business security

Business Security: Tips for Lock Safety

If you own a business, security should be a top priority. In addition to the threat of a break-in, you have to consider the potential risks that current or former employees could pose. Here are some tips to keep your business, merchandise, money, and data safe.

Use Locks Wisely

Locks are obviously essential to keep your business secure. You should have strong locks on every door to the building, as well as on any storage or maintenance areas or separate buildings on the property.

You should have locks at numerous other locations, including areas where merchandise and supplies are stored. If you keep cash in a safe, put it in a room behind a locked door for an added layer of security. If you have computers or paper files where you store sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, contracts, financial documents, and personnel records, keep them in a locked room. Only give keys to areas with valuable property or sensitive information to people you trust who have a legitimate need to be in those places.

Make sure you choose locks that would be difficult to pick or force open. If someone breaks into your business, your insurance company will check to make sure you had quality locks and were making a concerted effort to keep the building secure.

Rekey Locks

In any business, employees are going to quit or be fired from time to time. If those workers had been given keys to the building, they might have made copies, which creates a security risk. Sometimes employees don’t leave on good terms, and in other cases, employees act like things are fine, then come back to commit a break-in. Some workers even take a job with the intention of gaining the owner’s or manager’s trust, obtaining a key, quitting, and then coming back to commit a robbery. If a person’s employment has ended, you should immediately rekey the locks as a matter of course, regardless of your relationship with the former employee or your opinion of that person.

Consider Keyless Entry

A more modern option is installing keyless locks that can be opened with a key card, fob, or access code. This system makes it easy to control who has access to each part of the building and can provide you with a record of who entered and left an area and when. If theft or vandalism occurs, that record will make it easier to figure out who is responsible. If an employee quits or is fired, you can immediately deactivate that person’s access card or change the code, rather than pay a locksmith to rekey the locks each time someone’s employment ends.

Call a Locksmith

All American Locksmiths is a full-service company serving commercial businesses of all types and sizes. Whether you need to install, replace, or rekey a single lock or want to create a sophisticated security system for a large building, we are up to the task. Call us today.

house keys

Stop Someone from Entering Your Home without Your Permission – Change the Locks!

Your home is the place where you should feel the safest. The idea of discovering an intruder, or finding that your valuables have been stolen, is enough to worry anyone. Many people fail to realize that unauthorized access often occurs when someone uses a key to enter a home. In some circumstances, it makes sense to change the locks to stay safe.

After Moving

When you move into a new apartment, you should have the locks changed. Someone who used to live in your home could have kept a key. If the locks are unchanged, that person could walk right into your apartment and take off with your belongings. If you are renting a new apartment, ask the landlord if the locks were changed after the previous tenant moved out. In many cities and states, landlords are legally required to change the locks when a unit changes hands.

If you have bought a new house, the previous owners could still have keys. It is also possible that they gave keys to their friends, family members, or neighbors so those people could pick up mail, water plants, or take care of pets while the owners were away. You have no way of knowing if the previous owners or anyone else still has a key. Change the locks to be on the safe side.

After a Relationship Ends

If your relationship status has changed, either because of a divorce or a breakup with someone you were dating, you should change the locks. Even if you separated amicably, you never know if that person might decide to show up unannounced, either to talk or to do you harm. If your roommate moved out, or if you had a falling out with a family member or friend who has a key to your home, changing the locks can give you peace of mind.

After Losing Keys

If you or someone you live with has lost a key to your home, change the locks. If the key was lost somewhere in the neighborhood, a person could find the key and go from house to house or from apartment to apartment trying locks until finding the one where the key works. If you lost your key along with your identification that has your address, change the locks immediately.

Call a Locksmith

The locks on your doors are your first line of defense against intruders. In many cases, theft, vandalism, and violence occur because people gave keys to people they trusted and then circumstances changed, or because residents didn’t know who was given a key by someone else. If you recently moved, had a change in your living situation or relationship status, or lost your keys, play it safe and change the locks.

All American Locksmiths is available to help 24/7. If you are concerned about someone entering your house without your permission, call us today so we can change your locks and give you peace of mind.

home burglar

Did Someone Break Into Your House? Here’s How to Bounce Back

If someone just broke into your home, then you’re probably dealing with a whirl of different emotions. It’s normal to feel confused, sad, or angry. After all, someone just made your home feel unsafe.

Don’t Blame Yourself

Before you do anything, remember that it’s not your fault. It’s also not your spouse’s fault, your son’s fault, your father’s fault, or your friend’s fault. There’s only one person to blame: the intruder. Life is full of ups and downs, and when you experience a low like this, it is possible to recover stronger than ever before. Once you’ve accepted this, it’s time to pick up the pieces and take steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Don’t Touch Anything—Call The Police First

While it can be tempting to start cleaning up, it’s best to call the authorities first. Before they arrive, scan your home for any missing items, and record what you find (or don’t find) on an itemized list. Once you’ve noted what items are missing, write down everything as you remember it:

  • Were you home when the incident occurred?
  • If not, what time did you arrive?
  • Retrace your steps from the day/night before
  • Can you identify the break-in point?

Recording this information will help you get your bearings straight, and it will help the police understand the situation better. All of these items will be placed on a police report, so it’s important to be as detailed as possible. If you do discover that specific valuables are missing from your home, including their approximate value on your itemized list.

Call Your Insurance Company

After the police report has been properly documented, file a claim with your insurance company. Regardless of whether you have homeowners or renters insurance, your policy should offer at least some kind of reimbursement for items that were stolen; however, before your insurance company can release funds to you, they must first send an adjuster to perform their own inspection. Even with the police report at your disposal, the insurance adjuster must still determine if the recorded information is accurate.

If your insurance company does send an adjuster to assess the situation, they may ask that you refrain from touching anything until their investigation is complete. Depending on your policy coverages, you may have the option of staying in a hotel for the duration of their visit. This benefit varies by carrier and plan, so be sure to ask your insurance company if this is an available option for you.

3 Ways To Keep Robbers Out

Once you’ve documented everything, filed an insurance claim, and cleaned up any damages, it’s important to improve your home’s security. To make your home safer, follow these tips.

  1. Install Deadbolt Locks

    Deadbolt locks are thicker and tougher than a traditional latch; therefore, deadbolts are harder for a burglar to pick, and would be a viable solution. If you’re in need of an emergency locksmith, then give us a call. All American locksmiths will help you choose and install the locks that fit your needs.

  1.  Security Cameras, Automated Lights, & Beware of Dog Signs

    Most people know how effective security alarm systems can be. If a full-service security system does not work with your current budget, then you should still install a security camera. These can be relatively inexpensive and can be placed in a high position. The sight of a security camera can help scare away would-be intruders.

    Automated lights can also help to deter robbers. Most break-ins occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Why? Because intruders assume that most people are at work during that time, which is probably accurate. Automated lights help to create the illusion that you are home.

    Even if you don’t have a dog, many burglars will think twice about breaking in if they see a “beware of dog” sign.

  1. Be Vigilant

    Even though most break-ins do happen during normal business hours, attempts are still made at night, or in the wee hours of the morning. If you do hear sounds of an intruder, then call the police as quickly and quietly as possible. Many robbers are cowards. While we do not advise confronting them yourself, it is a good idea to keep a baseball bat in your bedroom just in case you do need to defend yourself.

    Television actor William Daniels, best known for his roles in “Boy Meets World,” “St. Elsewhere” and “Knight Rider,” recently foiled an attempted burglary at his Los Angeles home. The 91-year old scared the intruder away when he turned the kitchen light on. Daniels proves that vigilance definitely pays off!