LockRite Locksmiths Blog
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Why does a locksmith cost so much?
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Recent Posts
How To Secure Your Sliding Glass Door
2022 experienced a summer that kept on giving! Over the last few months, we have experienced some truly gorgeous sunny weather, and the majority of us have thrown open our windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate and cool down our houses and apartments.
However, burglary rates tend to rise along with the temperature: burglaries were up from 16,294 in April to 17,274 in July, with a burglary occurring every 106 seconds (Review42). It’s even more important to consider how to secure your home in the summer months. Lots of us have French doors and sliding doors in rooms which allow direct access to the garden. This is a fantastic feature to have, and is great for opening up access to green space, and bringing the outdoors in. Nevertheless, remembering to secure your sliding glass door after a day outside is crucial in order to stop burglars taking advantage of easy access into your house. Take a look below to find out some of the best ways to secure your sliding glass door, and keep your house secure during the warmer weather.
Check your door frame
If you are considering getting sliding doors put in, it is important to ensure the door frame is sturdy enough to support locking mechanisms. Sliding doors come in different styles, so consider if you want one or both doors to slide, and how you will be able to secure them effectively. Applying a shatterproof window film to the sliding door also enhances security, in giving an additional layer of protection.
Install a sliding glass door lock
It may be stating the obvious, but fitting a lock that is specially designed for sliding glass doors is key to ensuring the door is as burglar proof as it can be. Sliding glass door locks are an addition to the standard lock which the doors will come with, and give additional protection. They are attached at the top of the door, meaning they can’t accidentally be tampered with by children, and make it impossible to force the door open. Sliding door locks also come with the added benefit of 2 settings; for when the door is locked completely, or locked with a gap to allow air circulation in a secure way.
Install a deadbolt or door brace
If you want to add even more security, then it might be worth considering a deadbolt or door brace to help secure your sliding glass doors. Most sliding doors permit the addition of a deadbolt, and is ideal for ensuring the door can’t slide back. For French doors, we would recommend the addition of a door brace, which can withstand a lot of pressure. They ensure that the doors remain in place, however much force is applied and even if the doors are unlocked. We can supply and fit a great range of locks, and our expert locksmiths are happy to talk you through which lock would work best for you.
Install CCTV
It’s now a common occurrence to have a camera fitted at the front of the house, but it could also be a good idea to install one at the back, for added security and more peace of mind. We install the Yale Smart Home CCTV, which connects straight to your smartphone, and can be set up to record continuously or when motion is detected. We also fit PIR Sensors, which detect movement and sound an alarm when movement is detected.
Follow our steps to make sure you know how to secure your sliding door, and get in touch today with one of our local locksmiths who will be happy to help. Make sure to check out our other great blog posts about how to protect against common methods used to enter your home, as well as the 5 benefits of changing your locks, so you can be as protected as possible.
Supporting National Home Security Month 2022
LockRite is proud to be supporting this year’s National Home Security Month (NHSM) campaign. NHSM is an annual campaign run by leading security specialist, Yale, and this year, NHSM is celebrating its tenth consecutive campaign.
As it’s been for the last decade, National Home Security Month’s main aim is to raise the importance of home security to homeowners across the UK. And now 10 years later, NHSM continues to push home security to the forefront throughout October.
As part of this year’s NHSM campaign, LockRite will be involved in a range of activities to promote the campaign throughout October 2022, providing security advice and tips through blog posts on the NHSM website and social media.
With the clocks going back and autumn on the doorstep, October is a particularly prevalent time for domestic burglaries, making improved home security an even bigger priority for homeowners. With a survey from Yale also revealing that two thirds of Brits haven’t upgraded their home security in the last two years1, there’s no better time to ensure your home security is up to scratch.
Enlisting the help of the trusted home security experts at Yale, National Home Security Month will be sharing their knowledge and expertise to best advice the areas of the home that need prioritising at this time of year. By ensuring high risk areas such as the front door, garages and sheds are secured, homeowners can rest assured their home, family and belongings are protected.
Alongside their top tips and advice, the experts will also be sharing the best home security products on the market to ensure homes have heightened security over the vulnerable autumn period.
From smart security products, including smart alarms, CCTV systems and smart locks, to a range of mechanical solutions including 3-star cylinders, padlocks and safes, the campaign will feature high-quality security products to update the protection of any home.
For more information and handy tips and advice from this year’s National Home Security Month from Yale, visit www.homesecuritymonth.com or search #NHSM2022 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
1Apoll of 2000 UK Adults (Nationally Representative) run by OnePoll, commissioned by Yale UK, 2022
Does Inflation Lead To An Increase In Crime?
It’s been a tough couple of years for both businesses and people alike. First, the COVID pandemic, which stopped the world in its tracks for over a year and a half, and led to an unemployment rate of nearly 4%. Then, just as the economy was starting to get back on its feet, war broke out between Russia and Ukraine and caused the fuel prices to rocket sky high. The cost of living is also increasing in general, with energy tariffs increasing a whopping 54% and the food prices all on the increase, it is getting harder to make ends meet.
In May 2022, the UK’s annual inflation rate was 9.1%, the highest it has been since 1982. As everyone starts to feel the pinch and people have to get by on the bare minimum, the lure of theft becomes more attractive. So, what is the link between inflation and crime rates?
Why does inflation increase crime?
According to Crime and Justice, ‘Inflation may be connected to crime through the dynamics of markets for stolen goods. As prices rise, the demand for cheap stolen goods grows, which strengthens incentives to increase the supply of stolen merchandises’.
During the first lockdown when people were pretty much confined to their houses and desperate for an escape, searches for bicycles rocketed and manufacturers simply couldn’t keep up with demand. This has led to a 55% increase in bike thefts up and down the UK in early 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, as people couldn’t afford to pay premium prices to acquire their set of wheels.
Some researchers suggest that inflation may be a better indication of rising crime levels than unemployment or general economic hardship. Shoplifting and thefts surge due to inflation, so it’s more important than ever to ensure your house and valuables are well-protected.
How can I reduce the impact of inflation, and reduce the risk of a burglary?
Sadly, it’s impossible to predict how long inflation will last, and as we head towards the winter months, it is likely that crime rates will increase as people struggle to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. It can take up a lot of headspace worrying about the effects of both inflation and crime; and although there isn’t much that you can do to reduce inflation, you can take active steps to safeguard your house against break-ins. Ensuring you have an up-to-date security system will give you complete peace of mind that your belongings are protected and give you one less thing to worry about! Knowing your house is as safe as it can be allows you to completely relax when inside, as well as automatically increase feelings of well-being and promote positive mental health. The positive effects of feeling completely safe and secure inside your home cannot be overstated, so it’s really worth safeguarding your home as best you can.
What can I do to protect my home and possessions during inflation?
With a recession looming, now is the perfect time to consider upgrading your security or fixing any security issues which need to be resolved at home. This is especially important during the summer months, when people are more likely to leave their doors and windows open, and not give as much thought to safeguarding their house.
Make sure your locks are up to date, and to change any that are faulty. Sticky or loose locks that don’t open and close smoothly are not only frustrating for the homeowner, but also mean they offer an easier target for thieves looking to gain entry. Our specialist locksmiths can supply, fit, change or repair a wide variety of locks, so get in touch today to ensure your house is well-protected. We also offer a security survey, to give additional advice about how to better protect your home and your treasured possessions. For even more peace of mind, we also offer alarm installation, which acts as a great deterrent: 60% of burglars say they would be discouraged from targeting a house if they knew the owners had an alarm installed.
It is clear to see that the rising costs of living and inflation do sadly have a big increase in crime rates, so don’t leave yourself vulnerable. Make sure to check out our other great blogs about how to protect against common methods use to enter your home, as well as the 5 benefits of changing your locks, so you can be as protected as possible. Get in touch today with one of our local locksmiths who will be happy to help.
Post Categories
Locksmith Services
If you’re locked out, we can get you back in! We’re experts at picking locks and gaining entry.
We change, repair and fit a wide variety of locks, including : Mortice Locks & Euro Cylinders.
Our expert locksmiths can supply and fit the latest digital smart locks. Including the Yale Linus.
Our trained locksmiths can supply and fit the latest High definition CCTV to your home or business premises.
Our locksmiths can provide boarding services to secure your home or commercial premises.
We offer a full security survey service. Do you really know how secure your home or property is?
We can cut extra keys for your home or office. Our locksmiths carry a range of key blanks.
Smart Security Installed
Yale Linus
Smart Lock
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale Conexis
Smart Lock
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
Yale Keyless
Connected Smart Lock
The Keyless Lock allows you complete control over how you lock your home. Unlock with a PIN, key card, key tag, remote fob or your phone.
Yale Sync Alarm
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale CCTV
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
