The Locksmith Series – Part 3
This is part 3 of a series on locksmith services. For previous articles see:
- 8 Critical Services to Expect from Your Locksmith
- 8 Critical Services to Expect from Your Locksmith — Automotive
Keeping Your Home Safe
I mentioned talking to the guy from Chubb earlier. He didn’t disappoint – like any good locksmith it didn’t take long before he asked if I had a good security system and alarm monitoring. On one hand, I didn’t need him to sell me anything. On the other hand, it was good to know that he was alert to both the problems and possibilities for home security.
I would far rather an eager locksmith than a lazy one!
ARC, a leading automation and security company who provide security camera and cctv systems, access control, home automation, automatic security gates and audio visual solution in Hamilton NZ, state that one of our key goals is to genuinely help their clients understand the security risks they are wanting to minimise. This helps ensure their clients are fully informed and in the best position to make the right security investment decision.
Education is key when it comes to home security.
Before you contact a locksmith though, make sure you do whatever you can do yourself to keep your home safe. I’m sure your locksmith will have plenty of ideas too.
Home Locksmith Services
There are many thing services your locksmith can provide to keep your home safe. These include:
- Supply and install of physical security equipment
- Servicing of all types of lock systems
- Designing and installing registered master key systems
- Supply and installing of residential and commercial door hardware
- Institutional and Custodial locking systems
- Sales and servicing of safes and vault doors
- Sales and servicing of fire protection cabinets
In this article we will look at security systems for the home, alarm monitoring, and installing secure doorlocks.
Security Systems
What does a home security system look like these days? According to my guy, a standard Chubb package includes:
- Alarm Panel with LED Keypad
- 2 Flush Mount Piezo internal sirens
- Chubb Delta external siren
- 2 PIR sensors
- 2 Door contact reed switches
- Backup battery
- 4 Warning Stickers
- Installation and Labour
And if you’re interested, this package starts at from $399 based on signing a 48 month monitoring contract at $34.50 per month. It can also be purchased for $1,236.25 based on no monitoring contract. All the usual terms and conditions apply I’m sure. Wherever you live there will be comparable packages for you to look into.
Installing an alarm system will go a long way to protect the things that are most important to you – your family, your possessions and your home. That’s a great place to start.
Simply seeing an alarm box on the outside of your home, and the associated stickers on your doors and windows, can be a deterrent to criminals. Usually, but not always, they are looking for an easy house to break into and don’t want the complication of an alarm system.
Alarm Monitoring
Hooking your security system up to an alarm monitoring system will protect and monitor your property in the event of burglary, intrusion, and fire.
Security for your home, together with alarm monitoring may also be of benefit to you by reducing your insurance premiums. Your insurer will see your property as being less at risk of a break-in, and you less at risk of making a claim. You might want to check with your insurance provider to see if this applies to you.
If your alarm is triggered in the event of any of these situations, your alarm monitoring service will alert you within minutes of your alarm being activated and will respond by actioning your nominated emergency response plan. This can be by calling you, sending a patrol guard and or emergency services.
What Can I Monitor With Alarm Monitoring?
Burglary and Intrusion
Perimeter protection devices can provide your home with extra security and protection, for you and your family when home alone or asleep at night.
When perimeter protection devices are added to your security system, you can arm doors and windows and move freely around your property providing you with extra protection and feel secure in the knowledge that if activated you will be alerted.
Smoke and Fire Detection
Incorporating hard-wired smoke detectors to your security system can provide the ultimate fire protection for your home or business.
Unlike traditional smoke detectors that are only useful if you are in the premises, wiring the smoke detectors into your security system, will mean a signal will be sent to alarm monitoring centre who will alert you and call the Fire Service.
Calling the fire service may result in extra charges so it might pay to check.
Emergency / Panic Alerts
If you have aging or infirm family members, it’s a great idea to keep panic buttons in easy reach to help both you and them feel more secure. The buttons can trigger the alarm system, alerting responders to the situation.
For more information about alarm monitoring with leading companies in NZ, and their costs, click here.
Doorlocks, Deadlocks and Digital Locks
A good locksmith will be able to advise you on which lock is most appropriate for your home. Your lock solution should include:
- Deadbolts – Front and Back Doors
- Restricted Keys
- Window Locks
- Ranch Slider locks where required
- Patio Bolts where required
- Secure viewers if desired
Deadlocks
In order to prevent burglary and theft in your home, exterior doors should be fitted with deadlocks for maximum home security. Deadlocks are much stronger and more secure than the simpler and cheaper rim door locks and latches, and when fitted can make it almost impossible for a burglar to force their way into your home through the exterior doors.
Deadlocks typically have a hardened steel security bolt which is fitted inside the door and when locked it inserts into a secure point (strike box) in the door frame. The strike box can be strengthened for further security using a hardened steel plate to surround it. This highly effective home security measure will make your exterior doors the most effective first line of defense against burglary.
Digital door locks provide a low cost, easy to install security solution for buildings that require a reliable means of access control but where the allocation of keys or cards is unpractical due to the volume of people entering and exiting the building
They also provide a keyless way to enter business premises, homes & schools without the need for always having to carry a set of keys.
Digital Locks
Digital door locks on the other hand, provide a low cost, easy to install security solution for buildings that require a reliable means of access control but where the allocation of keys or cards is unpractical due to the volume of people entering and exiting the building. This is ideal for AirBnB and Book-a-Bach situation, or where a cleaner or caregiver comes frequently.
This solution would also suit any home where you change flatmates frequently. Being able to change the PIN on a regular basis provides significant security and peace of mind. Especially for that last guy who left under a cloud.
They also provide a keyless way to enter businesses and schools without the need for always having to carry a set of keys.
There are 2 main types of digital lock:
- Electronic – required power (either mains or battery)
- Mechanical – no power required, mechanically operated push button locks
The Electronic alternatives include:
- Electronic keypad – just a enter a code to gain access
- Biometric – e.g. Fingerprint recognition
- Smart Cards – mostly used in hotels and office building
Your locksmith will offer a lock to suit your level of security, from those used for low priority internal door right through to heavy-duty options.
The most robust digital door locks will be capable of withstanding all but the most violent attacks and will last for ages.
We’re making progress. Next week – safes!