DO YOU OWN ANY WEAPONS? HERE’S WHY IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT YOU HAVE A GUN SAFE

Follow the law. It’s important to learn about the parameters of the local laws in your state regarding weapon ownership. In most states, and in the District of Columbia, the law states that your guns must stay locked up in order to prevent access to children ~ in most cases even if you don’t have kids of your own. You’ll likely be breaking the law if any child ever gets hold of a firearm that belongs to you. Penalties vary for allowing a young person to hold your gun; but the fact is, you’ll be held accountable for negligent storage, regardless of whether or not a child gains access to your gun or actually uses your gun to cause a death or injury. 

When you own a durable gun safe, you’ll keep thieves away very effectively. Otherwise, a burglar could steal your gun and use it to commit a crime, or maybe resell it. The unthinkable may occur: For example, a crook could steal your gun, and then use it to rob a convenience store. If that perpetrator shoots and kills an individual in the process of committing that crime, then if you didn’t own a gun safe, the victim’s family would have the right to claim that your weapon was stored improperly, which means they could file a lawsuit against you. The smart choice is to keep your firearms in a safe, because, if your guns are ever stolen, you’ll be able to prove that you took the correct measures for keeping the weapons secure from the beginning.  

If a robber ever breaks into your place without doing any damage, if you can’t prove that a forced entry occurred, then if you don’t have the evidence that you kept your guns locked in a proper safe, this could work against you should the thief commit a crime with your gun later, especially if that person is someone you know. 

Maintain absolute safety. If you’re a gun owner, it’s vital that you be responsible: Always properly safeguard your weapons. Don’t risk any dangerous circumstances; remember that a death could result if any of your firearms were to land in the wrong hands. 

A proper gun safe will keep your guns away from potential thieves efficiently, and, most importantly, away from kids. The fact is: No one other than you, the owner ~ not family members, neighbors, friends, teenagers, babysitters, children, care-givers, house-sitters, and so on ~ should ever be able to have access to your weapons. 

There’s no question: If you own a gun, it’s critical at all times that you maintain your weapons by storing them safely in a reliable gun safe. Access control is primary. Whether you own a gun for hunting, protection, skeet shooting, target practice, or work, you must guard your weapons appropriately. 

You’ll have extra home protection. If you own a weapon for protection, of course you’ll need to be able to put your hands on your gun fast. Some manufacturers make their gun safes with locks that can be opened in only a few seconds. It’s crucial that you be the only one who knows how to get it open. 

Fully insure your guns. Keeping your guns in an outstanding-quality safe actually may be the only way you’ll know that your weapons are comprehensively insured. Storing your firearms inside a safe can often mean that you can take advantage of a discount on your insurance premium. All you need to do is ask. Thoroughly read through your renter’s or home insurance policy to determine the weapon coverage parameters and limitations. Your insurance company may dictate that you to keep your guns in a certified gun safe, and might compel you to install an alarm. Depending on the number of guns in your possession, and what type of firearms they are, ask about adding a rider to expand your coverage. If you own a good number of guns, your insurance company’s safe certification rules will likely require you to guard your gun collection in more than one safe, in order to reduce the possibility of everything being stolen all at once. If you ever were to make an insurance claim, then if you’re able to show that you took all the proper measures ahead of time to protect your valuables, you’re much more likely to be compensated for the loss. 

Shield your weapons from fire and flood. A top-quality fire-rated and waterproof gun safe will give you maximum protection for your guns and valuables from water fire or damage. 

Safeguard your investment. Some guns are replaceable, or they can be upgraded. But vintage weapons are normally irreplaceable, and they’re liable to have sentimental value for you. Choose the ideal gun safe, and you’ll completely secure all your weapons. 

With an excellent-quality safe, you’ll protect your additional valuables, too. When you have a superior-quality safe to keep your guns totally secure ~ and well-protected from flood, fire, and theft, also ~ then you might as well include your other valuables, too. Since a gun safe is sizeable, you’ll have room left for other important items such as property deeds, passports, birth certificates, fine jewelry, collectibles, stock certificates, tax records, photographs, emergency cash, and so forth. 

Store your weapons in style. Anywhere you display your prime-quality gun safe, it will definitely be attractive. A gun safe usually boasts gleaming hardware and a polished finish. Without a doubt, its impressive weight and size are striking. 

You could save on your taxes. In some states, if you buy a gun safe for your firearms, you’re eligible for a tax credit. A federal tax credit might also be available to you. In some states, gun safes are exempt from sales tax. 

Take the recommended precautions with your concealed-carry weapon. If you have a license to carry a concealed weapon, obey the legal requirements in your city and state. For instance, a portable gun safe is a smart idea for your car. 

How do you choose the best gun safe for you? If you’re in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and you’re shopping for the gun safe that will fit all your requirements, hire a dependable local company, such as Maple Grove Master Locksmith, where the staff safe specialists will be glad to share their expertise so you can make well-informed decisions about your home security. 

Knowing When to Change Your Locks

If you are a homeowner, you might want to handle your own home maintenance. This is to be commendable. As a professional locksmith service at Maple Grove Locksmith in Maple Grove, MN, we know how important it is to change your locks annually. Changing your locks should be a priority of anyone with a family. Even if you don’t have a family to protect, you likely want to protect yourself and anything that is of value to you. In addition to protecting the things that matter most to you, here are some other reasons that you might want to change your locks.

• Stolen Keys

 

If you lose of have your keys stolen, this is definitely when you should consider having your locks changed. Even after somebody has found your keys, it is still in your best interest to have your locks changed. This is because they could have been copied without your knowledge.

• Moving

Anytime you are moving into a new home or apartment, have the locks changed. Even if this is the responsibility of management or the homeowner, take it upon yourself to change the locks. They may not always do what they are supposed to do, so you should.

• When Keys Have Been Left With Someone

Leaving your keys with a service provider or with a neighbor to allow a service professional inside your home means that once they have completed their job, the locks are changed. You only need to do this when the service professionals have your keys and are given free-range of your property.

If you have given your keys to a neighbor to allow a service provider inside, you don’t know whether or not the keys were ever out of the sight of the person you left them with. Someone else may have picked them up, had another one made and returned without your neighbor ever knowing it.

• After a Divorce

If you are going through a divorce, have your locks changed. Some people think that just because they ended the relationship on good terms, that they don’t need to bother with changing locks. This prevents them from simply coming in whenever they feel like it and taking things that they are not supposed to have. Besides, you never know when their good nature could take a turn for the worse. Play it safe and have the locks changed as a precaution.

• Roommate Moving Out

When a roommate moves out you should have your locks changed. The roommate may have given someone the house key at some point without your knowing it. They may have even had a key duplicated and given to someone that you are unaware of. Again, even though you parted ways on good terms, you still can’t be too careful when it comes to your safety and protection. Just because you trust them doesn’t mean you can trust everyone that they know. You can eliminate the possibility of anyone that you do not know entering your home without your permission by simply having your locks changed.

• Worn Out Locks

If you are not paying much attention to your locks, perhaps you should. If you want to make sure your able to get in and out of your home when you want to, make sure worn out locks are changed. Old locks can become worn over time and with continuous use. You can’t always look at a lock to determine if it is worn out. You can tell if you are trying to place a key in the lock and it won’t go in or if it goes in but won’t turn. In this case, you’ll need to depend on a reliable and reputable local locksmith to get the help that you need.

• An Attempted Break-in

We don’t think we have to tell anyone who has experienced an attempted break-in to call a locksmith but we do. If you ever notice that your lock has been tampered with, don’t just wait until someone gets inside to get the help that you need. Some things to look out for are marks around the keyhole or your door may open oddly. This is when it might be a good idea to contact a locksmith to replace your locks.

• Old Locks

After a while locks just become old and worn. This is when you should have the locks replaced. Over time and due to continued use, the lock will become worn and will not be as reliable as it used to be. Some locks, over time, do not offer the level of durability that you would need. If your lock is not as sturdy as it used to be, you are just making it easier for an intruder to get inside. They already know how to break-in so don’t make it easy for them to do so by keeping old and outdated locks on your door. This is why we recommend having your locks replaced every few years.

• Locks Hard to Compromise

Enough is enough! If you have experienced the problem of someone attempting to break into your home, it is time to invest in a more reliable and effective form of protection. Change your standard locks to an electronic lock. These types of locks are rarely compromised because of the way they are constructed. Locksmiths know how and where these types of locks are most useful.

Even if none of the above appeals to you, just go with your instinct. Protect yourself and your loved ones by evaluating every lock in your home (windows and doors) and changing any that do not look sturdy and durable. You can avoid being burglarized by taking some small and simple yet significant steps today. Don’t wait until something happens that could be avoided. Make it a priority to get the level of security that you need for your home today by changing out the locks that need to be changed. You’ll be able to gain peace-of-mind in knowing that every inch of your home is safe and secure.

Why All Homeowners Should Consider Installing Deadbolts

A sturdy deadbolt is a much better deterrent than your standard home lock. Maple Grove, MN, homeowners who do not have these installed in their residential properties should seriously consider placing these at the top of their security checklists. Why? That is what we are here to tell you.

Here is everything you need to know about residential deadbolts. From the basics to the benefits that these will bring, we will highlight all of the best features that make these components a great security asset for all Maple Grove, MN, homes. Of course, any questions should be directed towards a professional such as Maple Grove Master Locksmith, or the lock and security provider in your area.

What exactly is a deadbolt lock?

You will definitely have seen them before, but showing you the basics will help you get a better understanding of the type of protection that you can get from these components.

A deadbolt is a lock bolt that is highly resistant to forced entry. Like your standard lock, a deadbolt is moved by turning a key or knob. The crucial difference is that deadbolts are not operated by springs. This allows for improved protection as the lack of springs prevent thieves from prying into them using knives, lock picks or any sharp objects.

There are three types of deadbolt locks, which provide different levels of protection:

* Single cylinder deadbolts can be accessed from the outside by key, and from the inside using a thumb piece. These are more suited for doors that are not surrounded by breakable glass, for the simple reason that if someone breaks that glass they could reach and unlock the deadbolt.

* Double cylinder deadbolts are better for situations where there is breakable glass by the knob. These can be accessed by key on both sides, making them harder to break into. The only downside is that these can make emergency evacuations more difficult.

* Keyless cylinder deadbolts are the easiest to operate. As the name suggests, these can be opened by fingerprint scans or password codes, and closed with a button or knob inside your property.

You can probably get an idea of some of the benefits that come from installing deadbolts, but let’s take a look at them in more detail now.

Key deadbolt advantages

Pun not intended, of course. These are some of the main reasons why Maple Grove, MN, locksmiths recommend deadbolts to all local homeowners:

Durable protection. Deadbolts are made to last, especially if you select one made of hardened steel. This means that they will not wear and tear easily, and will be very difficult to break through.

Enhanced security. As you can already tell, deadbolts can protect all homes from forceful entry. Standard locks can be easily broken into using crowbars, knives, lock picking equipment and other tools, whereas you cannot do the same with a deadbolt.

Tougher to break into. Of course, nothing is ever fool proof, but the fact that they are tougher to break into is a strong selling point in itself. It takes longer to try and break into a deadbolt, meaning that even if someone tries to do it, they will easily get caught.

Convenience. Their protection is highly accessible. Deadbolts are very affordable to install, no matter the class of deadbolt you are considering for your home.

Ready to install your new deadbolt? Great! Here is what you need to do.

Talk to a qualified locksmith

We recommend that you hire a licensed and insured residential locksmith to provide you with full peace of mind about the deadbolts that you are about to install in your Maple Grove, MN, home.

Why? Because locksmiths will ensure the deadbolts are installed properly. In order for your deadbolt to function, it needs to fully extend into the hole from the door jamb. This hole should be reinforced using a metal spike blade. Without these crucial procedures, the security of your deadbolt will be compromised. Locksmiths will have all the required training, practical experience and tools to do the job with aptitude and precision the first time around. They will know how to install the deadbolts, taking into consideration all the right mechanisms that make it work.

We recommend you contact a Maple Grove, MN, based professional to schedule a consultation prior to getting your deadbolts installed. That will help ensure that your selection is suitable for your property. Locksmiths will guide you along the many options their company has on offer, will explain the different features that you can get from these, and will provide you with a full price quote for their installations. Usually a trustworthy lock and key service provider will provide their wisdom and that much needed price quote at no extra cost to their customers. They will be concerned about helping you improve your residential security, and will try as hard as they can to cater to all your needs.

Happy with the locksmith you are hiring? Brilliant. Then they will get on to installing your brand new deadbolt for you. This affordably priced service shouldn’t take too long, and you can expect your locksmith to schedule a time to do the job at your convenience. Before you know it, your brand new deadbolt will be ready to go.

Make sure to keep the number of your preferred locksmith service provider handy, just in case you encounter any issues. Use a quality business with expert locksmiths trained to do more than just installations, that you can count on to quickly tend to all required deadbolt repairs or replacements needs. Of course, these are meant to last you several years without any chance of wear and tear – but it’s better to be prepared just in case you need some extra assistance in the future.

Just remember not to neglect using your new deadbolt. They are there to protect, after all. It may take a couple of days to get used to locking and unlocking these, but the security that you will get truly is valuable.

Fake Online Locksmiths Overcharge Customers

   Portland, ORE. — Bill Blanchard was born into the locksmith business. His family opened its first key shop in Southwest Portland in 1987. He started working for his family when he was just 6 years old.

 

“Locksmithing is something that you have to be passionate about,” said Blanchard, who now runs the family business, AMAX Security Solutions.

 

A few years ago, Blanchard says the industry took an unexpected turn. Legitimate locksmiths found themselves competing against companies they’d never heard of.

 

Suddenly, Internet searches turned up hundreds of locksmiths in Portland.

 

“The scammers have just changed the game,” said Blanchard.  “They will create an online presence and market themselves based on your reputation.”

 

Problem is: Most of those locksmiths are not locksmiths at all. They are call centers.

 

“It’s become a pyramid scheme of locksmiths, each one independent from the next, but all still interconnected,” explained Blanchard.

 

A search on the review website Yelp.com showed more than a dozen locksmiths located in Southwest Portland.

 

“AAA Locksmith All or” was listed at 1700 SW Jefferson Street.  We found a vacant office at that location with a “For Lease” sign posted on the door.

 

Just down the street, Yelp.com showed “Locksmith Portland” located at 1728 Southwest Jefferson St. That was a Subway restaurant.

 

“15 Min Emergency Locksmith” was listed at 1200 Southwest Main Street. That was a church.

 

“It allows you to list a fake address to give a consumer the false sense of security that they believe they are calling somebody that is near them, and they’re not really calling somebody who’s near them,” said Blanchard.

 

These call centers often send out poorly trained subcontractors to help open your car or your home.  Once they arrive, consumers complain that many online locksmiths jack up the price.

 

In 2013, the Oregon Department of Justice warned consumers to be on alert for these bogus locksmiths.

 

“You may be quoted a price on the phone, but when the locksmith arrives, often in an unmarked vehicle, he often wants significantly more money or claims to only accept payments in cash,” wrote Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

 

To test this scenario, we locked our keys in a 1998 Honda Civic. We got three quotes by phone from legitimate locksmiths of $49.95, $70 and $80.

 

Then, we found an online locksmith that offered a flat $14 service call. Popping the lock would be another $29, according to the company website.

 

The operator at 24/7 Locksmith said he would dispatch a technician to our location. He didn’t ask what type of car we had nor did he provide an estimate on cost.

 

Within 20 minutes, a man in an unmarked truck arrived. He had a pit bull in the front seat.

 

“Are you looking for a locksmith?” the man said. I nodded, yes. “I’m your guy,” said the driver.

 

After a quick inspection, the man wrote down a quote on an invoice sheet.  He wanted $159 to unlock our car, far more than legitimate locksmiths.

 

The technician tried to justify the price by saying he arrived quickly.

 

When asked for identification the man, Michael Notas, showed us his Oregon driver’s license and a California locksmith license due to expire on February 29, 2016.

 

State regulators said Notas is not a certified locksmith in Oregon, nor does he have a Construction Contractors Board license. He should not be working as a locksmith in Oregon.

 

Records show Notas is a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty to felony DUI- Causing Bodily Injury in California in 2009.

 

In 2014, Multnomah County prosecutors charged Notas with Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He had a dagger, according to court documents.

 

There are excellent locksmiths that work out of cars and vans, although most of them have vehicles with a company name.

 

When confronted with a KGW camera and microphone, Notas said he needed to call his boss.

 

“I tried to charge him $159, like everybody, all day long,” Notas tried to explain. “He is the guy from the news!”

 

To protect yourself from bogus locksmiths:

 

Check to make sure the locksmith you are calling is certified.  Call the CCB (503-378-4621) with a certification number or name or visit the CCB website (www.oregon.gov/ccb) and use the “search” feature.

Avoid any company that answers the phone with a generic phrase such as “locksmith services” rather than a specific company name.

Be wary of locksmiths in unmarked cars or trucks.

Ask for ID with name and address.

Get a written estimate on company letterhead, with all charges and fees, before work begins.

Once you’ve found a reputable locksmith, keep the company’s name and contact information in your cell phone.

For more information visit Fake Online Locksmiths Overcharge Customers

Lock Your Home With Energy Harvested from Your Smartphone

Elizabeth Montalbano, Contributing Writer, Design News

A Finland-based company has introduced what it claims is the first smart door lock that can be powered from energy harvested from a mobile device.

iLOQ plans to release its iLOQ NFC smart lock — which it unveiled at the CeBit expo in Germany — in the last quarter of the year. The lock, which will first be compatible with Android smartphones, harvests electricity from the NFC (near-field communication) induction of a device and is the first smart lock to use harvested energy for power, according to the company. Users also can control the lock using their smartphone, a common feature of these devices. NFC enables electronic devices to establish radio communication with each other.

Smart door locks are one aspect of the smart home that are accessible even to those who can’t afford a larger-scale, integrated solution. However, typically the locks need some type of cabling or a battery for power, which limits functionality and ease of use, said Mika Pukari, iLOQ’s CEO.

Read more about it at Lock Your Home With Energy Harvested from Your Smartphone