Types Of Locks Part I

Determining the type of lock you have on your door can greatly assist your locksmith professional to determine the better course of action for repair or replacement of the hardware on your doors.

Understanding the differences between lock styles is fairly simple and easy for anyone to distinguish.

We will try to describe some of the popularly found lock styles in this and future posts, to assist customers wishing to source for repair or replacement products.

These are the commonly used cams found on the back (rear) of most threaded mortise cylinders. Identifying this cam on your cylinder requires you to remove the cylinder from the door.

This is a brief diagram of a standard mortise type cylinder found in commercial and residential vestibule mortise locksets. The critical measurement here is "C", where by the length of the cylinder determines the width of your door.

It is necessary to remove this cylinder from your door, to be able to determine the correct length. Standard lengths are 1.125" & 1.25".

Special order cylinders can be purchased in longer lengths if required.

Making Keys To Cars

Many locksmiths across the world are often called upon by customers to duplicate or re-create original keys for cars, trucks, buses, motor homes, prime movers, motorcycles and other motor driven equipment.

Since 1995, many automobile manufacturers have included advanced security features to their products, in an attempt to provide their customers with state of the art protection, reduce incidence of theft and also to provide advanced diagnostics information for mechanics and repairers.

When the auto industry started evolving, many customers found themselves only able to duplicate modern auto keys at their respective dealerships. Not Anymore!

Thanks to the excellent research and development of companies like Advanced Diagnostics, locksmiths across the world have been able to purchase suitable equipment to enable the duplication and origination of automobile keys.

There have also been many advances in the locksmith industry in relation to the ability to make keys for cars without the need to remove lock cylinders. Tools like EEZ Readers, Determinators etc, reduce the need to dismantle doors or ignitions, significantly speeding up the time required to perform key origination requests.

Many locksmiths posess the ability to code cut keys to customers providing the original keycode for their vehicles. But, the greater majority of customers never recorded the original keycode information after initial purchase, causing increased expense when the need arose to make new keys. In recent times, many automobile manufacturers have started to produce their vehicles without keycodes embossed on the lock cylinders and dealers usually only maintained records for up to 5 years.

A new law is about to come into effect in California next year thanks to the efforts of the National Automotive Services Task Force (NASTF), that will require all dealer representatives to provide 24 hour keycode assistance to customers. The sticking point in this new legislation is that only approved locksmiths (ALOA members) and other specific trades, will be allowed to access this information. No doubt, the ability to access vehicle codes will impact the industry with likely increased prices for the purchase of code information, there are a few locksmiths who will never require the codes because, the level of training they have completed will enable them to provide services to customers in spite of the attempted industry regulating efforts of NASTF.

When customers seek new keys for their vehicles, I recommend they seek out a qualified locksmith professional with the appropriate transponder programming equipment, who can offer services only a properly trained technician can perform.

At Locks210.com, we consider ourselves reasonably proficient in many locksmith duties and tasks, however we are not currently suitably qualified or equipped to provide the expert assistance necessary to perform automotive key manufacturing requests.

We strongly recommend the services of our colleague Patrick Chapman of St Louis Lock & Key (314)494-2510.

If you are located in Vancouver, British Columbia or the surrounding area, we have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Mike Behr of Behr Lock Inc (604)880-9891.

If you are located in the Winnipeg, Manitoba region, we strongly recommend Darren Ingleson of Wildwood Lock & Security (204)791-7911.

Animal Repellant Device

There are many and varied forms of security. Many people may think that a security device is designed to protect from human intruders.

While this is true with locks and alarm systems, CCTV and other sensors, sometimes people also intend to secure or protect their gardens from unwanted pests or animal intruders.

Enter the Bell & Howell Animal Repeller.

This intelligent device is a stand alone, battery powered sensor and alarm that emits a high pitched sound inaudible to humans, but truly disturbing to animals.

This type of device might be the perfect gift for the avid gardener who wants to protect the precious roses or vegetable crop from wild animals.

At $29.95 it's a steal.

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Motion Activated Owl Sensor

Not necessarily a security device but this unique product might have some security features for helping ward off animals or pests in your yard.

You could also use it as a Halloween prop.

A motion sensing alarm that sounds and looks like an owl.

When it detects movement within 4-6 feet, owl turns its head to look and lets out a loud, lifelike “hoo hoo.” It can also be set for head movement only. Life-size and made of durable, weather-resistant polyresin. Can be mounted (hardware included). Uses 3 AA batteries (not included).

8" w x 7" d x 16" h.

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Wireless Key Locator

This ingenious device is the perfect gadget for people who constantly misplace their keys.

Never lose your keys again
No more morning panics—just press one of the color-coded buttons and wait for the loud alarm to sound, showing you where to find your keys.

Works at a range of 60 feet
Do you tend to lose your keys in the couch, under the bed, on the kitchen counter? It doesn’t matter, the Wireless Key Finder will find them up to 60 feet away, through floors, walls, even sofa cushions!

Specifications

Includes two colored key fobs Uses two AAA batteries (not included)

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Crime Statistics

Living in the St Louis Metropolitan area, I thought it might be advantageous to develop a monthly report here, listing the quantity of robbery, break and enter and theft statistics reported to police departments in various metropolitan localities.

It is my intention to display a new report monthly, based of information obtained by participating police agencies.

I will not list the actual addresses but I will try to give numbers of instances in Robbery, Burglary, Theft and Alarms.

The first area reported is Maryland Heights, MO. 30 days 9/23/08 - 10/23/08



62 Alarm reports - Burglar in house
10 Break and Enters
4 x No Force Entry
5 x Forced Entry
1 x Attempted Entry
27 Property Crimes
14 x Damage to Private Property
3 x Trespassing on Private Property
6 x 1st Degree Property Damage
1 x 2nd Degree Property Damage
3 x Damage to City Property
1 Robbery Report
60 Theft Reports
23 x Motor Vehicle Related
2 x Coin Machine Thefts
10 x Building Related Thefts
9 x Passing Bad Check
2 x Identity Theft
14 x Other
5 Motor Vehicle Thefts.


Being in the physical security industry, it is astonishing to discover the quantity of reported crimes. One has to wonder about all the non-reported crimes too.

As a locksmith professional and physical security equipment provider, Locks210.com installs many state of the art products that are designed to protect from crimes of these nature.

To find out how we can help you to protect your property from potential crimes, contact us for an obligation free assessment.

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Why do Car Keys Cost So Much?

I recently came across an article, in another locksmiths website (C&R Mobile Locksmith - Belleville Il), that explained the story of car keys as it relates to modern times.

There is a little history of car keys, a little explanation of why original manufacture or duplication of keys costs so much and some of the theory behind the introduction of these keys.

A former ALOA representative also chimes in to explain why locksmiths also tend to charge relatively high prices for duplication or original manufacture.

At the time of the article (2002), it was not uncommon for some locksmiths to have paid in excess of $50,000.00 for the suitable equipment required to provide services to requesting customers. Today, it is substantially cheaper to purchase the modern equipment necessary if a locksmith were to consider adding auto-transponder keys and services to the inventory of products, but even so, the prices for making duplicates is considered astronomical. The prices for originals (if you have lost yours, say), is through the roof and sometimes in excess of the monthly car repayment.

If you want to read the entire article, click on source below.

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Locksmith Services Pricing - A Little Bit Of History

As a St Louis Locksmith, I am often asked about pricing and costs and why they vary greatly between companies.

I recently came across an article first written in June 1989 for The New York Times, that described the process and prices that various locksmiths charged for their specialized services at that time.

Being 20 years later, it seems that many of the prices have reduced or barely increased, all the while, cost of materials, cost of living and wages have all increased in comparisson.

Many customers, even today, continue to perform price checks to compare different companies services and products.

June 1989 Article in The New York Times

Given the current economic doom and gloom, it is great that most of the locksmith industry continues to maintain considerate pricing of their goods and services.