Living alone has its advantages, but it can also reduce your peace of mind, especially if you’re worried about security for your residence. As a residential locksmith company in Dallas-Fort Worth, we can help. Here are some security tips for those who live alone.

Set up Automatic Timers

Whether they’re motion sensored or on a timer, connect your lights to some sort of system that gives the appearance that someone is home. These also deter potential intruders, who like to stay hidden in the dark during burglaries. A dark, empty home is an enticing target.

Consider a Security System

For superior peace of mind, a security system takes the cake. This can give you assurances about your home security whether you’re at home or away, as cameras can be placed wherever your residence is most vulnerable. Modern security systems can even be monitored remotely, or by an entire team of security experts, and you can have emergency services notified during certain scenarios or triggers. 

Be Sociable!

The more friends, neighbors, and family you know nearby, the better. Thieves are less likely to target a home with lots of activity in it and you can also depend on these people to watch your residence if you’re away. It’s also great for your mental health, which can potentially suffer if you’re alone too much.

Invest in a Smart Doorbell

If a security system is out of reach for your budget, a smart doorbell is an affordable option that provides some of the same benefits. Monitor visitors to your front door, set up motion tracking zones, and customize your notifications. You can even communicate with people with some of these models, and the technology is always being improved.

Be Careful Online

This is true for anyone, but make sure you don’t broadcast the fact you’re going to be away on vacation or a business trip online. If someone knows you live alone, and you’re not at home, they also know the home is sitting there empty, and vulnerable. 

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Finally, whether in your residence or car, make sure you aren’t leaving anything valuable out in plain sight. If you do have to leave something valuable in your home or vehicle, hide it. But little things like locking the door, hanging curtains, and buying a home safe are all techniques that can keep your belongings, and personal safety protected. 

Whether you live alone or are simply interested in improving your home’s security level (and your peace of mind), A-1 Locksmith is your ideal residential locksmith partner. Visit one of our DFW-area locations today or give us a call at 972-284-7500 with any questions.

Here are some tips for keeping your home or business safe if you’re planning to be away for any amount of time.

Keeping Your Home Safe During Summer Vacations

Keeping your home safe while on vacation during the summer looks a little different than it does for businesses, which don’t have this predictable seasonality of vulnerability. But you can put preventative measures in place regardless to ensure your home is protected. After all, it’s what you’ll come home to and where you’ll spend the most time after you get back. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe during summer vacations:

• Secure doors, and windows: All them! Most people these days have security measures in place for doors, but they can always be improved. Many don’t think about the windows, however (and criminals know this).
• Use timers: For lighting and electronics, invest in a timer to turn them on and off at the schedule you desire. This gives the appearance of someone still living there.
• Install a video doorbell: If you don’t have one yet, now is the time to get one. You can remotely access, manage, and even speak to visitors via a video doorbell.
• Stop mail, and newspaper delivery: If mail or newspapers pile up, that signals that you aren’t at home. Schedule a gap in delivery, or ask a neighbor to collect them for you.
• Maintain your landscaping: Another indication of a home without residents is a lawn that gets overgrown or messy. Make sure you keep up your landscaping schedule.

Keeping Your Business Safe During Summer Trips

Business security has a different approach. You want to protect your building, inventory, and resources, but thankfully you don’t have to worry about family safety as much. Here are some tips for keeping your business safe during summer trips:

• Upgrade your security system: If your security system doesn’t let you access it remotely or doesn’t give you a view of all accents points, it’s time to upgrade.
• Install video or voice intercoms: This can help you protect certain areas of your business while you’re away, even if you stay open. Examples include a room with safes or a space with important documents. 
• Maintain your grounds: Like the landscaping note above, make sure you still have janitorial, and maintenance tasks completed while you’re away. Trash, dirt and other debris can tip off criminals that you’re gone.
• Don’t advertise closures in advance: This is a little tricky for businesses who have customers, but try not to post about business closures on social media far in advance (which gives criminals time to plan). If you have to post about it, do it the day of (or the day before) your trip.
• Ask neighboring businesses for help: Just as you can ask a neighbor to help watch your home, you can get to know fellow business owners in your area and ask them to do things like pick up mail/newspapers, and watch for any shady activity.

If you’re interested in more advice for keeping your home or business safe during summer vacations, contact A-1 Locksmith today or stop by any of our DFW-area locations.

From checking or opening any safes to installing new security measures afterwards, here are some instances after a house fire when it makes sense to call a locksmith (after the fire department has deemed it safe to re-enter, of course).

To Retrieve Valuables

At A-1 Locksmith, we’ve encountered situations where our customers experienced a house fire, and were unable to open the safes they had on the property. If you have a high-quality safe (like Liberty or Browning), it will likely stand up to intense fires, but you still might need help accessing it. When you have a house fire, a locksmith can determine if and when it’s safe to try, and open the safe again, as well as help actually open it (if, say, the combination/keys were lost or the LED screen melted, for example).

To Access Your Property

Fires can damage door locks. When that happens, you need to either repair or replace the locks. But first, you have to actually gain access to the entry point where the lock was located. A locksmith can potentially open the door and take out the lock, even if you don’t have the key (or the key no longer fits). 

To Secure Your Property

Homes that have recently experienced a fire are vulnerable to looting and additional damage. A locksmith can assess the security of your home, and recommend any necessary repairs or upgrades, from the door locks, and window hardware to new security systems, and keys. 

To Upgrade Your Security

Even if you don’t have any immediate needs, a professional locksmith can help you identify possible security upgrades to consider moving forward. Some solutions (like security systems) can even help you identify fires while they’re still small, reducing potential damage. Other examples of security upgrades include replacing old or outdated locks with smart or high-security locks, and replacing burned keys with high-tech duplications. A locksmith can assess your situation and provide more specific examples on site. “When to call a locksmith after a house fire” might not be the first question to come to your mind in such an emergency situation, but a locksmith, in addition to your local emergency services, is an ally for you during these tough times.

For a locksmith you can trust in emergency situations like house fires, call A-1 Locksmith or visit any of our DFW-area locations today.

You’re good at what you do and we’re good at what we do. Security systems are just one of our many areas of expertise, so today, we’re here to help you research, set up, and/or install yours. Read on to learn more about the basics of security systems.

Security System Components

First, you should know what all is involved in a typical security system and how each component works. A professional locksmith or security professional can give you a more detailed breakdown (or answer specific questions), but here are the general areas you need to know:

• Cameras: Obviously one of the most important components of a security system, the cameras give you views of your home or business. But did you know that you have options when it comes to aspects like placement, number of cameras, and features? You can even install cameras with high definition, motion tracking and recording capabilities. Cloud vs. local storage are also important considerations for your security cameras.
• Controls: Signals, lights, and motion detected by your security system components go to the control panel, where they’re interpreted, and the system determines whether an alarm should be activated or not. This is also where you can set up security system monitoring and maintenance services.
• Sensors: If the sensors for one area of your security system are down, it could compromise your entire building. This is why regular inspections, and maintenance are important. Security system sensors can get dirty or dusty, and need to be cleaned, so make sure you know where they’re all located.
• Signals: If an intruder trips your security system alarm and the system isn’t being monitored, it won’t do you any good (other than offering a mild cosmetic deterrent to would-be burglars). Test that the signals of our system are working properly, and call your monitoring company to ensure they’re receiving them. 

Installing and Monitoring Your System

Knowing about a security system and working one are two different things, so if you don’t have much security or electrical knowledge, we recommend trusting an expert to install, and/or monitor or maintain the security system of your home or business. At A-1 Locksmith Security, and Safes, we sell, install, and maintain security cameras, burglar alarms, card swipe systems, mobile access control systems, electronic/automatic locks, keypads, on-site security surveys, and more. We even provide full security monitoring services, so we have all of your security needs covered.

If you have more security system questions, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.

While the term has expanded a bit, the need for security for these individuals hasn’t. If you have other people living in a building you own or manage, it’s important to ensure that you and your residents are protected. Put simply, a good security camera system is a must. Let’s discuss some reasons why this is the case.

You May Manage the Property Remotely

More, and more landlords these days manage properties remotely. Thanks to technology, and advancements in security camera system technology, it’s easier than ever. A downside of not managing a property in an area where you live, however, is a lack of physical access to the property. So if a window was left unlocked, a garage door was left open or another security issue is unaddressed, there’s no way you would know about it unless a neighbor or friend noticed it, or you had a security camera system installed.

Buildings Look More Vulnerable Without Them

Part of the reason you install a security system is to deter all but the bravest would-be criminals. Many can tell when you’re using a security sticker as a bluff and will look for physical cameras instead. By making your system visible (but not prominent), you can increase the secure look of your buildings.

Unoccupied Spaces Are Inevitable

All landlords deal with unoccupied spaces, and lapses in the calendar where there are no residents in the home you’re renting out. When that happens, the home is empty. Without a security system, you won’t be able to keep an eye on the building, let alone be able to tell whether its access points are compromised or what’s going on. (And yes, thieves like to target unoccupied spaces.)

You Give Residents (and Yourself) Peace of Mind

Finally, security cameras can give you and your guests peace of mind knowing vulnerable areas (and the property in general) are being monitored. You don’t want to violate resident privacy, of course, but you can balance security, and convenience for everyone involved if you approach security system installation and placement properly.

If you’re interested in a new security camera system, contact us today or stop by any of our area A-1 Locksmith locations in DFW today.