Night may seem the more scary time of day. Goblins and ghosts and long-legged beasts populate nighttime fears, but as far as forced entry into homes, daytime remains the more likely time for a break in. Most burglars prefer to enter a home when the residents aren’t home, and that is more likely to be during the day. During the weekday, it is possible that entire stretches of houses on a street may be empty when everyone goes to work and school.

Because of this, it is important that you make sure you’ve done what you can to protect against a break-in. A trained, professional locksmith can provide you with a home evaluation and offer suggestions for improving your home’s security. From simple tips about how to make the place look “lived in,” to more secure locks and security systems, they can offer solutions to make you safer. Don’t think of locksmiths as folks who “just make keys.” They provide a full line of services.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths for more information.

Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re on Vacation

There are a lot of basic items that should be on your checklist when you leave your home or residence empty.

• The general idea is to make the house appear lived in.
• Ask neighbors to check for packages and mail.
• Cut off newspapers. Anything that isn’t picked up and sits around means that the resident is away.
• Buy a few inexpensive timers so that lights, and perhaps the radio, go on and off throughout the day.
• Anything left out in the yard for an extended period is a sign that no one is home. For example, the toys used by a child or pet.
• Also, ask a neighbor or friend to check the outside and inside of the house periodically to see that nothing has gone wrong, such as a burst pipe. If there has been a power outage they can re-calibrate light timers so they aren’t going on at illogical times of the night or day.

These are some small actions you can take that can ensure a higher level of security at your home while you’re away.

A professional locksmith can also give you advice on high-security locks as well as home security systems.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Saving Your Business Money with a Commercial Locksmith

If you are a property manager, you might want to evaluate how you are using locksmith services to save you time and money. With multi-tenant properties, you may be using a locksmith on an as-needed basis for re-keying, lockouts, new padlocks and deadbolts. Using these services on an ad-hoc or emergency basis can be fairly expensive. 24/7 emergency services often run higher than a scheduled service call.

The best alternative is talking to your technician about a service or maintenance contract. This would mean you are first priority for an emergency call. More importantly, it could also mean a periodic review of the property and fixing things before they become emergencies. A long-term service contract might be a good solution to the expensive “wait til it’s broken” approach

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

The Internet of Things and Home Security

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Internet of Things. This is where “things” become able to send data back and forth to each other. A simple example would be a coffee pot that you could turn on with your phone while you are still miles from home. The Internet of Things will impact home security in a variety of ways.

There are already keyless door locks that can be opened and locked using a mobile phone. Beyond that, security cameras can now be viewed from your laptop or mobile device. You can also install light fixtures that can be controlled with your phone. Other monitors can check the temperature of your house. Not only is this useful if you want the house to be warmed up by the time your get home after a long day, it also adds to your security. This same tool can alert you if there is a drop in temperature, so that you’d know you have a failure in your heating system long before the pipes freeze.

If you’d like to learn more about these and other devices to make your home more secure, contact a professional locksmith for a full review of the latest security technology.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Re-Keying …why?

Re-keying is a simple service you may not think you need. There are a number of reasons this might be necessary. Given how easily a good professional locksmith can re-key your locks, you might want to consider this option if it is time to make this change.

Primarily, you re-key locks whenever there is a possibility that someone, who has a key, should no longer have access to your home or apartment. A prime example: you just bought a new house. You may trust the previous owners to never try to come back, but you have no idea who they may have passed keys to over the years. Friends, in-laws, exes, or even a neighbor or two.

Also, these same issues apply to you. Perhaps over the years you’ve given neighbors keys, and they have moved or become “not-so-neighborly.” A re-key is the answer.

Another situation when you’d need to re-key a lock is a lost key. You or a child may have lost a key near your home, or it may have been lost along with identifying information. If that is the case, you should re-key immediately.

Finally, you may just be carrying too many keys. Consider re-keying a few locks so that the same key works for the front and back door. It would make your life a bit easier, but no less secure.Contact a residential locksmith for more re-keying options.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard that social media sites like Facebook, Linkedin, etc. can be places where too much is shared, (think kitten videos) but have you thought about home security issues?

Do you or anyone else in the family announce that you are going on vacation? Do you use mapping that lets Facebook users know where you are? Do you snap pictures of your meal, so everyone knows that you are out on the town for a special dinner? All of that information is just an announcement that your place is empty. All those daily postings from Europe? They are just vacancy signs.

We don’t want to overstate the security concerns, but it is important to recognise that shared information can reach a lot of places you never intended.

If you’d like to learn more about what you can do to secure your home, contact a professional locksmith for a consultation. Locksmith’s do a lot more than make keys.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Business Security: are you using home locks?

As a commercial business, it is important that you approach security differently from a homeowner. Let’s look today at one simple thing you may be doing wrong. Can your door keys be copied? If there are standard keys that can be copied at a hardware store or home improvement center, it is time for a change. There are proprietary high security locks available that make it is almost impossible for someone to get a copy if they aren’t authorized to do so.

There are also excellent systems for controlling key access. These limit the use of a specific key to users who have an access code. Each user has to enter an authorized code to retrieve a key. This helps cut down on inappropriate access. If you’d like to learn more about the innovative solutions to increase your business security, contact a professional commercial locksmith.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Locksmith services – More than a spare key

We’re pretty sure everyone’s image of a locksmith is a dusty storefront with peg racks all over the walls and rows upon rows of key blanks. Think again. Locksmiths offer a wide range of products and services to residential and commercial clients.

Of course, we offer many types of locks, but think outside of the keyhole. Locks now come in a variety of hi-tech iterations. Now you can be unlocking your house with your phone or tracking when every individual employee uses any key anywhere in your business. Locksmiths also offer security services. Going far beyond selling a padlock, professional locksmiths offer entire security systems that can include intercoms, cameras, and other high tech burglar alarms and protection platforms. Finally, for commercial users, consider looking beyond the “emergency” model of a locksmith. We can provide managed service contracts that ensure all of your door, window, and other security apparatus are maintained in top condition, so your need for emergency services can be cut down. Service contracts also mean that when you do need emergency lockout service, you get first priority.

Contact a commercial or residential locksmith to learn more.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Lost Keys – Plan for it

You know this is inevitable. At some time you or your loved ones will forget your house key or lock the car key in the trunk. Instead of thinking “it can’t happen to me,” plan ahead. Take the time to check out your local locksmiths and find a reputable one. Write down the number and put it in your wallet or mobile device, so when the time comes, you won’t be rushed into hiring just anyone.

The reason this is becoming an especially wise plan is that the internet has added a new layer of scammers. When you are searching the web for locksmiths in your area, there is a good chance that some of the “locksmiths” listed have no license or are scams disguised as locksmiths actually looking to breach your security. Don’t let yourself be a target. Make a plan for when this happens to you or another household member ahead of time. 

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths