Advance Lock & Key

What we do best

The strike plate is an extremely important part of your door lock mechanism. If your strike plate isn't made of a strong metal and isn't anchored by screws that are long enough, your door is not nearly as strong as it can be.

A spring-latch lock is easy prey for burglars who are "loiding" experts. Loiding is the method of slipping a plastic credit card against the latch tongue to depress it and unlock the door. A deadbolt defies any such attack.

The earliest found lock with key utilized a pin tumbler principle that is used in many modern locks. The key was dated to the 8th century BC and found in the ruins of Emperor Sargon II's palace in Khorsabad of the Assyrian Empire.

Pin tumbler locks have an ancient past dating all the way back to 2000 BC. The first patent holder of the modern form of the pin tumbler was an American, A.O. Stansbury.

It's pretty easy to get distracted and lock your keys in your vehicle. No matter when this happens you can give us a call, and we'll send out help so you can get back in your car and on your way.

Another way to avoid being locked out of your home is a keyless entry system. This is a deadbolt lock that can be opened with either a key or through a keypad. We can help you figure out if this is the best system for you.

A number of home burglars will case a target to pinpoint vulnerabilities, such as the occupants going out of town. Get a timer and set the lights to go on at a certain time at night. That way, it will be harder to tell when you're gone. Also, remember to lock your doors!

Have a safe and have forgotten the combination? It happens to the best of us. We can work with your to change the combination of your safe so you can access your valuables when you need to. You don't have to worry about trying to remember anymore.

Since 1998, most new cars in the country have transponder keys. These keys contain a chip that transmits a radio signal to the car, and only when the correct signal is received will the key work properly.

Having your home locked up whenever you are away or asleep is the easiest way to prevent burglaries. Another way to prevent being robbed, especially by a professional, is concealing all wiring of your alarm system.

A home burglar can gain entry into your home by kicking in the door or disabling the lock, so you want to address both of those possibilities with the equipment you choose. The first step in doing this is to have either a solid wood or metal door.

Are you interested in changing the locks in your home because of a domestic situation? We can quickly change out the locks and provide new keys so that anyone holding keys to the old locks in your home will no longer have access to the house.

Key codes are not just on house locks, cars, and padlocks. If you lose your keys to filing cabinet, we can help you. We might asked to see proof of ownership to keep everyone's personal information safe, but we can get you back into your files.

A problem with your vehicle that requires a locksmith is something that doesn't regularly happen. That's why it's important to know who to call if you find yourself locked out of your vehicle or with a broken car in an isolated area late at night.

The warded lock is an ancient lock design and still used today. These locks use a set of obstructions, also known as wards, to prevent the lock from working unless the correct key is used.

We can come to your home and offer an assessment on whether your doors and locks offer sufficient security. Statistics show that the longer it takes a potential burglar to break into a home, the more likely that burglar will move on to another target.

Did you know that you can rekey a car? Depending on what's needed, you can have the ignition or door locks on a car rekeyed. Or maybe you're restoring a car and need all new locks. We can work with you on the best solution to your automotive key needs.

If a stranger comes to your door at night asking to use the phone to call a mechanic or the police, keep the door locked and make the call yourself. Though their intentions may be completely sincere, it's always better safe than sorry.

The problem with alarm systems is that they only alert after a burglar has broken in, and had a chance to at least steal a small amount of your belongings. It's important that if you are secured by an alarm company, to have their sticker in your window so that potential thieves know its there.

The earliest locks were made of wood and used throughout the ancient world. They depended on gravity in order to work, pins fell into an opening in a horizontal bolt and a wooden key had they could shift the pins back into place.

Do you have any idea if the locks on your doors provide optimum security? Some builders will rely on less expensive locks which are not as secure. We can inspect your doors and replace any locks that should be upgraded.

Why are more than two million burglaries committed each year? It could be that only about 13 percent of all break-ins are solved, making the choice of locks for your entrance doors even more important.

Ward locks were favored by Ancient Romans and are still used all around the world today. These locks have barriers that obstruct the rotation of keys other than the specific one made for the lock.

If you feel the need to lubricate your locks over time, always use a silicon-based lubricant. Products like WD-40 have water in their formulas which can cause corrosion over time and can eventually damage your locks.

If you have a transponder key that's either lost or broken, we can locate the proper code for your vehicle and code a blank code so that it is synchronized with your vehicle.

When your spouse or teen-ager is driving the car, make sure they have a way to get in touch with us in the event of an emergency, particularly if you are unavailable, for whatever reason.

Opening a locked car now requires more than a slim jim. Locksmiths, like us, have the tools and training to open modern cars without damaging the car. Using someone else can cost you in door panel damage. Let us save you time and money by doing the job right.

A huge consideration in light of your home protection needs should be your landscaping. Trees located near windows or shrubbery that might shield a burglar from view can be a major flaw in your home-protection plan.

Looking to add electronic access to your business? Whether you're looking at keypads, biometric scanners, or RFID chips on badges, we can find the right system for you company's needs. Your security if our first priority.

Did you know the padlock was nearly considered an art form? Padlocks came in various shapes though usually geometric, and were etched with animal and religious images. These locks were preferred by European traveling merchants.

Don't take any chances with lost keys to your front door. Burglars look for the homes that offer quickest entry and exit. If it's possible the lost keys were on your property, a burglar is likely to try and see if they match your front door.

My key says Do Not Duplicate, can I get another one made? No, at least not honestly. Most restricted key systems can only be duplicated by the locksmith who made the key to begin with and only then with authorization.

Did you lose your house key? Change your locks as soon as you can. Unfortunately sometimes you never know where you lost it, and if someone was watching you, they may now have access to your home.

Originally, locksmithing was both a science and an art. Locksmithing was the art of making and defeating locks.

The Pin tumbler lock is one of the oldest types of locks in the world. Ancient Egyptians used this type of lock making it from wood in large and heavy forms. Pins used in the lock were made either of bronze or iron.

Did you know that the most common item burglars steal are tools? Most tools are high value and easily accessible. A good way to deter tool theft is to paint the handles. Thieves avoid items that are easy to identify.

Do you employ a house-cleaner? Make sure that person is honest and reputable, and check all references thoroughly. Anyone who has a copy of your house key should be trustworthy, and you wouldn't give it to a stranger!

Do you have a safe at home or for a business that you think may be compromised? We can change the combination of your safe, something you may want to do on a regular basis as a safety precaution.

Do you have a faulty alarm that frequently goes off? Get it fixed ASAP and be sure to tell your neighbors when it has been replaced, so that they don't ignore the alarm the next time it goes off. Be sure to always lock up when you leave!

Do you have someone in your home that is disabled and can't easily manipulate a key in the front door lock? Give us a call and we can provide you with information about digital locks.

Did you know Josip Broz Tito was once a locksmith apprentice? He apprenticed before becoming a test driver for Daimler Benz in 1913 and later Yugoslav secretary-general.

Doors and locks are not a place to go cheap with a new home. A sturdy lock and a burly door can keep a home burglar on the outside. Security is an important issue when it comes to home ownership, and all the proper steps should be taken to ensure that your belongings are safe.

Instead of keeping a spare key in an obvious location like a mailbox, under the doormat, or on a nail behind the garage, wrap the key in foil. After that, bury it where you can easily find it if you need it, but in a spot a burglar would not think to look.

While a locking your doors is the simplest way to deter burglars, the biggest deterrent is the risk of being seen breaking in. It's a good idea to have motion sensor lights at night time and landscaping that makes your home visible rather than hidden behind trees.

It's important to ensure that your doors are as secure as possible. National statistics indicate there are approximately 2 million home burglaries reported yearly in the U.S.

Ward locks are ancient locks that are still used today. They are common throughout Ireland and the UK, and in America they have been utilized in cabinet locks, padlocks, and often in other low-security locks.

Do you have a need for a Master Key system? This can be done with either card key locks as with hotels and some businesses, or with actual keys. The system is designed to operate on its own individual key and with the Master Key. The locks must be from the same manufacturer to work.

We can explain why it's a good idea to choose a lock with the highest available ANSI grade. Locks only receive the top grade - a Grade 1 - after undergoing a series of tests.

Did you know the Panama Canal is made up of six locks? The canal runs 51 miles from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and has a depth of 39ft.

Worried about locking yourself out of your house or car? The easiest and cheapest way to make sure you're protected is to have a spare key. Since most keys can be duplicated, we can help you with all your key cutting needs.

Locksmiths not only unlocked locks but have historically made entire locks. These locks required hours of file work and hand cutting screws.

The first lever lock was made in 17th century Europe. The lock is now very popular for North American prisons and safes and is made of very strong materials.

If your car key ever breaks off in the ignition, call us right away. Don't use sharp objects to try to recover the bottom half of your key because you might damage the lock assembly.

Double-keyed deadbolts are not always the right choice in your door. Though they can be more secure than one with a button or flip switch, many fire codes consider them a danger if you can't get to your keys in the event of a fire.

A prep key is a type of key used for safety deposit box locks. The prep key is turned one and then withdrawn before the "real" key is used to unlock the safety deposit box.

Digital locks provide the kind of flexibility that traditional locks cannot. If you are going to have a visitor for a week, share the code to open the digital lock and then change the code again when your visitor is gone.

There are times when you will need to completely change the locks in your home or business. Rekeying is not always an option. If you have old and damaged locks or are looking to add a more security to your locks. We can help you evaluate your locks and see if they need replacement.

Think getting people into a locked car or cutting keys are all locksmiths do? We can also rekey your home or company, set you up with a safe--conventional or electronic, and repair just about any broken lock you need fixed.

Do you know what weak points your home may have that burglars can take advantage of? The most obvious would be an open door when you are either away or at the back of the house. Another weak point would be a tree house within stepping distance from an upstairs window.

So you've bought a brand new car with a security chip in the key. Did you know that you don't have to have duplicate keys made at a dealership. We can work with you to duplicate not only the key but the security chip and probably save you some time and money.