Lockwood 303/355 Jemmy Proof Deadbolt Prevents Door Jamb Spreading - Thwarting One Of The Most Common Non-Destructive Door Bypass Techniques

The Lockwood 303/355 range of surface/rim mounted deadbolt locks offers a unique security product that effectively connects your door and frame together, preventing a common door bypass technique known as frame spreading.

You may have heard or seen an old product that has been around for many years known as the Segal Jimmy Proof Deadbolt.

The product has been loved for over a hundred years by many dwellers for its simplicity and its security.

The Jimmy Proof deadlock uses two pins that drop vertically through a two ringed strike plate, physically attaching the door to the frame/jamb. The lock usually holds to the door with 6 screws, 2 for the outer cylinder and four for the body of the deadlock.

The product pictured here is the Australian Lockwood 303/355 Claw Bolt Rim Deadlock, that uses 2 screws though the inside plate assembly to attach to the external key cylinder and a further 4 screws to attach the plate to the door. It also uses additional side mounted screws to attach the deadlock body to the internal plate.

The strike plate consists of a two part unit, with two hardened metal rings and a cover plate that are attached with 3 long screws anchoring the strike to the jamb. The separation of the two parts on the strike adds a laminating effect which further increases the strength of the application.

We also include an image of the Bilock Extreme Security Rim Cylinder, which can be used externally to provide 100% Bump Proof and virtually Pick Proof external keyed access.

The product is a highly sought after incredibly strong deadlock that increases your security tremendously. Not especially beautiful, but available in Satin Nickel or Mahogany Brown, if you dont mind having a large deadbolt on your door, you can rest assured that the security is second to none, worldwide.

Other manufacturers over the years have produced similar products, like Yale and Abloy. The Abloy SuperStopper version was a Black Steel Super-Hardened Body with Stainless Steel Turn Button and Stainless Steel Strike Plate. It was quite expensive and saw few sales in it's time before being discontinued. I have installed both the Lockwood version and the Abloy version during my career. I have also installed the Yale and the Segal a few times too.

If you use hinge pins to secure the hinge side of your door (which will prevent a would be intruder from pulling your door off by simply removing the hinge pins) and a Lockwood 303/355 Jemmy Proof Rim Deadlock, you can rest assured that your door will continue to be physically attached to the door jamb and will provide significantly increased security for your dwelling

Skybell - Inventor Of Smart Home Doorbell Technology Claims Rival Ring Stole Its Technology

Many consumers will be familiar with Ring.

The connected smart home doorbell product that attempted to win a sizeable investment when it debuted on Shark Tank a few years ago, since exploded on the scene with backing from multiple other investors.

Few perhaps fail to understand that the technology is based on patents belonging to another company.

Skybell claim to own 71 patents related to the very technology that Ring have allegedly copied and use in their range of products, severely curbing and hurting the ability of Skybell to be competitive in the market. The suit relates specifically to 3 patents that Ring are alleged to have copied, as a result of collaboration between managers of both companies during the initial research and development.

The start-up industry is indeed a murky environment, inhabited by many jealous players and sinister types who will do almost anything to beat out a competitor, but outright theft of intellectual property is a really dastardly thing to do.

We will be watching this story with interest as it unfolds.

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Kwikset Kevo Contemporary - New Advancement To Their Range Features "Touch Locking"

The Consumer Electronic Show is in full swing currently in Las Vegas and continues it's 50+ year history as a showcase for the future of electronic technology and products that "may" come to market in the next year or few.

Kwikset are no stranger to CES and continue this year to push the boundaries of technology advancement with the release of their new Contemporary Range of Kevo Connected Products.


Kwikset are one of the largest manufacturers of door hardware in the North American market and continue to provide builders and dwellers with a wide range of door hardware in varying styles, colors and configurations.

This Kevo product has been around a few years now and offers users a Bluetooth wireless experience to augment their "keyless" range of products.

I use the term "keyless" with care here, because Kwikset are not actually releasing non-keyed hardware (as that would defeat the reason they exist in the first place). They still offer their range of "Smart Key" cylinders across their vast range and continue to improve the strength of the cylinder product. As a veteran locksmith technician, having worked with Kwikset products over 35 years and worldwide, I am not a huge proponent of their range, but it is functional and competitively priced even though I think it is actually garbage.

There are many competing brands that are significantly better quality and competitively priced that can also be keyed alike with Kwikset keys, that are often more aesthetically pleasing, easier to operate, functional and last as long, if not longer.

Visiting your local locksmith to learn more about the other brands that offer competitive value to Kwikset, can be well worth your advantage.

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Vivint Smart Home Settles With ADT in Deceptive Sales Practises Lawsuit To The Tune Of $10 Million

Breaking News:

January 5, 2018

ADT - One of America's largest alarm and security companies announced last Thursday that they have settled with Vivint Smart Home an ongoing lawsuit over Vivint's use of deceptive sales practises.

Vivint Smart Home, which began life in 1999 as APX Alarm Systems in Utah has settled multiple lawsuits over the years in relation to deceptive sales tactics with Texas, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

Vivint rebranded from APX and entered the residential home security market to offer customers "connected" lock and alarm systems in the burgeoning "Smart Home" market.

They make use of modern technology products including wireless door locks, alarm panels, camera's, door bells, thermostats etc to offer prospective clients a modern "connected" smart home.

Otto - Digital Door Lock Manufacturer Introduced In August 2017 - Closes Up Shop 5 Months Later

Breaking News: OTTO Closes Down.

Otto displayed their new entrant to the digital deadbolt market back in August 2017 with a great deal of hype.

The system purported to be a high quality top end system aimed at the residential home security market.

Promising features and high quality manufacturing priced the new product at the upper end of similar offerings.

The IoT (Internet of Things) industry has brought a great many new players into the market and industry in recent years and home security products purports to be a $20 Billion - $30 Billion dollar industry and constantly growing.

There are no end of new products coming to market to whet the appetites of consumers, each with varying product features and uses. WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, Deadbolts, Door Handles etc all vying for a piece of the pie.

But to corner a part of the market requires some capital and longevity in an industry that is truly dominated by few worldwide corporations that essentially own the market. Assa-Abloy is well known as the worldwide leader in manufacturing of access control, locking systems, hardware for commercial and residential entry systems. They have many competing companies under their umbrella and are well known as a builder of high quality products. They have the resources to continue to offer many of the leading and most desired products in the industry, across the planet..

Otto have become the latest startup to fall victim to a crowded market. They were just in the process of finalizing a corporate takeover of their company, when the buyer pulled out.
The ensuing damage damned the fate of this Silicon Valley startup, before they could get their product out to the market. They now have a warehouse full of product unable to be sold and are facing complete shut down.

Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - Inventory Dwindling

Demand for this high quality product, the Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock is remaining sufficiently high and we are seeing increasing movement in inventory.

Our last shipment from late October is already half depleted and demand doesn't appear to be diminishing any time soon.

We envisaged a slight price increase around the start of 2018 and we still expect that to occur.

We are entering new arrangements on shipping services with USPS that may bring down the domestic shipping cost slightly, but we will maintain the ability to ship overnight with UPS or Fedex too.
If you dont mind waiting 10 days to get it by USPS, then that might be a cheaper shipping option for you.

With only 4 days left in 2018, we suggest would be fence sitters hurry to purchase before the January 1st price increase.

View the installation video and purchasing options in the source below.

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Pattern Door Lock - Concept Concealed Code Entry Lockset

 Here is a new concept from an Asian designer that bears some merit.

Have you noticed that using the common digital keypad entry set, available across today's market including any of almost 100 different manufacturers, use a front facing keypad that people in your vicinity may be able to peer over your shoulder and watch as you enter in your credentials?

Have you tried to shield your entry technique by moving your body to block their view, or used your hand to shield their eyesight?

This Pattern Door lock puts the combination on the rear of the handle, effectively blocking another person from seeing your code.

 Simple to operate and effective, this concept could see the light of day in internal environments. I suggest that due to the limited type of lock types, it may be better suited to an internal office environment or even residence doors inside an apartment complex (not exposed to weather). The pictures here show how the locks are operated.

This is a concept only at this time, but I suggest that it is a concept that has a future.

What do you think?

Would discerning building managers and contractors consider installing these types of access control systems for apartment buildings or offices?

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Haven - New Application By Edward Snowden Suggests A Use For Your Retired Android Phone

Y'all may remember Edward Snowden, the former NSA employee who spilled the beans a few years ago about goings on at the NSA.

He has been busy recently developing all manner of things including this new application he calls Haven.

Haven is an application you may be able to store on your Android phone that can turn that phone into a security camera system for personal use.

There are not many intricate details released just yet, but essentially the application enables you to install a sensor and video/sound capture system on your used Android mobile phones, using the already built in camera, microphone, light sensors and messaging services to provide a sensible use for your used devices and get more life out of your used product.

Using a previous cellphone (mobile phone) or a "burner phone" often means that you could have a very inexpensive method of increasing your personal security without purchasing new hardware.

There are a few articles explaining about this new concoction of Snowden's and like him or not, he is considered by many to be on the cutting edge of security technology.

Check out the article in the source below for more details.

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