“Deadbolt Danger: Who has the keys to your house?”

This is a very insightful vlog from a news station. It introduces the idea that mass-produced locks may be a very dangerous item:

http://www.11alive.com/story/news/2015/05/13/deadbolt-danger-who-has-the-keys-to-your-house/27169595/

“Mass-produced locks could result in keys being duplicated and used to enter your home. Here’s how to keep your family safe.”

The article says to bring your coded key to a locksmith like us to be rekeyed. Another option is to get high security locks for your home or office. Whatever service you need, Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville has you covered!

Never Lose Your Keys Again

More and more new cars have smart keys and remotes that let you unlock the door and start the engine without a key. The devices are a marvel of technology and convenience … until you lose one and have to pay up to $500 to replace it at your dealership. Instead, try these tips for hanging on to your high-tech car keys and ways to make replacing them less painful:

Hard to Lose

First things first: Train yourself to treat keys differently. Attach your keyless-entry remote or fob to a larger item like a wallet or handbag makes it harder to lose. Or carry a compartmentalized bag where you hold you items like your laptop, wallet and key.

 

The Backup Plan

Don’t wait until keys are missing to make duplicates. Price out what they would cost, then look into alternatives. Seek out where your particular brand of replacements are available and order them ahead of time. This way, you won’t end up stranded for days without keys.

Tag Your Stuff

As auto-key technologies improve, so do the means of tracking lost goods. For example, Austrian-based company Locca offers miniature GPS-powered trackers that attach to small items. Should your stuff go missing, you can track it on the Locca app in real time. An alternative to GPS locators, Okoban tracker tags let you register items with the company’s global lost-and-found service. Attach a tag to your keys; whoever finds them can follow the goodness of their heart and tell you where the keys are by entering an identification code online.

The Replacements

If your keys are lost for good, replacements from your dealership can be expensive. But sites like eBay, KeylessRide and others offer after-market and factory keys that are often considerably cheaper. You may need to visit your dealer to have your new keys programmed (for a fee) and you still may need to pay a locksmith if your smart system includes a good old-fashioned metal key. The total cost should still be lower, and the relief, as they say, priceless.

Myths and Facts About DO NOT DUPLICATE Keys

 

Key Control: Myths and Facts About DO NOT DUPLICATE Keys

Unauthorized key duplication is one of the most violated security procedures in business.  Most people seeking to copy a key meet little resistance getting duplicate keys cut.  The fact is that nearly any standard key can, and will be duplicated with no questions asked regardless of any stamping on the key.  Stamping such as “Do Not Duplicate” or “Restricted”, etc is not only often ignored but the key cutter may take it as a personal challenge and reply ‘Oh I can duplicate that’!

high-security-key-system

One source cites that nearly 40% of non-forced entry break-ins are a direct result of an unauthorized duplicate key (Assa Abloy 2011).  These unauthorized keys can then be associated with billions of dollars of loss to business a year!

If you provide security and life safety services here are some things you should know to help your clients understand their total security picture when it comes to key duplication:

Myth: Keys stamped “Do Not Duplicate” are protected by law.

Fact:   Most keys that are stamped “Do Not Duplicate” do little more than discourage key cutters from duplicating keys.  There is typically little or no legal connection or consequence.  Companies offering restricted keys mean that locksmiths or key cutters are not allowed to duplicate them.

Myth: Most companies offer “Restricted” keys.

Fact:   This term really only refers to that company’s distribution policy on the key and has nothing to do with duplication rights.  Most restricted keys are easily duplicated.

Myth:  Keys for all “high-security cylinders” are protected from unauthorized duplication.  Only the key blank can be protected from unauthorized manufacturing, and then only if the key blank itself is patented.

Fact:   Purchasers of “high-security” keys and cylinders should ask to see proof of patent on the key blank and not the cylinder that it operates.

Myth: Most key cutters will ask questions about your key and will normally comply with any warning or request not to duplicate that key.

Fact:   Only professional locksmiths will honor such requests if they are familiar with the manufacturer.  Non-professional key cutters such as hardware stores, shops or mall vendors will usually duplicate any key if the key blank is available to them.

Call Pop-A-Lock Jacksonville at  904-246-4590 for your commercial locksmith needs including master keying, re-keying and true high security and restricted key control systems.  We are America’s Most Trusted Locksmiths.