Locksmithing is one of the oldest professions in the world. If you’ve ever been locked out of your home or your door lock has broken, then you appreciate the value of a trusty locksmith.

Locksmithing services truly play an essential role in keeping your home safe and secure because a locksmith’s role is more than to just unlock your door or change your lock.

Let’s find out the reasons why locksmiths will remain relevant for many years to come.

Locksmithing Services Adapt to the Industry

At first, door locks were not as sophisticated are they are now. The first locks were large and made out of wood. Then, they were created out of metal.

But locksmiths weren’t just good at making locks – they were also skilled metal workers. Their talent revolved around repairing tools, guns and making screws and fasteners.

Due to their experience with metal, locksmiths were able to create more durable and complex locks.

Nowadays, locksmithing is more about using technology to improve home security rather than forging metal.

Whether we’re talking about keyless locks or smart home systems, you can now contract locksmithing services not only when you’ve been locked out of your home, but also when you need advice on the ultimate home security devices and installing them, as well.

Locksmiths Are Available 24/7

Imagine it’s Friday night, you just got off work and you need to go home to leave your laptop, get changed and then head out to meet your friends. Unfortunately, you notice you’ve misplaced your key and you can’t enter your home.

So what do you do then? You call a locksmith because these type of services are available 24/7. For example, we aim to get to you within 30 minutes if you live in the areas we cover throughout the UK.

This scenario can happen to anyone anytime, especially when we have others things we need to attend to, which is why locksmithing services are key when we get locked out of our home.

Locksmiths Are Home Security Professionals

One of today’s top concerns is keeping our home safe when we’re away. But most of us don’t know how to do that unless we get a professional’s advice.

An important service provided by locksmiths is the security survey which helps them determine if your property is secure and whether it’s an attractive target for potential burglars.

Each residence is unique, so what the security system your neighbour has installed might not work or be appropriate for your property.

Locksmiths are trained to observe weaknesses which may hinder your home security and are able to recommend security tips which will help you keep burglars away.

Think You Won’t Need a Locksmith? Think Again

We’re not trying to be pessimistic here, but chances are you’re going to need the services of a locksmith at least once in your life.

Whether you’ll break your key as you try to unlock your door, lose your keys or need to improve your home security, locksmiths will be the ones to save you in those type of situations.

At Lockrite, customer satisfaction is our number one priority, which is why we treat every client very seriously and with professionalism.

For any queries or if you want to request a free quote, feel free to call us at 0800 0612 677.

5 Security Tips for Autumn and Winter

Happy Halloween! Or perhaps not, for some. While many of us may get a thrill from things that go bump in the night and get excited over the latest horror flicks coming to the cinema or Netflix, others get the creeps – and not in a good way.

Halloween and the impending darker nights can create a chill in the air. What if Michael Myers lurks in the corners of a village somewhere? While horror villains Freddie Kruger and Jason Voorhees only exist in Hollywood, home security for darker nights should be a priority for all homeowners.

Luckily, if you are concerned about the security of your home, there are many techniques and ways to keep your house, and family, safe and free from goosebumps. Here are the top autumn home security tips.

1. Install Lighting Fixtures

When night descends, it can leave many of us wary of what may be outside or who is knocking on our doors. Even when we’re expecting company, we like to know they are coming and be able to determine it is them before answering the door. What’s more, during Halloween, Trick or Treaters can cause a fright to some, so installing motion light sensors is an ideal autumn home security system to add to your home.

By having outside lighting, you can be warned when someone is approaching your home (thanks to motion sensors) and see the outline of who is standing outside. Plus, if you are out, motion sensors can deter burglars looking for an unoccupied house.

While motion sensors wouldn’t pick up on the ghosts found in Hill House (Netflix’s latest horror/drama, The Haunting of Hill House), they can keep you safe and also make you feel more relaxed during the night.

2. Invest in Good Quality Locks

Your front door, back door, windows and even garage doors and sheds need to be secured with high-quality locks. For your shed, invest in a closed or open shackle padlock, and make sure the doors are sturdy. For your front and back doors, you can always have them changed. You can also include night latches, which offer an added layer of protection.

3. Be Aware of Your Letterbox and Cat Flap

If you are prone to leaving keys out beside your front or back door, they can be obtained through your letterbox and cat flap. People can use sticks and wires to reach and hook valuables and keys, before bringing them back through the letterbox. An easy way to prevent this is to keep from placing keys within reach and to ensure you do not leave keys in the lock.

4. Hide Your Valuables

This is especially sensible as Christmas draws closer. While you may want your Christmas tree to sit in your front room so that your neighbours can look in awe, you should not put presents beneath the tree. Doing so can entice burglars, as they know exactly where the goods are, making it a quicker robbery.

Keep all your valuables out of sight. No electronics should be positioned near windows; jewellery can be kept in drawers, and refrain from storing valuables in the garage.

5. Join the Neighbourhood Watch

Imagine how many horror film villains would’ve been thwarted if the neighbourhood kept an eye on one another’s houses. Ghostface wouldn’t have been able to break into so many homes or chase Sidney Prescott if Woodsboro had a Neighbourhood Watch, and the attempts of Michael Myers would have been a lot less successful. Halloween home security can help make the scariest time of year a lot less so.

Join the local Neighbourhood Watch, or if there isn’t one, start one. It is to the benefit of everyone who lives in the neighbourhood, so the locals will be more than happy to keep an eye out for everyone.

Can you imagine going to bed at night or leaving the house without locking your doors and windows? Luckily, you don’t have to.

Locks came a long way since their early beginnings nearly 4000 years ago and they are now a top solution for protecting our homes.

However, none of this would be possible without the innovative work of leading companies, such as Yale. Yale locks will forever be linked to the evolution and progress of the locking industry and by the time you reach the end of this article, you’ll see why.

Yale Locks – How the Story Began

Yale is one of the oldest international brands in the world and its roots can be traced back to colonial America. The Yale family immigrated to the New World from North Wales. A few generations later, in 1840, Linus Yale Sr. started working on the first Yale locks at his shop in Newport, New York.

Linus Yale Sr. specialised inexpensive, handmade, high-security bank locks, but it was when his son, Yale Jr., joined the business in 1850 the company started to pick up steam.

A Few of Yale’s Top Breakthroughs and Patents

After getting aboard the family business, Linus Yale Jr. started working on perfecting his father’s pin tumbler cylinder lock – an innovation at that time.

Inspired by the original 1840s design, Yale Jr. created his most important invention: the Yale cylinder lock. The mechanism used pins of varying lengths to stop the lock from opening without the correct key.

In addition to the pins within the lock itself, he also patented a flat, saw-edged key needed to open the lock. The same design is widely employed across the world today.

Another innovation we couldn’t leave out is the Monitor Bank Lock which was introduced on the market in 1862 by Yale Jr.  This was a turning point as far as bank locks were concerned as it marked the transition from key locks to dial or combination locks.

The same principles Yale Jr. used to create the Monitor Lock are now standard in combination locks across the United States of America.

Between 1843 and 1857, Yale registered eight patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in regards to the pin tumbler safe lock, safe lock, bank lock, vault and safe door bolt and padlock.

This impressive record of patents made the Yale name weigh heavy in the locking industry.

How Yale Became an International Brand

Yale Jr’s contributions to the progress of locks didn’t go unnoticed as he was widely recognised as one of the important locking experts of his time.

His reputation, sheer brilliance and the Yale locks patents set the right premises for the company’s worldwide expansion.

In 1868, Yale Jr. and his colleague Henry Towne founded the Yale & Towne company. Through acquisitions and joint ventures with other companies in the industry, the company expanded his operations worldwide.

In the early 20th century, the company which started out with just 35 workers employed more than 12,000 people all over the world.

The Yale Company Today

In August 2000, Yale was purchased by ASSA ABLOY, but it continues to provide top security solutions which live up to Yale’s remarkable legacy.

Also, the company has expanded its area of expertise. In addition to traditional security products range, Yale’s offering now covers a broad spectrum of security solutions, including:

•  Smart Locks
•  Alarms
•  CCTV systems.

If you want to monitor and control your home security remotely in a convenient manner using Yale’s home security range, we can help. Lockrite is an official Yale Smart Security partner and our trained locksmiths can take care of installing and maintaining your choice of Yale security products.

Contact us and get more details today.

So you’re locked out of your house. What are you supposed to do now?

Most commonly, a lockout situation occurs when you’ve left your keys inside and you have a lock which automatically bolts when you close the door. However, this can also happen as a result of you losing or misplacing your set of keys.

Whatever the reason, the information in this article can help you be more prepared when facing a lockout situation and keep the panicking to a minimum.

Start with Your List of Contacts

It’s easy to lose your nerve when you find yourself locked out of your house – especially if you’re in a rush to get to work.

Our suggestion is to start with the most straightforward solutions which can solve your problem as soon as possible. For instance:

• If you have roommates or family members, ask them if they can swing by and help you get back inside.
• Have you given a spare key to a trusted neighbour or a friend who lives close by? If you did, it will come in handy in case you’re locked out of your house.

Of course, it’s always better to be prepared and taking a few preventive steps can prove to be extremely useful in helping you avoid a home lockout. We posted an entire article on this topic not long ago.

You can read it here.

Try All of the Doors and Windows to Find a Way in

We never recommend leaving a window or door open when leaving the house, but on the chance you did, you can use it to get back into your home. Walk around your property to see if there’s any way to get in.

You can also try a ladder to reach an opened second-story window.

However (this is important):

• Don’t try to break things (be it doors, locks, windows) to get inside. You’ll likely end up having to pay more money for repairing the damage you’ve done than you would have to spend on the services of a professional locksmith. And it will be more time-consuming, as well.
• Don’t try to get into your home through a door or window if it puts you at risk of injury. 

Locked out of Your House? Contact Us in Case of an Emergency

More often than not, the best thing you could do in the case of a lockout situation is to play it safe. In other words, call a local locksmith in your area and wait it out.

An expert will use special techniques to help you gain entry without causing any unnecessary damage to your locks or doors. Also, they can most likely offer valuable advice on how to avoid a similar situation from happening to you in the future.

So, if you need a locksmith right now, you can contact us at this number: 0800 0612 677 for a free, no-obligation quote.

We specialise in emergency, non-destructive entry and provide top services throughout the UK, 7 days a week, 24/7.

One of our trained locksmiths can be at your home within 30-60 minutes to help you get back inside.