Who has keys to your castle? Home
Security 101!
The key to your
home is the first line of defense for home security, if you did not have your
lock changed by a reputable professional locksmith, or physically install new
locking hardware yourself, you do not know who else may have a key to your new
home!
One area
of home security that is often overlooked, and one of the most visible, is the
common key. Even if you are the owner of a new house, or the first tenant
of your apartment, you cannot be sure that no one else has a key to your door.
Many times new locks
are supplied to a building site that are keyed with special construction keys
and pins. The theory is that when the builder turns the property over to the
owner of the property, inserting and turning the owner key will trap the
construction pins, rendering the construction keys useless. The reality is that
not all projects receive locks that are construction keyed, some manufacturers
do not offer the option, some builders may buy their hardware from a regular
hardware store, etc.
Others who could have
a key to your home include, the builder or a construction worker, real estate
agent, ex owner or tenant, friend or relative of last owner or tenant, any of a
dozen or so service people, or a neighbor who still lives next door.
The first thing you
should do when moving into a new home, is have the locks recombinated by a
professional locksmith. If you are renting or leasing, and the building owner or
manager, cannot or will not assure you that the locks have been changed, do not
move in.
Another area of
concern is how you handle your keys. You should not have anything on your key
ring that identifies you or has your address on it. If you feel this is
necessary, see your professional locksmith, they can decode and record your
keys, some will keep a record for you. If leaving your car at a parking or
service facility, don’t leave any keys on the key ring, other than keys to the
car, and don’t leave the trunk key, if you have any valuables in it.
If your keys are
marked “Do Not Duplicate” or “Unlawful to Copy” are they safe and secure? People
have been known to cover those markings with tape, liquid plastic, rubber key
boots, etc. Not all persons who duplicate keys will look under these covers. The
minimum
wage clerk at the local variety store or hardware store cannot be faulted
for not heeding those warnings. Some may even look at them as a challenge.
A good option to
explore with your professional locksmith is the use of controlled distribution
keys, or high security cylinders, along with controlled distribution keys. These
systems feature keys that are not obtainable to key duplicators who are not
contracted to purchase them. In some systems the actual keys are patented. One
popular High Security, key control manufacturer asks the following questions in
their advertising. “Do you give your keys to anyone?”, “Do you mind if they have
copies made without your permission?” Unlike standard keys, high security keys
are protected by patents and are only provided to authorized, contracted
distributors or dealer locksmiths. The duplication of these keys cannot be done
without your express permission. Some are so closely controlled that they are
only duplicated by the manufacturer, and then sent to the authorized owner.
Using this type of security for your keys,
gives you the control over who has the keys to your castle.
New Home Security Products
and technology
New technology is not
ignoring the home security market, Schlage Lock Company has recently
introduced a line of affordable, stylish, high quality, very user friendly
electronic keypad locks check them out at
www.schlagelock.com.
Kwikset Lock has just
introduced their "Smart Scan" deadbolt lock, a biometric lock that reads
your fingerprint, check this one at
www.kwikset.com
And there are other high tech home security
devices available and being introduced almost daily, for more information see
your professional locksmith or other security professional. |
