Category: Jacksonville Locksmith Services

Start the New Year with a Home Security Audit

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Start your new year off on the right foot and consider getting a security audit for your home or other facility, such as a business. While our main focus is on emergency automotive locksmith services, Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville also offers a full range of services for your home and business security.

Home Security Audit

Is the lighting on your property sufficient to stop a would-be burglar? Are your locks strong enough to prevent the door from being kicked in? Let Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville provide you with a free security audit to address home security issues and bring you peace of mind. We will provide you with an accurate and comprehensive checklist of what you can do to make your home more secure.

Visit http://www.popalock.com/security_audits.php or call 1-800-POP-A-LOCK, and have a Happy New Year!

More Holiday Shopping Tips

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If you still need to do some holiday shopping, here are a  few more tips to keep in mind from the Jackson Sun. These include:

Tips to remember while shopping during the holidays

•Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

•Dress casually and comfortably, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

•Only carry your driver’s license or identification along with necessary cash, checks or a credit card you expect to use.

•Keep cash in your front pocket.

•Use Bluetooth headsets.

 

In parking lots

•Report suspicious people loitering in parking lots and around entrances.

•Remember where you parked your car. Being unable to locate your car can cause you undue confusion and stress that may present you as a better target to a criminal.

•Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle.

•Check in and around the car before getting in.

•Be prepared to use emergency button on your key fob.

•After dark, park in well-lit areas.

•Plan ahead. If your shopping is going to continue until after dark, park in an area that will be well lit.

•If you enter a mall through a store, know when that store closes and exit before it locks up to prevent a long, exposed walk to get back to your vehicle.

 

In stores

•Remain vigilant

•Don’t leave purses unattended in shopping carts or wear them slung to the back. Don’t leave children unattended, either

•Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.

 

With children

•If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other. Select a central meeting place.

•Teach them how to recognize mall and store personnel, security employees, and police officers if they need help.

•Notify store employees immediately of a missing child. Most stores have a procedure in place to secure exits and search for the missing child.

 

To prevent identity theft

•Keep your card in sight.

•Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused. This is especially true for debit cards, which draw directly from your account.

•Report theft to police, and contact credit-reporting services like Equifax, Experian or Transunion to put a fraud alert on your account.

•Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers and company contact numbers in a safe place at home.

Protect Yourself and Your Purchases This Holiday Season

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We are just a week shy of the Christmas holiday. As with every year, the winter season has us doing our holiday shopping right after Thanksgiving and continuing in full swing until the end of the year. Since there are so many people out on the road and going to and from stores, there leaves a lot of vulnerability between you, your personal belongings, and your purchases – both those you carry with you and leave in your car. In order to effectively “shop defensively” this holiday season, please keep this list of reminders at hand, so you can shop safely and consciously:

Avoid Being a Target for Burglars

  • Always shop with a friend. You are more likely to become a target if you are alone.
  • Park your car in a well-lit area.
  • Wear your purse or bag across your body. This way your hands will be free for your keys when you head to your car.
  • Combine your purchases into one bag, if possible.

 

Be Alert at All Times

  • Walk briskly to your car. Avoid talking or texting on your phone, or digging into your bag for your keys while walking.
  • Have your keys ready in your hand while walking toward your vehicle.

In Your Car

  • Keep your purchases out of sight in your parked car to prevent break-ins.
  • Check your back seat for potential burglars before getting into your car.

On the Web

  • Use credit, not debit. Credit cards offer much better protection against fraud than most debit cards.
  • When shopping online, verify the website’s URL and shop only from known retailers. There are websites out there that are created to look like real storefronts, but are instead scams and spoofed websites that may steal your personal information.
  • Be sure your anti-virus program is up-to-date. Shop at home and not on public Wi-Fi networks, such as at cafes, libraries or airports.

Remember to stay alert even during daytime shopping hours. Crimes aren’t restricted to night hours and can occur at any time. We hope that, with these tips, you’ll have a fun, productive and, most importantly, safe holiday season.

The History of Home Security

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During the holidays, we’re reminded of the historical first Thanksgiving. Just as almost everything that exists today has a history, the same can be said for home security and the locksmith industry. We’ll be talking briefly about this history and give you some ideas on how better to secure your own home in the process.

At some point in time, people began to believe their possessions had value. From then on, home security became important to ancient humans. Although prehistoric humans, most likely, slept in caves or trees to protect themselves from nighttime predators, it soon became necessary to protect their possessions as well. However, the threat to home security did not come from just animals, but from other humans.

Early Locks in Walled Cities

Later, as time went by, prehistoric humans moved out of caves and into walled cities. And around 2,000 BC, the Egyptians invented what become known as the first “lock”. These early locks used a pin system based on the same principles as modern pin tumbler locks.

However, these early locks needed a large key to operate. The average key size during these times was 13 to 14 inches long, while keys to important public buildings or city gates could be two feet or longer. These early keys were signs of authority. Those who possessed them carried the keys on their shoulders.

The Barron is Introduced

By the 15th century, France had become the epicenter of lock making. But, the French chateau locks and chest locks were susceptible to burglars because their designs were similar to ancient Egyptian locks and were, therefore, becoming easier to pick.

Lock security got an update with an English lock known as the Barron. The Barron was patented in 1778. It was quickly replaced by the Bramah lock and the Chubb lock. These locks were considered unpickable, but eventually succumbed to lock pickers.

In the late 19th century, Linus Yale, Jr. developed the modern pin-tumbler type locking mechanism, which is still in use today. It has undergone many changes to enhance security, though nearly every improvement has been overcome by lock pickers. Because of these, lock companies continue to make changes to prevent burglars.

Protect Your Home and Business This Holiday Season

Today, the average thief rarely picks a lock. Instead, they force their way in using crowbars, screwdrivers, hammers and rocks. Although these techniques are not very sophisticated, they are quite effective.

Personal and physical security should be a top priority for every homeowner and business owner. Good quality locks and strong doors are excellent burglar deterrents. Security lighting, grills, and screens and fencing are also extremely effective in thwarting burglars.

So, take a cue from our ancestors and take steps to secure your home and business. To learn more, contact Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville today at 904-246-4590.

Hypothermia: Potential Risk to Children This Winter

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With the start of winter just around the corner, safety thoughts turn to keeping warm and driving safely in wintry conditions. However, as temperatures drop, the growing concern of parents leaving children in locked cars – normally associated with the summer heat – becomes just as serious an issue in the freezing winter months. Pop-A-Lock, the country’s largest security company, wants parents and caregivers to be informed about the extreme, and some times fatal, dangers of locking a child in a vehicle accidentally during frigid winter temperatures through our free PALSavesKids program that aims to prevent vehicular hypothermia.

The following are some facts about the severity of leaving children in locked vehicles and the quick onset of hypothermia:

  • Smaller body size and an inability to make enough body heat through shivering put children at higher risk of hypothermia and frostbite when exposed to cold conditions.
  • According to the Drive Steady Advocacy Group, children left in cold cars can suffer frostbite, or hypothermia, if their body temperature drops below 95 degrees F. That can happen all too quickly. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, poor coordination, slurred speech, and numbness. Children may have trouble communicating these symptoms.
  • The child tied in their car seat and wearing restrictive clothing can actually be risk factors to worsen their chances of hypothermia.
  • During winter months, snow can block an automobile’s exhaust pipe, meaning parents who leave the car on for their children to stay warm are still putting them at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville will focus on the dangers of leaving children in unattended vehicles and educate caregivers about the company’s PALSavesKids Program through interaction with customers, distributing educational materials to organizations supporting caregivers and children, and through social media. Aimed to support local police and firefighters, the program educates parents to first call 9-1-1 and then call 1-800-Pop-A-Lock.  The Pop-A-Lock technician nearest to the scene will leave all other priorities aside to arrive as soon as possible to unlock the child from the automobile.  This free community service program was originally launched in 1991 and since then has saved over 350,000 children.

To prevent vehicular hypothermia from occurring, the PALSavesKids program includes a call-to-action: “PALSaves 1-2-3.” The “1-2-3” reminds caregivers to “look before you lock” by: 1-stopping; 2-looking; and then 3-locking.

PALSavesKids’ mascot, PAL Super Dog, is a gentle reminder to caregivers to always look in the backseat before leaving the vehicle. Specific recommendations to prevent locking children in automobiles include:

  • Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway and always set your parking brake.
  • Put something you’ll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or briefcase, etc., on the floorboard in the back seat.
  • Keep a large stuffed animal or favorite toy in the child’s car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal or toy in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal or toy is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.

“We launched this program in 1991 to educate caregivers about the severe dangers of leaving children in unattended vehicles or mistakenly locking a child in an automobile,” said Don Marks, CEO of Pop-A-Lock.  “By using our expertise in the security industry, we are able to quickly and efficiently remove children from harm.  This program provides our franchise with the opportunity to thank the communities that have supported our business for so many years.”

Great Customer Testimonial

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Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville,

I just wanted to take the time to personally  thank and commend your employee: Anthony for the outstanding service and assistance that he provided us in the 1900 block of Jammes Road on the Westside of Jacksonville.

Anthony responded in a timely manner and was eager & zealous to assist us in our unfortunate endeavor. Without hesitation or delay he retrieved his tools and subsequently opened up  the  car for us without incident.  His assistance enabled us to gain access to the locked vehicle, therefore enabling us to be able to continue on with our investigational efforts without any further delay or hesitation.

After completing his task,  Anthony would not accept any gifts , gratuities, or payment for the services rendered. Anthony was polite, courteous, professional, and a stellar example of  surpassing the kind of service that is to be expected from Pop-A-Lock employees/representatives.

Again, we greatly appreciate Anthony’s assistance, and wanted to make you aware of the spectacular service he provided us on Work Order # 667521.

Strength & Honor,

Senior Trooper Joshua A.M.
Criminal Interdiction Unit – Felony Officer
Northern Region Special Response Team- Operator
Florida Highway Patrol – Troop G

Customer Compliment

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We love hearing from our customers. Here’s a great customer compliment we recently received.

Mike G, called in to say ‘Thanks!’ to tech Anthony and dispatcher Mary for the help in getting his running car unlocked, which had his 2-year-old child inside. Mike said it only took Anthony 10 to 15 minutes to get there, and he was awesome.

We’re happy your child is safe, Mike! And we’re always happy to help!

 

Seven Tips to Prevent a Burglary at Your Home

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As the fall weather sets in and Jacksonville homeowners start to bring in their lawn furniture, the professional locksmiths at Pop-A-Lock encourage all homeowners to take some simple steps to improve the safety of their homes. Here are seven simple tips to prevent burglaries at your home.

1. Make the Home Look Occupied 

Burglars avoid homes that they believe are occupied. That is why it is important to always make a home look occupied even when its owners are away, whether out to dinner or on vacation. Installing outdoor motion-sensor lights is a good first step, as is putting an indoor light on a timer so it goes on and off at regular intervals.

If homeowners are leaving a home unoccupied for a longer period of time, law enforcement officials recommend that they arrange for someone to mow their lawns or clear their sidewalks and driveways of snow so the home looks occupied. Likewise, homeowners leaving for an extended period of time should also get their mail held so there is no back-up at the mailbox, which is a sign to burglars that no one is home.

2. Close and Lock Doors and Windows 

Whenever homeowners leave their houses, even if for a short time, they should close and lock or otherwise secure all windows, exterior doors and garage doors. Garage doors are often overlooked and can be an easy way for burglars to gain access to a home. A professional locksmith can help homeowners install appropriate window, door and garage door locks.

3. Upgrade Flimsy Door and Window Locks 

Burglars are able to breach flimsy, worn-out locks on both doors and windows. Homeowners should upgrade exterior doors with flimsy push-button or switch locks to deadbolt locks that securely bolt doors to their frames. Both double and single-cylinder models are available for doors with and without glass panes, respectively. Professional locksmiths can also upgrade window locks and the locks on sliding glass doors, which are common points of entry for burglars.

4. Invest in an Alarm System 

Another great way to deter burglars is to install a security alarm. These systems include door, window and motion sensors that sound an alarm when triggered and notify the police that a breach has been made. Posting signage about the presence of a security alarm may deter burglars.

5. Block the View into the Home without Providing an Easy Escape Route 

One way to prevent burglaries is to make sure the burglars cannot window shop before breaking in. Use curtains on windows, including garage and basement windows, so burglars cannot case the house and plan their entries.

However, do not use landscaping to block the view of potential burglars, since heavy shrubbery or hedges can be great cover for a thief making his or her escape from a home. Instead, keep dense landscaping away from the house.

6. Avoid Stashing Valuables in the Master Bedroom 

Most families keep their most prized possessions in the master bedroom, including jewelry and cash. Burglars know this and often make the master bedroom their first stop after breaking into a home. One easy way to avoid theft is to keep one’s valuables in a safe in an inconspicuous part of the home or outside the home in a safe deposit box.

7. Hire a Professional Locksmith to Upgrade and Install Locks 

One of the best ways to prevent a break-in is to upgrade the locks on one’s home and change the locks after purchasing a home or after being burgled. We can recommend the best locks for your home and install them while you wait.

To improve security at your home, call Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville today at 904-246-4590 to schedule an appointment or visit us online.

Is Working Too Fast A Bad Thing?

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We were recently reading different posts from different Pop-A-Lock locations around the US and Canada, when we noticed a funny story that got us thinking. A woman in Ohio was upset because the technician worked very fast in opening her door, and she didn’t think she should have to pay the amount on the bill for that duration of work. We laughed, at first, because we thought the customer’s point was odd – but then we got to thinking about how we would handle the same issue.

The price is going to be the same no matter how long it takes. Personally, we think a service is great when it’s fast and it gets the job done right. Picture this: If the cashier at a grocery store rings your things up fast, then do you think you should have to pay more because of their speed? We say, “No.” The same idea should be applied to the locksmith industry. The price is going to be the same price no matter if the technician is fast or slow.

In fact, we are usually the fastest in the business because our technicians receive top-notch training, but sometimes situations can change.

If you are look for a residential locksmith that is unlike any other, then look no further. Just call Pop-A-Lock of Jacksonville at 904-246-4590. If you receive service from us, we would appreciate if you would leave us a review as well:

We’re happy to serve the Jacksonville, Florida area!

Do You Know About Our Free Key Return Program?

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How many times have you said these words: “Have you seen my keys?” Probably more than you care to admit. It’s suggested that people misplace as much as nine items per day – and the most common item were keys.

Multitasking, fatigue and stress are the main reasons for misplacing items. With the holidays coming upon us, you are more at risk for losing your precious items. But no worries because we have some good news. Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville provides a FREE key return program for its residents. All you have to do is simply request one of our keychain tags by contacting us.

 

 

Once you receive the tag, you will register your information on our website using the code on your tag. If a good Samaritan happens to find your keys before you do, they can simply drop your keys in any mailbox, and your keys will be sent to our home office. Once we receive them, we will mail them directly back to you for FREE!

It’s best to be prepared, so get yours today! You can even request multiple tags and hand them out to your friends and family.