KEYS
Burgler Caught by Chandler Home Owner
The following story is true and from the city of Chandler. As your mobile Chandler locksmiths, please call ASAP Lock & Security to set-up a service call home check. We will help you try and protect yourself from criminals gaining entry to your home! As the owner of ASAP Lock & Security, I salute the home owner for his bravery and conduct!
CHANDLER, AZ – On September 2, 2009, at approximately 7:30 AM, police received a 911 call about a burglary in progress in the 800 block of West Elgin Street. A 13-year old boy was home alone when two men knocked on his front door. Since he did not know the men, the boy did not answer the door. The men then forced their way into the home through the back door. The boy ran from the house to a neighbor who called police. Shortly after police were called, the boy’s father returned from dropping off his other son and was told of the burglary in progress. The Father then entered his home, located his gun, and took one of the suspects in to custody. Not wanting to confront the armed homeowner, the second suspect jumped from the second story of the home and fled. Responding police officers located the second suspect and arrested him. The suspects are Chandler residents. Since the suspects are juveniles, their names and booking photographs are being withheld.
Builder Sub-Contractors Can Have the Key to your Business or Home
When a new home development is created in the Phoenix Valley, builders usually intall locks that are master-keyed. What does this mean? Master-keying is a for convenience. It makes it possible for many people to have one key to many locks. So in this example, it is possible that all the builders and all the sub-contractors and their employees (or un-documented employees) have keys that open ALL THE HOUSES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Even if salespeople tell you “Now that I’ve given you this specific key to your home, our keys won’t work anymore.” Don’t rely on this information. The lock they are referring to is called a “construction keyed lock” and when used properly, will prevent unauthorized access, but don not rely that the contractors have used the correct keys or there was not access to the keys that you were given.
Another point is that the “master pins” (the components in a lock that make the lock open to more than one key) can still be in some locks. Which can make your lock “sticky or difficult” to work, but more importantly, EASIER TO PICK OR BUMP.
Be safe. Call a reputable locksmith service company to re-key your new home or business so that YOU are, for sure, the only key-holder to your property. Call Phoenix Locksmith ASAP Lock & Security to help you.
WHO HAS YOUR KEY?
As soon as you buy a home, rent an apartment, or lease or buy commercial space, for safety, you or your landlord should re-key the premises. Re-keying means we can work with your exisiting locks. You do not have to buy new locks and it’s much more economical to rekey then buy new.
When you move in:
You don’t know the history of the previous tennants or landlords..and even if you did, who did they know? Who had the keys? Cleaning services? Pet Services? Ex-disgruntled Employees? WHO MADE A COPY?
Unfortunately, crime happens. CRIMINALS LOVE KEYS! Don’t make it easy for them. Call a professional, trusted locksmith company to help you re-key your locks so you don’t have any surprises. Be Safe.
Laura Cordovano, Owner/Locksmith, ASAP Lock & Security, LLC
GUIDELINES FOR KEY CONTROL
1. Use keys that TRULY cannot be duplicated. Keys marked DO NOT DUPLICATE are a deterrent, but not usually enough for peace of mind. Our High-security keys are highly specific. Restricted. Meaning they cannot be found anywhere commonplace (such as Ace Hardware, Home Depot etc), so employees cannot run all over town looking for a store to make a copy. Our keys are registered and keep you safe from having unwanted key duplication.
2. Require ex-employees to turn in all issued Hi-Security keys. If this does not happen, then it is time to re-key again. If they turn in their key, you are confident security has not been breached.
3. Consider installing access control locks that can be coded with a keypad or a key-card system in which entries and exits are audited, codes can be changed easily when a card is lost, etc. and you can do it yourself.
4. Do not have a master key for all doors. Individual offices and restricted work areas should always have separate keys. Master key systems are great for convenience, not great for security.
5. Have someone manage the key system for your business AND keep your spare keys in a locked cabinet.
6. Issue as few keys as possible. Issue them only for areas the employee is authorized to be in. Keep up-to-date records of keys issued to which employees. Ask your ASAP locksmith to engrave these for you.
1. Use keys that TRULY cannot be duplicated Keys marked DO NOT DUPLICATE are a deterrent, but not usually enough for peace of mind. Our High-security keys are highly specific and cannot be found anywhere commonplace (Ace Hardware, Home Depot etc), so employees cannot run all over town looking for a store to make a copy.
2. Require ex-employees to turn in all issued Hi-Security keys. If this does not happen, then it is time to re-key again. If they turn in their key, you are confident security has not been breached.
3. Consider installing access control locks that can be coded with a keypad or a key-card system in which entries and exits are audited, codes can be changed easily when a card is lost, etc. and you can do it yourself.
4. Do not have a master key for all doors. Individual offices and restricted work areas should always have separate keys. Master key systems are great for convenience, not great for security.
5. Have someone manage the key system for your business AND keep your spare keys in a locked cabinet.
Issue as few keys as possible. Issue them only for areas the employee is authorized to be in. Keep up-to-date records of keys issued to which employees. Ask your ASAP Lock & Security locksmith to custom engrave these for you.
Laura Cordovano, Owner/Locksmith, ASAP Lock & Security
Locksmith Frauds in Phoenix
Be Careful When Shopping Around for Pricing out Locksmith Companies. A Few things to consider about price shopping:
1-800 phone numbers can be a big sign that a national company is doing business in the Phoenix area. These companies, for your protection, should be avoided.
HOW THEY DO BUSINESS: There are some national companies that hire unskilled help for lock service. They hire help that has a slim jim and some passenger vehicle and they wait to be dispatched from the company’s main office residing in USA somewhere. They could have a criminal record, I mean, who cares? Arizona government does not have any laws that protect the public from a “technition” someone that has a criminal record. Imagine that? They could rekey your house. Have a copy of your house key. Nice.
ARIZONA GOVERNMENT: In Arizona, there are no licensing laws yet in place to protect the public from getting ripped off by these unskilled “technicians” who call themselves locksmiths.
THE TRICK of the QUOTE: So when you go for the quote, say…for a lockout situation. Your car keys are locked inside your car, for example. Very often, low quoted phone prices from these rip-off companies are a signal that you are about to be ripped off. For example: “Yes, we will get your keys out of your car for $29.” Then when they get there it’s something like “Oh, I didn’t know you had THAT car! Well, the labor is going to be $200 for THAT car. There you are, stranded, maybe hot and certainly feeling intimidated at this point, so, you pay the exorbitant fee and think ALL OF THOSE LOCKSMITHS ARE LIKE THIS! I can assure you, this is not so. Age old addage here: If it sounds too good to be true on the phone, then it probably is a con.
Hire a local company. Who is the owner? What are their policies? How do they sound on the phone? Professional or like some quickie coupon or used car salesman jingle?
BOTTOM LINE:
Hire a registered BBB A+ accredited business. Hire a reputable company that has lots of credible reviews. Hire ASAP Lock & Security, LLC. We are the good guys in Arizona. We pride ourselves on it. Our locksmiths are background-checked, because we think it’s necessary. They are competency checked..because these are OUR STANDARDS. We are the ethical company that provides a quality, professional locksmith service for Phoenix Valley Businesses and Homes.
Laura Cordovano, Owner & Locksmith, ASAP Lock & Security.
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