ASIS Report Discusses Business Security Protection

ASIS International, the respected international preeminent security professionals organization, founded in 1955, is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests.

The CRISP Report (Connecting Research In Security to Practise) recently released a new discussion paper related to business security protection systems.

While the report suggests that burglary rates are on the decline internationally, the crime continues to victimize businesses disproportionately despite simple and cost effective methods to protect shops, offices and facilities.

"Research shows that large reductions can be achieved in burglary incidents and losses through interventions that are often simple and costeffective," writes the report's author Tim Prenzler, Ph.D., chief investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security. "Nonetheless, a large proportion of the owners and managers of facilities are reluctant to invest in security."

And this doesn't make sense, considering thieves target businesses disproportionately over homes. Businesses struck by burglars also tend to get hit again and again, a phenomenon known as repeat victimization. One U.K. study quoted in the report found that 3.4 percent of non-residential premises were victimized twice or more compared to 0.2 percent of homes.

Typically, most burglars enter by forcing a window or a door open, regardless of the target. Business owners and managers naturally have more to deal with than just their sense of violation when burglaries occur. The average cost of a burglary came to $5,209 in 2008, according to the U.S. National Retail Security Survey. Yet sometimes a burglary can deliver a knock-out blow to a small business if important tools or records are stolen.

The report explains that burglary became a bigger problem in the United States because of the post-World War II economic boom and its social and cultural impact.

Rapid industrialization put an increasing number of light-weight, high-value goods into stores and homes and these became prime targets for thieves. Access to cars increased offender mobility and the ability to transport larger stolen items. The increase in suitable targets was accompanied by large declines in guardianship. As couples had fewer children, women entered the workforce in greater numbers, and elderly people settled in retirement homes, there were more homes unguarded for longer periods. There was also a shift in residential patterns away from co-location with factories and retail outlets. Empty suburbs during the day, and empty commercial and industrial districts at night, presented a smorgasbord of burglary opportunities.

Young males predominately commit burglaries with approximately 80 percent being fellows between the ages of 15 and 25. The major motivations seem to be "drugs, alcohol, and conspicuous consumption." The bright side: their age and their reasons for committing such crimes makes most burglars easy to deter, the report states.

While the report notes social prevention programs—like methadone programs—and police initiatives—like crime prevention partnerships—can decrease burglary rates, place managers can do a lot more to prevent burglary.

Master Key Systems America has been providing St Louis businesses and residents with premium quality security products and services for over 3 years. Having learned and practised security products and services internationally for over 25 years, our experience in determining your most effective and cost effective physical security solutions are unparalleled.

For your obligation free assessment, call us on (314)266-1533 now or email us sales@locks210.com

Crime Rate Statistics - Maryland Heights MO 12/12/09 - 01/12/10

This month we bring you just the Maryland Heights crime statistics as reported by the Maryland Heights Police Department.

Theft - 47 (Includes Property Theft, Fraud, Grand Theft Auto, Theft From Vehicles)

Breaking & Entering - 4

Assault - 5

Indecent Exposure - 1

(source...)

Schlage Primus Picked Repeatedly And Easily

A well known member of the locksport community and in all likelihood a locksmith himself, recently displayed the ease by which Schlage's flagship High-Security product, Primus can be picked, keyed and picked again.

It should be noted that the conditions for picking the above lock are ideal and it is unlikely that such a feat can be as easily performed in a real world setting, although not impossible.

That the person above, shows in detail what he is doing and confirms this with the disassembly and reassembly, while on camera, proves that this is not a hoax or an elaborate set up.

There are many doubters and company line towers who continue to talk up the Primus product as a bump proof and pick resistant technology. We have proved in past articles that Schlage Primus is indeed NOT BUMP PROOF and now we further prove that the product is easily manipulated by a trained technician.

Schlage Primus is primarily found in North America. The product, like Medeco is not found as often in other countries or continents because it is far too expensive and does not offer the secure characteristics of many other brands.

We recommend Bilock Extreme Security products as our preferred high-security product line. It is competitively priced, good looking, retro-fits in almost all leading hardware brands, is 100% Guaranteed BUMP PROOF and virtually pick proof.

D-Link 3G Video Door Phone

Breaking News!

D-Link will be introducing a new security device at CES2010 in Las Vegas.

This device occupies a small footprint and can be connected to your front door, enabling a wireless peephole type device.

It is designed to communicate with a home computer system or directly to a 3G enabled smartphone.

Operating like a doorbell, you will be able to even use it to sneak a peak out your door at night, without leaving your bed or chair.

More details are sketchy, but expect to hear more in the next few days.

Lock Repairs In St Louis

I find it interesting, but not surprising that lately I am being called more and more often to repair locks for customers in and around the St Louis region, who have obviously had another person come in before me to try and repair the same thing.

More often it seems to be that the person before me, either didnt carry replacement parts or didnt know the methods to dismantle and reassemble the lock in question.

Simple things like, 2-3/4" Kwikset Latches (Backset), or replacement strike plates for entrance sets or mortise locks, replacement spindles for connecting handles together, replacing delicate sized machine screws, etc.

Now, I dont carry replacement parts for everything, simply because the cost to repair an item as opposed to replacing the item is labor intensive. Many people seem to live with an attitude that they want to continue paying peanuts for products and services, yet expect those products and services to last.

It is simply untrue. If you pay peanuts you will get monkeys. The reason that Baldwin Products are guaranteed for life, is because they are manufactured from extremely high quality components and built to standards that surpass most industry minimums. They are priced at the upper end of the spectrum of course, but rarely do you hear of a Baldwin Lock breaking down and parts being unavailable. One simply has to contact the Baldwin Factory, speak to a trained operator and order their replacement part. The factory will, in all likelihood send it to you including shipping, for nothing.

In coming articles, we plan to expand upon repair techniques for various lock products, so you can begin to understand the types of things locksmiths do to repair locks in St Louis, Missouri and across the world.

Making The Grade - Classifying Locks

Many people make the mistake of thinking that one lock is as secure as the next. And coming from the standpoint of the consumer, it may look like the only real choices fall into the categories of color, brand and style. The appearance will be a factor but the primary focus of any lock purchase should be: will this protect me, my family and our property? And in that respect some locks don’t cut it. Does it really make since to try to protect your $150,000+ house with a $10 lock?

ANSI (American National Standards Institute)and BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) are two companies that regulate and test lock hardware to verify that the manufactures can live up to their claims with regard to strength and usage (cycle) promises.

The companies issue 3 Grade levels:

Grade 1(Heavy Commercial), Grade 2 (Light Commercial/ Heavy Residential) and Grade3 (Light residential.) The cycle requirements for the Grade 3 status is 200,000, which means it should withstand 200,000 cyclesbefore failure. The Grade 2 requirement is 400,000 cycles and the Grade 1 requirement is 800,000.

Along with the cycle standard there is also a strength standard. The strength standard regulates how much pressure or force the lock is designed to withstand during use before failure. The Grade 3 requirement for a door knob is 120 lbs of force and for a lever set 180 lbs. The Grade 2 knob is 150 lbs and the lever set is 225 lbs. And the Grade 1 knob is 300 lbs and lever set 450 lbs. The strength standards are designed to provide minimum levels of durability to guard against rough usage and vandalism.

Most of the locks sold at hardware stores are of the Grade 3 variety designed for residential use, quite often in a construction version with a part-plastic latch. So even within the Grade rating there is a variance between one Grade 3 and the next. For instance: A lock that’s made out of pot metal could meet the minimum strength and cycle standards. But who wants a lock that fails on the finish line when for a little more you get a Grade 3 lock made out of higher quality metal that can meet and exceed the minimum standards; and look good doing it?

Many locksmiths carry the higher quality locks that will better secure your home or business, and yes they tend to cost a little more. The question isn’t: “Can I afford better locks?” the question should be: “Can I afford not to have them?”

(source...)

Pro-Magic Lubra-Gel

Pro-Magic Lubra-Gel, is a high-pressure penetrating lubricant that is dispensed as a penetrating oil, then sets up as a grease like lubricant.

It is tailored for institutional and industrial use.

About 12 months ago, we completed a job for the local manufacturer of this incredible product. We were extremely lucky to be given 2 cans of this product. This product is not found on retail/wholesale inventories, but it is sold to companies that purchase from Cobitco Inc. Their Chesterfield, Missouri office is the only manufacturer of it.

I have been extolling the virtues of another teflon based lubricant for some time and this product is of a similar value, but made locally. I used it today to lubricate a frozen lock. With one tiny squirt, the lock was like brand new. I have been using it for quite some time now, to help with various job requests and it hasn't failed me.

Lubra-Gel will penetrate hard to reach areas, then set up as an excellent lubricant. Solvent evaporation is designed to provide this needed penetration.

As far as I know, it is not sold retail or wholesale, but if I can convince the company to start, you will be the first to know.

(my apologies for the poor picture - it is my last can)

For a copy of the MSDS, please email us.

Palindrome - Once Every Thousand Years

01022010

Do you know what a Palindrome is?

According to Dictionary.com a palindrome is:

a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.

Today is a once in a thousand year event. In the USA, the common method for writing todays date is 01/02/2010.

Our once in a thousand year sale is on today only for any product we sell. Find any product we stock and we will let you have it for it's wholesale cost price + 33% + shipping. This special is today only for any orders received before 00:00 on January 3, 2010. Only email orders will be considered. Please email us today for your discounted product.

As an example our Pocket Door Lock With Key, regularly sells for $85.00 + shipping. Today only we will let them go for $65.00 each + shipping.

This is a never to be repeated sale (at least in our lifetime), that you could benefit from.

Act quickly. There are only 21 hours to go!