Unfortunately, car theft and car break-ins are a part of life. And even the newest cars with state of the art security systems can not keep the thieves at bay.

 

Auto security devices

Luckily, you can take a few measures to ensure your car and its belongings do not become another crime statistic. First and foremost, your car should have an alarm. Car security will often come down to which has the best security equipment. If your car has an alarm and a steering lock in place, most thieves will move onto a car that is not so well secured. So, having these two car security devices in place is a good idea. There are also plenty of other auto security devices you can choose from, including wheel clamps, brake pedal locks, battery and fuel pump disconnects, cameras, and warning lights.

 

Insurance

Auto security devices can help keep your car secure, but if a thief really wants to break into it, the chances are that he will succeed. For this reason, you should take out a good insurance policy on your car and its contents in case the worst should happen. A good insurance policy will cover you against fire and theft, will ensure the contents of your car, and will ensure you for the cost of repairing any damage to the car caused by a break-in or an attempted break-in.

 

Common sense

When it comes down to it, a lot of keeping your beloved car safe and secure comes down to common sense. With just a few basic steps and good habits, you should be able to keep the thieves at bay.

 

For a start, always try to park the car in busy areas where there are plenty of passers-by. This is especially true at night. Most car break-ins occur when cars are left on quiet, unlit streets.

 

When you leave your car unattended, you should also ensure that all doors are locked and your windows are rolled up. Also, never leave valuables in your car when it is unattended. This goes for your driving license and car registration papers too. If your car gets stolen with these insides, it can be a major headache, and you run the risk of having your identity seriously compromised.

 

If you really must leave belongings in your car, make sure they are out of sight. The vast majority of car crime involves the theft of items from cars left in view, such as mobile phones and laptops, that can be stolen quickly and resold quickly.

 

The type of car you drive will have a bearing on how likely you are to become a car crime victim. A sporty coupé will be a much more attractive steal for criminals than a sensible station wagon. So, the nicer your car, the more careful you should be.

 

Surprisingly, many car thefts result from car owners either losing their keys or having them stolen. So, if you are out and about, take extra care with your car keys. Also, keep car keys in a secure place, such as in a safe, in the home. If your house gets burgled, you do not want the criminals to make off with your car as well.

 

Never hide spare keys in your car. Thieves know all the classic hiding spots and are likely to find them. And if you are leaving your car at an attended lot, do not give the attendant a full set of keys or a key with the key code on it.

 

Finally, if you have a garage, use it. A high proportion of car crime occurs right outside people’s homes, so keep your car off the streets at night if you can.

 

If you are a victim

If your car is stolen or broken into, time is of the essence. The sooner you contact the police, the higher your car’s chance or your belongings being recovered. It would also be best to make it as easy as possible for police to identify your car. You could have your windows engaged, scratch your initials under the hood or leave a few business cards lying around inside the car.

 

Most of us are victims of car crime at some point in our lives. However, following the tips in this article, you should reduce your chances.

 

Considering most luxury cars’ exorbitant prices, it’s a veritable godsend for many cash-strapped consumers when genius car manufacturers have invented cars worth their sticker prices.

Thus it strips off the word luxury, bearing the meaning that it holds up to its name because of its price and nothing else.

 

Today, prominent car manufacturers like BMW and AUDI had been ravishing the limelight after receiving recognition from Consumer Reports on their latest models.

 

The cars were among the safest cars on the road.

BMW 330i’s general safety features placed on the top of the list are panic button alarm, side guard door beams, and child-safety door locks.

 

It is also equipped with driver airbags, a passenger airbag cutoff switch or sensor, a passenger airbag, front side airbag, and side head curtain airbags. The second-row side airbag is optional.

 

For added protection, the BMW 330i is equipped with anti-theft prevention features. These features are the selective locking or unlocking feature, the locking fuel filler door or cap, valet lockout, and the vehicle anti-lockout device.
It is equipped with stability control that effectively protects the driver from any swerving or uncontrolled motion.

 

Moreover, because of the many incidences wherein sudden inflation of airbags had caused accidents, mostly children, BMW 330i airbags are endowed with smart dual-thresholds, sensors, and dual-stage deployment curb any airbags inflation that was uncalled for.

 

On the other hand, the Audi A4 luxury car also speaks of genuine craftsmanship.
The safety break features enable the Audi A4 to safeguard its occupants if an accident happens or whenever the road becomes slippery.

 

A dual-stage and dual-threshold airbag supplemental restraints with occupant sensors were also provided.
It also has a new seat belt management system and usability that features a safer way of employing a seat belt while on the road.

 

Plus, it has child-friendly safety features like LATCH or the lower anchorage and tethers for children system situated at the rear seats and child-safety rear door locks.

 

With all these safety features, no wonder they were among the safest cars on the road. This is not just mere recognition for most buyers but also a way of saving more money when getting insurance.

 

It is because most auto insurance companies charge lower premium rates to drivers who drive safe cars. There are also auto insurance companies that offer additional anti-theft or vehicle tracking discounts.

 

Moreover, cars, like those mentioned, who performed well on car crash tests, will keep you safe in an accident and, as a side benefit, most likely get you to lower auto insurance premiums.

 

Installing a home security system is becoming increasingly popular and easy for most to do yourself while saving money. Some home security companies require a three-year contract trapping homeowners in.
More than half of Britons (58 percent) give away spare keys to their home, typically to friends and family, according to a survey by NOP for insurer NIG.
But four per cent of movers do not bother to reclaim their spare keys when they move house.
In properties that are rented out or have been rented out at some point, the problem is worse.
Seven percent of tenants do not return their spare keys when moving out, increasing the possibility that a stranger can access your house.
NIG director Adrian Harris said: “This is really quite a worrying result for both homeowners and insurers. The fact that so many unclaimed keys are in circulation raises major questions about home security. ”
Nearly three-quarters of spare keys recipients are family members, while 14 percent are neighbors and eight percent are friends.
Despite the security risk that it poses, 59 percent of those surveyed said they did not change the locks when they last moved into a new home.
Mr Harris added: “These results show it makes sense for any new homeowners to consider changing their property’s locks to ensure that anyone still holding spare keys can’t get back into the property or can pass them onto someone who may want to break in. ”
e.g., The EZWatch Burglar Alarm System is truly a breakthrough in security system simplicity and affordability. The alarm system comes completely programmed and ready to use. In minutes you can secure your home or office with a professional-grade security system which is monitored 24 hours a day by our state of the art National Alarm Monitoring Center. Your local police or fire department is dispatched within seconds of receiving an alarm signal.
Hardly a day goes by without a new story about spam, viruses, spyware, and other hazards of using the Internet. Spammers and malicious hackers work relentlessly to defy computer defenses, expecting that some people haven’t applied the latest security fixes.
With new technology, it is making it more affordable and easier for people to install their own home security system. In particular, one company started selling DIY home security systems after the owners were frustrated at the extremely high costs of the larger national home security companies. Code Tech security started offering systems where the do-it-yourselfer can have a system up and running for a few hundred dollars without signing a monitoring contract. Many people believe that if a burglar breaks into the house, a simple alarm sound will deter most people from sticking around.
That is exactly what Code Tech security offers, a wireless system that the homeowner sets up and then allows the system to call up to nine different telephone numbers versus a monitoring system. The homeowner can allow the system to call a cell phone, neighbor, family member, friends, etc., with their own personal message.
The best selling product for Code Tech security is the “Complete Wireless alarm system” that comes with a Control Panel, a dialer, motion detector, 2 door or window sensors, and a keychain transmitter. Then customers add on additional accessories as needed. For instance, most people add more window or door sensors.
Three-quarters of British homeowners either do not have an alarm system or do not bother to turn it on, with six people in ten forgetting to ask tradespeople for proper identification, Privilege Home Insurance reveals.
More basic errors are less widespread, but worryingly, more than one person in three is not changing their locks after losing their keys, 27 percent are leaving a spare key outside their house, and around one homeowner in five does not lock doors and windows when they leave home, a report for the insurer adds.
And these lapses in security can prove costly at any time. Today,
Churchill Home Insurance shows that burglars are most likely to strike on Wednesday, costing up to £127 million a week.
“Our findings show that burglars will target homes on weeknights as well as weekends and that homes need to be secure at all times, whether people are at home or not,” said Martin Scott, head of home insurance at Churchill.
Friday and Saturday nights are the next most likely time for thieves to strike, while Thursday tops the list for London and the south-east.
“Burglaries can obviously occur at any time but a few simple precautions can make a real difference. Homeowners should always be mindful of the risk of burglary and secure windows and doors when going out, even if it is only to visit a neighbor for a few minutes,” Mr. Scott added.
Three-quarters of people who own or rent a home say its safety is essential to them, with four in ten convinced their property is as safe as it can be, Privilege research finds.
But with one person in six having no idea how many people have keys to their home, there is a gap between perception and reality.
Ian Parker, managing director of Privilege Home Insurance, commented: “The gap between people’s perceptions about safety consciousness and the reality is considerable. It seems that many of us are convinced that our homes are safe, and yet we are not taking the necessary precautions to keep our homes secure. ”
Privilege has created a simple checklist to aid this. The insurer urges homeowners to never leave home without:
Checking all doors and windows are closed and locked
Switching on the security alarm, if you have one
Checking all gas and electrical appliances are switched off and not left on standby
Placing valuables in a safe place
Ensuring fires and candles are extinguished
British homeowners’ top ten safety and security lapses are:
1. Not having, or not using, a burglar alarm – 76 percent;
2. Not asking merchants for identification – 59 percent;
3. Not bothering to leave a light on when away from home – 48 per cent;
4. Not checking appliances are switched off when they leave the house – 46 percent;
5. Not bothering to have the locks changed after losing keys – 37 percent;
6. Leaving spare keys outside the house – 27 percent;
7. Not having a smoke alarm or not checking it regularly – 27 percent;
8. Smoking in the home, or allowing others to- 23 percent;
9. Not locking all doors and windows when leaving – 18 percent;
10. Having no clue how many people have keys to their home – 14 percent.

What can you do to safeguard your home if your house keys accidentally end up in the wrong hands? That’s a question nearly two out of every three American homeowners should consider closely, according to a new study.

 

The study, Danger at America’s Doorstep: Who Has Keys to Your Home? I looked at how homeowners protect–or fail to protect–their house keys and safeguard their home.

 

The survey found that a majority (64 percent) of American homeowners have knowingly circulated their house keys outside of their immediate family, and nearly one-third (27 percent) of American homeowners have given out a key three or more times.

 

Every 15 seconds, a burglar breaks into a house, apartment, or condo in the U.S. Burglars are often quick to attack a home’s easiest point of entry, and nothing’s easier than unlocking a front door with a set of keys. According to John Heppner, President and CEO of Fortune Brands Storage and Security, including Master Lock Company L.L.C., “Too many Americans underestimate the potential risks they invite to their homes when they let their house keys wander.”

 

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent strangers from entering your home–even if they have your key. For example, the Master Lock NightWatch™ Deadbolt looks and works just like a standard deadbolt lock, but it offers a powerful new security feature-a patent-pending blocking function that locks out all keys.

 

To activate, owners lock the deadbolt as they would a standard deadbolt and then pull the lever towards them. This simple motion locks the deadbolt into an “engaged” position that blocks out any key. The lock can only be engaged or disengaged from indoors and easily installed in any standard entry door, replacing any other standard deadbolt.

 

To safeguard their homes, homeowners should:

1. Keep keys secured where they won’t be forgotten or left behind.

2. Don’t hide keys in “secret” places outside your home-experienced burglars can usually find them.

3. Never attach your keys to anything that lists your name, address, or phone number, and never leave them behind in a locked (or unlocked) car.

4. Always separate your house keys from your car keys each time you valet your car or drop it off for maintenance.

5. Only give your keys to someone who will watch over them as if they were their own.

To help you prevent your home from becoming a burglary target, you need to understand how a burglar thinks. If you know what “makes them tick,” you have a much better chance of avoiding a problem.
Police and other security experts agree that burglars prefer two particular conditions:
(1) An Invitation and
(2) A fast, easy, undetected entry, and exit.
You would never put up a sign in your yard that says, “Burglars Welcome.” That would be ridiculous! But, that is exactly what you are doing if you make ANY of the following 14 mistakes:
1. Your yard is messy. Do you leave toys, tools, or other items lying around the yard? If so, this is an open invitation for thieves. Could you not do it?
2. One of the major causes of car theft is a key being left in the car. Even if your car is parked in your own driveway, always remove the keys. Here is an actual example I saw in the newspaper recently. A man drove his car from his garage onto the driveway to wash it. He forgot to take the keys out. When he finished washing the car, he went inside for lunch. About an hour later, when he came out to his car—–you guessed it—-it was GONE! Some neighborhood kids took it for a “joy ride” just for some fun. However, the point is clear. No matter where your car is parked, always make sure that you take the key out!
3. You can easily protect your home by ensuring no dark or concealed areas.
4. Believe it or not, some people actually will leave a window open when leaving their home. Especially in today’s world, even if you only plan to go to the corner store, make sure that all entries to your home are closed and locked.
5. You never want to leave a note on an exterior door for a deliveryman telling him where you have gone. Have you ever made this mistake?
6. Do you really think that a burglar doesn’t know that your house keys are on top of the door jam, under the mat, or somewhere close to the door of your home? If you need to give your home access while you are away, either give the key to a neighbor or buy a “lockbox” from Home Depot or Walmart. But never leave your keys just sitting around to be found!
7. Don’t use your answering machine as an invitation to be robbed. Messages on answering machines saying that you are away are like saying, “OK, you can come to take what you want from my house now.” Never change your message. Just be aware that most answering machines let you listen to your messages from a remote phone by entering a personal security code.
8. This is a true story! A family in California went on a weekend trip and left their garage door open by mistake. When they returned Sunday night, many of their valuables were nowhere to be found! The Police and their insurance company had little sympathy for them. Don’t let this happen to you!
9. Sliding glass doors without any additional locks, such as a wooden pole placed in the track or a key lock at the top of the frame, are a favorite entry point of choice for burglars. Make sure you have an additional lock of some kind.
10. Burglars love to see homes that have no lights on—night after night! That’s an indication to them that your home could be an easy target for theft. The solution can be as simple and inexpensive as getting a “timer” to turn your lights on and off.
11. Having a privacy fence can be a double-edged sword. Not only does it keep neighbors from seeing what’s happening in your yard, but it also prevents neighbors and Police from seeing if there is a problem—like burglars! Ensure that your yard is well lighted or has lights with motion sensors if you have a privacy fence.
12. Flimsy door locks or latches can be a big problem. If your locks need repair or replacement, do it immediately. You will save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.
13. If your home has a basement, be sure that all windows are properly locked. Homeowners sometimes overlook these basement window locks.
14. if you will be away for more than a few days, it’s a good idea to cancel your newspaper and mail deliveries. Ask a neighbor to pick them up for you if you don’t want to have both the mail and newspaper deliveries interrupted. The best sign to a burglar that a house is unoccupied is a stack of newspapers thrown on the driveway.
Once a burglar sees an “invitation” for your home, the next thing they look for is a quick, easy, and undetected way out. Human nature being what it is, they will always take the path of least resistance.
Here is a shortlist of favorites for burglars that you should avoid:
1. Large shrubs in front of a window.
2. A dark area somewhere around your home.
3. Exterior doors leading to a pool. Many times people forget to lock these doors.
4. Exterior doors without a deadbolt lock can also be easy targets.
P.S.
From our family to your family—may your home always be safe.

Being a locksmith in today’s world contains as many dangers for the locksmith as it does for the person who needs the locksmith services. People should be more suspicious of who they allow working on locks for their businesses and homes because of the courage of today’s criminals, the technology, and the availability of supplies that fall into the wrong hands. The locksmith has to be protected from false accusations, from being blamed for the damage they did not do and being sued.

 

Being in the locksmith field of work is a career choice to take seriously and with pride for those who want to excel and be respected and recognized. As with any other career, there will be locksmiths who are trustworthy and reliable and those who are less worthy of the public’s business.

 

People who are forced to call a locksmith with no time for preparation to check into the different backgrounds of the locksmiths in an area can be a danger for their future sense of security. Anyone who has phobias or unnaturally suspicious could suffer severe health problems simply because they don’t know how much they could trust the locksmith. A locksmith running the business as a sham can put the public in danger of theft, rapes, beatings, or even murder. The unknown can create problems mental and emotional for the unstable person.

 

Locksmith education is offered to anyone willing to pay for the course. This puts the public in danger because the student does not have to prove a criminal background before being approved for the course.

 

There is also the danger the locksmith is put in because they have no assurances of the person’s intent for whom they are about to do business. The locksmith’s safety is just as important as the safety of the customer. The locksmith must know their own rights and must be in charge of their own self-protection. Their reputation comes second to their own safety.

 

Locksmiths who are unfairly accused of wrong-doing are in danger of losing much-needed business. They must fight for their reputation and to be able to acquire new customers and keep them. The locksmith must also take precautions to arm themselves with the proper licenses, insurance, and certification and take steps to protect themselves physically.

 

There are dangers in having access knowledge to people’s homes and businesses because of the potential for wrong-doing by trespassers, disgruntled family members or friends, divorcees in battle, unhappy business partners, etc., in any remote areas. Another danger lies in the locksmith hiring employees who may have questionable backgrounds. Besides the locksmith having to worry about protecting himself from his customers or other dangerous people or situations, he also has to protect himself from hiring the wrong employees.

 

Being a locksmith can be a profitable, enjoyable business with many rewards as long as the proper precautions are taken. Hiring a locksmith can safe and secure as long as the proper precautions are taken. Awareness pays off from both perspectives!

 

Colorado Springs is a great place to live. You can find a good bit about history, and a wonderful new home, just as you have always dreamed. Find a realtor in Colorado Springs and start looking for your new home now.

When it comes to finding a good realtor agent in Colorado Springs, you will want to look at several areas like the Internet research engines, internet newspapers, and any friends or family that you might know in the area. As for the area, you should first know a little bit about the area’s history and get a local introduction. You can find many links to quality agents and real estate right here on these pages.

About the history of Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs was founded in 1871 and is the second-largest city in Colorado. It has changed over the years from a Victorian spa resort to a major city. Colorado Springs has the city life, but still with the small-town charm. It has over fifty attractions and many regions. As for the atmosphere you can find in this region, Colorado Springs is mostly a vacation hot spot. In fact, Colorado Springs draws in more than six million visitors per year, and that is a lot of people, but it is also a region that provides many jobs simultaneously. One of the regions of Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is known as the “gateway” to all the outdoor adventures of Colorado. It is located about eighty miles south of Denver’s airport and is less than two hours away from the most popular slopes located in Colorado and six miles from downtown Colorado Springs. There are many things to do all the time in Colorado Springs.

Peaks Peak is one of the number one tourist attractions because there is so much to do. The peak is open all year round, and 7 am-7 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You will only need reservations for the Cog Railway, and the cost practically costs you nothing. To hike the mountain can take all day. A person can do so many more things at the mountain that is great for all ages. Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain in the world. Doesn’t it sound so great to be part of Colorado Springs? The views located at the Summit House shows off the best scenery in Colorado Springs, and you will find it all quite exciting. The Summit House is the only restaurant located near Pikes Peak and serves thousands of people each day. If you are near this location, you should stop by and take a look for yourself. You will never tire of it.

Many of the realtor agents in the Colorado Springs area have been in business for decades, so you know homes are bought and sold all the time. No matter what type of home you may be dreaming about, you can find it here. The agents in this area care more about introducing others to Colorado and will usually give tips about all the things offered in the area. You will also find that the whole town gives off this friendly and homey atmosphere. You can depend on a real estate agent to help you find that dream home.

Many people decide to move to Colorado Springs because of the atmosphere and simplicity and because of the beautiful scenery. Colorado Springs is one of Colorado’s most known areas, and when people visit the area, many decide to stay. How wouldn’t you want to stay, considering that Colorado Springs has so much to offer everything rather they are old or young. There are schools, museums, and so much to do, that the entire family will enjoy living in this area.

When Realtor agents in Colorado Springs realize that you are relocating to the area, they will most likely go all out to show you a good time. You will usually be given a map of all the streets, highways, schools, shopping areas, and major landmarks from your realtor, and then they will most likely show you the high points of the city. Many will give their customer’s tips on where to get the best food or services. Who knows, maybe once you settle in your new home, you will bring others to the Colorado Springs area if you want to sell homes as well!

Because there is so much opportunity in the area, eventually, a person may want to invest in the city. Colorado Springs is a great investment. Rather it is buying a house or running your own business. Many businesses in the area end up making great profits because of the activities that draw in tourists. There is no real off-season when you live in Colorado Springs. When a person checks out the region with their realtor, there is much evidence that it is a great place to relocate and offers so many opportunities for the average American entrepreneur. With the high amount of traffic and people throughout the region, many new industries and businesses find it easy to establish and build a business.

When it comes to realtor agents in Colorado Springs, you will want first to figure out what area you want to relocate to, and then you can quickly find a realtor. You may want to look in several surrounding Colorado Springs areas that are just as nice, and class as the Springs and yet be close to your job in the city. If you are working out of town, you will find the highways very accessible and cut time off your commute.

You can purchase a home located exactly where you want because the construction business in the area is continuously growing, but most don’t stay on the market long. That’s why you should make an offer on a home as soon as you find something that you like, so you don’t miss out on something you really want to own. The Colorado Springs area is a good investment because travelers come to Colorado Springs all the time and want to relocate to the area once they have seen just how beautiful the area really is. In fact, don’t be surprised if someday a person rings the doorbell giving you an offer, but that type of thing doesn’t really happen every day, but you know what we mean!

Houses in this area are so hot that everyone wants to live in Colorado Springs. The property may seem a bit expensive, but considering that it could eventually be double or three times worth what you paid, it’s a good investment. Real estate in Colorado Springs is practically a goldmine since people travel thousands of miles each year to go to the slopes or visit the Summit House, located on top of the world’s most visited mountain. Colorado Springs is definitely a place you would want to invest your money because it is forever changing and expanding. The value of the real estate in this area is only going to climb, as the scenery and atmosphere are something that many people from around the US are seeking, getting out of the big cities to smaller, seemingly more rural like areas.

When it comes to the real estate salespeople in the Colorado Springs area, clients find that they are very down to earth and eager to educate their clients on the history of Colorado Springs and the area’s diverse offerings. Colorado Springs has it all for a family with different ideas or pictures of the perfect place to live. Just by simply asking your agent about the area, you will become overwhelmed with fun facts and interesting historical stories. It is a nice place for families as well as an enjoyable place for those who are single. You know an area is a great place to live when people travel the entire world to spend a day there. Colorado Springs is a very safe and dependable place to relocate.

A locksmith must, of course, learn the basics of being a locksmith. The locksmith must learn the tools necessary, the machines used, the locks and systems on the market, key identification, panic hardware, electronic security, business security, home security, and tax information. The locksmith must also learn advertising, bookkeeping, employee information, hiring techniques, safety measures for him or herself, safety for the employees who will be left at the office, pricing, and customer relations.

Being a locksmith involves much more than a person might realize. This is a craft becoming more sophisticated as the technology and the laws increasingly become more complicated. The knowledge of the locksmith must change and grow with the business and the modern world.

Customer relations are important for any business. It is important to gain the trust and the respect of the customers to maintain the business. The locksmith must learn how to respect customers’ privacy and private information. The locksmith must learn how to communicate effectively with the public.

Learning how to locksmith from an accredited institution is important for the quality of the information provided and the results. If you learn locksmithing on your own through books or personal experimenting, you will not gain the necessary credibility to earn your place in the business world. This may gain you a tiny following of customers, but it will also carry great risks. Knowing how to access people’s homes, businesses, and vehicles must be treated as highly confidential information.

It is possible to operate a small locksmith business. If you want to specialize in only automobiles, you can concentrate on education and equipment for that particular field’s locksmith knowledge. You may want to expand your knowledge to focus on locksmithing for residences only or businesses only. Locksmiths have a choice of several areas to learn and specialize in. You can choose to combine all the areas and learn one area at a time, expanding your knowledge and your business slowly.

One thing to remember when choosing the field of the locksmith is the demand in your area. How many locksmiths are already available? What are their specialties? Are there any public complaints about the local locksmith businesses? Are there any public needs that aren’t being met? How can you put your business one level higher than those that are already available? Knowing which questions to ask is also an important learning step for a locksmith.

Being a locksmith can be very rewarding for the right person, but it is important to research the field to learn if this is the right business for you. Two more questions to ask while learning about being a locksmith are: what hours must you keep, and what demands will this field of the workplace on your family? The public can be unforgiving in times of desperation.

If a storm has damaged a home or a business, if a criminal has broken into a home or business, or if the security system has malfunctioned, will you be able to accommodyour customers’ needsmers? As always, preparation is the key to success!

Lock picking is the activity that opens a lock without the proper key. When we are thinking of it, usually we are associating it with illegal activities. But that isn’t always the case!

For example, let’s think about what we can do if we have lost the house key or locked ourselves outdoors. If we live on the ground floor, we could jump through the window (if it’s not open, we can easily break it with a stone). But if we are not, we either unlock the door or… break it (which is not a cheap solution). With a bit of talent and an unsophisticated lock, we can manage to unlock it ourselves. The reality is not quite like in the movies (when a door is unlocked in a couple of minutes, just in time for the hero to save the heroine). The best solution is to call for a professional locksmith who is trained to deal with these situations.

When picking a lock, a locking tools kit is needed. The simplest kit contains a tension wrench (a screwdriver, for example) and a lock pin (a long, thin piece of metal, curved at the end). In an emergency, a lock pin is successfully replaced with a hairpin. A professional kit will have many tension wrenches (in different sizes and shapes) and a lot of dimensions for the lock pins. Or it could have a pick gun (contains many metal pieces that vibrate and push all the lock pins up at once).

The first step is to insert the tension wrench in the keyhole and turn the cylinder as a normal key would do. Then we can insert the lock pin and carefully start to lift the pins. When they reach the normal position, we will hear a slight click, and the lock is unlocked.

Along with “picking,” there is another technique called “racking.” It presents a lower level of precision. We need a special pick called a “rake.” This will be inserted until it hits the back of the cylinder (not slowly like a pick), and it will be pulled out quickly to hit all the pins up on its way out. In the meantime, the cylinder is turned with the tension wrench.

Master locks are one of the hardest locks to be picked! They are not infallible, but they do have an excellent protection system. They were invented in 1921 by Henry Soref, who thought of producing the padlocks in laminated layers of steel. While the Master locks in padlocks have the same picking system as the other locks, Master locks in combined formats require a patient and skillful locksmith.

There are many lock picking books, which teach us the techniques of lock picking step by step. Sometimes they are accompanied by a video or CD for a better illustration. Some books are written for professional locksmiths, but many others are directed to people who want to know more about the subject. Sometimes the books show the history of locks and lock picking or how they can become a locksmith!

When buying a lock, we have to keep in mind the value of what we intend to protect! Most locks can be picked, but buying a good one increases our security and safeness!

 

History

From the beginning of humankind, people have felt the urge to protect what they possess. They start by covering their caves’ entrance with stones; later, they hid their gold and jewels in the ground.

Then they discovered locks. These were first made of wood and rope. They served the purpose well, although they were not so nicely designed. There is a lot of historical proof that certifies the use of locks long before we could imagine. Even in the Bible (Old Testament, Books of Judges), we frequently mention locks and keys.

Types

In modern society, we have keys and locks for everything: the house, the office, the car, the bike. We even have more than one key for the same building; keys and locks are so much a part of our daily routine that we don’t consider them (or maybe we do that only when the ring of keys is too heavy placed in our pockets).

But we do give a lot of thought when we have to pick the type of lock or key type. Basically, we are talking about mechanical locks (based on mechanical activation of the keys), electro-mechanical locks (can be both mechanical or electrical activated, but usually the key is replaced with numbered buttons that have to be pressed), and electrical locks (activated by a card key that has a particular code, programmed to be read by a card reader which is controlled by an automated central or a local processor).

How to pick the lock?

It is not as complicated as we think, but also not as easy as it appears in many movies. Some say that this requires both art and science. We have to have a good knowledge of the lock mechanism and some practice.

Firstly we insert a tension wrench in the lock (a screwdriver, for example) and, with slight pressure, turn the plug (the lock cylinder) like the proper key would have done (we have to figure out what is the normal direction for the key to be turned). It will help create a small place between the lock pins (placed inside the lock). We have to insert a lock pick to lift them (like the proper key will do when inserted in the lock). Doing this and continuing to apply pressure on the tension wrench, we will hear a slight click (made by the pins when they fall in the right position), and the lock will be unlocked.

For unsophisticated locks, we can use a metal hairpin as a lock pick. But professional locksmiths need an adequate pick tools kit. Basically, this contains a tension wrench (they have different shapes and sizes) and several picks(long pieces of metal curved up at one end). Some can use an electrical pick gun (contains long metal pieces, and when they vibrate, push the pins up and unlock the lock).

Rekeying lock

The process of rekeying is quite simple (it takes a couple of minutes), and it shouldn’t be confused with the process of replacing a lock. Actually, it consists of disassembling the lock cylinder and replacing all the old lock pins with new ones to match the new key. Then the cylinder is reinstalled in the lock!

When, for example, a member of the family loses the house key, we can assume that a burglar has it. We should go immediately, re-key the house lock to prevent potential theft. It doesn’t cost a lot of time and money, but it can spare us big stress. The same procedure is advisable when moving into a new house/apartment.

The better the lock is, the harder it will be for a burglar to break in!