Lee's Lock & Safe

"Anyone who has been locked out of their car or home is probably familiar with one of the services a locksmith offers," the website wiseGEEK writes, "but locksmiths do a lot more than helping people get back into their locked homes."

Lock history: "The Industrial Age ushered in a new era of sophisticated locks and further established the English as security savants," writes the website Gizmodo.

If you want to avoid the hassle of locking yourself out of your home, you should consider a keyless lock. This eliminates the need for house keys and simply allows you to enter a code to enter your home.

It sounds like common sense, but don’t carry the spare key on the same key ring as the master key. Spares should be stored safely or on a separate key ring.

The next time you lose a house key, you may want to consider rekeying your door locks instead of installing new locks. A locksmith can rekey your lock and provide new keys for much less than the cost of replacing a lock.

When you own a business, there are steps you can take to ensure the safety and security of your building. If you have a safe, give the combination or key only to specially authorized personal. In addition, change the combination often.

If you are like so many others, you probably keep all of your keys together on one key chain or key ring, creating a huge problems if you lose or misplace them or they are stolen. If your keys go missing, have their corresponding locks replaced.

Can automotive locksmiths re-key locks on motorcycles? In most instances, yes. If a motorcycle key has been lost, or is suspected stolen, it is possible to re-key motorcycle locks, even coded number locks, instead of replacing the entire lock.

What is lock snapping? It is a burglary method where a burglar snaps a cylinder lock in order to gain entry to a property. Lock snapping can be prevented by ensuring your lock is correctly fitted. You can also fit an anti-snap cylinder.

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.

Need a locksmith? Sooner or later, it happens to every driver. We’re in a rush, get distracted or change our routine, and before we realize it, we’re outside the car, the windows are closed, the doors are locked and our keys are trapped inside.

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.

On some car models, when you unlock your car manually with the key, if you turn the key once on the driver side door, it opens only that door. If you turn the key twice in a row, it opens all of the doors. Some people do not know this since all they have ever used was a key fob.

While the panic bar had been invented and was available by the turn of the 20th century, a fire that killed more than 600 people in a Chicago theater in 1903 led to regulations that required panic bars on all commercial exit doors.

If you have lived in your home for a long time, you may be noticing that the locks are not working as smoothly as they once did. This could be due to the teeth of the key wearing down, or the lock itself is beginning to fail or both.

The concept of using a lock to secure property dates back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans. One of the earliest locks that used a key - which actually was a block of wood - was used 4,000 years ago in Egypt.

It’s important to remember that children who lack the motor skills to work a car lock can very easily get locked in the car. If no one with a spare set of keys to your vehicle can get to you quickly, we’re always ready to help you get back to your child.

Are you concerned whether you’re the doors and other elements of security in your business are adequate? A commercial locksmith can assess the strength of your lock and deadbolts and make potential recommendations to improve safety and security.

When you move into a new home, consider rekeying the existing locks or replacing the locks altogether. The average homeowner gives out or loses a number of house keys during their time in a home.

Lock defined: A lock, as defined by Encyclopædia Britannica, is a "mechanical device for securing a door or receptacle so that it cannot be opened except by a key or by a series of manipulations that can be carried out only by a person knowing the secret or code."

Interestingly, the first keys were made by blacksmiths, who were also responsible for fashioning their corresponding locks. It wasn’t until much later that locksmiths took over the craft of making both locks and keys.

We recognize that not all car buyers always get a spare key to their vehicle when they first purchase it. If it’s important to you to have an extra key to your car just in case, we may be able to help you create the key you’ll need for piece of mind.

If you had to name the birthplace of lock making in the United States, where would it be? If you said New York, you're wrong. The first mass produced locks for personal and commercial use were made in Terryville, Connecticut.

One common type of cylinder lock is the wafer tumbler lock. These work similarly to pin and tumbler locks except that they have thin wafer shaped tumblers rather than pins. Some designs use single wafers rather than wafer pairs.

When did pin tumbler locks replace the six cut sidebar locks on vehicles? In 1966. After their initial release, pin tumbler locks quickly became the preferred type of automotive lock for doors and trunks because they offered higher security and performed much better over the long term.

Some locksmiths work alongside law enforcement officers. Part of their job is to help the police get inside places discreetly, so that they can install bugs, wire taps, and other surveillance equipment.

Locksmiths in history: A former New York City police officer by the name of Samuel Segal is credited with the invention of a jimmy proof lock in 1916.

Have you ever heard of a Maison key system? This is a keying system that permits a lock to be opened with a number of unique, individual keys. There is also something called a master key, which operates a set of several locks.

Before car door locks were widely available in the late 1920s, automotive manufacturers experimented with different types of security options to prevent vehicle theft. One such option was a removable steering wheel, designed by Leach auto in 1900.

Some criminals may use a filed-down key, known as a "bump key," to force open a standard lock. Certain locks (such as combination locks, disc locks, magnetic locks, electronic locks, and keyless locks) are immune to bump keys.

What are the advantages of laser-cut automotive keys over traditional die-punch mechanical keys? Laser-cut keys offer a much higher level of security they are harder to pick and require specialized tools and software to develop, so they are more difficult to replicate. Laser-cut keys too can fit a car’s ignition from any angle, which makes it easier to place them in the ignition switch.

Have you thought about the vital records and valuables that a fire could destroy in your home or business? There are many different types of safes to protect important items that can withstand both fire and burglars.

In the event of a break-in at your facility, call the police immediately and refrain from touching anything. After the event, review your safety protocols closely, and have your locks re-keyed immediately if there's any chance an unauthorized individual has obtained access to a key.

If you only need a spare key, we have access to the technology to replicate it, and coordinate it with your transponder. We have the sophisticated diagnostic tools necessary to make the keys you need.

If you've lost the keys to a padlock, you might consider simply replacing the lock. Though we can cut a new key to the lock, padlock keys are generally more expensive to cut to code than the cost of a new lock.

New key fobs will need to be programmed to match the car to avoid a security shutdown. If the chip inside the fob is missing in most new cars, the engine will not start.

When lock-picking became more prevalent in the 18th century, it became increasingly necessary for lock designers to come up with more intricate designs. Technologies developed included changeable keys, primitive alarm bells, bolts, and ring padlocks.

So what’s the difference between a laser-cut key and a basic key? Usually, the metal shank of the key is slightly thicker and has fewer carved-out grooves than traditional auto keys.

Do you have any workers who are disabled and have difficult manipulating a key in the front door of your business? With a keyless entry system, a commercial locksmith can install a keypad or magnetic locks that can be opened with key fobs.

It's common to call a locksmith to help you out when you lock your keys in the car. However, locksmiths offer a variety of automotive services, from duplicating a lost key to extracting a broken ignition key from the lock cylinder.

Replacing a transponder key at the dealership can get quite expensive. We offer fast and reliable transponder key replacement and programming services at a fraction of the cost.

Why would you want electronic keypads controlling deadbolt entry systems on key entry doors in your business? Keypads offer tremendous flexibility because the combination can be changed from one day to the next if necessary.

Unfortunately, you won’t always be able to rely on your spouse to bring their spare set of keys to you when you get locked out of the car. When you can’t afford to spend hours waiting on help to arrive, we’re always here for you.

If possible, check out the locksmith and company name on the Better Business Bureau. At least fifteen states require licenses for locksmiths, which gives another way of checking their reviews.

Did you know that between 1774 and 1920, some 3,000 varieties of locks were patented? In the 1920s, Walter Schlage revolutionized locks by making one that used a push-button locking mechanism placed between two knobs.

Have you ever caught yourself hitting the lock button on your car’s remote and then setting it down on the seat while you gather your belongings? Remember to keep our number handy in case you ever don’t get them at the last second and lock yourself out.

Hello this is Calvin & Debbie Lauer owners of Lee's Lock & Safe. We are very proud & fortunate to receive the award from the Encinitas Support Fund. We have been serving the Encinitas & surrounding Communities since 1970. This award will keep is in business & continue serving our local communities for the foreseeable future. @cardiffbytheseafoundation @Leucadia 101 Main Street Association @encinitas101mainstreet @cardiff1o1mainstreet

Did you know that typically a burglar will only spend about 60 seconds trying to break into a building before giving up and moving on? Often all you need is a quality lock and other deterrents such as security lights to discourage a potential intruder.

Were you aware that there are different grades of locks? While Grade 1 is most recommended for commercial businesses, Grade 2 locks are designed for light duty commercial interior use as well as heavy duty residential use. In a commercial setting, they are good for office doors.

Auto theft has been a concern since the first car was made, with car manufacturers constantly coming up with new deterrents. Unfortunately, these also make it hard to unlock your car when you lose your keys. Locksmiths keep on top of these advancements to make sure they can help you.

If you have a home safe, don’t force it to try and get it open when it’s locked. This can dislodge the pins and make it harder to open the safe with a key.

Employee thefts costs companies up to $40 billion a year and it's been estimated that up to 3 out of 4 of your employees will steal from your company this year, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Surveillance systems, card-access systems and high security locks can all make a difference.

One of the first car locks introduced in the United States was the 1935 General Motors six-cut sidebar lock. It wasn’t until 1966 that pin tumbler locks began to replace this lock type both for the door locks and the trunk.

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.

Did you know that paintings inside Egyptian pyramids give a detailed look at complex locks that are believed to have been in use 2000 years before Christ? While locks have changed drastically over the years, the basic principles remain the same.

It’s important to remember that not all safes or vaults have to operate strictly off of combination dials. In some cases, you can set up your safe to require a key to unlock the dial before it will turn.

Locksmiths can repair sticky car ignitions or stuck or rusted locks, which can occur when a car is either old or has been exposed to extreme weather.

The batteries for keyless or remote entry systems for cars will not last forever, and they can also be damaged from exposure to moisture or shocks from sudden impact. If you think the battery in your fob has stopped functioning, let us help get your keys working again.

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.

Professional auto locksmiths have advanced, state-of-the-art tools and technology on their side which make it possible to get you back into your car and on the road as fast as possible. In fact, the tools of the trade that auto locksmiths use are industry specific.

A high grade deadbolt lock can be a deterrent to potential burglars. Many home intruders, when interviewed about their selection of a target, claim that seeing a quality deadbolt lock will cause them to move on to another house.