Every now and then its worth sitting down and considering the home security measures you have in place. Like anything over time locks wear and they may not be working to their full potential or they may fail which can leave your property vulnerable to a break in. Your external doors are your first line of defence against potential burglars, so it is important that you ensure that both the door and the locks are in good working order. Below our team at Lime Locks Wirral have put together a helpful guide to help you spot the signs that your external door locks are ready to be changed in order to keep your property as secure as it can be.

Why Should You Replace A Door Lock?
Wear and Tear – It would be nice if everything lasted forever, but unfortunately like most things’ door locks have a life span and over time, due the frequent use of the locks they can start to wear and eventually fail and leave your home vulnerable. Try and look out for obvious signs of wear on your locks such as rust. If you have rust on your lock, then it is definitely time for an upgrade. 

Lost/Stolen Keys – By far, this is one of the most common reasons for people requiring the services of their local locksmith. Losing your keys or fearing they have been stolen is incredibly stressful, mainly because it poses two problems, first, you are locked out of your property and second you cant be sure who may have found or even stolen your keys so you cant be sure that once your back inside your property it is as secure as it once was. Most good locksmiths will recommend having the locks changed if you feel there is no chance of finding your keys. This is to ensure that your home stays secure and a potential burglar isn’t going to have easy access to your property and belongings by letting themselves in through your front door. When a locksmith has gained entry to your property and changed the locks you will be provided with a new set of keys so you can be sure you know exactly who has a key to your property.

Moving Home – When you move into a new property getting the locks changed should be high up on your to do list. Unfortunately, most people often overlook this or forget as there dealing with a lot of other stuff during the move. However, it is highly recommended, not just by locksmiths but by the police and insurance companies as well. This is because unless you have built the property yourself and are the first people to occupy it you can’t be sure of how many keys are still in circulation. The same applies if someone moves out of your property, a lodger or tenant for example.

Burglary – If you have been victim to a break in then after the crime has been reported and the police have been to collect evidence one of the first things you should do is get the locks changed. This is incredibly important as any damaged or broken locks will leave your home vulnerable to another break in! It is also possible that the burglars found a spare set of keys to your home during the break in so even if your locks weren’t damaged it is a good idea to have them changed. Also upgrading your locks at the same time will help deter potential burglars from future break ins.

If your having problems with any of your locks, or if they need upgrading to more secure locks then contact Lime Locks Wirral today – 0151 353 9607
 
 
 
 

A break-in is something that no one wants to experience, unfortunately it is something that happens regular and is on the rise in the Wirral area. During this stressful and emotional time, it is easy to lose focus. This is why our team at Lime Locks Wirral have put together this blog post to help you understand exactly what to do in the event of a burglary so you can get your home back in order as soon as possible.

Ring The Police – when you discover you have had a break in the first thing you should do is call the police so the crime is on record. The police will also issue you with a crime reference number which you should keep handy as you will need this when it comes to making an insurance claim. If, when you discover the break in you are outside of your property it is important that you stay outside until the police arrive as you could destroy crucial evidence.

Don’t Touch Or Move Anything – When you are waiting for the police to arrive don’t touch or move anything in or around your property as it could be evidence. If any evidence has been left behind it can play a crucial role in helping the police find and prosecute the culprit which could even result in the recovery of your stolen items. So, no matter what wait for the police before you start, tidying and taking inventory.

Make A List – When the police have finished gathering evidence then you can start putting together a list of any stolen or damaged goods to provide to your insurance company. It is important to try and be as detailed as possible, list any distinctive marks, serial numbers and a rough estimate of the items value.

Call Your Bank – This step is particularly important if you had credit or debit cards in the house at the time of the burglary. Even if your cards haven’t been stolen you should ask the bank to cancel them and verify the last few transactions. This is because the thieves could have taken not of the card details and left them behind allowing them to make online purchases without you being none the wiser.
Contact Insurance – Make sure you make a call to your insurance provider within the first 24 ours of the break in so that your claim can begin to be processed. You will need to provide them with the crime reference number the police provided you with and a list of stolen or damaged items so make sure you have these handy before the call.

Secure Your Property -After the police have done what they need to and give you the all clear you can finally get down to straightening up and getting things back to normal. While you are clearing up the mess you should also consider making your property secure once again. You should call out a local locksmith to come and board up any broken windows and repair, replace or upgrade your locks to ensure that your home is once again secure.

It would be worth considering upgrading your home security measures to help prevent any future break ins. This is something you can discuss with your local locksmith who will be able to advise you on the best security measures for your property and your budget.

If you have fallen victim to a break in or would like to improve your home security to prevent a break in then contact Lime Locks Wirral today - 0151 353 9607