Sliding Doors Are One Of the Weakest Links In Your Home - What Can You Do?

We originally posted the following article in June 2010. Consulting your local trained professional locksmith can help you to understand the many and varied products we can supply and services we can perform to improve the security of these sliding patio doors




The above video is actually an explanation of how to replace a sliding door installation with french style doors but it does highlight the ease in pulling the common sliding door from it's tracks.

I am called upon often to repair sliding doors, that have become increasingly harder to operate. There are multiple reasons that doors can become inoperative, but we will leave that for a later article.

The reason I decided to include the above video here is to highlight the extreme weakness that almost all sliding patio doors suffer from.

You can see how easy it is to lift the door from it's track. When the door is closed, it is usually held locked by just a metal hook. Often that hook is all that is preventing the door from being opened. I have seen many instances where the sliding door is the principle method of surreptitious entry. Often intruders simply use a large screwdriver or prybar/crowbar (found in most automobiles) and lever under the bottom of the door, raising the whole door frame enough to remove the door completely from the track. Even while still locked.

There is a very simple and cost effective measure that can be applied to prevent most sliding doors from being removed in this fashion.

Simply, install a self-tapping screw into the top track, so that the head is protruding enough to allow the door to still slide but reduce the lift, or amount the door can be raised.

Some lock manufacturers include anti-lift pins in their locks to help with this problem, but often the parts are made from die-cast aluminum, which is weak and brittle.

For about 50 cents you can prevent the door from being lifted off it's track.

Many people insert a piece of dowel or length of wood into the track behind the door. While this is probably one of the cheapest and best methods for preventing the door from sliding open, it does nothing to stop the door from lifting up.

Solar Powered Power Option For Controlling Electronic Security Products

In June 2010 we posted an article (below) about solar powered power options designed to be used to enable electronic security products.

We have seen a great number of pageviews for this particular post and thought we'd follow up that article with an opinion about the multitude of electronic wireless, battery powered products that continue to enter this (getting) crowded market segment.

In a number of other articles we have written here, we have continued to question the benefits and quality of many battery powered security products.

We believe that the battery powered security devices, specifically deadbolts, entrance sets and the like can offer only 2 primary benefits that can make them appealing.

These benefits are:
1. The ability to remotely lock or unlock the product and the ability to inquire as to the lock status (is the door locked or not)

2. The ability to set automatic locking on the product, to ensure your product locks independent of human involvement.




Understanding that many consumers today are increasingly interested in the many and varied battery powered options, aimed at simplifying their lives, unfortunately the convincing sales pitches will rarely tell you about the genre's shortcomings. Specifically, the need to be constantly replacing batteries to maintain continued operations and the other primary issue, being that as all doors and frames move with weathering, settling, ground movements etc. your beaut $200+ deadbolt or entrance set WILL become useless before long and suffer electronic operability issues.

We believe that the best security offered by deadbolts and entrance sets, is still the mechanical options that can be physically operated by hand. When a condition occurs that inhibits your ease of use, mechanically you can still play with it to get it to operate. Electronically, this is not possible.

Master Pro Series Padlocks - Post Revisited

Way back in 2007, we posted article here about the Master Pro Series Padlock.
The post has generated a great many page views over the years. We still believe this product to be one of the best in it's class.



June 29, 2007



The Master Pro Series 6621 padlock is one of the finest and most versatile padlocks available for todays market. It is an all-weather resistant padlock.

Locks210.com is pleased to present this product keyed to Bilock with your choice of key head colors and 3 keys. (price on application)


The Master Pro Series Padlocks are among the finest padlock products in their genre.

You can choose from key retaining (meaning you can only withdraw the key when locked) or standard (key withdrawal either locked or unlocked)

The source below display the many and varied options of this widely respected padlock range.

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Daring Indiana Burglar Uses Bird Scooter To Make Getaway

A daring burglar in Indiana entered a homeowners residence though an unlocked door, ransacked the place and made his daring getaway on a for-hire scooter, according to an article appearing on ABC News.

According to the article the resident was at home during the raid and even heard some noises downstairs but when he went to investigate, he saw his wallet, laptop and car keys were missing.

According to police, there was no sign of forced entry indicating that the back door was left unlocked.

The Bird Scooter rental company has distanced themselves from the incident.

The article (in the source below) is yet another instance where crimes of opportunity appear to be on the rise. Leaving your doors unlocked used to be okay, in previous years but today, you're just asking for trouble.

Locksmiths across the country and around the world can provide quality locking products that will automatically lock the door when closed, but even the ages old nighlatch is designed to lock every time (unless you snib it open).

There is an apt saying, "Keep It Yours - Lock Your Doors"!

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In another article appearing on 10TV News in Hamilton Ohio, an elderly resident has been robbed by a man, whom she knew and even hired.

Apparently she paid him $150 to cut down a tree (which he never completed) and then this man entered her unlocked home and stole a further $250+.

This is yet another reason to "Keep It Yours - Lock Your Doors"!

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Tesla Model 3 Key Fob - New Accessory Introduced Because Of Sufficient Demand

Tesla - the modern day electric car manufacturer, have been producing some exciting new vehicles in recent years and the release of their newest model - The Tesla Model 3 - the engineers have capitulated to customers demands for using a key fob rather than just your cell phone with Bluetooth or the included proximity card. (see video below)




The new accessory images were recently leaked and we show them below...

According to Electrek, users of the new model complained about the lack of a key fob option to which Tesla decided to produce a fob similar to the types used in the Model S and Model X.

Tesla, reknowned for pushing the envelope in modern engineering, decided early to adapt their offerings to eventually remove the mechanical keyswitch from their vehicles, saving costs and manufacturing conveniences.

The source below offers some additional images of the fob. Note: Thos fob is only for the Tesla Model S.

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Burglaries At Gun Stores Increasing In Missouri And USA - But Locksmiths And Safe Specialists Have The Answers

Pictured above is a Google Maps embed of the location of the Denny Dennis Sporting Goods Store in Fenton, Missouri where thieves rammed the garage door to gain destructive entry and steal a number of firearms that are said to already have made their way to the streets of Missouri.

An article distributed widely has informed us about the daring burglary of the gun store and the theft of a number of firearms.

Another article in The St Louis Post Dispatch, dated September 6, 2018 also discusses this troubling trend of increasing burglaries of gun stores across America (see source below).

The article goes on to quote the store owner and his company's attempts to better secure his establishment. He explains that their use of gun safes actually mitigated further troubling loss.

Using security cameras, alarm systems, bollards at the front etc, they show that the store owners and management are pro-active in their security concerns, but it is still disappointing and troubling that there are still so many nefarious attempts to burglarize gun shops.

Making Car Keys - Post Revisited (November 2008)

A number of locksmiths across the world choose to offer automobile key manufacturing services.

WE DO NOT!

Not because we dont know how. We choose to offer our expertise in other ways.

For many of our first 20  years in the locksmith profession, we offered automobile locksmith services too, But in the last 13 years, here in our geographic region we found that too many local operators are simply not charging enough for expert automobile locksmithing services.

Lucky for us, we enjoy professional relationships with a number of colleagues whom we believe to experts in the field and have no hesitation in recommending their automobile locksmith offerings.

Following is an article from November 1, 2008 that explains a little about making car keys...

November 1, 2008

Making Car Keys

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 And Key (314)494-2510.

Also Jack Shinstock of Lock Express (314)307-2239

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.

Strikemaster II Pro - Still The Best offering To Repair And Prevent Door Frame Failure (Post Revisited - December 2009)

Back in 2008, we first posted about the fabulous Strikemaster II product. A product designed, manufactured and marketed by a colleague from North Carolina.

We have been continually selling and recommending this product for many years now, because it is one of the few products of it's kind that very inexpensively will repair your door after a door kick in without requiring you to replace the entire door and frame.

Below, find one of our first posts about this product and the original video that was made to explain it's features.

Over they last 10 years, we have installed hundreds of these products to customers who have suffered the heartbreak of door frame failure. I guess our clients love the fact that such a competitive priced American made product is widely available to correctly and professionally repair their door frames, without requiring they to spend significantly more for a new door and frame, that essentially will not protect them from similar attacks in future.



December 3, 2009

Strikemaster II Pro

This video shows exactly how and why the Strikemaster 11 product is essential to securing homes and residences. This particular video is almost 4 years old and the price displayed there is incorrect.

The new Strikemaster 11 Pro product is an improvement to the design of this fantastic product and is available now. Whether you decide to order it direct from the manufacturer or through any of their dealers, the price is identical.

We expect stocks of the newer model in about 3 weeks time.

We previously talked about the Strikemaster 11 in March 2008.

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A list of our articles about this product and similar offerings can be viewed here.