Murrieta Lock & Safe, Inc.

We understand that as long as your business has doors that lock, there will be someone who loses their set of building keys. When you suspect that someone’s key is missing, let’s talk about how quickly we can change the locks.

Back in the olden days, small European villages were surrounded with by high walls to keep out robbers. Shopkeepers typically gave keys to their businesses to the local constabulary so evening foot patrols could gain easy access in case of trouble.

Having plenty of insurance is a good idea, but it's still no substitute for good locks and adequate security. Good security protects your valuables as well as invaluable objects like photos and other personal mementos.

To discourage would-be burglars, consider adding layers of security to your home, such as locking gates, locks on windows, multiple locks on exterior doors, etc. Most burglars will choose to move on in search of easier pickings.

As you know, your building’s security is only as strong as the weakest part of it. In many cases, that weak link is the door locks. Let’s talk about the commercial grade lock options that may be more appropriate for your business.

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.

Locks and deadbolts are of course intended to prevent burglary, however businesses can reduce risk to crime in many other ways too. Be sure that your establishment’s parking lots and storefronts are well lit at night, and establish staff policies requiring at least two people to open or close your business.

Lock bumping is a technique where a criminal uses a bump key (a key that's shaved down to fit the cylinder of a specific lock), which is fitted into the cylinder and then hit to bypass the lock and open the door. The good news is that there are modern locks specifically designed to be unopenable with a bump key.

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.

Are you moving soon? When you move into a new house, it’s a good idea to change all the locks and tumblers. While it would be extremely rare for a previous owner to break in, it is possible that they accidentally could have left behind a hide-a-key. Don’t take any chances!

Is the lock on your car broken? While it may be tempting to try to repair it yourself, the best thing to do is to contact a locksmith who specializes in car locks. He or she can take care of the problem in a few minutes so you can avoid spending hours trying to fix it.

Wondering why you should go to a locksmith to have a key copied instead of using an automated machine? The quality of copies made from a key depends on the quality of the machine that's making them. Professional locksmiths have the most precise and well-maintained equipment available, so they get the best results.

Once you choose an emergency locksmith, it's a great idea to immediately put all phone numbers to reach the locksmith into your cell phone. It's easy to become flustered and forget names and numbers during an emergency.

Do you know what key relevance is? This is the measurable difference between an original key and copy made of that key, either from a wax impression or directly from the original, and how similar the two keys are in size and shape.

Law enforcement experts agree that theft is often a crime of opportunity. A commercial locksmith can use a variety of equipment and technology to make an employee think twice before considering stealing from the company.

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.

Have you ever heard the term classroom function? This refers to a lock where the outside of a knob or lever is locked and unlocked by a key only. There is no thumb turn on the inside. Regardless of whether the lock is engaged, you may always exit freely.

If an intruder wants to gain entry into your home, he'll likely use a door or window. Which entrance to your home is an intruder statistically most likely to try first? If you guessed the front door, you're right. Why? A significant number of homeowners leave their front doors unlocked.

When you own a business, you should always be aware of when you may be most at risk of being burglarized and act accordingly, even if that means replacing all the locks. A couple examples of these situations could include if you have just fired an employee, or if an employee has lost their keys.

When locksmithing emerged as a valued trade in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States, it was primarily limited to families who had a history in the craft. For the most part, fathers shared trade secrets with their sons.

If you have hundreds of workers in different buildings in a commercial campus, a card access system not only provides security but can tell you when one of your workers last entered a particular office.

You may keep your company key on a keychain, but wealthy and powerful Romans maintained their keys a little differently. Care to guess where they kept them? If you guessed on their fingers, you're right. It was thought that ring keys (as opposed to key rings) were secure and convenient.

The average handheld key is made up of two distinct parts: The bow is the end you hold and turn. Without it you couldn't apply the torque necessary to turn the tumblers in the lock itself. The second part is referred to as the blade (or shaft). It fits into the keyway of the lock.

Security experts agree that exterior doors are best protected with dead bolt locks. That's in addition to the lock in the doorknob. The deadbolt extends into the door's strike plate, adding extra security.

Have you heard of a smartphone lock? This futuristic lock can be engaged and opened using a simple smartphone. This is an ingenious "hands free" option, but may have some cyber vulnerabilities.

Sliding or swinging gates work well for businesses, particularly after hours and in conjunction with video cameras and security guards. Gates that can be left opened during the day will provide additional security overnight.

Not sure what kind of security you need for your home or business? Since locksmiths work with different types of locks and security devices all the time, they are very qualified to make recommendations. A locksmith can perform a survey of your building and come up with a plan to make it completely secure.

If your dead bolt is difficult to engage, it may be misaligned. In fact, problems with poorly adjusted deadbolts result in many of the service calls performed by locksmiths across the country every year.

If the doors in your business rely on locks you must be concerned about the ability of burglars to pick or bump a lock in as little as one minute to gain access to a building. A commercial locksmith can recommend high security locks that are both pick and bump-resistant.

If you like the idea of integrating the locks on your facility, an interconnected locking system may be for you. It combines the functionality of both a deadbolt and a latch in one. From inside, the door can be unlocked and opened in one easy motion.

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.

Advances in locks and other security measures in recent years have made locksmiths invaluable. If you call the police or fire department because you're locked out of your home, they will likely call in a locksmith to handle the situation.

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.

One of the benefits of a keyless lock is that it can be easily reprogrammed. In fact security experts say it's a good idea to change the keypad combination to your front door on a regular basis to frustrate potential burglars.

You may want to consider card-access systems for some or all of your company. These can be installed by a commercial locksmith, and in addition to keep out strangers, card access systems can help you keep track of your employees.

Did you realize that the first door keys weren't maintained by homeowners or shop owners? They were kept by the constables that patrolled the streets at night. In case of trouble, the proper authorities could then gain access to locked buildings without unnecessary delay.

It's common for homeowners to leave the front door key in the lock on the inside portion of the door. However, burglars can then break a door's glass sidelights or a window close to the front door, reach inside, and grab the key.

Commercial locking systems are designed with protecting your business in mind. These locks are not only designed to be tamper proof, but will also protect against attempts to break through the door and/or other means of entry.

You probably already know that a deadbolt is essential to protect the entrance to your small business. Were you aware, though, that any deadbolt you select should have at least a one inch throw bolt?

Interestingly, the first locks are believed not to be inanimate objects but rather living, breathing creatures. For instance, India’s Emperor of Annam kept his valuables, sealed in blocks of wood, on a small island that was protected by his locks, or dangerous crocodiles kept on a starvation diet.

The mechanics of lock design can be complex. There are some clear selection guidelines you can follow, though. For example, just about any deadbolt locking system is more effective than a key-in-knob lock.

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.

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.

You probably already know locks can help keep homes and belongings safer. Locks have been around a long time, too. Some experts believe the first locks were fashioned over 4,000 years ago. Care to guess the first material used to make locks? If you guessed wood, you're right.

Burglaries are much more common in the South than any other section of the country, according to FBI statistics. In fact, a home or business is nearly four times more likely to be burglarized in the South than the Northeast.

We recognize that many businesses will have special needs when it comes to their interior and exterior door locks. Let’s talk about the different areas your business needs to secure in the building and the best way to set up your locks to accomplish this.

Don’t leave notes for service people or family members on the outside of your front door. These act as a welcome mat for a home burglar. Also make sure that your doors are always locked and your locks work properly!

So how did the ancient pin tumbler lock work, dating back to around 4,000 years ago? This lock relied on a large wooden bolt to secure the door, which had a slot with several holes in its surface. These holes, in turn, were filled with number of wooden pegs that prevented the bolt from being opened.

The combination lock was invented and required no key. Instead these locks needed rotating discs that aligned markings in a specific pattern.

Have you ever heard of a key's "bitting"? It a locksmith industry term that refers to key's individual notches or "bits." Unique bit combinations are what make a key distinctive enough to move the bolt inside the lock.

It’s important to remember that certain types of door locks are especially easy for young children to learn to operate. When you want to prevent your child from getting outside without you, you may want to add a lock that requires a key on the inside.

It’s important to remember that your business doesn’t have to deal with large amounts of cash in order to be a theft target. Changing the locks after employees are fired or keys are stolen can help to protect any customer information you may keep on the premises.

Are you always losing the keys to your home or business? It’s possible for a locksmith to install keyless entry systems that require you to remember a code. The code can be changed to enhance security.

Unfortunately, the time comes for all of us when we simply can’t find our building keys. Unlike residential situations where you might leave a spare with the neighbor, your businesses only choice is usually to have the locks changed and get new keys.

Do you know the safety precautions you should take if your keys are stolen? To avoid giving someone easy access to your home or office, you should have your locks changed. A professional locksmith can often replace only the tumbler rather than the whole lockset, which is more economical than replacing the whole lock and knob set.

Did you know that Houdini worked as a locksmith for free, prior to his career as a magician? Harry Houdini, known as the greatest escape artist learned much of his secrets practicing and studying a number of real locks.

When it comes down to it, businesses are going to require additional security for doors, windows, and other points of entry. By securing your property, you will significantly decrease your risk of a break in and protect your investment.

Worried about calling a locksmith due to trustworthiness? There is little need to worry about locksmiths being untrustworthy. In order to be hired, most locksmiths are required to have a clean criminal record, and be proven honest.