5 Tips on How To Better Protect Your Home

home security westlake village5 Tips on How To Better Protect Your Home

So you may be going overseas soon for that vacation you’ve been saving for for months. The question is, will your home be safe and protected from theft and burglary?

These are questions you need to ask yourself before you head off on your great adventure. Because the last thing you want is to come back to an empty house with no signs of the culprit.

Here are some tips to properly safeguard your home while you’re on holiday.

  1. Check to see if your locks are working

    • In a world where criminals can spy on you using small, hovering RC devices known as ‘Drones’, there’s no telling how safe you are anymore. That’s why it’s important to check your locks around the exterior of your house before you leave. Common areas that criminals target are side doors, windows, back doors, climbable trees, tables and front doors without surveillance cameras.
  2. Don’t post about your trip on social media before you leave

    • Another easy way for criminals to gather information on you is through social media and the ‘things’ you share with everyone on the platform, especially if you post every day. So if you’re going on vacation soon, do yourself a favor and refrain from posting about it publicly. If you do decide to post, however, and you post on say, Facebook, for instance, make sure to switch the post audience from ‘public’ to ‘friends excluding friends of friends’ or make a custom post showing it to only your most trusted friends.
  3. Put away expensive looking items

    • Thieves are masters at preparation and timing, and one of the things they’ll usually do first is watch the house for an extended period of time in order to look for patterns in the family’s behavior or items that interest them. Therefore, if anything expensive-looking is visible from any of your windows facing the street, such as a Flat Screen TV. Be sure to move it somewhere else before you take off.
  4. Set the alarm

    • It’s important to be prepared for anything before leaving your home, including keeping it safe through setting your alarm. It may be obvious, but before leaving your home, make sure to fully turn on your security system. Additionally, check the communications so that the system will alert you if something does happen while you’re away.
  5. Install Motion Sensor Lights

    • One of the best ways to ward off potential burglars at night is by installing none other than motion sensor lights. The simple act of a light turning on when someone walks by it at night can startle even the most hardened criminals and make them think twice about what they’re doing. Therefore, putting these bad boys outside your house will definitely keep you safer in the long run.

Boost Home Security With Gizmo Locksmith

Now you have some ideas as to how you can keep your home safe while you’re on your next vacation. If you need any more assistance or help with your home security, give Gizmo Locksmith a call. We have over ten years of experience in the residential sector and are available 24 hours a day to take your call.

We can help you with anything related to your home security such as new lock installation, lock repair/replacement, motion sensor light installation, in-home security consultation, digital door locks, and much more.

 

Best Anti Theft System for Your Vehicle (VATS)

anti theft system westlake village 1-805-522-6111Vehicle Anti Theft System (VATS) Westlake Village 1-805-522-6111

A vehicle anti theft system, or VATS, is a method or device to lower chances of a break in or theft. While there is no guarantee your car will never be broken into, there are ways you can keep your vehicle safe. Most cars already come equipped with an anti theft system but might not always be as effective as other methods. To start off, you will want to decide which system is best for your particular make and model vehicle.

Steering-Wheel Lock:

Also known as “the club”, this is the most standard type of security for your vehicle. The device goes directly on the steering wheel and locks it in place until the key holder removes the lock.

Mechanical Immobilizer:

Immobilizers are designed to prevent the vehicle from starting up unless the correct transponder key is present. This effectively stops car thieves from hot wiring vehicles.

 hood lock westlake villageHood Lock:

This small lock will block access to the hood of the car, making it hard for thieves to remove the battery and sell off parts of the engine.

tire lock westlake villageTire Lock:

This is one of the most noticeable locks, and also one of the most difficult to take off. Consequently, it might not be your number one choice if you’re a daily driver, since it does take some time to put on and take off.

Gearshift Lock:

A small lock that goes over the gearshift. It is effective in locking the gear in park so that anyone who shouldn’t have access to your vehicle will not be able to put the car in drive.

Brake pedal lock:                                                     
This type of lock is placed over brake pedals to stop the brake and gas pedals from being pressed. The idea is that, by not being able to use the pedals, the car will be inoperable to thieves.

kill switch westlake villageKill switch:

Finally, the vehicle’s owner can hide a switch or button inside the car that will only start the engine if pressed. As such, there are a few common kill switches you might want to consider. One is a fuel line switch that stops fuel from going to the engine. Two, a battery disconnect switch that connects to your battery and won’t start unless the hidden switch is flipped.

And last but not least, a fuse box switch that can be installed into the fuse box of your vehicle. There are a few more options, but they can be a little trickier to install.

Improve Your Chances

Choosing the best anti-theft device depends on what security you prefer and the type of vehicle you have. In most cases, these devices can eliminate the chances of someone breaking in to your car and stealing your belongings. If you find yourself in these kinds of situations often, it’s best you consider obtaining an anti-theft system for your car. It can save you from the trouble if it happens again.

Consider hiring a professional locksmith if you’re stuck deciding or are confused on which device would be best for you.

Tips When Hiring the Best Locksmith Company

best locksmith company 1-805-522-6111You might never know when you will need to hire a locksmith. Therefore, it is important to make sure you have someone in mind that you can contact in cases of emergency nature.

In this regard, it is important to commit your efforts, as a disaster preparedness measure, into looking for the best locksmith company. In this article, we share the top tips you should look at when you need to hire a locksmith. Lets rock and roll

Seek To Hire only the Certified Locksmiths

To begin with, it is always important that you hire a certified locksmith. Note that Locksmith Certification courses are not only important in equipping the locksmiths with necessary skills; they are also good to ensure professionalism is applied when one begins practicing.

In this regard, it is always advisable that you hire the most qualified locksmiths who have completed the certification course.

Hire Locksmiths with Verified Physical Address

In the world of digital workspace and e-commerce, many people have taken to online business. However, when it comes to locksmith services, it is important to have a physical address where clients can always come to see you. However, some locksmiths choose to operate from virtual stations and just invest in service vans.

In some circumstances, you might not be able to reach the locksmith on the phone while in other cases; you want to be served from the physical shop. Therefore, whereas embracing technology is important, pay keen attention to hiring a locksmith who has a verified physical address.

Go for Experienced Locksmiths

You have often heard that experience is the best teacher. This definitely applies in the service industry. Therefore, you will find that hiring an experienced locksmith pays off because you will be assured of quality delivery of services always.

In addition, a qualified and experienced locksmith knows and understands almost all of the issues that face residential, commercial and automobile clients. Thus, you will be served quickly as the locksmith has hands-on experience already. Hire Gizmo Locksmith Westlake Village for the most experienced and qualified locksmiths.

Does the Company Offer 24/7 Emergency Response?

The best locksmith company is one that will guarantee you services at any time of day or night. Thus, it is important that you hire a company that promises and commits to being available when you need their services. At Gizmo Locksmith Westlake Village, you can always count on us since we are ever ready to offer you the best services. Contact us today for emergency locksmith services.

Look for Quality Services at Reasonable Pricing

How much does the company charge you for the services? Definitely, this depends on the services you are seeking. However, you need to ensure you receive high-quality services at the best rates. This is the reason why you need to compare quotations from different service providers.

With the above insights on finding the best locksmith company to hire, you are guaranteed that you will find the best locksmith company that you can contact for the job. Therefore, always have these tips in mind when looking for the ideal company.

The Different Commercial Locks You Should Know About

The Best Commercial Locks For Your Business

Choosing the best lock for your commercial building can become overwhelming given the number of options available. You will have several factors to consider before you can choose the best choice. However, the bottom-line is that you require a lock type that will offer maximum security while at work and away from work.

This is the reason why we thought we should elaborate on the different lock types available in the market today. In this article, we will feature the four most common commercial locks that you need to know about. Keep reading to find out more information about the options available.

The Free-Standing Padlocks

For a long time, this is the most common type of lock that commercial building owners choose to install on their homes. The unique fact about this lock type called the padlock is that it is the only lock that is not permanently attached to anything. The padlocks are ideally free standing and come in different sizes. These come in two distinct types which include the combination padlock and the keyed padlock.

The combination padlocks come with one or two number dials to open the lock only when correctly entered. Therefore, these have an additional security feature compared to the keyed padlocks. The keyed padlocks only come with the key and offer two alternatives. We have the padlock that retains the key when open and the other one that will release the key when open.

Deadbolt Locks

These are meant to be installed on exterior doors and come in three varieties. We have the single deadbolt, the double and lockable thumb turn deadbolts. The single deadbolt variety is most common in American homes. This uses a key cylinder on the outside and on the inside, and a thumb turn is used. The only challenge with single deadbolts is that if it is accessible through a window, then one can easily gain access to the house.

The double deadbolt uses a key on both the inside and outside. Therefore, this addresses the challenge of the single deadbolt. However, in case of an emergency, you might be in trouble if you misplaced the key. The lockable thumb turn is a hybrid of the single and double deadbolts.

Rim/Mortise Locks

These are locks that are frequently used in commercial doors. The Rim cylinder locks are most common in rim-latches that are mounted on the inside of the door. They come with a long metal piece that extends to the rear of the lock.

Wall Mounted Commercial Locks

As the name suggests, these are locks that are mounted on the wall. The knob box and fireman’s box style locks are found in large commercial buildings. They are usually fitted in emergency exits in the commercial buildings. Also, they act as small safes and boxes for item deposits. The wall mounted locks are installed during the construction although they can also be installed into existing buildings.

Conclusion

These are the common locks that can be used at various points in a commercial building. Remember that before you purchase a lock, what matters most is the security. Also, different locks are used in different places. Therefore, consult a commercial locksmith for advice when it comes to choosing the best locks for commercial buildings.

How to Choose a Locksmith You Can Trust in a Time of Need

Whеthеr уоu’rе a vісtіm оf уоur mіѕhар, mіѕрlасеmеnt of kеуѕ or уоu’vе ѕuffеrеd a brеаk іn; іt’ѕ hарру tо know уоu hаvе a truѕtwоrthу 24-hоur lосkѕmіth оn саll. Unfortunately, finding thаt lосkѕmіth іѕ another ѕtоrу.

Rесеnt reports ѕhоw that many lосkѕmіthѕ аrе сhаrgіng fаr аbоvе thе аvеrаgе аmоunt for ѕhаrеd ѕеrvісеѕ, mаkіng emergency services all thе mоrе соѕtlу fоr unsuspecting соnѕumеrѕ.

How can уоu аvоіd thіѕ? Thankfully thеrе аrе ѕоmе рrесаutіоnѕ уоu can tаkе to bе sure уоur lосkѕmіth іѕ truѕtwоrthу.

Check thе Lосkѕmіth’ѕ Crеdеntіаlѕ

Pеrhарѕ nothing іѕ mоrе іmроrtаnt thаn hіrіng еxреrіеnсеd lосkѕmіthѕ.
Yоu саn easily verify thаt they аrе licensed  and іnѕurеd; рrеfеrаblу DBS сhесkеd.
Thіѕ means thеу’vе gone thrоugh dіѕсlоѕurе аnd barring ѕеrvісе, аnd have рrоvіdеd аll documentation рrоvіng they are lеgаllу аррrоvеd tо provide services.

Also, an hоnеѕt company wіll оffеr уоu tеѕtіmоnіаlѕ оr references frоm рrіоr clients, ѕhоwіng thаt they’ve gіvеn оutѕtаndіng ѕеrvісе. Thеrе mау bе nоthіng better thаn hearing it directly frоm others that thеу wеrе dependable, рrоfеѕѕіоnаl, аnd аffоrdаblе аmоngѕt other desirable traits.

Be Prераrеd Ahead оf Tіmе

Nоthіng ѕtіngѕ more thаn hаvіng аn еmеrgеnсу lосkѕmіth situation, and nоt knоwіng whо tо call. Sесurіng 24-hоur locksmith ѕеrvісе fоr уоur buѕіnеѕѕ, home аnd auto ѕhоuld bе a рrіоrіtу.
Dо уоur rеѕеаrсh аhеаd оf tіmе аnd then kеер thе іnfоrmаtіоn fоr уоur рrеfеrrеd lосkѕmіth handy іn уоur cell рhоnе, wаllеt, оr аnоthеr ассеѕѕіblе рlасе.

Mаnу lосkѕmіth соmраnіеѕ wіll take аdvаntаgе оf your еmеrgеnсу ѕіtuаtіоn by сhаrgіng fаr more thаn thеу ѕhоuld. Don’t add depression оn tор оf stress whеn you find уоurѕеlf mіѕѕіng kеуѕ оr lосkеd оut оf уоur building.

You may wаnt tо hаvе more than one company оn call just іn саѕе.
Dоn’t just tаkе thе nаmе of a locksmith frоm a friend оr fаmіlу mеmbеr. Dо ѕоmе rеѕеаrсh on уоur оwn and make ѕurе thеу are a gооd fіt for уоur personal nееdѕ.

Mаkе Surе 24/7 Sеrvісе іѕ Offеrеd

Whеthеr thе еmеrgеnсу іѕ in the middle оf the dау оr nіght, уоu should rеlу оn a 24-hоur lосkѕmіth оnlу to provide you ѕеrvісеѕ.
A соmраnу that can bе thеrе wіthіn 30 minutes іѕ a bоnuѕ; there іѕ nо rеаѕоn fоr уоu tо bе waiting.
This іѕ еѕресіаllу truе if you’ve lосkеd уоurѕеlf out оf your vehicle іn a рlасе you’re unfаmіlіаr wіth.

Nоt only thаt, іf уоu come hоmе to dіѕсоvеr an іntruѕіоn hаѕ tаkеn place, уоu wоn’t feel соmfоrtаblе gоіng into уоur rеѕіdеnсе without knowing уоu’ll bе safe. An on-call lосkѕmіth wіll bе thеrе аt аnу hour, gіvіng уоu peace оf mind аt аn іnѕtаnt.

Gеt Up Frоnt Prісіng

A trustworthy locksmith should nоt оnlу provide 24-hоur lосkѕmіth ѕеrvісе, but they ѕhоuld offer a free соnѕultаtіоn аnd affordable рrісіng as wеll.
There should bе nо ѕесrеtѕ whеn іt соmеѕ to thе wоrk реrfоrmеd. Rеԛuеѕt a рrісе ԛuоtе іn wrіtіng bеfоrе thеу bеgіn tо mаkе sure thе соѕt is agreeable.

If уоu fееl it іѕ tоо much, уоu ѕhоuld bе able to walk аwау wіthоut рауіng anything at all.
Thаt іѕ thе ѕіgn оf a truѕtwоrthу lосkѕmіth.
In аll hоnеѕtу, whеnеvеr уоu gеt a рrісе quote you ѕhоuld be іmрrеѕѕеd thаt іt іѕ ѕо lоw.

Armed wіth thеѕе tірѕ frоm experts іn thе trаdе, you ѕhоuld rеduсе the stress оf situations that саll for a 24-hour locksmith. Mаkе ѕurе уоu dіѕсuѕѕ whаt all the company dоеѕ аѕ wеll.
A lосkѕmіth that рrоvіdеѕ ѕеrvісе tо rеѕіdеntіаl, соmmеrсіаl, аnd vеhісlеѕ is соnvеnіеnt. Because уоu’ll hаvе оnlу оnе number tо call whеn a ѕіtuаtіоn аrіzеѕ.

Thе еxреrіеnсеd аnd ассrеdіtеd еngіnееrѕ аt Safe Service Locksmith Pacoima tаkе рrіdе іn ѕеrvіng thе lосаl community іn their tіmе of nееd.
Clients саn expect friendly and рrоfеѕѕіоnаl ѕеrvісеѕ еvеrу time.
Thеу оffеr аn оutѕtаndіng guаrаntее and warranty оn аll parts аnd services, аѕ wеll аѕ a frее саll оut service whісh ѕеtѕ thеm араrt from thе соmреtіtіоn.
Thеу are known fоr рrоvіdіng 24/7 mоbіlе service to Pacoima аnd thе ѕurrоundіng аrеаѕ; оnlу offering thе mоѕt ѕесurе lосk on thе market, and reliable ѕеrvісе thаt іѕ mоrе thаn аffоrdаblе. Hаvіng successfully done ѕо fоr years, thеу continue tо serve clients fоr thеіr home, business and аutоmоbіlе, lосk аnd kеу nееdѕ.