Locks and Home Insurance...What You Need To Know...

As a home owner in Manchester you may be surprised to know that most insurance companies stipulate in their contracts that your Locks must meet British standards of Security (BS3621) otherwise your home Insurance may be invalid and the Insurance company will have the right to refuse your claim! Insurance companies want to make sure you are taking the right precautions to minimise your risk of Burglary to safeguard your home, contents and family. The break in would be bad enough but having the insurance company refuse your claim could be mentally and financially crippling! And that's something we don't want here at Lockforce Locksmiths Manchester.

I often find that most people’s Locks don't meet the British Standard requirements when I'm completing Locksmith work in and around Manchester which can include;

• Night Latches (also known as Yale locks)

• Euro Cylinders (UPVC Doors)

• Mortice Locks (wooden doors)

British standard locks are much safer and more secure than a standard lock, they are tested to replicate wear and tear over time and also against the most common methods of break ins. Here at Lockforce Locksmith Manchester we only supply British standard Locks and also Anti Snap Locks to better safeguard you against Break ins! 

How to tell if you have a British standard lock? - Check for a Kite mark (which looks like a heart) on your lock (see the picture below). Or alternatively give Lockforce Locksmiths Manchester a call for a free and no obligation home security assessment of your current Locks. As a Local Manchester Locksmith we're never far away and always here to help! Give me a call for your FREE survey to see if you're locks are keeping you safe and secure! 

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Manchester/

New Locksmith in Warrington & Widnes!

Here at Lockforce HQ we’re delighted to welcome aboard Tom Lyons as the new Owner and Manager of Lockforce Locksmiths Warrington & Widnes!

Tom joins the Nationally recognised brand following some experience in carpentry and locksmithing with a desire to be his own boss. He has now completed our intensive training programme and is up and running. 

Tom is DBS checked and verified and ready to keep you safe!

Best of luck Tom!

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Widnes/
https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Warrington/
https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/StHelens/

Identifying Your Locks

When requring the services of Lockforce Locksmiths in Portsmouth it is really helpful for us if you know the type of lock you have. This enables us to assess the problem quicker and understand what will be required when we arrive at your property. We will also be able to give you a better guide estimate prior to arrival.

Below, is an explanation of the various types of locks you will have installed in your property. 

Euro Cylinder Locks

A euro cylinder lock forms an integral part of various types of locks including multi-point locks used on UPVC and composite doors and also on some mortice locks used on wooden doors. They are mainly found on entrance and exit doors on both residential and commercial properties. Euro cylinders can easily be replaced. When you contact Lockforce Locksmiths Portsmouth, we can advise you on what type, size and level of security each cylinder will offer. 

There are 3 types of Euro Cylinders:

Single Cylinder

These euro profile single cylinder locks allow for key access from one side only

Double Cylinder

These locks allow for key access from both sides of the door

Double Cylinder with Thumbturn

A thumbturn cylinder lock allows for key access from one side and a thumbturn from the other side

A high percentage of residential and commercial properties will have a basic contractor’s euro cylinder installed. These cylinders are prone to what is known as lock snapping, so we strongly advise you to upgrade to an anti snap euro cylinder lock. At Lockforce Portsmouth, we stock anti snap cylinder locks as standard. We also stock anti snap BS 3*** cylinders to give you the maximum in security.

Mortice Locks

Mortice locks are mainly found in wooden doors and sometimes metal doors and gates. These locks are normally fitted as a secondary security lock. They operate by the turn of a key, which then enables a bolt to lock into the strike plate fitted into the frame of the door. As these locks have to be manually locked and unlocked, they do provide better security than a night latch. The deadlocks mainly come in 3 different types and different sizes to suit your security needs. At Lockforce Portsmouth, we stock all the following types of mortice locks:

 - 3 Lever Mortice Deadlock

These provide basic security. These 3 lever locks should only be installed to internal doors (i.e. bedroom). The 3 lever locks are smaller than 5 lever mortice locks as most internal doors are narrower (35mm average) than exterior doors (45mm average)

  - 5 Lever Mortice Deadlock

5 lever locks offer a higher security level to the 3 lever. The mortice lock is larger and due to the extra levers, they offer more key combinations. 5 lever mortice locks also offer extra security in the form of anti picks, anti saw bolts and boxed strike plates. These locks would still be installed internally, because they are not British Standard rated.

 - 5 Lever Mortice British Standard (BS3621) Deadlock

These 5 lever locks are installed to external doors on a property for the requirement of insurance companies to qualify for contents insurance. The British Standard mortise locks have an anti pick, anti saw, hardened steel plates and also a security curtain to protect from the lock being picked. They also have a 20mm (usually 14mm) bolt that locks into a security strike plate in the door frame. 

If your current lock is not British Standard rated, we strongly advise you to upgrade your lock. If you want to know if your current lock is British Standard, have a look where the bolt is and look to see if there is a British Standard kite mark.

At Lockforce Portsmouth, we supply and install the above types of locks and all come with a one year warranty. For more information, call Lee at Lockforce Locksmiths Portsmouth today on 02393 962104 or call my mobile 07841 449582 

Night Latches (otherwise known as Yale Lock).

A night latch is mounted onto the internal side of the door instead of being morticed into it. If the night latch is on the external door, they are usually accompanied by a mortice lock. There are many types of night latches available, but if you are securing your external door, Lockforce Portsmouth recommend installing a British Standard night latch to keep your property more safe and secure. In terms of security, the British Standard night latch offers a 20mm anti saw bolt, internal lockable latch and a high security integral cylinder pull. British Standard 3621:2007 night latches meet the criteria for insurance companies and the police. 

At Lockforce Portsmouth, we supply and install all types of night latches to meet your security needs.

Multi-Point Locks (MPL)

- These types of locking mechanisms are commonly found within the frames of UPVC/composite entrance doors and patio/French doors. These mechanisms are operated usually with a Euro cylinder lock. The door handle throws the MPL into a locked (or unlocked) position and is then secured by locking the euro cylinder. Multi Point Locking systems consist of many versions. They have different amounts of hooks, rollers and mushroom bolts that lock into the framework of the doorway. 

If you need more help or advice regarding your locks, please call Lockforce Locksmiths Portsmouth today on 02393 962104 or call my mobile 07841 449582.

Lockforce - Keeping You Safe

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Portsmouth/

.

Lee Dray

Lockforce

Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds 2018 Review

It was a very busy year for us at Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds, we attending over 300 burglaries in Leeds and the majority were very similar I.e. Handle broken, lock snapped and usually a car taken along with cash or electrical items. At Lockforce Locksmiths as a bear minimum we always fit Anti snap locks to all our customers even if customers are on a budget we keep you safe.

Thankfully burglaries only take up a small percentage of our yearly work and we are pleased that the message is getting out there and customers are more aware from the likes of social media and call Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds for a free security survey to check their locks from such attacks, and in most cases customers are shocked when we demonstrate just how quick and easy it would have been for a burglar to gain entry usually in less than 9 seconds. It is also reassuring to advise some customers that their locks meet Insurance standards are their locks are indeed British Standard BS3621/2007 and there is no need to upgrade.

The biggest majority of our time spent in 2018 was from helping customers with locks that had failed and in some case left them locked out of their own home. UPVC doors with so many moving parts in the Multi Point Locking system such as deadbolts, hooks, mushrooms, pins and shoebolts, they can be as many as 9 locks to one door and many times the system fails from wear and tear or door alignment and break. This can happen at anytime of the day/night and Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds have attended emergency situations at all hours of the clock and sometimes in horrible weather. That said we have also been baked in sunshine so we take the rough with the smooth.

Lost or forgotten keys will always be high up on our calls we received some 500 calls in 2018 and sometimes at the most inconvenient times but also in some comical ways, Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds are always on hand to help in your situation.

In 2018 Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds were proud to become Trading Standards Approved further enhancing our reputation as  a company that you can trust, this is also echoed by our continued proud partnership with Checkatrade and the frequent high scoring reviews customers have posted on our sites 

At the end of 2018 Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds have received 575 customer 5 star reviews, of which we are very proud and continue to look at ways to surpass are quality standards and service,

https://www.trustist.com/customer-reviews/Review-lockforce-leeds-Reviews-21620.html

Lockforce Locksmiths Leeds look forward to helping existing and new customers in 2019, whatever the situation whatever the weather we are only a phone call away

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/leeds/

Mark Hodge opens the new Lockforce Chester branch!

Here at Lockforce HQ we’re delighted to welcome aboard Mark Hodge as Owner and Manager of Lockforce Locksmiths Chester, along with one of his three beagles!

Mark's new branch covers Chester, Wirral and Ellesmere Port. He successfully completed our extensive training programme last week and has already hit the ground running. 

Mark is not only DBS checked but an Armed Forces Veteran, so you can rest assured your safety is paramount to him! 

Best of luck Mark!

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Chester/
https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Wirral/
https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/EllesmerePort/

Locksmiths Security Surveys

FREE Home Security Survey - Is Your Property Safe?

In 2018 there was, on average, one burglary every day in Bognor Regis and 4 a day in Central Portsmouth! Across the UK, there are over 450,000 homes burgled a year. So how safe and secure is your property? Do you need to consider improving your home or your business's level of security? To deter potential intruders from committing a burglary, one of the best solutions is to have multiple layers of security that will discourage an intruder from attempting to break in to your property. 

Being your local trusted emergency locksmith at Lockforce, I would like to offer the following security advice:

Locks - How strong are your locks? How many locks do you have on your exit doors? What type of locks are they? Are your locks British Standard (can you see the kite mark?). These are all questions we can help answer for you. Most burglaries happen by breaking in through the front door or window. Having strong lock mechanisms that are visible will help to deter a potential intruder. At Lockforce, we only install anti-snap cylinder locks as a minimum. We also install the Ultion TS007 3⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎ lock, the ultimate in lock security. Ultion locks come with a £1000 guarantee and are Police Approved. Please click here to see it’s credentials...https://vimeo.com/301610626. The most common question we are asked regarding lock upgrades, is how much? You should never economise when it comes to security. Just ask yourself how much are the contents of your house worth? Are your car keys secure? What do you value your family’s security at? These are the key questions, not the price of the lock.

Are your doors locked? - There are approximately 900 homes broken into through the door every day across the UK! It may sound silly, but many homeowners forget to lock their doors! Do you have window locks and do they work? Ensuring your property is locked at night and also when you are at home alone is also a preventative measure. Did you know nearly 60% of burglaries occur whilst you’re at home.

Home Security Systems - Invest in the best home security system with a burglar alarm installed at all exit points. There are many other types of security systems to choose from including CCTV and exterior lighting. These are all great visual deterrents. Please ask Lockforce for further advice.

When was the last time you checked your locks? - At Lockforce we offer a FREE home security check. Being your local trusted locksmith, our aim is to keep our local community safe and secure. Your property’s security should be your no.1 priority. At Lockforce, we can visit your property at a suitable time and assess your level of security you currently have. We will then make recommendations to help you and your property be safer and secure. At Lockforce, we also give you the chance to see how strong (or weak) your cylinder locks are by giving you the opportunity to snap a lock on my lock snapping board (see pic). You will be shocked how weak most cylinder locks are!! Did you know 85% of lock break-ins are by lock-snapping? Lock-snapping means an intruder could be in your home within 10 seconds by using basic tools to break a snap euro cylinder lock! 

Please call Lee at Lockforce on 07841449582 if you would like a FREE home security survey. Lockforce….Keeping You Safe!

www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/BognorRegis/

www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Portsmouth/

www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Chichester/

Lockforce locksmiths in Darlington 2018

What a year we had in 2018 we secured 100s of homes & business  and 100s of vans! We also joined our local bni chapter to help pass referrals to other business in the chapter! 

Securing homes & business  

   

Though out the year we attended numerous burglary’s to homes and business either this been broken into or opportunist hoping for the grab and run picking up the house keys and turning back up at a later date! We also had a lot of failed mpl’s where customers where locked out or even locked. Most of these fail due to badly aligned doors which a couple adjustments would have saved them money! 

Lost keys! 

I have lost count the amount of gain entry’s I've had to do due to lost keys either been upvc doors, wooden doors and even garage doors! With our 3* diamond secure cylinder we could offer you key rings with a tracker built in so losing your keys will be a thing of the past. 

Vans security

This year tool theft has risen every day we are seeing vans been broken into and tools pinched! We have fitted thatcham accredited kits to 100s of vans securing the tools throughout the north east this is now a massive part of my business 

Reviews

Reviews mean the world to me with out my customer reviews we wouldn’t be in the position we are today the reviews we have received in 2018 is phenomenal so we would like to say a big thank you to all our customer who have took time to leave us a review either it been on google our websites Checkatrade and checked and vetted 

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Darlington/