Smart Lock
By Mike C Deadbolt Locks • High Security Locks • Keyless Locks • Locks • • • 2 Comments

Smat Locks Types

Smart Lock Types

Smart locks were once an item only in commercial properties with high security structures. However, technological advancements have now allowed for the integration of smart lock systems into residential buildings. In fact, smart locks do a lot more than allow you to lock and unlock your door without a traditional key. In addition to the automation and convenience they provide, they also let you track entry and exit logs at your abode in real time.

Smart lock types vary, depending on the specific need you hope to satisfy. The common types include:

Mobile Devices

Smartphones and tablets are commonly used these days, and in just a little time they may totally replace the traditional set of keys. Select models are now enabled with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options. Bluetooth is a common smart lock protocol because it does not drain the battery as quickly as Wi-Fi does. However, its downside is that you have a limited range of access – around 300ft in the best case scenario, and it could be even less depending on the layout of your apartment. On the other hand, Wi-Fi allows you to send signals through from far away distances, so long as there is an internet connection.

Radio-frequency Identification (RFID)/Key Fob

This security protocol is a popular feature in communal buildings and for remote access to car doors. Their level of popularity has grown so much that most modern car owners only make use of this method for the locking and unlocking of doors. Luckily, this feature is now available for smart homes too, allowing for automatic opening of the door with just a touch or tap.

Biometrics

Biometric scanners are commonly used in areas with high levels of security. One or more unique biological traits are used to gain access through the lock system. In the past, Iris scanners have been used in high security areas. However, fingerprint scanners are now a more cost effective option – and they are now available in smart homes today. Applying this security method to your home will ensure you never lose your keys, as access would be at your fingertips.

Smart Locks

The Bottom Line

Since not all smart locks function similarly, it would be ideal to define what you need so you can determine the best lock for your smart home. Whatever the case, our locksmiths at Tucson Locksmith 24 are just a phone call away. We are experts in handling and installation of smart lock systems – and you can count on us to provide the best fit for your home security and décor.

Home Break-in
By Mike C Emergency Locksmith • Tucson Locksmith Service • • 0 Comments

What to do after Home Break-in

Are you dealing with Home Break-in? Here are a few steps you need to take

We all hope it never happens, but statistics have revealed that an attempted break-in occurs every 15 seconds. This figure amounts to about 2.1 million burglary attacks every year, with most part affecting residential areas. What should you do if your apartment has been burgled? The following steps can help you manage the aftermath of a break-in successfully.

Call the Police

Although this might sound like a no-brainer, your instinct could cause you to act differently in the heat of the moment. But getting the police involved immediately is really important. If you think the burglar might still be inside, leave the home and call 911 immediately instead of confronting the criminal. If you feel safe going into the home, do not touch anything as this could destroy valuable evidence. Instead, take pictures of the damage done by the criminal – this could be useful to the police and insurance claim company.

Determine what is missing and file a report

Conduct a thorough assessment of your home to find out what is missing. This may include items such as your credit card which can be used for personal identity theft. Once you are sure about the stolen items, it is important to file a victim’s report. The police officer attending to your case should give you details that will help you file a report and if there was security footage of the event, the officer might help you take a footage file along.

File an Insurance Claim

Go through your insurance policy to see what you can make claim for following a burglary. Although you may think some low value items should not be included, you may discover there are provisions for such. Keep a record of every stolen or damaged item and following the submission of your request to the insurance company, an adjuster or investigator would be assigned to run checks in your home to verify your claims. Cooperate with your insurer and be ready to provide explanations for specific questions they might have. Staying in a hotel or moving in with a friend temporarily until the adjuster arrives would be a great idea so you do not tamper with the evidence.

Secure your home again

Securing your home again as quickly as possible is the next ideal step. After the police have left, ensure you get damaged windows and doors fixed so you can feel secure again. Call a locksmith in Tucson AZ to check the locks and get them fixed quickly.

Home Security

Realtor Locksmith Service
By Mike C Locksmith Tucson • Tucson Locksmith Service • 2 Comments

Realtors and Property Management Companies Locksmith Service

Locksmith Services for Realtors and Property Management Companies

As a professional realtor or property manager in the Tucson, Arizona area, you have a lot of responsibility which is why securing a reliable locksmith company needs to be among your top priorities to give you peace of mind when it comes to security and other lock and key needs at your properties. Locksmith services for realtors and property management companies include many necessary functions such as rekeying or changing locks in between occupants, providing and maintaining lock box security as well as liability prevention or possibly installing and maintaining a master key system. A locksmith will be able to handle all of your lock and key needs for all of your properties whether you are showing a house or renting to tenants.

As a realtor or property manager, it is your responsibility to ensure your tenants or potential buyers are safe, make sure you are in compliance with local property codes, keep up on routine maintenance or repairs, and perform your other day-to-day tasks. Ultimately, safety and security is your Number One concern.

 

Lock Boxes Keep Your Keys Secure

As a realtor or property manager, you have a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders to keep your tenants, buildings, and properties safe and secure at all times. As a realtor, or even as an apartment manager, you will have need to show a house or apartment to a potential buyer/renter. Obviously, you only want the proper people who work for you to be able to get inside. To make this process easier, a popular practice is to use a lock box where a key or an electronic key code is stored. These lock boxes require either a key to physically open it and access the key or a code that has been assigned specifically to you that will get you through the door.

 

Locksmith Services for Realtors

 

Important Things To Look For When Hiring Locksmith Services for Realtors & Property Management Companies

Since these locksmiths hold the key, quite literally, to your property or properties, you will want to select a reliable and trustworthy professional who will be by your side in no time when you need help to get the job done well the first time. You want someone you can establish a business relationship with over a long term.

Check with a vendor management system and ask for recommendations about qualified locksmiths near you. When you are deciding which locksmith company is best for you, call the company and listen to see how they answer the phone. If they answer with a generic reply rather than stating the full company name, keep looking since you have probably reached a national call center and not a local professional. Confirm the address of the company to make sure it is a legitimate location. Once you get a hold of a true professional locksmith company, ask if they are insured and bonded. Verify everything with the Better Business Bureau, your state’s Attorney General office or a local consumer protection agency. Before any work is done, be sure to get an estimate in writing. When the locksmith shows up, check out the vehicle to see if it is marked with the company’s logo or name, and always ask for identification, and expect a genuine locksmith professional to ask to verify your identification as well before opening any locks.

 

Bottom Line is You are Responsible to Provide Safety and Security to Your Properties

Choose your locksmith services for realtors & property management companies wisely, since ultimately, you are responsible for the safety and security of your building, houses you have for sale, and for the belongings and people inside.

Safe Opening
By Mike C Safes • • • • 8 Comments

Safe Opening Service

When you can’t remember the combination to your safe, you don’t just call anyone. After all, safes and vaults are where you keep valuables or stash your cash. The certified and qualified technicians at Tucson Locksmith 24 have learned a thing or two in their years that they have been providing their vault and safe opening service to the Tucson, Arizona area and want to share this information with you.

Mechanical or Operator Lockouts

When you cannot open your safe, it is probably because of one of two lockout conditions. Either your safe is damaged by water or rust that caused the locking mechanism to fail mechanically, something is jammed causing the lock to fail, the battery needs to be replaced, or you are experiencing an operator lockout caused by dialing the wrong combination or have forgotten the code.

Is the Technician Qualified?

Your safe holds items that are very valuable to you, so before allowing someone to start working at picking open your safe, make sure they are qualified. Ask about their training and make sure they are a licensed professional safe technician. The next step is to ensure that they will come equipped with all of the necessary tools to get the job done well. Ask if the locksmith coming to help you open your safe is a member of the Safe and Vault Technician Association SAVTA, Associated Locksmiths of America ALOA, or the National Safeman’s Organization NSO.

Safe Unlocking

Specialized Equipment Is Needed To Open a Safe

Know the brand or maker of your safe, and hire a technician who understands the make and model. Some popular brands include Amsec, LaGard, S & G, or SecuRam. Make sure the company you hire to come out to get your safe or vault open is qualified to do so. The job will require specialized equipment and up-to-date training in techniques. The knowledgeable and skilled technician may use custom-designed tools alongside equipment like high security key lock picking devices, boltwork manipulation tools, special drilling machines that are high speed, medical-grade fibre optic instruments, special lighting devices, and may even employ the use of tiny high-resolution video systems to open your safe without damaging the locks or the contents of the safe.

Maintain Your Safe and Vaults

Once you get the lock open, make sure it doesn’t happen again. One way to ensure your safe or vault is always functioning properly is to have it maintained regularly. Typically, it is recommended to have a safe lock serviced every year to year and a half for frequent users or two to three years for those who seldom open the safe. If a lockout from your safe is more than an incovenience, but also would greatly adversely affect your business, make sure you have a service contract with a qualified locksmith technician who will be able to maintain and service you in an emergency.

Safe Opening is a Specialized Skill

Safe opening is a very delicate and specialized skill. Don’t just call the first available handyman to get it done. Tucson Locksmith 24 has been providing safe opening service for years. Call with confidence today for fast, reliable and trusted safe opening service.