Remember the “old days” when people actually slept with their windows
open or doors unlocked? Just watch any re-run of Mayberry RFD and watch the
friendly neighbors walk into each other’s homes freely and unannounced.
Nowadays, you can get shot for that! What happened? More people and more crime
happened! Today, people are not as trusting, nor should they be. With the
increase in gang activity, neighborhood crime, car theft, shoplifting, flash
mobs, vagrants and homeless, you just can’t be too careful. This is where
better security is needed and comes into play. Here at
Locksmith Tyler, we
advocate better security and protection no matter where in town you are. This
includes home, auto and business.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
The first step to better security is to simply be more aware of where
you are and who is around you. Apply this new awareness to home life as well as
to your workplace and recreational locations, too. When you are in the grocery
store, is your cart with your purse near you at all times? Or, do you leave it
(only for a moment!) to go get a box of crackers 20 feet away? When you load
those groceries in your trunk, are you cognizant of who is walking behind you
or parking next to you? As you enter an elevator at work do you notice any suspicious
looking person(s) nearby that might just jump in with you? When you are working
in your garage at night do you leave the light on so that your property is well
lit and no one just happens to walk up to you or sneak inside? The purpose of
this post is NOT to make you paranoid – only to increase your awareness of your
local Tyler, TX environment and the possibilities of threats to your well-being.
If you have friends or guests with you, it is very easy to get distracted to
the point where a pick pocket or armed bandit can get to you or to one of the
members of your party. This gets even further complicated when you are
responsible for children and/or pets.
Neighborhood Problems
It’s a myth that only bad neighborhoods get crime. Sure, crooks tend
to haunt poor locals but they are not stupid; they know where the money is at.
Even higher end parts of town can experience burglars, home invasions, domestic
problems and drug deals gone bad. Our Locksmith Tyler customers live in a wide
range of socio-economic neighborhoods ranging from mobile home parks to country
clubs and all experience the need for added and
better security to
protect homes, businesses and automotive vehicles.
Are You Being Watched?
Not to alarm you but many times, a “mark” is watched before the
criminal strikes. This can include your daily habits like taking your lunch
break at a certain time and place. It could mean that someone is lurking behind
a hedge near your home and noticing that you get the morning paper before 7 am
and you never lock the door behind you. Your dog door may be large enough for a
person to crawl through. Even small pets have doors that a child can fit
through. You may be thinking “what can a child do?” but think for a moment.
That less than innocent boy or girl can be trained to enter your pet door and
run to your front door to unlock it! If your dog has been previously observed
to be friendly and not aggressive, then this is a very likely scenario when you
are away at work or on vacation.
Change Those Locks!
Have you been the victim of a recent crime at home or at your
business? Changing your locks can help. In fact, even if your life has been
crime free up to now, rekeying your locks is a smart precaution. Have you ever
wondered who has keys to your house, car or business? The most obvious choices
are your children, your spouse and any roommates. Think back though; where did
you get your key? Realtors, builders, property managers, contractors, delivery
persons, landscapers, baby sitters and many others have had access to your
key(s) at some point. How many just happen to have a spare?
Lock Change or Lock Rekey?
There’s a difference and here at Locksmith Tyler, we are often asked
which is best. That part is up to you. When our
licensed, bonded
and insured technicians rekey a lock, we leave the lock itself in place. We
simple alter the interior pins so that a different key is needed to open it. In
most cases, this is what you really need. Rekey work is fast, affordable and
gives you tremendous peace of mind as you now have better control over your key
distribution. When we change the locks, we actually change them out for new
ones. This involves a slightly higher expense and is often a preferred choice
when you want to upgrade to better quality locks for added protection.
Business Security
Remember when a simple lock on the shop door was enough? Not anymore.
Commercial property can include apartment rentals, restaurants, retail stores,
medical clinics, car dealers, attorney firms, private schools, art galleries,
jewelry stores, laundromats and hundreds more. Anytime you are dealing with
money, cash, credit cards, customers and inventory, you have to worry about
shoplifting, employee theft, pilfering and even “not so accidental” slips and
falls. Each Tyler, TX business is unique and has different security issues so
it’s best to consult with an established commercial lock and key expert like
ours here at
Locksmith
Tyler. We offer free consultations, free price quotes and superior quality
hardware from the nation’s best lock manufacturers. You might consider CCTV
camera installation, high security locks, deadbolts, rekeys, change outs, panic
bar additions, peepholes and other quality improvements that can vastly enhance
the security of your company, customers and staff. If you already have a
preferred locksmith shop that you work with, ask them for their recommendations
to bolster your security protection at home, in your car or at your business
location.
