holiday home

Holiday Security Tips to Keep Your Home Safe

The holidays are a time for happiness and cheer. While most people are spending time with loved ones or enjoying a family vacation, thieves and burglars are plotting their next attempt to steal from easy targets.

This time of year is especially critical to be vigilant about home security since it’s when your home will likely have expensive gifts or cash lying around. It’s also the time when most of us are out and about, traveling and not guarding those possessions.

Here are some tips to keep your home safe this holiday season.

Lock Up

It can be easy with all of the holiday frenzy happening as you rush out the door to make it to mom’s dinner engagement on time, to forget to lock your doors. This leaves you as an easy target for burglary. Many thefts occur when people simply forget to use their locks. Always check and triple check that all doors, windows, cars and entry ways are locked to discourage burglars when you’re home, before bed, and as you’re heading out.

Rekeying

If you’re worried about who may have a copy of your keys (strangers or people you know) gaining unauthorized access to your home while you’re away, consider having the locks rekeyed. A locksmith can come out and change the cylinder and pins inside the current lock so that only a new key will fit and work with it. Alternatively, you can have high security or pick resistant locks installed.

Fake It

An age old trick to shy away burglars is to leave a light on, make your home look occupied even if it’s not. If you’re going away from a trip don’t announce it to social media and alert would-be crooks about your absence. Also you’ll want to plan out how to deal with your mail and news delivery so it isn’t obvious no one has been home to collect it.

Invest in Video Monitoring

Today the cost for many of these technologies is declining so monitoring your premises isn’t a far-fetched or expensive idea to consider. From service provider offerings to cloud-based self-installs, it’s easier than ever now to view what’s happening at your home from your mobile device.

All American Locksmiths understands just how important protecting your family and your valuables is. We provide prompt lockout services, new locks, and more throughout Connecticut & Westchester County, including communities like Elmsford, Trumbull, Fairfield, Darien, and Greenwich.

Find out more about our locksmith services.

man on mobile phone

How to Choose a Locksmith

Being locked out is never fun. It always seems to happen at the wrong time, and trying to figure out how you’ll get back into your car or home quickly, can be frustrating. Locksmiths are a solution many turn to at this stressful time in hopes to resolve the issue. But picking just any locksmith doesn’t mean the job will get done, or get done right.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes time to make that important call for a locksmith.

Do Your Research

As with any service you purchase, it’s important to do some research before you make a decision. Today having access to the Internet on our mobile devices makes it pretty simple to search for a service and get recommended listings for businesses that can help. It’s just as easy to perform a search for other’s reviews on that company. You should first head to the website and see if there are the services you need listed (car lockout, rekeying, new locks etc.) and look for approval seals such as the Better Business Bureau which protects consumers.

Go Local

It’s always best to choose a company that’s based within your local area if you want speedy and trusted service. The locksmith business can sometimes get a bad rap from outsourced companies that send out unskilled professionals or overcharge for services. Picking up the phone and giving a company a call to speak about the price and any other concerns you may have can help you in selecting the right option for your needs.

Check with Your Insurance

Some insurance policies and other memberships like AAA may include lockout services, but you’ll have to choose from a list of providers and be sure your situation qualifies. Still it could end up saving you some money if you just take the extra time to find out your options.

Use a Licensed Professional

The last thing you’ll need after this problem, is another. Always be sure to use a licensed professional who has acquired the proper skills to perform the task at hand. Ask to see the locksmith’s credentials before he begins any work. Remember if you’re using someone who isn’t insured and licensed, and something happens on or to your property, you’ll be out of pocket for those costs as well.

Contact All American Locksmiths today for prompt lockout services, new locks, and more throughout Connecticut & Westchester County.

Need Mailbox Lock Replacement Services in CT? Call All American Locksmiths

apartment mailboxes

Waiting in line at the post office is probably one of those things people push to the very bottom of their to-do list. Most times the wait can be long and inconvenient. Luckily, there aren’t many reasons today to have to go to the post office. Drop boxes in various locations and scheduling a mail pickup are all possible now.

Mail services are still taken seriously though and carriers are working hard to ensure mail is delivered. But if you have a central mailbox at your apartment complex or condo, that can sometimes complicate things. Rules for proper drop off procedures and faulty locks on mailboxes or lost keys can all cause mail deliveries to be delayed, or worse — the need to head over to the post office to pick up your mail.

If you are in need of a mailbox lock replacement in CT,  All American Locksmiths is a great choice. Read more “Need Mailbox Lock Replacement Services in CT? Call All American Locksmiths”