NYC Locksmith Since 1973
212.206.7777Commercial properties require high quality locks that can help protect their employees and assets, ensuring their safety. However, sometimes commercial locks simply need to be replaced. In this blog post, the expert commercial locksmith team here at SOS Locksmith will detail some of the top reasons and scenarios in which commercial locks require replacement.
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Front door locks are a total essential for any secure home or business. It’s the first line of strategy in any successful security infrastructure. However, locks, just like all pieces of machinery, degrade over time and sometimes require replacement. Here’s a guide from the residential security expert s here at SOS Locksmith on what to consider when you replace your front door.
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Burglar proofing windows is a combination of a few different protective actions. Windows are considered vulnerable potential burglary access points. In this blog post, the residential and commercial security experts at SOS Locksmith will go into detail regarding many of the different ways that you can make windows more secure.
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Crime statistics have proven that most burglars use front doors in order to enter homes. When you’re enhancing your security around your home, you should concentrate on your front door as a priority. Here’s a guide to some essential door security basics, as prepared by the residential lock and residential security experts here at SOS Locksmith .
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Making sure that your property is protected while you are away on your Summer Vacation is one of the ESSENTIAL components of planning (and being able to enjoy) your vacation in the first place. Here’s a guide to the most important aspects of home security that you can enforce during your Summer Vacation, so that you can make sure your property is protected – as prepared by the residential locksmith experts here at SOS Locksmith.
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Motorcycle thefts are increasing in the United States – you can prevent the loss of your precious wheels by ensuring that your motorcycle is secure and protected. Here’s a guide to SOS Locksmith’s top motorcycle security tips, as prepared by our residential security experts here at SOS Locksmith .
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Many people in 2019 opt to run Airbnbs out of their own homes or properties that they own – and however convenient this is as a way to make some extra cash, in fact, it comes with a host of unique security issues. Here’s a guide to some essential tips from your local locksmith experts here at SOS Locksmith on your Airbnb security.
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Successful burglars make the unaware security practices of normal citizens their bread and butter – relying on people’s lack of knowledge of important security aspects in order to exploit their vulnerability, and hit targets selectively. Here’s a guide to some of the most important security facets that burglars everywhere wish you were unaware of, as prepared by the residential security and commercial security experts here at SOS Locksmith .
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There’s many important security aspects of running a small business that can be easily overlooked amidst the hustle and bustle of normal business operations. However, these security factors should never be overlooked, as by doing so, you risk the safety of your personel as well as the security of your property. Here’s a guide to some integral small business security tips, as prepared by the commercial locksmith experts here at SOS Locksmith .
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Residential security, while managed through concrete practices and steps, is actually a shifting concept that’s influenced by multiple factors of how people operate their homes, some of which are commonly overlooked or considered unimportant. One of these essential factors is the way that porch lights are operated. If you’re lucky enough to have a home with a front porch or stoop, leaving your porch light on or off makes a big impact on the level of protection that your home enjoys. Here’s a guide to the home security influences of porch lights from the residential security experts at SOS Locksmith .
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A burglary occurs nearly every 18-20 seconds here in the USA – a staggering statistic that should emphasize the importance of making sure that your home and business have the necessary barriers in place to prevent this incredibly common – and damaging – crime. Here’s a guide to some surprising and little known facts about burglary, as prepared by the residential security experts here at SOS Locksmith .
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With all the hectic planning, shopping, and fun coming up this holiday season, it’s important to make sure that your home and business is protected. There’s a few essential steps that home or business owners can take in order to ensure that their property is protected during the holidays; in this blog post, the residential security experts here at SOS Locksmith will provide details as to make sure that you are protected during the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
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Panic bars are essential pieces of safety hardware that allows for the easy exit from buildings in the event of an emergency. However, there’s other benefits and uses for panic bars that are little known aside from professionals. In this blog post, the residential and commercial security experts here at S OS Locksmith will provide some details as to the history of and uses for panic bar hardware.
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The major advances in security technology have allowed for unprecedented updates in the effectiveness of home and business perimeter security available to the average consumer. In this blog post, the security experts at SOS Locksmith will detail some of the essential factors in a fully fleshed out and thorough perimeter security system.
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Here at SOS Locksmith , we think it’s essential for business owners to find a balance between strong security and budget consciousness. There’s a range of fantastic options that business owners can implement to ensure that their storefront is secure and protected – here’s a range of those options that can help you maintain your commercial security , while also saving money.
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Living on your can be incredibly peaceful, with tons of private time to be productive (or just eat ice cream in your underwear.) Here’s a guide to some essential home security tips for solo living, as prepared by the residential security experts at SOS Locksmith.
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Security cameras are a fantastic addition to any residential and/or commercial property, as they offer fantastic active security benefits, as well as functioning as a deterrent for any crime or mischief. Here’s a guide to the best outdoor security cameras out on the market today, as prepared by the security experts at SOS Locksmith .
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Losing Keys is never fun – and in fact, it can represent a major security risk to your home or business! Here’s a guide to a selection of fantastic products on the market today that can help you keep track of your keys from anywhere – as prepared by the residential lockout experts at SOS Locksmith . Simply affix these devices to your keys, and activate them when you can’t find them to sound a loud alarm that will alert you to their location.
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The residential security experts at SOS Locksmith understand all the ins and outs of ensuring that your home’s doors are protected. This can only be accomplished by layering a large variety of security aspects on top of one another, in order to block any hypothetical burglars break in methods from as many angles as possible. In this brief blog post, we’ll detail the best ways to burglar proof your doors.
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It’s a common practice for people to hide their spare house keys somewhere nearby or in front of their home for convenience, in the event of a lost or broken key. However, this isn’t always a wise strategy, as the common burglar already knows about many of these hiding spaces. As prepared by the security experts at SOS Locksmith, here’s a quick guide to some of the places one should never ever hide their keys.
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The FBI defines burglary as being the unlawful entry with intent to commit theft or a felony. Burglary does not need to include forcible entry – it just consists of the entrance into an area someone is not allowed in, with the intention of taking someone else’s property. This is different from robbery, which is defined as the theft of property or cash with a threat of violence. Burglary can be thought of in many categories including unlawful entry, attempted forced entry, and forced entry. Forced entry and unlawful entry are considered completed burglary, while attempted forced entry can be considered an attempted but failed burglary. The FBI reported records of 1,729,806 burglaries in the United States, making up over 20 percent of the year’s property crimes.
Burglaries most often happen during the day, with 2/3ds of burglaries happening during daylight. The most common times for burglary are between 10am and 2pm, most commonly between July and August when many people are on vacation. February is the month with the least common amount of burglaries. Most burglars are under the age of 25 and are amateurs, with over 50% of them being white. Drug addiction is the most common motivation for burglaries. 80 percent of burglars enter through the front door, first floor window, or back door. The master bedroom is usually the first room that gets targeted, with the home office being the second most commonly targeted area. Money is the most commonly stolen item, next to jewelry. Make sure to enlist a talented security company to help protect your home or business.
Always keep the buses in front of your home or apartment trimmed to reduce the amount of places a burglar could hide. Keeping a well manicured yard tells burglars that you’re paying attention to your property.
If you’re going to be out of town, make sure to temporarily discontinue your mail. If there’s a pile of undelivered mail or newspapers in front of your home, it broadcasts the fact that you’re not home and advertises your property to burglars.
Install deadbolts on the entry doors of your home. These are an extra layer of security that go on top of standard home locks.
Ask your neighbors for help checking up on your property when you’re gone, just to make sure that everything is alright.
Make sure to store your valuables in falsely labeled containers in the cabinet, wrapped up in foil like leftovers in the freezer, or in mislabeled old boxes in your garage to decrease the likelihood of the burglar finding any of your possessions.
Check your alarm system to make sure it’s working right, and test it regularly. The presence of a security alarm system, which can be advertised by signs, can scare many burglars off from potentially attempting home break ins.
Make sure to always lock your doors and windows – the majority of burglaries only last 8 to 12 minutes, and unlocked doors make a burglar’s job much easier.
Take out anything that a burglar could use to break into your home from your front yard or the vicinity of your home – including ladders or toolboxes.
Install outdoor lighting fit with timers or motion sensors. This makes your home more visible to passersby and makes it harder for burglars to attempt burglary without being caught. Lights triggered by motion detectors can surprise and scare off burglars, decreasing the chances of a breakin.
Be very aware of who has keys to your home and only give spare keys to close friends or family members, rather than leaving one under your doormat or an obviously placed rock in front of your house.
Summertime is a season of tons of extreme thunderstoms, many of which can knock out power grids and cause blackouts. Power outages in average last under 25 minutes, but sometimes this is enough time for a burglar to take solid advantage of the blackout to steal from your home. Here’s some tips prepared by the experts at SOS Locksmith to help you figure out how to stay safe in a home security framework during a power outage.
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Most people would never leave their car sitting on the street while unlocked – even when it’s next to their own home. Everybody understands the essential value of a working vehicular lock – but not many people understand the possibility of your car having a twin key. While this seems unlikely, you might be surprised how common this truly is. Here’s SOS Locksmith ’s guide to twin car keys.
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Break-ins are increasing in New York City . You might be surprised how fast and easy someone can get into your house – all with simple tools like a bent nail, a credit card, and a thin piece of cut metal.
There’s tons of information available on the internet for wannabe burglars – with full of tutorials teaching them how to break into a large amount of specific lock brands. This puts the responsibility of preventing burglary fully on you. Only you can implement the necessary security features to protect your property.
The first place to implement protection is the doorknob. You need to have solid locks installed – including a deadbolt, which is the number one preventer of burglaries.
The most common objects taken from homes or cars are weapons, medicine, computers, electronics, jewelry, and small safes. The heartbreaking fact is that most burglaries are committed by people who have been in your home, who have an inside knowledge of where everything is.
A way to limit your vulnerability to burglary is to switch up your home habits. Don’t turn off the lights when you go to bed at the same time – consider using a timer on different nights. Don’t leave your garage open the entire time you’re home and close it when you leave. Make sure your blinds aren’t being opened and shut on a schedule that signals to outsiders whether or not you’re home. If people can see into your home, they can isolate and learn your habits – so switch them up. Make sure to check your door frames and window seals near bushes or large trees for evidence of any break in.
Surveillance cameras can be extremely important aspects of full security systems , and they have a plethora of specific benefits. New York City businesses always have security cameras, you can notice them on the street. NYC business owners, landlords, or even apartment dwellers understand the importance of security in such a large city, and utilize CCTV systems for both the peace of mind they can provide people, as well as their full range of practical benefits.
Security camera systems can help make workplaces much more secure – and if you’re seeking an extra level of security, we advise you to speak to your local commercial locksmith about the efficacy of this important safety feature.
Closed circuit television systems, or CCTV systems, can help people stay abreast of the security of their residence or business. These systems have multiple benefits. You can utilize CCTV systems to watch your property in real-time down to the second, making it a 24/7 security guard. You also have the option of recording all captured footage so you can review it at any later time you want – which is a fantastic feature if you do end up suffering an unfortunate burglary – as it can help instantly identify the perpetrator. If you provide this footage to local police or insurance figures it can greatly help your case or claims of loss if anything from a burglary to a vandalism or sudden, strange fire occurs.
CCTV systems can be hidden, if you’re looking to find a monitoring solution in somewhat more discreet of a fashion, or can be mounted in an easily spotted place – which is a great strategy of deterrence. Anybody passing your property and considering a break-in may notice the CCTV system and change their minds about even attempting the crime – opting to move on to another property that seems to lack a security system. This is just one of the many reasons that CCTV systems actively guard against vandalism or crime in New York City homes or businesses.
Regardless of where you live, home break-ins are a serious concern among anyone who owns a home. Homes are broken into more often than commercial properties, due to the perception of their vulnerabilities. A home burglary happens every 13 seconds in the United States. Even if you’re not home during the break-in, it absolutely affects your sense of safety and comfort in your home. The good news is that there’s many actions that you can undertake to help discourage any form of burglary – here’s some of them:
It’s much easier to break into empty homes – so many burglars will only try to break into homes if they can verify that the homeowner’s away. Whether you’re at work or vacation, make sure to make it look like someone is inside your home. Install automatic locks or set locks on timers to establish the illusion of some sort of routine presence in the home – also make sure that on days you’re not home that your neighbor picks up your mail – and puts your garbage can outside on days the garbage truck comes to collect it.
Many families hide spare keys under their doormat or a fake rock – in case someone forgets their existing key. This is never, ever a good idea. Your hiding spot isn’t that secret – many burglars are crafty and familiar with how popular and common this trend used to be – they can easily locate most hiding spots; instead, make sure to give a trusted friend or neighbor a copy of the key.
Many burglars come into homes through a side door, garage, window, or side door. Make sure that when you’re not using them that all windows in your home are locked – especially when you’re not home. If your locks don’t work properly, make sure to call Nonstop Locksmiths right away for a quick and easy repair.
Get your Nonstop Technician to install a deadbolt on each door in your home. They are much more secure, and make it much more difficult for burglars to access your home.
Your neighbors can be the best protection against break-ins – make sure to be friendly with them, and they will look over your home with the best intentions when you’re not home – and will of course call the police is they see any suspicious activity.
You don’t need to be absent from your home or business for days for a burglar to be able to break in and steal your belongings. Burglars can break into steal from you and leave you with serious physical loss in a matter of minutes or hours. This is why having a professional security audit performed is incredibly important.
Security audits can be simply defined as a security check performed amateurly by a homeowner, or a professional like those at SOS, who will check all security systems, and make sure that they are working properly. Security audits are of vast importance, as they highlight the true level of security in your home, and whether or not it’s exposed to burglaries.
Residential security audits take a macro view of your home security – you take on the perspective of the burglar to see if there’s any holes in the security infrastructure or loopholes that you can squeeze through. It can open your eyes as to what areas of your home are most vulnerable, like unsecured doors, broken locks, windows, or walls, or exposed and easy to access windows. This also helps test the resiliency to burglary attempts of existing security infrastructure.
Living in a property with an untrustworthy security system isn’t fun. Whether you’re concerned about the lock system’s stability, or unprotected sliding doors on your patio, you’re going to sleep better with the assurance that everything is working correctly. Home security audits help eliminate the fear of unknown security flaws, and allows homeowners a sense of metal peace. Of course, every single aspect and area of the hme need to be covered.
Home security audits pay attention to every small detail in your home, and it may help you realize that there’s security items that you don’t own, or aren’t in place. You can then list these items and discuss whether you want to invest in them. Of course, CCTV cameras aren’t always necessary, but they can certainly boost your security – just as much as upgrading your existing locks to deadbolts.
Many forms of home insurance exist today that help protect homeowners against burglary fire or other mishaps. Insurance companies have familiarized themselves with the manys cams or false claims lodged by customers – so they now require proof of loss for a pay off. By getting your home professionally security audited, it can end up as a fortunate cataloguing that you can send to any insurance firm during their investigations to verify the truth of their claim. Having a security audit is incredibly helpful, and a wise and practical choice for any homeowner concerned about burglary.
Gun safes have interiors that are meant to hold long guns, such as rifles, shotguns, carbines, and muskets. Long guns are usually defined by the extended lengths of their barrels, as opposed to the length of the weapon mechanisms itself. The National Firearms Act sets a minimum length for shotgun barrels at 18 inches and 16 inches for rifles. The majority of gun safes are at least 53 inches tall, however their specific size and layouts are different based on the model and manufacturer.
Gun safes are somewhat cheaper than home safes of similar sizes, since they are more widely manufactured and more intensely discounted. They are available in many sizes and colors, including bright, pastelly, pink varieties.
Gun safes are usually rated as Residential Security Containers (or RSCs.) Some un-rated gun safes are available, which isn’t a problem for people that are unaware of the rating system – however, many insurance companies offer protection for safes that meet a minimum RSC rating. These companies monitor the rating of safes based on the thickness of the door and body steel. They can be rated from B down the alphabet scale. The RSC listings are made based on testing by professional safe-crackers who attempt to gain entry into the safe working off complete blueprints of the lock mechanism. If these technician/testers cannot gain entry into the safe within 5 minutes, then that model and make of safe will receive a letter certification.
Most gun safes are fire rated between 20 minutes to over 2 hours. Gun safe manufacturers have the option of using a wide variety of testing groups, and can even fund their own tests. Because of this, fire tests for gun safes aren’t uniformly applied across the range of separate brands; if you’re looking for a specifically fire rated gun safe, it might be smart to research the exact specifications for the manufacturer’s testing to ensure that it qualifies for your requirements.
Important things to consider
Consider the value of the property you will be placing in the safe when purchasing it; this way you can have a clearer idea of what rating you will require.
If you’re buying a fingerprint scanner safe, enter the same fingerprint multiple times from different angles – this way, in case of an emergency where you need to quickly open the safe, you can be sure that the safe will be able to get opened quickly and easily.
Great advances have been made in the last few years with biometrics technology on the residential consumer level. This allows homeowners to get easy protected security and access to their doors without the need to search for keys. Biometric locks use thermal or optical scanners to memorize and read your fingerprints (or the fingerprints of those who have access to your home.)
It’s usually fairly easy to open biometric doors; simply press your fingerprint (or hand, depending on the machinery set-up,) and the device will detect your unique characteristics. Then, simply press an authentication code into the attached keypad in order to open up the lock.
No more keys. Since you take your fingers everywhere with you, biometric locks offer the most convenience and fast entry for authorized users.
Biometric Based Power – Most biometric security systems have alternate modes of key access just in case the battery operated systems stop working.
It’s important to understand that some biometric scanners will stop recognizing your fingerprints if you receive a cut on your fingers or develop a scar that covers your fingerprints.
Pricing – most biometric doors range in price from 69 dollars to 300 or more, and most can be easily purchased at home improvement or hardware stores.
The SecuGen Hamster Optical Fingerprint Reader can be linked up to any Windows operating system as a computer based security protocol. This device was designed to work using specially written software to create high-quality records of fingerprints from a wide range of fingers – even wet, dry, aged, or scarred skin, any any type of ambient weather, even rain or direct sunlight.
The BioBox fingerprint safe is portable, sized small enough to store items like cash, jewelry, medication, or even a gun. Simply press the tip of your finger into the scanner for one second access. You can store up to 30 fingerprints, so it allows for a wide breadth of users, and works simply with only four AA batteries.
The BioAxxis Biometric Deadbolt sounds an incredibly loud alarm if anyone tries to fiddle with it or break it. This lock was named one of the best fingerprint door locks on the market by Good Housekeeping’s research division, and is priced at a mere 69 dollars.
