Posted May 6th, 2010 | No Comments
It’s decision time!
You now have the chance to decide your future, to choose which path to pursue – that of apathy or that of responsibility.
It’s time to vote. And I strongly recommend that you vote… For yourself.
Whichever politician gets in today, their focus is not yours or your families individual security but that of Britain as a collective although they’re all set on convincing you of how important they are to you and your life.
The truth is, our goal as responsible people, spouses, parents and business people is to make politicians irrelevant to the security of our lives.
I think elections are fascinating but I’m under no illusion that the ‘right’ choice will make a huge difference to my future or yours. Their decisions will certainly influence you and your family’s future but only within the context of UK PLC.
Yours and your families personal security is in your hands, take the time to have your security at home and work checked by a professional. AUTHORIZED ACCESS is a Master Locksmith’s Approved Company who offer a FREE of charge, NO OBLIGATION security survey to ensure that your security complies with the Minimum Security Requirement on your insurance policy.
We have the knowledge and are able to help, but only if you invite us to and sometimes that’s the hardest step. Give yourself peace of mind and contact AUTHORIZED ACCESS today to arrange your FREE of charge SECURITY AUDIT.
Security is a selfish thing, it doesn’t stop crime but it moves the criminal down the street to the next weakest link. Give yourself peace of mind, don’t be the weakest link.
“Remember – Always use a Master Locksmiths Association ‘Approved Company’ when securing your property, where you can be assured that trained staff will provide a quality service with integrity to give you total peace of mind.”
For assistance contact AUTHORIZED ACCESS or call 0161 762 9936, where our fully trained staff will guide you through the process.
Tags: Home security, Locks, Locksmiths, Master Locksmith's Association approved Company, Minimum Insurance Requirement, Security Audit, Security Survey | Posted in Authorized Access News!, Security Advice |
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Posted April 22nd, 2010 | No Comments
Securing your home or business against crime need not be an expensive or time consuming exercise.
Restricted key systems are available for home use as well as business. Restricted keys enhance the security provided by any lock and without them, even ‘high security’ locks can be compromised by the keys being copied at random with little or no control.
At Authorized Access we can fit a security lock to your door then register its keys to you; this stops duplicate keys being cut without your knowledge or say so and provides you with total control of the keys to your home or business.
Restricted keys allow you to provide a tradesperson the key to your home and as long as you get it back, you know they will have been unable to obtain copies. At work, staff issued with keys to premises are unable to have extra keys cut without your express permission, again giving you total control over who has access to your premises.
Where would this be useful?
- Business premises with multiple key holders.
- At home where keys are made available to cleaners, tradesmen etc.
- Any situation where key control is required.
Looking after property, stock and the people who work within the business makes great business sense. Being responsible for the security in your business, it is vital that you make sure that the security measures taken are appropriate, realistic and cost effective. You need to keep criminals out while allowing your customers, suppliers and employees in.
Your business activity will guide your approach to security. In simple terms, high value products will attract more criminal activity and demand a higher level of security, however even those items with a perceived low cost value will be attractive to somebody. Taking a logical approach to securing your business will help ensure you don’t miss anything that might help deter crime. “In the current climate, the effect of interruption to business is greater than ever before.
By changing the locks you can guarantee that you are in total control of who has keys to your property
Choosing a Lock- Things to consider:
- Insurance requirements-Does your lock need to conform to British standards for insurance purposes BS3621
- One Key House/Business – Would I like all my locks to be operated by one key? This avoids having bulky key rings, never loose the back door key again!
- Master Keying of locks- makes great business sense. Only give access to areas of your business to people that need to be there.
- Speciality Locks- Do I need locks for a special purpose eg escape function.
- High Security Locks- Do I need locks with enhanced security features eg Restricted keys, having control of who can copy your keys, locks with anti pick and anti bump features.
“Remember – Always use a Master Locksmiths Association ‘Approved Company’ when considering restricted keys as a means of securing your property, where you can be assured that trained staff will provide a quality service with integrity to give you total peace of mind.”
For assistance contact http://www.authorized-access.co.uk/contact-us or call 0161 762 9936, where our fully trained staff will guide you through the process.
Tags: High security locks, Home security, Master Keys, Master Locksmith, Restricted keys, Security keys, Security Locks | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted February 16th, 2010 | No Comments
“Are you satisfied that if you suffered a burglary at home or work, that you had done as much as possible to prevent it and protect everyone?”
- Did you change your locks when you moved into your house/business?
YES/NO
- Can you be sure that no one has ever had access to your keys and may have been able to copy them? Neighbour, tradesman, cleaner etc?
YES/NO
- To have your keys copied would you need to give your express permission to the person cutting the keys?
YES/NO
- Are you certain that all the locks on your external doors conform to British Standards?
YES/NO
- Do all your downstairs or accessible windows have key operated locks and do you lock them and remove the key?
YES/NO
- If you were burgled are you 100% confident that you would have taken all the necessary steps to make sure your insurance company would pay out?
YES/NO
If you answered NO to any of the above then you MUST take advantage of our NO COST home or business security audit where we can offer no nonsense advice to ensure you comply with the minimum insurance requirements.
“Remember – Always use a Master Locksmiths Association ‘Approved Company’ when considering your home security needs.You can be assured that our trained staff will provide a quality service with integrity to give you total peace of mind.”
For assistance in selecting the ideal solution for your needs, contact AUTHORIZED ACCESS where our fully trained staff will guide you through the selection process.
Tags: best home security, Home security, home security products, Home Security questions, House security, Minimum Insurance Requirement, Premises security, security, Security check, security requirement, Security Survey | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted December 21st, 2009 | No Comments
Authorized Access will be closed for Christmas from 12.30pm Christmas Eve until Monday 4 January 2010
May we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
New Year Security Tips
With the hustle and bustle of Christmas behind us, what a great feeling, we are finally able to take some time to relax and enjoy those new and exciting presents. Golf clubs, lap top, games console, gold bracelet, mobile phone, all with no expense spared.
I wonder what the thief is thinking! His Christmas has come and gone and now he knows for a fact that virtually every home holds rich pickings for him.
Are you simply going to sit back and allow him to take what he wants, thinking he too should have what you have?
There are ways of protecting those things your hard earned money has paid for, either by physically preventing them being taken or acting as a deterrent, thieves want an easy life, are you prepared to give them that?
Unfortunately security is a selfish thing, we can not stop crime but by improving YOUR security the criminal moves ‘down the street’ to the next weakest link!
Here’s how:
Golf clubs - Property marking individual clubs and cable locking to an anchor eye when stored in the garage.
Lap Top - Property marking and using a ‘Lap Saver’ security locking kit when using away from home or office.
Games Console – Property marking and displaying warning signs to deter the thief, cable security kits could be used to attach the console to other less portable objects, i.e. TV Stand.
Gold Bracelet – Small domestic safes cost much less than most people think.
Mobile Phones – Phone marking kits personalise and make phones easily identifiable.
There are practical solutions to all your security needs, including simple advice and tips.
Tags: christmas presents, Home security, New Years resolutions, protect Christmas presents, security, Security tips | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted July 31st, 2009 | No Comments
Recent Home Office data hails Manchester as the Burglary Capital Of The UK!!
Damian Clarkson writes on MSN News, July 31 2009:
Manchester is the most burgled area in the UK, suffering almost 20 break-ins every single day.
According to new Home Office Data, Manchester had 7,167 domestic burglaries last year, equal to 35 for every 1,000 households. Worryingly, the crime problem appears to be worsening in the area, having risen 8% from 6,646 a year earlier.
To see complete article: http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/article.aspx?cp-documentid=148909630
‘Take action to protect your family and home. Stay one step ahead of the burglars and sign up to our FREE Security Updates’
Tags: Burglary Manchester, Burglary statistics, Crime Manchester, Home security, House Burglary, Manchester crime rate, security | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted July 20th, 2009 | 1 Comment
Effective security at home and in business does not always mean spending a lot of money. The use of Restricted Keys is a great way of improving the security of traditional door locks.
What is a restricted key?
A restricted key is a key which may only be coppied (cut) with the express permission of it’s owner.
This means that if you have locks fitted to your home or business which have restricted keys, then you can be sure that nobody will be able to have keys cut without your permission.
The advantages of this are:-
- Any key loaned to a neighbour, friend, tradesman (painter & decorator, etc) which is subsequently returned will not have been able to be copied.
- If you ever lost or missplaced your keys but then had them returned, you would be confident that nobody had been able to have copies cut.
- If a family member, child, etc. or employee lost their key, they would be unable to simply borrow another and get it cut without your permission.
- You will know exactly how many keys to your property are in existence.
- Nobody who should not have keys to your premises will have them.
Locks that use Restricted Keys
Locks which are operated by restricted keys are usually of the type which can be ‘re-keyed’, meaning that the locksmith who supplied the locks would be able to change the pinning arrangement within the lock to enable new keys to be issued for it and invalidate existing keys.
The advantages of this are:-
- If keys are lost or stolen, the locks can be re-keyd at a fraction of the cost of buying new ones.
- Locks can be ‘keyed alike’ or made to work by the same key, meaning fewer keys to carry, for ease and convenience.
- The ‘One Key House’, all doors in your house could work with the same key for convenience.
- Additional locks could be added to your suite at a later stage, thus allowing your security system to grow with you.
- Locks can be Master Keyed to offer tiered levels of security within a commercial environment or in Churches, schools or other multi user situations.
Are these locks expensive?
Locking systems with restricted keys have become much less expensive in recent years. Some reputable locksmiths now have access to keys with a ‘unique profile’ which means that the key blanks that fit their locks are only available to them, ensuring that unauthorized key cutters are not able to cut their keys illegally. These locking systems are relatively inexpensive and can in some case be provided at no more expense than readily available unrestricted systems.
Always use a Master Locksmith’s Association approved locksmith to supply your locks and associated security products, that way you will be sure that your supplier is legitimate and works within the guidelines of the locksmith’s industry lead body, who vet and regularly inspect it’s member companies.
Tags: Home security, Lock change, Master Locksmith Bury, Registry keys, Restricted keys, security, Security keys | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted July 10th, 2009 | No Comments
According to a survey conducted by NOP on behalf of insurer NIG, over half (58%) of British residents give away spare sets of keys to their home.
The rate at which spare keys are not reclaimed is highest in rental properties where 7% of tenants do not reclaim spare keys when they move on.
The main recipients of spare keys from the majority of householders are family members (73%); 14% give spare keys to neighbours and 8% give spare keys to friends. These figures do not include those of us who ‘loan’ keys to tradesmen/cleaners or simply leave a spare key under the mat.
If you don’t change the locks to your home as soon as you move in, it is unlikely that you will know exactly how many sets of keys were cut and are in circulation for your new property.
Do you know exactly who has or has had keys to your home and how many copies there are out there? (Remember to think about previous occupants, cleaners, tradesmen, neighbours etc)
“If you have just moved house you are almost twice as likely to be burgled”
According to Home Office statistics, you are almost twice as likely to be burgled in the 12 months after moving house compared with the average burglary rate (4.6% compared with 2.5%). You are nearly three times as likely to be burgled compared with those who have occupied their property for 10 years or more (4.6% compared to 1.6%).
Alarmingly those households with no home security measures were almost ten times (22.5%) more likely to be victims of burglary compared to households that carry out simple security upgrades (2.5%) such as fitting deadlocks on doors and fitting window locks.
“Avoid becoming an easy target for burglars”
Take the first step towards a more secure life, click on the link below and sign up to our no cost security updates. Join us and stay one step ahead of the burglars.
Click on the link Authorized Access
Tags: Burglaries, Burglary, Burglary prevention, crime, Crime prevention, Crime statistics, Home security, security | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted June 16th, 2009 | No Comments
‘Lock Bumping’… You may have heard the term, seen the videos or just heard the horror stories of what’s possible but the fact is that in the UK this type of Burglary is becoming more common as information and tools are easily obtained on the internet. Also the likelihood is that you will not be covered by your insurance company should your house be burgled in this way.
‘Lock Bumping’ is known as ‘Cylinder Bumping’ in the trade and has long been used by locksmiths as a means of gaining entry when people are locked out, however this information and the equipment to carry out the action is rapidly spreading and getting into the wrong hands!
We have the solution at Authorized Access…
PICKBUSTER!!! The shock absorber for cylinders
Thieves and burglars are always looking for easy ways to get into to our homes. Lock Bumping is simple! The burglar uses a modified key to open the lock, and what’s more frustrating is that these keys can be bought easily on the internet, or even made at home!
We are told that just 9 bump key will open 95% of cylinder locks in the UK! Which means that potentially your home is at risk.
A cylinder lock is the type found on uPVC doors, patio doors and a lot of wooded doors. If your key is what you might describe as a ‘Yale Type’ key then your home is at risk.
As a locksmith, when I first heard about this phenomenon, I was dismissive; I didn’t believe that burglars would go to the lengths of practising the skill – because that’s what it is, a skill. However with the availability of the keys and instructions for their use in opening locks so freely available on the World Wide Web, I have had to re-evaluate my thoughts and find a way of staying one step ahead, don’t be fooled, you too need to take action, don’t be mugged by thinking ‘it won’t happen to me.’
‘Lock Bumping’ is quick and silent, with some locks being opened in under 5 seconds!
As the burglar uses a key, there is no damage to the door and no sign of forced entry. You may even think that you left the door unlocked and so would your insurance company! No sign of forced entry usually means no insurance claim being accepted.
PICKBUSTER is a simple economical and permanent solution to the problem of Lock Bumping. It’s a highly developed, synthetic oil, that once inserted into the lock barrel, will act as a shock absorber and this stops the lock being able to be bumped.
Again, as locksmiths we never usually advise that people lubricate locks by simply squirting oil into them, it can cause more harm than good, there are particular lubricants that we would advise but PICKBUSTER really seems to work and doesn’t cause any unwanted side effects.
From as little as £5 per lock when installed while other work is being carried out by our locksmith, or purchased over the counter at £14.99 for a DIY pack to protect upto 5 locks, this is something which should be taken seriously and everyone should take steps to prevent Lock Bumping becoming an epidemic!!
“Remember – Always use a Master Locksmiths Association ‘Approved Company’ when considering your security needs. You can be assured that our trained staff will provide a quality service with integrity to give you total peace of mind.”
For assistance in selecting the ideal solution for your needs, contact AUTHORIZED ACCESS where our fully trained staff will guide you through the process.
Tags: Anti bump locks, Bump proof locks, Crime prevention, Cylinder bumping, Home security, Lock bumping, Pickbuster | Posted in Security Advice |
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Posted May 14th, 2009 | No Comments
We are all aware that the UK is currently in recession and with it has developed a climate of changing crime trends and this is having an impact on both home and business security.
The Government are all too aware of these trends and are encouraging professional security organisations to take appropriate steps to raise awareness.
In a recent news letter, John Bates, Chief Executive of the British Insurance Industry Association (BSIA) said, “Our message to the home owner remains clear – quality home security can make a real difference in protecting your home from burglary. Whilst it might be tempting to avoid investing in security, the damage, loss and sense of invasion from a burglary can have a long-term effect that should not be underestimated.”
The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) 2007/8 retail crime survey shows that one shoplifting offence is committed every 90 seconds in the UK and retailers remain seriously concerned that the economic slow down will wipe out falls in retail crime achieved over the past year.
According to the Daily Telegraph, levels of reported robbery have risen by 17.5% even in rural areas, since December 2008.
All these statistics are not designed to scare or shock but simply to raise awareness in a way that encourages home and business owners to take an informed approach to their security and obtain professional advice from local security companies, ensuring that those companies are recognised and approved by appropriate industry bodies, like the ‘Master Locksmiths Association’ to ensure that their security is appropriate and cost effective in the current climate.
BSIA’s John Bates says, “Don’t be tempted to cut back on security without ensuring the level of risk you face has been protected against. Such decisions may well prove to be costly in the long run with insurance excess and the loss of time and disruption that crime results in making a real impact, not to mention the human cost of any crime. By choosing quality security suppliers and making an informed decision you will be well placed to protect yourself in the face of changing crime trends.”
Take advantage of free security surveys offered by some approved local companies to ensure your security is appropriate and effective before it’s too late!!
Tags: Business security, Credit crunch, crime, Crime prevention, Home security, security | Posted in Security Advice |
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