JP Lock and Safe

Security advice

This section gives some general security guidance that can help protect your property, however its important to note that each solution needs to be personalised for your circumstances and what might work in one situation could be unworkable for someone else in a different situation. We would always recommend taking professional advice as this can save you wasting money on an unsuitable solution.

1. Review your security periodically, new trends can emerge and what was once considered adequate may now be vulnerable.
2. Many criminals simply don't care if they inflict thousands of pounds worth of damage in their quest to take a few pounds worth of stuff.
3. Criminals are often opportunistic, they are always looking for the weak spots and opportunities, they will often note it and come back later!
4. Additionally if they see you are busy, distracted or complacent then this creates opportunities for them.
5. Your objective is to deter them sufficiently so that they look elsewhere for an easier target.
6. Criminals don't like being seen or heard, so if an area is well illuminated or they will have to make a lot of noise to break in they may well look elsewhere.
7. Ideally your security needs to be 'imposing' enough that the criminal thinks its just not worth the effort or that they are bound to get caught!
8. In addition to British Standards there are other Industry Schemes which rate locks between one and three stars, or grade products as bronze, silver, gold or diamond grade. These industry schemes use experienced locksmiths to test the products, so the longer it keeps an 'expert' out the better it should be.
9. Euro Profile cylinders which protude by more than 3mm can be subject to 'Lock Snaping'.
10. Make sure you keep your tools under lock and key (ie in a shed or garage ect) as theives won't think twice about using your spade or lump hammer break into your house!
11. Padlocks are more vulnerable to attack as they are often exposed, so try and protect padlock shackle from attacks with tools.
12. Whatever you have your security is only as strong as the weakest link.
13. Insurers have a set of minimum security standards, which they usually specify in the small print of their Insurance Policy
    • For doors this is normally a 45mm solid door;
    • For locks this is typically 5 lever deadlock to BS6321, or a multi point locking mechanism.
14. Cars are now much more difficult to steal without the keys, and it is now commonplace for criminals to target houses with weak security so they can steel your car keys.
15. You MUST keep your door keys safe, don't be tempted to put them in a flower pot or under the door mat that will invalidate your houshold insurance!
16. If your door locks do not meet the minimum standards specified by the insurer, then they may reduce the value of any insurance claim.
17. Just about evertything in the security world has variants in different security grades, with higher grades usually being more secure but also costing more:
    • Doors are available in metal, hardwood or softwood, with metal being the much more secure than their wooden equivalents;
    • They can be configures as inward or outward opening, with the latter again being more secure;
    • Vision Panels (security glazed windows) can be added - they can help you see who's there but they can also reduce the security depending on the size and specification;
    • Door furniture such as hinges, handles, locks, letter boxes etc are available in various grades which can affect the overall security rating of the door.