The Duties and Responsibilities of a Locksmith

If you have never had to hire a locksmith in the past, you may be unfamiliar with their services. A locksmith is a trained expert on everything that has to do with locks and keys. Our safety and security primarily revolve around our locks and keys, so locksmiths have a lot they need to learn before becoming a certified locksmith. To become a professional locksmith, one must undergo specialized training and pass a state exam.

Services You Can Expect from a Locksmith

Not everyone is cut out for locksmithing, but those that have the skills necessary to make it as a locksmith can perform a wide variety of tasks and services. You can rely on a professional locksmith for almost any task related to your locks, keys, and personal security. Here are just some of the services you can expect or request from any professional locksmith:

• Rekeying Services

This is one of the most common requests that locksmiths receive. Rekeying locks means that a locksmith will rearrange the mechanisms inside of a given lock to create a new fit for a new key. Rekeying locks is often done to increase protection and security. For example, one might choose to rekey their home locks right after they move in, after a former spouse, partner, or roommate moves out, or to increase their overall peace of mind. Rekeying is often a simple and quick procedure, but it can make a big difference in your overall security.

• Key Replacements

If you have ever lost a key to your home or vehicle, you know how stressful it can be. Locksmiths are a great resource to contact if you ever need a replacement key of some kind. A key replacement is a fairly simple and relatively inexpensive service you can request from any professional locksmith.

• Lock Repairs and Replacements

Lock changes and replacements are other common requests that locksmiths will receive. Not all lock changes are created equally and some can prove to be far more difficult than others. That is why homeowners will often request that a locksmith help with any lock changes. Even though you can try to remove and replace a lock on your own, there is a good chance you may become frustrated if the door and lock do not properly align or you run into other unexpected problems. Hiring a locksmith will prevent you from getting caught up in a frustrating lock replacement or causing any unnecessary damage.

• Lockout Assistance and Re-Entry Services

Lockouts are incredibly common and happen around-the-clock. That is why most locksmiths are open 24/7 to help with lockouts and other mishaps. Locksmiths have the right tools and knowledge needed to help you get back into your property without causing any harm or damage. Trying to solve a lockout on our own may lead to a broken window or some other avoidable problem. Hiring a locksmith when you are locked out is a great option if you want to resolve your lockout as quickly as possible without causing even more problems for yourself.

• Home, Vehicle, and Commercial Services

Locksmiths can assist with lock and key issues for a variety of properties. Most professional locksmithing services only hire locksmiths that are able to perform lock changes, repairs, upgrades, replacements, and other tasks for homes, businesses, and vehicles. The majority of professional locksmiths you will encounter will be able to handle lock and key issues for any kind of circumstance or property.

• Security Upgrades and Enhancements

As technology has advanced, locksmiths have had to become even more versatile and skilled when it comes to the services they offer. Traditional locks and keys are slowly taking a back seat to devices like electronic deadbolts and smart locks. Most locksmiths are now trained to work with these advanced lock models and program them correctly. Before hiring a locksmith for any kind of electronic lock upgrade or installation, make sure to inquire about their experience in doing so. Not all locksmithing services may be able to offer electronic lock and smart lock installations, so it is important to call around and sure you find the right locksmithing service that can. 

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Why Call A Locksmith When Locked Out

If you have ever found yourself locked out of your home, you may have taken some drastic steps to gain access back inside. Here at St Louis Park Locksmith Pro, we assure you that you don’t have to take drastic measures by breaking out a window or climbing through a window to get back inside. This is probably one of the worst things that a person can do. We recommend that everyone have a spare key that they can give to someone they trust. If you’re reading this article, it is likely that you don’t have a spare key. However, even if you don’t, there are some alternatives to gaining access back inside your home. Simply by contacting a locksmith, you can get back inside. A professional locksmith service is usually available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to assist with your service needs. They realize that some things are unpredictable, such as locking yourself out of your home. Those who live in St Louis Park, MN know they can always count on one of professional locksmiths to be there to assist them when they need them. Some people may be reluctant to call a locksmith for fear of them taking too long to address their service needs. This is why they respond so drastically. However, we assure you that there is always a locksmith service that is ready and willing to assist with your service needs any time of the day or night.

Efficiency

If the service provider that you hire didn’t provide efficient services, no doubt you will feel as though you have wasted your hard earned money. Nobody wants to hire someone who can’t handle their simple requests like unlocking their door. This is why it is important to hire a reputable and reliable locksmith to assist with your lockout service needs. You’re more likely to receive the most efficient locksmith services possible by relying on a reputable locksmith. Since they typically take their business seriously, a professional locksmith will be serious about living up to the expectations of their customer’s.

Professional

A professional locksmith service will be accountable for the quality of service they offer. They realize that they are accountable to both the customer and the service provider they represent. Their professionalism means that they will show up in a timely manner to assist you with your service needs. If they wish to go on receiving your business, they know they must act quickly to address the needs of the customer’s. They don’t want to jeopardize their reputation by offering bad service. By using the services of a locksmith it is possible for you to get what you are paying for.

Accountability

Accountability is extremely important to receiving quality services from a proficient locksmith. If they should happen to do something to contribute to the problem, they will own up to it and do what they can to resolve the problem. Their objective is to make sure you receive quality services and that they receive your approval. By relying on a reputable locksmith, instead of a friend or neighbor, means that someone will be accountable for the work provided.

Proven Skills & Qualifications

A locksmith company will not hire someone without proven skills and qualifications. A reputable locksmith service will make sure that their locksmiths are capable of handling the needs of their customers before allowing them to work with their customers. It shouldn’t matter how challenging the lockout situation might be, a locksmith with proven skills will be able to effectively address the problem. Without the proven skills and the ability to use the tools provided to them, they wouldn’t be able to offer you the help that you need.

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Signs Better Security Is Needed At Your Business

In this day and age it’s hard to run a business and keep it 100% secure at the same time. This is especially true if your business is a sizable one. As locksmiths we often times can spot little things that tell us you are having or have the potential to have some serious security concerns at your place of business. 

Read on and see what we feel are strong warning signs that your business has some legitimate security concerns and what you can do to help lessen or eliminate these same security concerns.

Look For the Little Warning Signs Before You Have Bigger Security Problems

Watch for these signs that indicate you really need to take a close look at the overall security at your business:

• Increased incidences of theft

There is a reason that businesses keep such a close eye on the money they take in. You never really know who you can and can’t trust these days. That star employee of yours may secretly have a gambling problem and can’t keep up with their bill payments. These and other reasons leave employees, customers and thieves to consider taking that hard earned cash that your business takes in. If you find money missing, even small amounts, you have a big security problem on your hands.

This does not have to be all about money either. You have other valuables at your place of business too. Items such as supplies, inventory, stock and tools can all walk away if not protected and cost you some big money. Even important documents, filings and charters should be kept away from everyone that does not have a business related need for them.

Solutions: It goes without saying that you need to increase the security measures at your business if you are experiencing too many incidents of theft. When that starts happening you do have alternatives that can deter it.

For one, you can compartmentalize your business more so your employees do not have the freedom to roam into areas they have no reason to be in. By adding such things as coded access locks to these areas it will help restrict movement into areas where theft is most likely to take place.

You can also cut down on the number of access points into and out of the business and man them with security if your company is a large one. This is a great idea if the thefts you are experiencing are of supplies or inventory that are not easy to hide

Business safes are another great way to help cut down on theft too. You can use convenient drop safes to make cash deposits into on a more regular basis and you can even build vaults that will store valuable, important documents and your company’s intellectual property.

Installing several security cameras around your business is a great way to help make it more secure too. It’s a known fact that people are much less prone to stealing when there is a good chance that they are being watched. Think of an increased security camera system as a means of letting your employees know that ‘big brother is watching’. Surveillance camera installation is a proven and time tested method for deterring theft, vandalism, horseplay and other mischief in the workplace.

• The majority of the locks at your business are keyed mechanical locks

If you are like many businesses a majority of the locks at your business are most likely keyed mechanical locks. As much as you depend on them and trust these mechanical locks you need to aware of the signs when these locks are coming to the end of their useful life or they no longer provide you with the security you need.

Read more at: Signs Better Security Is Needed At Your Business

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If you are looking for a locksmith in St Louis Park, Minneapolis, you can always count on the services of our locksmiths at St Louis Park Locksmith Pro. If you need an automotive, commercial or residential locksmith in St Louis Park, Minneapolis, call (952) 373-8456.

We’re available to attend to your locksmith service needs 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Make sure you can get help in a hurry by relying on someone that will be able to offer this to you in St Louis Park, MN by visiting www.stlouisparklocksmith.org or calling (952) 373-8456.

10 Home Security and Garage Door Safety Tips

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The best defense to protect a home’s valuables is a comprehensive offense.

Like urban legends, some news stories appear to jump from television station to television station, or one social media channel to the next—never dying but living on to be repeated another day. Recently, a handful of different stations featured stories that explored the possibility of home burglaries, offering viewers tips on how to avoid a break-in.

Each report included the use of zip ties, a plastic device used to fasten things together, to disable the manual release latch—the mechanism with a cord that hangs down from the track inside the garage—a feature on automatic garage door openers.

The manual release feature, also known as the emergency release, is required to be operable and tested for all residential garage door operators to UL 325, the American National Standard for Garage Door Operators. Additionally, compliance with the entrapment protection requirements of UL 325 is required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 1990. Tampering with, modifying or defeating this release could result in the device not functioning properly during an emergency.

Inserting a zip tie to secure the manual release latch makes it difficult to disengage the automatic garage door opener when this feature is needed most, for example, to free someone or something trapped between the door and the floor if other protection measures don’t work, and to release the door in case of power outage. The release mechanism is tested and required to be able to be released with 50 lbs. of force or less.

The UL 325 Standard requires that all residential garage door operators have an inherent entrapment protection system, plus a secondary device, most commonly a photo-electric eye, to stop and reverse the door if an obstruction is in its path. The photoelectric eye is usually installed near the track or the garage door about six inches from the floor.

Despite all the recent media attention, of the 2 million home burglaries reported in the U.S. each year, only 9 percent occurred in the garage and of those only a very small number can be attributed to garage door opener tampering. Many burglars enter the home through a door or window with kicking in the door being the most common form of entry. The best defense to protect a home’s valuables is a comprehensive offense.

Home Security and Garage Door Safety Tips

1. DO NOT interfere with or defeat the manual emergency release mechanism on your garage door operator.
2. Check with your garage door opener dealer or retailer to see what other safety or security features are available for your specific brand or automatic door model. In some cases, an automatic lock may be available.
3. Check to see if you can change your garage-door opener code. While most newer operators have more advanced and secure remote controls, some still come with factory-set codes that can be changed, but most people neglect to do so.
4. Always lock the entry door between the garage and your house. This simple but often overlooked step might thwart a break-in.
5. Lock all doors and windows in your garage, and if possible, use a frosted glass coating on all garage windows to make it more difficult for criminals to see inside.
6. Arm your home or premises security system every time you leave and at night, while sleeping. Also, place two security signs, one in front of the house and one in the back, to help deter burglary attempts.
7. Do not leave valuables such as bicycles, tools, equipment, etc. in a place that is visible to observers when the garage door is open.
8. Join and participate in a neighborhood watch program. Report any suspicious or unusual activity to the police.
9. Keep your car door locked, even when it is parked in the garage, and keep the garage door opener concealed/out of sight.
10. Enable “vacation mode” if your garage door operator has this feature when leaving home for an extended period, which prevents remote controls from activating the door.

Article Source: 10 Home Security and Garage Door Safety Tips

Related Article: 7 Home Security Tips for Summer Vacation

If you need professional help in installing security systems for your home, go to www.stlouisparklocksmith.org