3 Signs Your Commercial Security System Needs to Be Upgraded or Checked

by American Alarm Blogging Team

An up to date commercial security system can protect your business from external threats, help you monitor internal processes, and even improve efficiency. But, you shouldn’t expect to simply install a system and walk away. Your needs will evolve, and your system must evolve with them. Here are a few signs your commercial security system should be evaluated and/or upgraded.

Your business has expanded or changed

Whether you’ve added new employees or increased your square footage, your security system must adapt to accommodate the changes.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations switched to remote or hybrid work models. As we emerge from an era of lockdowns and restrictions, you may be welcoming employees back to the office and expanding your team. Or, perhaps, you’re downsizing your commercial space in favor of remote work. Whatever the case, it’s time to evaluate your security system to determine whether it’s meeting your current needs.
It’s no longer addressing your biggest security threats

Your business’s security challenges may have shifted since you first installed your system. Initially, you may have been primarily concerned with monitoring your processes for quality control purposes, but your security strategy may have overlooked other threats or failed to account for crime trends. For instance, if your neighborhood is experiencing increased smash-and-grab burglaries, your security system should account for that.

Choosing the right security partner will help you identify and plan for every eventuality. One of our specialists can help you create a tailored security strategy for your business’s needs and location.
You’re missing out on technological advances

Security technology evolves quickly, and having an up-to-date system will offer better protection and be easier to manage and more efficient. Features like remote monitoring, video analytics, and programmable alerts make it easier to stay on top of security threats.

Video analytics can enable you to track how many customers are in your store at any given time and dispatch additional staff to prevent service bottlenecks. You can also program alerts to notify you if anyone is loitering outside your store or use facial recognition data to track suspicious customers. Other features like glass break sensors and panic buttons are helpful in the event of break-ins or hold-ups.

If your security system isn’t currently using this type of technology, it may be time for an upgrade.
Security needs evolve constantly

Your commercial security system should be evaluated regularly. This can help account for the evolution of technology, your business’s changing needs, and shifting crime trends. An up-to-date system offers better protection and can even improve efficiency within your business.

Read more at: 3 Signs Your Commercial Security System Needs to Be Upgraded or Checked

Related Article: Best Keyless Entry Systems

Learn how you can improve your the security system in your commercial property, visit dorchesterlocksmith.com

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How to Protect Your Vacation Rental This Summer

Travel is back, and short-term rentals are more popular than ever! We present 5 tips to keep your home safe this summer.

By Minut in Hosting Advice

The 2021 summer season is in full swing, and it’s busier than ever! Since short-term rentals continue to grow in popularity even as pandemic measures relax, many hosts worry about attracting the wrong kind of guest. Below, we gather some tips that can help you make sure your rental property is protected this summer.‍

1. Know your ideal guest and speak to them‍

All vacation rentals that perform well have one thing in common: they know who their ideal guest is and they know how to speak to them. This helps enormously in attracting the right guest for your home – and discouraging the wrong ones.

The ideal guest profile will always vary depending on the host and property. Some property managers might prefer couples, while others focus on families. Many Airbnb hosts like outdoorsy guests because they tend to be happy with a smaller set of amenities. Others favor digital nomads who are used to renting vacation homes and opt for longer stays.

To figure out what your ideal guest profile is, you can ask yourself a few questions:

1. What’s my ideal number of occupants? (More guests means you can charge more, but it also increases the wear and tear.)
2. Do I want to cater to longer stays? (Longer stays mean less hassle with turnovers, but they also require more amenities like a fully-stocked kitchen and fast wifi).
3. What’s worth visiting in my area? (Depending if it’s in a big city or a smaller town, your property will appeal more to certain types of travelers over others.)
4. Do I want to host children? (Families with children don’t tend to throw parties, but young children can cause some damage.)

Once you have your answers, it should become pretty clear what your ideal guest type is. You can also look back on your renting history, and see if any one type stands out.

The next step is to make sure your property design and the amenities you offer match your target guest group. You should also edit the photos and the language in your listing with that particular guest type in mind. This way, you’ll be much more likely to attract good guests who are a good fit for your home, and discourage the troublesome ones from booking.‍

Read more at: How to Protect Your Vacation Rental This Summer

Related Article: How to Install a Lockset

Learn more about high security locks and keyless entry system, visit http://www.dorchesterlocksmith.com

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8 Ways to Keep Thieves Out of Your Garage

By Kasey Tross

Researcher & Writer

It’s a Saturday afternoon and you’re putting your tools away in the garage. You pay no attention to the guy walking down the street, assuming he’s a neighbor. But he’s really a burglar, and he’s eyeing your DeWalt drill and miter saw. He knows from experience that, like most people’s homes, your garage probably isn’t as secure as the rest of your house, and he can take advantage of that.

That burglar isn’t wrong. Most people worry more about their grandmother’s heirloom jewelry getting stolen than they do about their leaf blowers and power tools in the garage. But, as one of the most vulnerable and lucrative parts of your home, your garage is a prime target for theft.

These eight security tips will help you think like a burglar so you can secure your garage and beat burglars at their own game.

How to prevent garage break-ins

1. Shed some light

Burglars like the cover of night, and many of them rely on the dark shadows around your garage to hide their shady attempts to get into your home.

Installing motion-activated flood lights near the garage windows and doors will make burglars think twice about attempting a nighttime break-in. Motion-sensing lights are especially helpful for keeping detached garages out of the shadows.

2. Check your landscaping

More brazen burglars don’t mind prowling around your home in broad daylight, but they’ll still take advantage of the cover provided by a well-placed tree or bush near your garage door or window.

Make sure neighbors and passersby can see everything going on near your garage by clearing away large trees and shrubs and keeping entry points visible from the street. Planting small thorny shrubs under ground-floor garage windows can discourage burglars from breaking in that way.

3. Close the door

We know this seems like a no-brainer, but just drive through any residential neighborhood and you’re likely to see a few wide-open garage doors with no residents in sight. An open overhead garage door is an open invitation to burglars.

In fact, one homeowners association in Arizona made a rule that homeowners had to keep their roll-up garage doors closed, and burglaries in the area decreased by 50%.¹

If you’re guilty of leaving your garage door open, consider installing a garage door sensor or an automatic garage door closer. A sensor can tell you if your overhead door is open or closed, and a closer will automatically close the garage after a certain amount of time.

For even more protection, consider installing an automatic garage door lock to automatically deadbolt your garage door every time you close it.

Read more at: 8 Ways to Keep Thieves Out of Your Garage

Related Article: KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM BENEFITS

Learn more on how to effectively secure your garage door by visiting dorchesterlocksmith.com. Call (617) 622-5257 for professional assistance.

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10+ Simple Ways to Secure Your New Home

By Rebecca Edwards

Security Expert, Safety & Tech Reporter

Decorating your new home is definitely more fun than setting up security measures. But burglars strike every 30 seconds, so home security should be a top priority.¹ To help you get back to the fun stuff, here are 11 simple things you should do right away to secure your new home.

1. Secure the doors

Don’t help a burglar stroll in through the front door (34% of them do!).² Inspect all of your exterior doors to make sure the door frames are strong, the hinges are protected, and—if your door has a mail slot—that someone can’t reach through it to unlock the door.

If you’re moving into a residence that someone else used to call home, change the door locks. That way you won’t have strangers out there with a key to your house, and you can make sure your locks are the best on the market.

Here are some quick reinforcements we recommend to help you shore up these vital entryways.

• Install a deadbolt. 
• Add a strike plate.
• Upgrade to smart locks.
• Boost security with a video doorbell.
• Reinforce sliding glass doors

Intruders love sliding doors, so make sure yours are protected. You can go old-school and use a window bar or dowel in the track to keep the door from being forced open. If you want a high-tech solution, add a door sensor or glass break sensor. These will alert you if the glass door is tampered with—and should scare off thieves.

2. Lock the windows

According to theft expert Dr. Ben Stickle, windows are “a common entry point for criminals” and may be left shut but unlocked by the previous homeowner. Plus, manufacturer latches on windows aren’t always effective—and sometimes they’re downright flimsy.

If you don’t like the looks of your window latches, beef up security with aftermarket window locks or key-operated levers. But you don’t have to stop there.

We have some other good ideas to help make your windows burglar-proof.

• Reinforce glass with window security film.
• Install window or glass break sensors.
• Add window bars.
• Plant prickly bushes under first-floor windows (but be sure to keep them trimmed).

Read more at: 10+ Simple Ways to Secure Your New Home

Related Article: Practical and Useful Ways of Securing Your Apartment

For professional assistance in improving security in your home call (617) 622-5257. Learn more at www. dorchesterlocksmith.com

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Benefits of Smart Door Locks

September 10, 2021 by Michael Webster

Smart door locks are one of the new technological advancements smart homes are starting to utilize more often. If you’re tired of losing your house key, looking for added security, want your kids to be able to access the home when you’re not home or want to let guests in remotely, smart door locks are what you need.

A smart door lock is just one more advantageous feature to add to your smart home — here’s why:

Remote Management for Convenience

With smart door locks, there’s no more worrying if you locked the doors or not as some models allow you to check on your phone’s app. Smart door locks integrate into your home system and allow you to manage your home straight from your phone or home automation system.

When installing, you’re usually able to keep your existing deadbolt hardware in place too, for an added layer of protection. Many smart-lock systems are very accommodating and allow you to have a spot for a key, making it easy to use for people who have trouble with technology.

Know Who’s Coming In and Out

Smart door locks can alert you when doors open and close, and some systems even allow you to give different people their own passcodes, so you know exactly who is entering.

You can also pair your lock with a smart doorbell camera, allowing you to physically see who’s at your door with the click of a button. The personalized passcode feature is perfect for kids, guests, in-home deliveries, or if you’re renting out your home as a vacation spot.

Enhanced Security and Safety

Adding a smart door lock to your home adds an extra layer of security. Are you still hiding the spare key under the doormat or in a flowerpot on the front porch?

There’s no need to keep up with a physical house key or hide one outside as a spare. Smart locks eliminate the need to make copies of physical keys, therefore, you’ll have fewer methods of entry to your home floating around.

Automate Smart Home Devices

A smart lock can be the cornerstone of an automated home system. The status, whether it’s locked or unlocked, can signal other devices to adjust accordingly. For example, if you unlock the door, the smart lock can automatically change the thermostat to a lower temperature and turn on the hallway lights.

You can choose Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-WAVE or Wi-Fi compatibility for your smart door lock — whichever matches your other smart-home technologies. The range of Bluetooth smart locks only reaches about 300 feet, meaning you’re only able to control your locks when you’re in and around your home. Meanwhile, the other technologies provide access anywhere there’s an Internet connection, although the battery does drain quicker.

Smart door locks come in many different forms and styles to match your home’s needs. If you’re searching for the extra sense of security and comfort that smart locks bring, we provide many options to cater to your home. Contact us to learn more about our products and services. 

Article Source: Benefits of Smart Door Locks

Related Article: HOW TO SECURE YOUR HOME EFFECTIVELY

If you need professional assistance in installing smart locks or any kind of high security locks, call (617) 622-5257. For more info, visit https://www.dorchesterlocksmith.com/

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What locksmiths do

We all know what locksmiths do; or do we? Locksmiths make keys and help with lockouts; that’s the standard answer, anyway. Like many other things, the more we learn about locksmiths the more we don’t know! Here at Dorchester Locksmith, we are often asked a variety of questions that seem obvious to us that work there but apparently are not so obvious to others. Some of the questions we get are these. Are locksmiths expensive? How long should you wait for a locksmith to show up? Do prices ever change once the work starts? Do locksmiths charge more for after-hours work? Does my locksmith need to be licensed? Won’t I get a cheaper one if no license is involved? Do I need to check ID? Should they bring their own tools? You don’t have to live here in Dorchester, MA for these questions and their answers to apply. They will be the same for you no matter where in the country you happen to live.

When should I use a handyman?

If your task is lock or key related, it’s best to use a real locksmith. We encourage locals to work with a full service locksmith shop whose technicians are licensed, bonded and fully insured. Don’t worry if that sounds intimidating or expensive. Many of the best locksmith shops of this type are very affordable and due to their volume of local business, they can afford to charge much less than you’d think. Besides, you have to weigh the value that working with real locksmith professionals affords you. You’ll know that you are dealing with true lock and key experts with skills, knowledge and field tested experience and that in itself brings peace of mind along with enhances security. How much is your protection and that of your loved ones worth to you? All it takes is a little shopping around to find a local locksmith shop like this. But why not use a handyman for locksmith work? Many local handymen are not licensed, and offer only part time help that can also be used to change light bulbs, move boxes or paint walls. They simply don’t have the training, tools or expertise to do actual locksmith work.

The best locksmiths use the best locks

That goes without saying. What good is quality locksmith work if your hardware is cheaply made and or shoddily installed? Stick with the best and you won’t be disappointed! You can always depend on reliability and quality when your locksmith uses lock hardware from Medeco, Baldwin, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA, BiLock, Sentry, Ace, Kwikset, Master, Yale, Falcon, American, InstaKey, Fichet, Kaba, Primus, Von Duprin, Llco, Dexter, Schlage and others of similar renown.

Four Main types

Locksmiths should specialize and be skillful in all four main types of practice; home, auto, business and emergency. Many of these overlap as you can find keyless entry systems in cars and also in homes and businesses. You can add high security locks to your house as well as to your shop. It’s best to work with a locksmith that is comfortable handling any type of lock hardware or service. That way you can deal with one company or shop for all of your locksmith needs no matter where in town you are.

Residential locksmiths

A home locksmith expert can let you back inside after a lockout. He or she can also add to your home security by recommending and installing locks on doors, windows, mailboxes, garage doors and other vital security locations. From basic key cutting to video surveillance installation, a good residential locksmith is truly worth hiring. They can advise you on home security additions like high security locks, gun safes and keyless remotes. They can secure your door with a strong deadbolt and cut extra keys for your main door lock. If you own rentals, they can convert your locks to a master key system and save you time, money and hassle.

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What to do about car key stuck in ignition

Yes, it happens to the best of us! You hop in your car and plan on driving somewhere; it may be to work or to a nice planned dinner. Your mind is on your destination and what you will do once you get there. Alas; it is not to be! At least not this time, anyway! This is because your ignition key wouldn’t turn, or even come back out! It’s a frightening feeling knowing that you can’t start your car or even leave it and lock it! How can you? If you can’t remove the ignition key, how can you lock the door? Should you try and apply more pressure? If you apply just a little too much, your key might break off and then you’ve got more problems, like key extraction, new keys duplicated and programmed, and the all the time and expense those tasks bring you. Now you’ve got a headache!

It’s bad enough if the above scenario happens at home, but what if you are not at home? What then? It’s not like you can drive home and figure it all out; remember; you can’t even lock the car up! Our Dorchester Locksmith pros get calls like these all the time. Sure, you can call our technicians but what if you don’t live in the metro Dorchester, Massachusetts area? What then? Here’s what you do. Read this entire post and then just follow our advice! Can it be that simple? It sure is.

Start with these two steps

Don’t get too excited; we are not quite to the point where we get that key released! You may or may not need a locksmith but for sure you need to follow these next two steps. Here they are: 1) Relax and take a deep breath. By doing so, you will start to calm down a bit. It’s hard to do anything while being so wound up and stressed. Not only do you not think clearly, but you could make the situation worse by making irrational or wrong decisions. A clear head is needed right now and one easy way to attain this is to relax and take a few deep breaths. 2) You’ll want to apply the parking brake as soon as possible. At first thought, you are not going anywhere if the ignition key won’t turn or come out, so why on earth would you need to apply the parking brake? Here’s why. You will be trying a couple of things to see what the problem is and you don’t want the car rolling forward or backward during this time. The simple act of applying the parking brake can prevent accidents and even deaths so take that breath and put on that brake!

Now for the good stuff!

Are you ready to release that key? Try this first. Move the key back and forth gently to see if that releases it. If not, don’t force it! Try checking your gears and make double sure that you are in PARK and no other gear! Your car has a built-in safety mechanism that prevents the ignition key from being released if your car is not in the right gear. In this case, “almost” is not good enough! You have to be in PARK and not in NEUTRAL or DRIVE. Check now and see. (You did put the parking brake on, didn’t you?). Next….

Did that work? Is your ignition key released? If so, happy driving! If not, we need to move on to the next step. Try moving your steering wheel back and forth. Many times, steering wheels will lock up if too much pressure is applied to them. It’s so easy to lean a little too hard on the steering wheel while getting in or out of your car. This may cause the steering wheel to lock up and if it does, it also locks up the ignition, including the key. Many times our automotive locksmiths have been called for this very thing. Across the nation, AAA gets calls for ignition key/steering wheel lock ups all the time. Just apply a little pressure on the steering wheel and it will unlock. Be firm and move that steering wheel back and forth.

Battery check

Did that work? If not, your next step is to do a simple battery check. If your battery is drained, there won’t be sufficient power to allow the whole transponder key signal process to take place and neither your ignition nor your transponder key will work. Do a simple check to see if your headlights, radio or windshield wipers work. If they do, your battery is fine, if not, you’ve found your culprit.

Read more at: What to do about car key stuck in ignition

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