When you were a kid, you were afraid of the ghosties and imps that snuck around at night, often hiding under the bed. But once morning came, they all disappeared and so did your fears. When it comes to home security, we often stick with this nighttime gremlin model of home security. We remember to lock all the doors at night, set the alarm, and worry that this is when the burglars are going to sneak in. In reality, most home thefts occur when the owners are away. (A.K.A. daytime). Most thieves don’t want to run into a homeowner, so when everyone is at work or school is primetime for break-ins, Consequently, you really should be focusing on security tools that address daytime security. No one ever forgets to lock the door at bedtime, but when they run out of the house rushing to work, the garage door gets left open, or the front door unlocked. Locksmiths can introduce you to new technology that allows you to check your locks from your smartphone, monitor via cam the outside or inside of your house and even turn lights and audio equipment on and off throughout the day to make the house appear to be inhabited. With new technology, there are innumerable tools to make sure your house is protected when it is most vulnerable: during the quiet emptiness of the daytime. The reality about those monsters under the bed? They’re actually waiting there until you leave for work.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Every business owner carries insurance to cover losses due to theft and vandalism. What an odd approach. Why not try to prevent the crimes before they happen? Locksmiths don’t just make keys. Many certified locksmiths also offer ongoing maintenance plans whereby they routinely check your entire security arrangement for wear and tear, and fix things before they break. You don’t wait for a tire to blow out on the road at 60mph. You replace it the minute wear appears. The same should be true of your property. Door closers, alarm systems, locks on windows and doors all eventually break. A maintenance arrangement can replace or update before something breaks. It also can be a more affordable approach. Calls for emergency repairs are usually charged at premium rates, especially if they occur at off hours. Consider revising your after-the-fact approach to property security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

An awful lot of theft and crime isn’t planned out. It comes from opportunity. If you have a commercial property or your own business, you are too busy running things to constantly be checking that doors are locking properly, windows are locked shut, and automatic door closers are working properly. That is why relying on a break/fix model for property security isn’t a good idea. If a door part fails or malfunctions, your property is unsecured until you notice it or a tenant reports it. That approach creates opportunity for theft or other crimes. Instead, consider taking out an ongoing maintenance contract that provides ongoing repairs and spot checks to catch possible malfunctions and breakage from wear before a problem occurs. You can’t be constantly checking for problems. Instead, look at an ongoing way to prevent issues before they occur.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

If you are familiar with the Internet of Things you may already be aware of the new level of convenience it offers to home and business security.

Security used to mean hardwired contacts that set off an alarm if a circuit was broken and a lot of heavy deadbolts that needed extra keys. Now, with the arrival of the Internet of Things security and comfort can be handled from afar via your smartphone or laptop. The Internet of Things refers to the ability of “things” to talk across the Internet to other “things.” Specifically, while at the beach you can check to see if you locked the front door. You can let the neighbor kid in once a day at noon to feed the cat while you’re at work, then re-lock the door when she leaves. You can get an alarm to detect water in your basement and you can bring up a cam to take a look at your entire property. Furnace fails while you’re on a winter getaway? You can find out and arrange a repair before all the pipes freeze.

Locksmiths are in business to offer security for you, your home and your property. Ask for an evaluation to learn about new opportunities to keep everything in your life more secure. Want to learn more about one of these great Mul-T-Lock devices? Visit Entrlock.com and learn more.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Locking your key in the car makes you feel so totally helpless. You can see it, but you can’t get to it.

Here are 4 tricks to use to avoid this happening to you.

1. When you turn off the ignition, make a habit to immediately remove the key and keep it in your hand. If you have packages to take out with you, stop and put it in your pocket, or only grab them with the key still in your hand. Getting gas, same rule. The key goes with you when you get out to fill up.
2. Take the spare – On long trips, take the spare with you and keep it on your person. If you accidentally leave the key in your car, the spare is on you. Put it in a pocket, on a belt loop, or a lanyard. Don’t leave it in a purse or wallet. These might not leave the car when you stop at a rest area to stretch your legs.
3. Only use the fob to lock the car – End the habit of locking the door manually when you step out. If you use the fob, by definition you can’t lock yourself out.
4. Always store the spare in the same place at home – For around town driving, you aren’t likely to carry the spare. Just be sure it is stored somewhere it can be found. If you have to call a family member or friend to bring a spare to you, you need to be able to tell them where it is stored.

For these and other tips, contact your local locksmith at . Visit http://valleycyclelocksmiths.com/ for more information.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Today’s blog is a simple one. It is a basic reminder about your home and vacation security. It is a good idea to take a few steps so that it is less noticeable to the casual observer that your house is empty for an extended period.

Here are 5 small changes you can make that will have a big impact

1. Trash – Ask a neighbor to put out some trash in front of your place on garbage collection day. No trash means you aren’t home to create garbage to be thrown away.
2. Packages – Packages are a twofold threat. Left on the doorstep for days, they are a red flag announcing no one is home. Second, they are a tempting crime of opportunity. Anyone can see them and steal them front your front porch. Place orders so that items won’t arrive until you return or else ask a neighbor to watch out for deliveries.
3. Lights on – A few timers set to turn on lights in a pattern that reflects normal nighttime habitation takes a few minutes, but is worth it.
4. Leave a radio on – A silent house is an empty house.
5. Mail and papers – Fewer people get newspapers delivered today, but mail still arrives. Schedule a suspension of mail and papers, or ask someone to collect these daily for you.

These are 5 quick tips that take very little time but eliminate the biggest signs to everyone that you’ve left town for a while.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

This blog today is about both plain old convenience and moving into the new century. Remembering to carry your keys in all cases is just a pain. Clear and simple. Sure, when you leave for work you remember to take your keys, but when you step out of the house on a whim you often forget. Got to take the dog for a quick break, go for a jog, or mow the lawn? Who remembers to take a key or wants to carry it along. Get yourself some real convenience and get rid of the house key FOR. EVER. Keyless entry pad technology means you never need to carry along a set of keys, and will never lock yourself out of the house again.

Contact Valley Cycle Locksmiths for more information on how to enable this in your home. Visit http://valleycyclelocksmiths.com/ to learn more.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

When you buy a car, you don’t just run it and hope for the best. You change the oil, do periodic inspections, check the tires for wear and air pressure. It is an ongoing effort, but it is necessary for your own safety and to protect the large investment you made in the vehicle. You don’t want something to go wrong at 70mph.

Security for your business should be handled in the same way. You don’t just install alarms on the windows, fire detectors and some automatic door closers and then forget about it. These systems need to be checked and maintained to be sure they are in working order for whenever they are needed. If this isn’t done, you may only discover that something has malfunctioned after a theft or disaster has occurred. Security is an ongoing commitment and the best way to approach this is to have a term maintenance contract that provides routine inspections and checks on all aspects of your security. This will help prevent breakdowns and protect the investment you made in your firm’s security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Looking at physical security for your business or rental/commercial property as something that you fix when it breaks isn’t good for security. 24 hours and 7 days a week, people are accessing your buildings. Because of all that wear and tear, eventually a door will jam open, a door closer will fail, a window will get stuck midway. Most likely, a resident or tenant will fail to report it. As a result, until it is reported or you notice the problem, your own business security and/or your tenant’s security is compromised. This is bad for you because you are potentially responsible for any failure to keep your sites secure. However, there is a solution.

Consider using an ongoing security maintenance contract with a certified locksmith. This maintenance contract can include routine inspections of all access and egress points to ensure that everything is in working order, and that moving parts are checked for wear and replaced before a problem arises. Security is something that needs to be handled on a proactive basis. After-the-fact repairs are a bad business model for you and your property.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Say “locksmith” and everyone thinks “keys.” Yes, locksmiths make keys, but that isn’t really what locksmithing is all about. Keys are just metal things that have a broader purpose: making something or someone secure. Locksmiths are all about making you and your property secure. Using a key is just one method to accomplish that. As a result, the locksmith profession is about making you secure, not making you a key. In the 21st century, security involves technology, the Internet, and a variety of very sophisticated tools to protect you and your property. All of these are part of the locksmith’s toolkit. Locksmiths can provide complete security audits for your home or business and provide a wide range of solutions that involve a broad range of technologies. And security isn’t just about preventing a break-in. Security can involve fire alerts, water alerts, cold temp alerts: all things that can damage your property but have nothing to do with the actions of people with criminal intentions. So look to a locksmith as a security consultant for all of your ongoing security needs.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Most homeowners are aware they should try to make their house look as if someone is living there when they go on vacation. They should be using timers, cutting off deliveries, having the lawn mowed, etc. These efforts are important for deterring opportunistic break ins. However, there are other things to consider when you are away.

Unnecessary electrical usage – There is no need to continue to power some of your electronics while you are away. Your set top boxes, microwaves, and televisions are all things that drain small amounts of power even when not being actively used. If you are going to be away for an extended period, consider unplugging some of these items. This saves money, cuts the risk of fire, and makes the world just a tiny bit “greener.”

Temperature control – Adjust the thermostat. There’s no need to heat or cool the house to ideal human specs while you are away. In winter, lower the temp to save energy, but be sure to keep it high enough to avoid frozen pipes in case of a real arctic surge. In summer, raise the AC to cut utility costs but enough to keep humidity levels in the house at tolerable levels to avoid mold growth.

Water – This is the biggest potential source of damage. A broken water connection to a washing machine or frozen pipe could create a flood of unthinkable proportions. Imagine days of unchecked water pouring from a broken pipe. Consider turning your water off at the main (usually found in your basement). By the way, if you do this, also turn off the electric ice maker in your fridge. Icemakers often are not designed to stop trying to function if the water source is cut off.

These are 3 basic DIY tips regarding utilities when you go away. For more sophisticated and secure tools for addressing these concerns, talk to a locksmith about cam technologies that allow you to visually check your property from anywhere. There are also tools that can alert you to temperature extremes in the building or water leak detection and auto shutoff systems.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Today’s blog talks about that mess of keys you have on your belt, in your purse, or hanging on the nest of hooks inside the basement door. It’s a pain to carry around or rifle through when you need a particular key. There is another problem with all those keys. Keys are easily stolen or lost; if they get lost with your ID, your house becomes a bunch of open doors.

Maybe it is time to realize that keeping a mess of keys is akin to still using a rotary phone. Technology has moved on; security is now more convenient and it also allows for greater security. Make an appointment to talk with a locksmith: there are so many new ways to handle security and access that don’t require a physical key. For example, new door locks can be accessed via entry pads that require a personal code. Most allow many individual codes that can be deleted or changed as needed. No more giving a key to a neighbor when you go away. Just add a new code for them to use while you are gone, and delete it when you return. Beyond the keyless entry pads, new smartphone apps can unlock your door when you approach the house. You don’t even need to remember a code if you don’t want to.

Check with a locksmith to learn how you can take your household security out of the 17th century. Like to see a specific example? Check out ENTR, a keyless lock from Mul-T-lock that can be accessed by smartphone, keypad, and biometrics (fingerprint).

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Garage door craziness: Part II

Sometimes lockouts happen that could have very easily been avoided. One thing we’ve seen is that homeowners who don’t like carrying a lot of keys rely solely on their automatic garage door openers as the only method of getting into the house. An easy idea. Why bother with the other keys? This idea falls flat if you come home to a power outage. You either have to wait it out or get a locksmith.

Also, we don’t recommend you ever leave a spare car key inside the car itself. If the car is stolen and there is any piece of mail or other items, such as an owner registration card with your address on it, the thief not only has your car, he has access to your house. The same risk to home security occurs anytime you ever use valet parking.So, take the extra step and carry a house key. It will save you a hassle when the summer storms come along and knock out the power.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Keys and neighbors

Forgetting your key can be SUCH a frustrating feeling. You feel so hopeless as you stand there realising what you’ve done. Before it happens again, consider giving keys to neighbors that you trust. This idea has a lot of merits to it.

The key is safe in someone’s home, unlike keys hidden in fake rocks or under doormats that are pretty easy to find. ( Please, don’t do this. Fake rocks look…fake. And what intruder isn’t going to check under the mat or over the door frame?)

Friends or neighbors with keys can also be helpful beyond lockout crises. Have someone you trust check the house periodically if you are going to be away for an extended period. This way, a broken pipe, failed furnace in winter, or other mishap won’t go unnoticed and leave you with a huge mess when you get home. Similarly, ask them to check for packages and mail. Anything left outside is nothing but a big “VACANT” sign on your home.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Different doors, different locks

If you are looking to keep your home as secure as you can, make sure that every lock is appropriate to the door style you have. Every external door should have a solid, heavy duty deadbolt that is resistant to drilling or hammering.

In particular, if you have an external door with windows, you have a specific security issue because the glass can be easily broken, allowing an intruder to reach through and unlock the door. In this case, you should have a deadbolt that has some kind of removable thumbturn or key.

When the turn or key is removed, the deadbolt cannot be opened. (Note: be sure that the key is kept nearby in case of the need for an emergency exit, but not within reach of a thief’s hand. Too often homeowners place them on a nail or hook right near the deadbolt.

As a final note, contrary to what one might think, front doors are frequently the door used for break-ins. Don’t assume that door is protected just because it is more visible.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Garage Door Craziness: Don’t do this!

Today, we’re talking about automatic garage door openers. All too often, homeowners assume that because their garage door relies on a remote to open the door, this particular entrance to the house is secure. As a result, they assume they either don’t have to place a lock on the door from the garage into the house, or they never need to lock the door. Why bother, since no one can open the garage door?

Think twice. There are cases of other signals causing doors to open. While this is uncommon, why take the chance? A bigger risk is a hurried homeowner forgets to hit the remote to close the door as they rush away. Or perhaps they forget that all automatic garage doors are required by regulation to have lasers that stop them from closing if anything blocks the way. We’ve seen blowing snow or leaves trigger the door to re-open as the car is driving away.

The takeaway? Get a solid deadbolt put on the door into your house and use it. It doesn’t take much to add this simple layer of security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Keys – time to move on?

Keys can be a pain. You lose them, you give them to a partner who is now an ex, or you forget to take one with you when you walk the dog. The concerns never end.

Consider replacing at least one external door lock with a keypad system. There are many different types on the market, and some now even let your phone do the locking. These have a number of advantages. The most obvious is that you almost entirely eliminate the chance of locking yourself out of the house. Clearly, this is the biggest benefit to a keyless system. However, you also add new layers of security because you can provide a different code to each person who will ever need to access your house. If, for some reason, you no longer want someone to be able to get in, you can just change the code and avoid the awkward request to “get your key back.”

Make life a little easier with a keyless system. They are an affordable investment and will make your life a lot easier.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Locksmiths and Fraud: Some cautionary thoughts

If you are in need of a locksmith, whether it’s a 24-hour on-call emergency because you’re locked out, or you are looking to re-key or add security to your home or business, be judicious in your selection.

Some things to check:

Ask for an estimate over the phone. If this is an emergency call, call someone else if it seems too low or too high.

Ask about licensing and professional registrations or membership in a professional association. If they seem to have no positive answers to these questions, look for another service.

Don’t give a credit card number over the phone as a pre-payment.

When the truck arrives, does it have the company name, location and/or telephone number marked? Be wary of unmarked service vans.

In short, don’t assume that all locksmiths are professionally trained or even legitimate. There are scammers in every field, and this business isn’t immune to them. Use common sense when appraising a service near you.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths to learn more about our licenses and experience.

Automotive lockout – What can be done?

Locked out of your car? In case you’ve never considered it, there are solutions beyond towing the car to a dealership. Mobile locksmiths can be the answer.

These technicians have a truck that brings along everything they need to address almost all situations. But just because they are mobile, this doesn’t mean you can be sure of their professional reputation. Mobile locksmiths, even if they don’t have a physical office, should still carry licensing in states or provinces where it is required.

The truck should carry an identifiable and specific name, including the region/city they service, and contact information.

Contact us at Valley Cycle 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

Locking your key in the car makes you feel so totally helpless. You can see it, but you can’t get to it.

Here are 4 tricks to use to avoid this happening to you.

1. When you turn off the ignition, make a habit to immediately remove the key and keep it in your hand. If you have packages to take out with you, stop and put it in your pocket, or only grab them with the key still in your hand. Getting gas, same rule. The key goes with you when you get out to fill up.
2. Take the spare – On long trips, take the spare with you and keep it on your person. If you accidentally leave the key in your car, the spare is on you. Put it in a pocket, on a belt loop, or a lanyard. Don’t leave it in a purse or wallet. These might not leave the car when you stop at a rest area to stretch your legs.
3. Only use the fob to lock the car – End the habit of locking the door manually when you step out. If you use the fob, by definition you can’t lock yourself out.
4. Always store the spare in the same place at home – For around town driving, you aren’t likely to carry the spare. Just be sure it is stored somewhere it can be found. If you have to call a family member or friend to bring a spare to you, you need to be able to tell them where it is stored.

For these and other tips, contact your local locksmith at . Visit http://valleycyclelocksmiths.com/ for more information.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Today’s blog is a simple one. It is a basic reminder about your home and vacation security. It is a good idea to take a few steps so that it is less noticeable to the casual observer that your house is empty for an extended period.

Here are 5 small changes you can make that will have a big impact

1. Trash – Ask a neighbor to put out some trash in front of your place on garbage collection day. No trash means you aren’t home to create garbage to be thrown away.
2. Packages – Packages are a twofold threat. Left on the doorstep for days, they are a red flag announcing no one is home. Second, they are a tempting crime of opportunity. Anyone can see them and steal them front your front porch. Place orders so that items won’t arrive until you return or else ask a neighbor to watch out for deliveries.
3. Lights on – A few timers set to turn on lights in a pattern that reflects normal nighttime habitation takes a few minutes, but is worth it.
4. Leave a radio on – A silent house is an empty house.
5. Mail and papers – Fewer people get newspapers delivered today, but mail still arrives. Schedule a suspension of mail and papers, or ask someone to collect these daily for you.

These are 5 quick tips that take very little time but eliminate the biggest signs to everyone that you’ve left town for a while.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

When you buy a car, you don’t just run it and hope for the best. You change the oil, do periodic inspections, check the tires for wear and air pressure. It is an ongoing effort, but it is necessary for your own safety and to protect the large investment you made in the vehicle. You don’t want something to go wrong at 70mph.

Security for your business should be handled in the same way. You don’t just install alarms on the windows, fire detectors and some automatic door closers and then forget about it. These systems need to be checked and maintained to be sure they are in working order for whenever they are needed. If this isn’t done, you may only discover that something has malfunctioned after a theft or disaster has occurred. Security is an ongoing commitment and the best way to approach this is to have a term maintenance contract that provides routine inspections and checks on all aspects of your security. This will help prevent breakdowns and protect the investment you made in your firm’s security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Say “locksmith” and everyone thinks “keys.” Yes, locksmiths make keys, but that isn’t really what locksmithing is all about. Keys are just metal things that have a broader purpose: making something or someone secure. Locksmiths are all about making you and your property secure. Using a key is just one method to accomplish that. As a result, the locksmith profession is about making you secure, not making you a key. In the 21st century, security involves technology, the Internet, and a variety of very sophisticated tools to protect you and your property. All of these are part of the locksmith’s toolkit. Locksmiths can provide complete security audits for your home or business and provide a wide range of solutions that involve a broad range of technologies. And security isn’t just about preventing a break-in. Security can involve fire alerts, water alerts, cold temp alerts: all things that can damage your property but have nothing to do with the actions of people with criminal intentions. So look to a locksmith as a security consultant for all of your ongoing security needs.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Every business owner carries insurance to cover losses due to theft and vandalism. What an odd approach. Why not try to prevent the crimes before they happen? Locksmiths don’t just make keys. Many certified locksmiths also offer ongoing maintenance plans whereby they routinely check your entire security arrangement for wear and tear, and fix things before they break. You don’t wait for a tire to blow out on the road at 60mph. You replace it the minute wear appears. The same should be true of your property. Door closers, alarm systems, locks on windows and doors all eventually break. A maintenance arrangement can replace or update before something breaks. It also can be a more affordable approach. Calls for emergency repairs are usually charged at premium rates, especially if they occur at off hours. Consider revising your after-the-fact approach to property security.

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When you were a kid, you were afraid of the ghosties and imps that snuck around at night, often hiding under the bed. But once morning came, they all disappeared and so did your fears. When it comes to home security, we often stick with this nighttime gremlin model of home security. We remember to lock all the doors at night, set the alarm, and worry that this is when the burglars are going to sneak in. In reality, most home thefts occur when the owners are away. (A.K.A. daytime). Most thieves don’t want to run into a homeowner, so when everyone is at work or school is primetime for break-ins, Consequently, you really should be focusing on security tools that address daytime security. No one ever forgets to lock the door at bedtime, but when they run out of the house rushing to work, the garage door gets left open, or the front door unlocked. Locksmiths can introduce you to new technology that allows you to check your locks from your smartphone, monitor via cam the outside or inside of your house and even turn lights and audio equipment on and off throughout the day to make the house appear to be inhabited. With new technology, there are innumerable tools to make sure your house is protected when it is most vulnerable: during the quiet emptiness of the daytime. The reality about those monsters under the bed? They’re actually waiting there until you leave for work.

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This blog today is about both plain old convenience and moving into the new century. Remembering to carry your keys in all cases is just a pain. Clear and simple. Sure, when you leave for work you remember to take your keys, but when you step out of the house on a whim you often forget. Got to take the dog for a quick break, go for a jog, or mow the lawn? Who remembers to take a key or wants to carry it along. Get yourself some real convenience and get rid of the house key FOR. EVER. Keyless entry pad technology means you never need to carry along a set of keys, and will never lock yourself out of the house again.

Contact Valley Cycle Locksmiths for more information on how to enable this in your home. Visit http://valleycyclelocksmiths.com/ to learn more.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

An awful lot of theft and crime isn’t planned out. It comes from opportunity. If you have a commercial property or your own business, you are too busy running things to constantly be checking that doors are locking properly, windows are locked shut, and automatic door closers are working properly. That is why relying on a break/fix model for property security isn’t a good idea. If a door part fails or malfunctions, your property is unsecured until you notice it or a tenant reports it. That approach creates opportunity for theft or other crimes. Instead, consider taking out an ongoing maintenance contract that provides ongoing repairs and spot checks to catch possible malfunctions and breakage from wear before a problem occurs. You can’t be constantly checking for problems. Instead, look at an ongoing way to prevent issues before they occur.

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Most homeowners are aware they should try to make their house look as if someone is living there when they go on vacation. They should be using timers, cutting off deliveries, having the lawn mowed, etc. These efforts are important for deterring opportunistic break ins. However, there are other things to consider when you are away.

Unnecessary electrical usage – There is no need to continue to power some of your electronics while you are away. Your set top boxes, microwaves, and televisions are all things that drain small amounts of power even when not being actively used. If you are going to be away for an extended period, consider unplugging some of these items. This saves money, cuts the risk of fire, and makes the world just a tiny bit “greener.”

Temperature control – Adjust the thermostat. There’s no need to heat or cool the house to ideal human specs while you are away. In winter, lower the temp to save energy, but be sure to keep it high enough to avoid frozen pipes in case of a real arctic surge. In summer, raise the AC to cut utility costs but enough to keep humidity levels in the house at tolerable levels to avoid mold growth.

Water – This is the biggest potential source of damage. A broken water connection to a washing machine or frozen pipe could create a flood of unthinkable proportions. Imagine days of unchecked water pouring from a broken pipe. Consider turning your water off at the main (usually found in your basement). By the way, if you do this, also turn off the electric ice maker in your fridge. Icemakers often are not designed to stop trying to function if the water source is cut off.

These are 3 basic DIY tips regarding utilities when you go away. For more sophisticated and secure tools for addressing these concerns, talk to a locksmith about cam technologies that allow you to visually check your property from anywhere. There are also tools that can alert you to temperature extremes in the building or water leak detection and auto shutoff systems.

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If you are familiar with the Internet of Things you may already be aware of the new level of convenience it offers to home and business security.

Security used to mean hardwired contacts that set off an alarm if a circuit was broken and a lot of heavy deadbolts that needed extra keys. Now, with the arrival of the Internet of Things security and comfort can be handled from afar via your smartphone or laptop. The Internet of Things refers to the ability of “things” to talk across the Internet to other “things.” Specifically, while at the beach you can check to see if you locked the front door. You can let the neighbor kid in once a day at noon to feed the cat while you’re at work, then re-lock the door when she leaves. You can get an alarm to detect water in your basement and you can bring up a cam to take a look at your entire property. Furnace fails while you’re on a winter getaway? You can find out and arrange a repair before all the pipes freeze.

Locksmiths are in business to offer security for you, your home and your property. Ask for an evaluation to learn about new opportunities to keep everything in your life more secure. Want to learn more about one of these great Mul-T-Lock devices? Visit Entrlock.com and learn more.

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Looking at physical security for your business or rental/commercial property as something that you fix when it breaks isn’t good for security. 24 hours and 7 days a week, people are accessing your buildings. Because of all that wear and tear, eventually a door will jam open, a door closer will fail, a window will get stuck midway. Most likely, a resident or tenant will fail to report it. As a result, until it is reported or you notice the problem, your own business security and/or your tenant’s security is compromised. This is bad for you because you are potentially responsible for any failure to keep your sites secure. However, there is a solution.

Consider using an ongoing security maintenance contract with a certified locksmith. This maintenance contract can include routine inspections of all access and egress points to ensure that everything is in working order, and that moving parts are checked for wear and replaced before a problem arises. Security is something that needs to be handled on a proactive basis. After-the-fact repairs are a bad business model for you and your property.

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Today’s blog talks about that mess of keys you have on your belt, in your purse, or hanging on the nest of hooks inside the basement door. It’s a pain to carry around or rifle through when you need a particular key. There is another problem with all those keys. Keys are easily stolen or lost; if they get lost with your ID, your house becomes a bunch of open doors.

Maybe it is time to realize that keeping a mess of keys is akin to still using a rotary phone. Technology has moved on; security is now more convenient and it also allows for greater security. Make an appointment to talk with a locksmith: there are so many new ways to handle security and access that don’t require a physical key. For example, new door locks can be accessed via entry pads that require a personal code. Most allow many individual codes that can be deleted or changed as needed. No more giving a key to a neighbor when you go away. Just add a new code for them to use while you are gone, and delete it when you return. Beyond the keyless entry pads, new smartphone apps can unlock your door when you approach the house. You don’t even need to remember a code if you don’t want to.

Check with a locksmith to learn how you can take your household security out of the 17th century. Like to see a specific example? Check out ENTR, a keyless lock from Mul-T-lock that can be accessed by smartphone, keypad, and biometrics (fingerprint).

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Garage door craziness: Part II

Sometimes lockouts happen that could have very easily been avoided. One thing we’ve seen is that homeowners who don’t like carrying a lot of keys rely solely on their automatic garage door openers as the only method of getting into the house. An easy idea. Why bother with the other keys? This idea falls flat if you come home to a power outage. You either have to wait it out or get a locksmith.

Also, we don’t recommend you ever leave a spare car key inside the car itself. If the car is stolen and there is any piece of mail or other items, such as an owner registration card with your address on it, the thief not only has your car, he has access to your house. The same risk to home security occurs anytime you ever use valet parking.So, take the extra step and carry a house key. It will save you a hassle when the summer storms come along and knock out the power.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

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Keys and neighbors

Forgetting your key can be SUCH a frustrating feeling. You feel so hopeless as you stand there realising what you’ve done. Before it happens again, consider giving keys to neighbors that you trust. This idea has a lot of merits to it.

The key is safe in someone’s home, unlike keys hidden in fake rocks or under doormats that are pretty easy to find. ( Please, don’t do this. Fake rocks look…fake. And what intruder isn’t going to check under the mat or over the door frame?)

Friends or neighbors with keys can also be helpful beyond lockout crises. Have someone you trust check the house periodically if you are going to be away for an extended period. This way, a broken pipe, failed furnace in winter, or other mishap won’t go unnoticed and leave you with a huge mess when you get home. Similarly, ask them to check for packages and mail. Anything left outside is nothing but a big “VACANT” sign on your home.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

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Different doors, different locks

If you are looking to keep your home as secure as you can, make sure that every lock is appropriate to the door style you have. Every external door should have a solid, heavy duty deadbolt that is resistant to drilling or hammering.

In particular, if you have an external door with windows, you have a specific security issue because the glass can be easily broken, allowing an intruder to reach through and unlock the door. In this case, you should have a deadbolt that has some kind of removable thumbturn or key.

When the turn or key is removed, the deadbolt cannot be opened. (Note: be sure that the key is kept nearby in case of the need for an emergency exit, but not within reach of a thief’s hand. Too often homeowners place them on a nail or hook right near the deadbolt.

As a final note, contrary to what one might think, front doors are frequently the door used for break-ins. Don’t assume that door is protected just because it is more visible.

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Garage Door Craziness: Don’t do this!

Today, we’re talking about automatic garage door openers. All too often, homeowners assume that because their garage door relies on a remote to open the door, this particular entrance to the house is secure. As a result, they assume they either don’t have to place a lock on the door from the garage into the house, or they never need to lock the door. Why bother, since no one can open the garage door?

Think twice. There are cases of other signals causing doors to open. While this is uncommon, why take the chance? A bigger risk is a hurried homeowner forgets to hit the remote to close the door as they rush away. Or perhaps they forget that all automatic garage doors are required by regulation to have lasers that stop them from closing if anything blocks the way. We’ve seen blowing snow or leaves trigger the door to re-open as the car is driving away.

The takeaway? Get a solid deadbolt put on the door into your house and use it. It doesn’t take much to add this simple layer of security.

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Keys – time to move on?

Keys can be a pain. You lose them, you give them to a partner who is now an ex, or you forget to take one with you when you walk the dog. The concerns never end.

Consider replacing at least one external door lock with a keypad system. There are many different types on the market, and some now even let your phone do the locking. These have a number of advantages. The most obvious is that you almost entirely eliminate the chance of locking yourself out of the house. Clearly, this is the biggest benefit to a keyless system. However, you also add new layers of security because you can provide a different code to each person who will ever need to access your house. If, for some reason, you no longer want someone to be able to get in, you can just change the code and avoid the awkward request to “get your key back.”

Make life a little easier with a keyless system. They are an affordable investment and will make your life a lot easier.

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Locksmiths and Fraud: Some cautionary thoughts

If you are in need of a locksmith, whether it’s a 24-hour on-call emergency because you’re locked out, or you are looking to re-key or add security to your home or business, be judicious in your selection.

Some things to check:

Ask for an estimate over the phone. If this is an emergency call, call someone else if it seems too low or too high.

Ask about licensing and professional registrations or membership in a professional association. If they seem to have no positive answers to these questions, look for another service.

Don’t give a credit card number over the phone as a pre-payment.

When the truck arrives, does it have the company name, location and/or telephone number marked? Be wary of unmarked service vans.

In short, don’t assume that all locksmiths are professionally trained or even legitimate. There are scammers in every field, and this business isn’t immune to them. Use common sense when appraising a service near you.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths to learn more about our licenses and experience.

Automotive lockout – What can be done?

Locked out of your car? In case you’ve never considered it, there are solutions beyond towing the car to a dealership. Mobile locksmiths can be the answer.

These technicians have a truck that brings along everything they need to address almost all situations. But just because they are mobile, this doesn’t mean you can be sure of their professional reputation. Mobile locksmiths, even if they don’t have a physical office, should still carry licensing in states or provinces where it is required.

The truck should carry an identifiable and specific name, including the region/city they service, and contact information.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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