Locksmiths London

Lock snapping…. Don’t be a victim!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:00:52 +0000

There have been many reports in the last few days of locks being snapped, to enter premises. Now whilst this is not extremely common in London it is likely that it will be happening more and more when people find out how to do it.

As responsible North London Locksmiths we won’t tell you exactly what occurs and how an intruder can break in, however it is most common on PVC and composite doors. The most important thing you must do is make sure your locks are the right size for your door (ie they do not protrude more than 3 mm on the outside of the door) and they are locked at night.

We have only known this to happen in the North London area only a handful of times in the last 4 years however we will be happy to provide anti-snap cylinders at affordable pricing if you wish.

Burglaries on the up in North London!

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:52:59 +0000

During these hard times unfortunately crime tends to soar through the roof. Many North London Locksmiths such as our selves are busy because of the increase in burglary in the area, however one suburb of North London has the largest amount of crime it seems in the country according to statistics from www.compareprepaid.co.uk. And a total of 4 occupy the top 20 burglary, credit card and ID fraud in the UK.

Many things can be done to avoid becoming a victim, one of which is a free survey from your local North London Locksmiths and others include shredding sensitive information that you do not wish to get in the wrong peoples hands, remember be careful and make sure you do the necessary things to protect you and your property.

Let it snow let it snow let it snow!!!

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:41:27 +0000

Its become an annual event being snowed in over the past few years. And whilst the whole of Britain seems to come to a stand still your local London locksmith is still going strong. In fact during the snowy periods it can be are busiest time. Why is this? I hear you ask……well locks freeze up occasionally because most people do not maintain them. What type of maintain do you need to do? Well hardly anything to be honest, just a small squirt of WD40 every few months should do the job (and the night before any forecasted snow or big freezes!).

If you do by any chance forget and you can’t get your lock open, go up to the lock and blow into it, this will warm the pins up and allow them to drop. Calling out a London Locksmith can be pricey and giving you free advice such as this may assist you in saving a bit of money during these tough times.

Security locks

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:44:10 +0000

Getting new Locks is just like getting a new car or house there as are different types to suit different peoples requirements. Many North London locksmiths just like ourselves offer a high security lock. But in what way is it high security? Is it harder to manipulate? Drill or pick?

Well the answer to those questions is undoubtfully yes but the most important aspect is the key control. A scenario is you lend your key to a builder or tradesman, how do you know he hasn’t copied your key and is planning to come back when your away on holiday next week? A security key to the locks in your premises gives you the peace of mind that the tradesman can’t get a key copied.

Now whilst you may trust your builder it can benefit you in many other scenarios and is a must for anyone who values their security over a cost-compromise. Call IKS your local North London locksmiths for a quotation or a free security survey.

Are your valuables ‘Safe’ at home?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:36:46 +0000

Safes are becoming a necessity now with many insurance companies and all reputable London locksmiths such as ourselves offer a safe fitting service. But what should you be looking out for when you buy a safe? Well first of all you need to ask the question what do you need it for? Is it for documents, cash, jewellery or other valuables?

There are many safes on the market and without knowing what you want the safe to be used for the less likely you are going to purchase the right one. If it is for insurance purposes your insurance provider will be able to advise what grade the safe would need to be, the only thing you would need to do is find an external solid wall for it to be fitted to.

Safes can be supplied and fitted from as little as £150.00 (Exc: VAT) and as reputable London Locksmiths we also offer a free fitting service on selected safes . So if you are thinking of getting a safe make sure you speak to a London Locksmith first for advice so you know you are getting the right one!

Internal Security, how important is it?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:57:58 +0000

Whilst locks on your external doors and windows are important. There are many people who I also recommend to have additional security in the internal doors in the house. Whilst many may see this as unnecessary it offers peace of mind and as qualified North London Locksmiths we understand this is the most important issue we deal with.
What additional locks should I have? A simple thumbturn lock in your bedroom to lock yourself in at night is ideal, if you need a quick escape if someone accidently locks you in it gives you the opportunity to get out in the event of an emergency without the use of a key. Other rooms that may be vulnerable to breakins should also be secured however an intruder alarm to compliment it can make the difference!

Unfortunately being specialist London Locksmiths we specialise in locks and locks only. However please feel free to call us for an unbiased recommendation of an alarm company to use.

Need a North London Locksmith? What you should be asking!

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:34:32 +0000

As North London Locksmiths go, we believe we offer one of the most competitive services on the market. As our overheads are low, we manage to give a good price to all our customers. However recently we have been losing out on business to companies offering a cheaper service.

Okay, you have made your phone call to book your London Locksmith to come round, what should you be asking?

1. What is your labour charge? This is a fee everyone should be charging….if they aren’t be very wary!
2. Do you charge a call out fee? This is often on top of the labour charge, most London locksmiths like ourselves do not charge this!)
3. How much will the locks cost? Try and find out an approximate price for the product….sometimes this is not possible however, emailing through a picture can allow them to be less vague.
4. Once you have all the information to hand and have agreed on the price, tell them you will be getting the exact amount of money out of the bank so they don’t give a higher price!

Being upfront with all our customers has been part of our success as leading London Locksmiths and these tips will hopefully assist you in using hopefully our service or perhaps another well respected London Locksmith.

What a mild winter we are having!

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:04:47 +0000

As I was driving my van into central London today I decided to go to a café for a bite to eat for Lunch. The first day back at work can be pretty depressing after the Christmas holidays and it got me thinking about how mild the weather has been, certainly compared to last year. Yet when I looked outside it seemed like torrential rain and wind was beating against the window pretty much on cue.

Now every year is different but as North London Locksmiths we see different things affecting locks both the locks themselves as well as the doors and how they work etc. One thing that we also see is call outs are happening simply because good care isn’t taken on the locks.

What do I mean by this? Well here are a few things to protect your locks:

1. Lubricate them every 3 to 4 months with WD40
2. Make sure your door closer (if you have one) is not slamming
3. Make sure you have an original key to your lock that all copies are copied from.
4. Open and close your back doors during the winter to free the locks up during damp and cold periods.

Doing these small things may assist you in saving money on North London Locksmiths. Thanks for reading and enjoy your week!

Choosing A London Locksmith

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Choosing a London Locksmith

In the last month I have heard some horror stories about fellow London locksmiths, unfortunately there are many bad apples out there who are only interested in getting a quick buck! One of these companies advertises in a way that would imply that they are everything they aren’t....trustworthy, reliable and good value for money.

Over the Christmas period it got me thinking and I got up in the early hours of the morning and had a ‘Jerry McGuire moment’. I started to write down all the things a high quality London locksmith should be and why they should use IKS rather than other London Locksmiths.

The truth is my Jerry McGuire moment didn’t last too long as the list of testimonials from my customers, being company members of the Master Locksmith Association and most importantly our after sales care to all of our customers show more as London Locksmiths than any mission statement!

In conclusion, don’t rely on what the company says, every London Locksmith will claim to be number one in more ways than one. Look at their testimonials and follow up on them if need be.

IKS locksmiths Wish you all a very happy New year.

Seasons Greetings!

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:20:05 +0000

Its currently boxing day as I write this article and whilst most North London Locksmiths have clocked of for the holiday period IKS are still taking calls. On Christmas day we had one phone call in the morning which was out of our area and another in the evening. Providing a good service comes at a sacrifice and being in contact with customers at times that our competition are not is something we believe gives us an edge.

With 2012 only five days away make sure you keep an eye on your neighbourhood as burglaries are still on the up. As experienced North London Locksmiths we are fully aware of the consequences of not using basic locks on your doors. Lock your mortice lock when you leave your house and when you go to bed in the evening too!

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas and have a happy New year......IKS Locksmiths your local North London Locksmiths!

Christmas.....only one week to go!

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:33:58 +0000

With Christmas under a week away it may be a time to think about the security of our homes. Christmas is a time when many of us are visiting friends and family or away on holiday.So many of us have valuable items such as ipads, laptops and new mobile phones.

As North London Locksmiths there is not many things we haven’t seen over the years and some heartbraking instances happen over the Christmas breaks. Christmas always sees a major increase in domestic burglary, with thieves targeting homeowners when they are at their most vulnerable. Research suggests burglaries rise by up to 63% during the winter months.

We would suggest to be more vigilant than you would normally be over the next week especially. If you do have Neighbours that are going away, put their bin out as they would normally do and open their curtains in the morning and shut them at night. This will give the impression that someone is home, the last thing anyone will want to do over Christmas is call out a North London Locksmith to secure premises.

Merry Christmas to you all from IKS Locksmiths!!!

Only two more weeks to Christmas....keeping your premises secure

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:00:04 +0000

Here are the next 3 tips that will help keep your premises secure. London Locksmiths are very busy this time of the year, and by doing the following tips it will reduce the likelihood that you are burgled. Whilst many of these tips are free you maybe required you to call a London Locksmith or a security specialist for certain aspects if you do not have some of the products.

Leaving spare keys under door matts etc:

Plantpots are common hiding places and it the event a key is missing. Make sure the lock (or locks!) are replaced immediately!

Garage door security
Garage doors should always be locked with a key, or a strong hasp and staple. Garages often have valuables such as tools, bikes etc and by keeping these secure it makes it less likely someone will attempt to break in.

Keep letterbox closed.

If you are away over Christmas ask a neighbour to shut your letterbox everytime a postman opens it. Small things like this could make the difference in you being a victim or not. If you are still in doubt ask your local London Locksmith for a free security survey and any additional security you may need on your premises if you require them.

Thieves in your area? How to be a less attractive victim!

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:59:27 +0000

Coming up to Christmas most London locksmiths will tell you is our busiest time. And unfortunately it is because of the rate of burglarys are going up. Over the next few weeks we will be giving small free tips that will assist you in not being a victim this year. They will be free tips that will just mean your chances of being burgled will be reduced. Whilst normally we suggest different locks to go on your doors/windows etc we will be giving other tips which we have found over years of experience working as London Locksmiths. We hope you find it valuable and would be interested in any feedback you may have. Here is todays 3 tips:

Turn the packaging of expensive purchases inside out so there is no evidence of expensive purchases, such as TV, computers, IPad boxes by bins outside your home. Advertising the valuables that you have in your home will attract thieves.
When leaving your property for days at a time, set your hall and sitting room lights to switch on automatically when it gets dark using a timer. Giving the impression your property is not empty could save you getting burgled!
Ask a family member or a trusted neighbour to shut your post box and open your blinds/curtains during the day and closing them again at night time.

Preventing Burglary

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:56:26 +0000

As November comes to a close, we are entering the Christmas period. The busiest period of the year for many a London Locksmith! With many people going away, the days being short there will be some of the best opportunities for thieves to take advantage of! Here are some simple things to do so you aren’t a statistic:

1: Leave keys out of sight: Many keys are simply left by windows/doors overnight. Remember if they are left by the window then it is more likely someone will be able to get into your property with relative ease.

2: Keep car keys out of sight: Car keys are often left within view of the front door. If someone does get into the house this is likely to be the first thing an intruder will pick up. Keep car keys hidden, an intruder will not want to stay in the house for more than a few minutes and the more awkward you make it the better.

3: Keep windows locked at all times: Ideally a lock that operates with a key as many can be easily manipulated from the outside.

Traditionally this is a busy time for London Locksmiths as a combination of break ins, lock outs and Lock repairs are high in the December month. Taking this simple bit of advice could save you a small fortune on a London Locksmith and a larger amount on other possessions!

UPVC Door Locks

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:19:22 +0000

UPVC Doors are some of the most common doors in the country, with having the benefit of having a multi-point locking on most of these. The locks on these do however fail very frequently, it is very common that parts inside the lock case break and block up the lock making it impossible for the bolt to be retracted even with the key.

As most London Locksmiths do not stock the parts for these mechanisms, IKS Locksmiths decided to take the initiative and stock the most common UPVC parts used in the event a repair is required, this can give you the confidence that a lock repair can be done in the quickest amount of time whilst offering you the most competitive pricing on the market.

As trusted London locksmiths we pride ourselves on providing you the best products whilst offering you the best prices on the market!

Choosing a Locksmith-what to look out for?

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:17:15 +0000

It may only happen once in your life, its bucketing down with rain on a cold January evening and you have managed to lock your keys inside the house. You have managed to find a couple of Locksmiths in your area and want to get in. What should you ask for?

First and most importantly from a financial prospective you will want to find out a price. Is the price fixed? Is it hourly half hourly or even by the minute? If it is fixed usually you will have not a lot to worry about unless they have to drill the lock (No London Locksmith can guarantee that they can open every lock on the market.......there will always be one lock they cannot open non destructively!).

Most London Locksmiths will be able to give you a fixed price over the phone as long as you give them the right information. And this part is critical always give the right information over the phone it could save you a lot of time and money. If it makes it easier take a photo of the lock and send it to the locksmith via text or email to make sure they are quoting you on the right fee.

Secondly where I they coming from? Many London Locksmiths advertise miles away from where they are based. Ask them how long they are likely to be and where they are travelling from.

Finally are they part of any trade association? Unfortunately the trade is unregulated and there are many Locksmith associations out there most of whom are trying to make a ‘quick buck’ from their members. The best place to find a London Locksmith or a Locksmith anywhere else in the country is the Master Locksmith Association www.locksmiths.co.uk here you will find Locksmiths all over the UK and Ireland. The Master Locksmith Association (MLA) is a non profit organisation with approximately 1400 members in the UK and calling an MLA approved company will provide peace of mind to you through its strict vetting procedure.

Home contents insurance, what locks do I need?

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:21:51 +0000

Most insurance companies will ask for a minimal requirement for the locks on your front door as well as your back door, and reading through the contents insurance is vital. If you do not have exactly what they ask for it could make your insurance invalid. Most companies will ask for a 5 lever British standard deadlock on the front door, the easiest way to check is by looking at where your the bolt comes out on your door and it will usually state how many levers it has. If you are not sure, give one of your Local London Locksmiths a call and they will be able to assist you.

Insurance companies will also ask for window locks to be fitted onto all the windows in the property, all window locks must have a key to operate them, many windows have these as standard, however all reputable London Locksmiths will be able to fit window locks at affordable prices. There are many other requirements that are very common, including safes, grilles and alarms and reading through your contents insurance policy in detail is very important.

What locks should I have on my windows?

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Locks on windows are very important, maybe not as important as a front door but break-ins through windows are still relatively common. All reputable London Locksmiths will be able to offer a fitting service for window locks on virtually all styles of windows, such as wooden casement windows, Sash windows, crittal windows and UPVC windows. The locks must be key operated and the key should not be left near to the window.....for obvious reasons!

Many windows have locks already and there is a good chance you have locks on your door already, but to be on the safe side you should give your local London Locksmith a call for a free security survey.

Locked out? Don’t want it to happen again?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:30:48 +0000

Okay you were unlucky enough to get locked out and lost a small fortune in paying a Locksmith? As London Locksmiths we deal with many lockouts and whilst it is not our main business stream we offer a service getting our customers into their premises, whenever possible without destruction. We do recommend to our customers certain things that will stop this happening again in the future.

1. Giving a spare key to one of their neighbours. Obviously a trustworthy neighbour that they know and trust, or at least a friend who lives within a 10 minute walk.

2. Use a lock that keys can be cut to code. Taking your driving licence/Passport into a local London Locksmith to get a key cut can be a lot cheaper than calling someone onsite to let you in!

3. Keep a secret key safe with spare keys in it. A small box discreetly hidden at the side of the house could have a spare key to your nightlatch with your mortice key being kept elsewhere.

Calling out a London Locksmith can be expensive, especially late at night. Using these simple but affective measures can save you a lot of hassle and keep your money in your pocket during these tough economic times!

Keeping your front door secure

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:41:18 +0000

As any qualified London Locksmith will tell you Locks are only as strong as the timber they are on. To have a secure door is not always about the locks its how strong the door is as one of the most common ways of breaking in is by intruders kicking the door in. There are a few things to consider when securing your door:

1 Less is more: Too many locks on your door will weaken your door. A maximum of three locks should be on the door distributed from the top to the bottom of the door.

2 Reinforce the door: Lock guards are a great way of adding extra strength to the door, this is used for mortice locks and reinforces the timber.

3 Reinforce the door frames. A London bar on the lock side of the door prevents the door frame being split, whilst a Birmingham bar does the same on the hinge side of the door.

A Qualified London locksmith will be able to spot the weakness on your door and recommend the right reinforcements to have on your door. Call IKS Locksmiths now and we can give you a free security survey recommending additional reinforcements for your property on 0800 612 5659.