Keeping safe and secure this Autumn

All of us at Bristol Locksmiths want you to enjoy this fun time of year and as the nights are drawing in, it is a good time to start considering and sorting your home or business security solutions.

All properties have multiple entry points and the most important entry point is of course your door. National statistics have repeatedly implied that burglars preferred method of entry for most properties is through doors.

We have found that lots of our satisfied customers were seeking additional locks to really increase the security to their home. However, this may be your first time considering a Bristol Locksmith to improve you home or business security. Perhaps you have just moved into your new property or lived with the same outdated security and have been meaning to upgrade.

British Standard and Insurance approved

October is a good time to get in touch with us. Our Bristol Locksmiths can provide you with up to date knowledge and competitive prices for all your security needs. We supply and install most of the common types of locks and all our products are British Standard and Insurance approved.

You can trust our Locksmith to offer customers a fast, reliable service and we have worked for years along side the Police to make sure that local homes are secure as possible to prevent burglaries before they happen.

Local Locksmith in Bristol

Being your local Locksmith in Bristol, we are available 24/7. 365 days of the year. If you think your home needs our professional locksmith to provide advice or upgrading of security, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

In the meantime, have a happy and safe Halloween.

Crime Prevention Tips with Bristol Local Locksmith

Doors and windows

In most burglaries, the criminals broke into the house or flat through the door by forcing the lock or kicking it in. Make sure your doors are strong and secure. Consider fitting a bar for extra strength; 247 Bristol Locksmith can advise you on how best to do it.

Glass panels on doors are particularly vulnerable. If you have one on your door you could replace it with laminated glass which is stronger. Did you know? You can also buy a film in a DIY store that you can stick over the glass to make it harder to break.

Home security and DIY shops sell inexpensive, fit key-operated locks to fit most kinds of windows. Fit window locks with keys to all downstairs windows and those upstairs that are easy to reach.

Distraction burglary in Bristol

If you're not sure who is at your door, don't open it. Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are claiming to be from whether gas, electricity, water and even police. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the caller - they may be bogus.

Going away on holiday

Make your home look like someone is living in it:

Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark
Cancel any newspaper or milk deliveries
Use the Royal Mail's 'keepsafe' service - they keep your mail for up to 2 months while you're away. Mail sitting on your doorstep is a sign that you are away
Trusted neighbours may be able to help you by collecting your post, opening and closing curtains and they could park their car on your driveway
Avoid discussing holiday plans on public social networking sites - burglars can use any information you post on there to their advantage

Courtesy of police.uk

How Bristol Local Locksmiths can keep your home safe & secure at Christmas

Christmas time is a prosperous time for burglars – with pricey presents neatly tucked under the tree and a higher chance of homeowners being out visiting family, down the pub with friends or undertaking last minute shopping, homes are a treasure trove for thieves.

Did you know most burglaries take place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of home burglaries take place during daylight hours, not at night. That’s because most people are at work or school—which reduces the chance the burglar will be noticed.

Easy entry, quick escape

Burglars will look for an easy entry with good escape routes. Don’t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it’s easily visible from the street. It’s too tempting for them to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.

Almost 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window. A surprising number of burglars gain access to homes through open or unlocked entrances. First floor windows and doors are especially well-liked by burglars—particularly when a burglar can be concealed behind overgrown vegetation.

How secure is your property?

So how secure is your property? By following this helpful advice from Police.uk, you’ll be celebrating Christmas knowing you are safe, secure and full of smiles with the family.

Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you're just out in the garden, remembering to double-lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key)
Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox)
Install a visual burglar alarm
Install good outside lighting
Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property
Leave radios or lights on in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
Make sure the fences around your garden are in good condition
Secure bikes at home by locking them to an immoveable object inside a locked shed or garage
Keep ladders and tools stored away; don't leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home
Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property
Ensure rear fencing is in good repair
Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges
Mark your property with postcode and house number and register your property for free with Immobilise
Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme
Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows
Store any high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault

After Christmas day, don’t pile up empty gift boxes from your new tablet, Xbox one game console or expensive toy boxes on the street for the rubbish people. Burglars appreciate knowing that you have expensive gifts inside for them to steal. Break them down or cut them up to conceal the items better. After a lucrative burglary, the chances of being burglarized again are increased to steal the new replacement products.

Bristol Local Locksmiths make your home or business safe

At Bristol Local Locksmiths we can help you make your home or business safe not only during the festive season, but all year round. We install quality locks and if needed, we can make suggestions on how your security can be improved further, If it is a job we can't do ourselves, rest assured we can recommend reliable, reasonable and reputable firms to carry out your other security needs.

Don't let burglars spoil your Christmas and New Year, contact us today.