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Toplocked

Locality: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 1300 553 945

Address: 1/12 Billabong St, Stafford 4053 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.toplock.com

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25.01.2022 Ive Lost My Letterbox Key, Is That An Issue? Apparently, the stealing of mail from letterboxes is an easy method of identity theft. But as that's not our field of expertise, I'll stick to commenting on locks and keys. Many of the simpler locks such as letterbox locks or filing cabinets have numbers stamped on the lock near the keyhole. Below is an example from a filing cabinet. The three numbers 513, are the depths of cut on the key for each of the three pins. Experienced lo...cksmiths can look at the keyhole and tell what the key profile is. So if the lock you have lost your key for has these numbers printed on it, youre in luck! That means you can take a photo with you into a locksmith and get them to cut a key for you on the spot, saving yourself the expense of a call-out fee to have them visit you at site. If it doesnt have any numbers on it, it is still worth taking a photo and sending it to your local locksmith and asking how they can help. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share things that we see in our local community daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicensedToLock

25.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #3 - Ensure there is a key control and accountability system in place. In particular ensure keys are kept in a secure location and there are records of who has each key. There are key cabinets and key control software that specialise in this. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

25.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #2 - Install a monitored alarm system (also known as back to base). This level of security comes for as little as $2 per day and provides very high levels of peace of mind, as your premises are being monitored 24/7. Like all technology, these systems are continually coming down in price and wireless and video systems exist these days that are very easy to retrofit to any location. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

25.01.2022 Don’t leave your house key under the mat, there are smarter options!! If you want to leave a key outside for pending visitors, don’t hide it somewhere you hope won’t be found, a much better option is to use a key safe. These are very robust boxes that have a combination lock on them. There are two primary types. The first has holes in the back of it and is mounted on to a wall with screws, these can only be unscrewed with the box open. The second type has a padlock shackle an...d so instead of mounting to a wall, is shackled to something fixed, such as a pipe or tap. The shackle can only be undone with the box open. They are extremely solid and sturdy metallic boxes with a 4 digit combination. Even if someone was to pull them off the wall or whatever they were shackled to, getting them open is a whole other problem. I have enough confidence in them that I have one at home. And I have had to call upon it on a few occasions!! Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

25.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #8 - Glass sliding doors are a common weak point exploited by criminals. These types of doors also have the ability to have an aftermarket patio bolt fitted, which adds security and strength to these style of doors. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

24.01.2022 Should I go with keyed alike or keyed to differ?? In an earlier article I explained how the use of pins inside the lock determines whether a key will turn the barrel and therefore open the lock. It is by changing these pins that then allows a locksmith to key locks alike, or key them to differ. Let’s start with a definition of those terms, keyed alike is used to describe multiple locks that are all opened by the same key. Keyed to differ describes when each lock has their own... individual key and no key opens any other lock. Before I got involved in locksmithing, I thought that to get my house rekeyed so that the old keys didn’t work, meant that I had to actually change the locks. So I never did it, which meant that I often walked around with a bunch of keys because the locks were all keyed to differ. But the beauty of being able to change the pins in locks and rekey them is it provides both security and functionality. So you could rekey every lock at home, know that old keys no longer work and you have just one key instead of a bunch of them. Or, you could do as I have done, I have all my house locks opened by one key and my gate locks opened by a different key, so I can give that key to anyone needing to access my property, but they can’t get into my house. The caveat here is that not all locks are able to be rekeyed, it depends if the locksmith can pull the cylinder out and change the pins. For example, padlocks can be purchased that can be rekeyed onto a house key, but the lower cost padlocks that you can buy in bulk can’t be rekeyed. Same with door locks, the very low cost locks often can’t be rekeyed. What also comes in very handy is that a locksmith can key a lock alike to a key you already have. So if you buy a new lock or padlock that is rekeyable and take it and your key into a locksmith, they can rekey it to that key. Which is lower in cost than getting the locksmith to come and visit you. Any questions just let me know, we typically can tell from a photo whether a lock is rekeyable. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! #LicencedToLock

24.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Be wary of some of the old style mortise locks (a picture of the key is shown below). These are fairly standardised locks that come in sets with a range of somewhere between 6 to 25 lock configurations. At the low end, there are only six key types that fit that lock, so there is a 1 in 6 chance that anyone elses key will fit your door. Thats pretty high risk compared with the more modern style locks and keys. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

24.01.2022 Thinking about buying a safe? Read this first.. Thinking about buying a low cost safe from Officeworks or Bunnings? It may not be as safe as you think, they are usually just a fire resistant box and can be opened in minutes. Our locksmiths can open many of them with a subtle blow in the right spot from a hammer, or by using a can opener. And buying a low cost safe is likely worse than doing nothing at all. Safes shout look in here for the real valuables!! and so if yo...u have a low cost safe, all you have done is stored your valuables in an easy place to find,without making it harder to actually take them. You would be better off hiding your valuables under the bed, at least that would make it harder for them to be found in the first place. It is a case of you get what you pay for and safes that provide a reasonable level of security start at somewhere around $300 and up. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

24.01.2022 Toplock Tips: The next eight Toplock Tips will cover areas that you might consider for improving your business or commercial security, these come from our experiences over the years of the most common security issues we see. Business Security Tip #1 - Install an appropriate high security, restricted key system. These are very pick resistant and you have complete control over who can make copies of keys. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

23.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Understanding the difference between a fire container and a safe. How heavy is the safe? If you can easily lift it, then it is only a fire container. Fire containers are made using thin folded sheet steel shell with a fire retardant filling which will protect your documents and valuables in the case of a fire, but is quite easy for a burglar to access with basic hand tools. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

23.01.2022 How secure are my sliding glass doors? Unfortunately, the short answer is that if they don’t have patio bolts installed on them, they’re not very secure at all! Glass doors are an easy target for criminals, as they can deal with the glass quietly and efficiently and then just reach inside and unlock the latch. To stop them dead in their tracks, install key lockable patio bolts, an example of which is shown in the image below. Patio bolts can be installed at the top or base of... the door and have a bolt which slides into either the door frame, or a mounting bracket. There are two types of patio bolts, key lockable and non-key lockable. Ensure you use the key lockable versions, these require a key to slide the bolt out of the locked position. If the non-key lockable version is used then you just have the same issue as with the latch on the door handle - the person can just reach inside and unlock the bolt. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

22.01.2022 What are thieves really interested in when they break into your house? Nathan our auto specialist was saying that with improved security in cars, they are significantly harder to break into and steal these days. It is actually easier to break into your house and take the car keys, then to break into your car. Thieves can get much more for your car then they can for your TV or other household items (and it’s easier to get it out of the house!) So when they break into your hous...e, it is high value, small items (including your car keys) they are looking for. Then, as if to reinforce that conversation, we had a call this weekend from someone who’s house had been broken into while they were away on holidays. They only took three things, the safe which wasn’t bolted down properly, the house keys and the car keys. One way to solve this is to have a good quality safe (that is properly bolted down) and keep your car and house keys in it, especially when you’re away. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. #LicencedToLock

22.01.2022 Make sure no one has keys that can open your property! Do you know who has a key to your home? Was it a rental property before you bought it? Is it a new property and your builder or contractor may still have a key? Have any of your kids lost (or given out their key to friends!)? If you’re not sure, then it is worth considering rekeying your locks. It is a relatively simple process to re-pin locks so they can be all keyed alike. The locksmith removes the barrel from the cylin...der and changes the pin configuration, with no need for a new lock or any parts, other than a few pins. So in addition to improving security by making sure any previous tenants or lost keys no longer work, you also have the convenience of having less keys to carry around and can ensure locks and keys suit. For example, external gates can be keyed separately to house locks, so you can give your mower man a key to get in the gate, but it won’t open the house. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

21.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Knowing the difference between a fire container and a safe. Are there bolt holes in the bottom? If there are bolt holes in the bottom then it is a security rated safe, these are put into the safe in the manufacturing process and are properly sealed so you can secure the safe to a suitable surface. Fire containers do not have bolt holes in the base so that they can maintain a longer time for their fire rating (usually a minimum of 2hrs). Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

21.01.2022 How do you know when a property lock needs replacing? This is a good visual example. Note how the handle has dropped. This is just wear and tear on the lock and the internal mechanism is starting to fail. We were out doing a rekey at this property for the property owner and fitted a new lock while we were there. No more labour was needed, we were doing a rekey on that lock anyway. We prefer to do preventative maintenance as it saves clients time and money.

21.01.2022 There are cheap safes and expensive safes and there really is a big difference between them. This is a picture of a safe that we opened by smacking it on the top with our hand to get it open. (the battery was located inside the safe and had gone flat giving the owner no way of opening it). He was horrified it was so easy to open. Our warning - Always invest in a good quality safe if you are serious about protecting your valuables. #LicencedToLock

20.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #5 - Knobset style locks are often not fitted correctly, meaning the locking function doesnt work as it should. They should always be installed by a qualified locksmith. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

20.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Choosing the correct container for your needs. It is simpler than you think - what do you want to store in it? If you only want to store paperwork and all you want is fire protection, then a fire container is all you need. We would recommend using an industry trusted brand like Chubb or Firemaster, as they are proven in the field. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

19.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #5 - Ensure all Fire and Exit doors are compliant with recent legislation. The legislation is very specific about how these doors should function and it is critical that they are maintained in accordance with requirements. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

19.01.2022 And the Silver Medal for the safest lock for my home goes to...? In a previous post we described the safest lock type on the market (integrip styles such as the Lockwood 355). This week we discuss the lock we rate second best. Why is the deadlatch style lock, such as the Lockwood 001 shown below, our second-best rated lock for general usage? It’s not quite as secure as the top rated lock, the 355. This is because the latch fits into the door frame to lock the door, rather t...han being enclosed in the strike such as the 355. However, it is still a very strong lock and difficult to force open. It has better functionality than a deadbolt (which came in 3rd), as it can be opened from the inside without needing to use the key. But it can still be deadlocked from the inside if desired, by locking with a key. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

19.01.2022 And the Bronze Medal for the safest lock for my home goes to...? In a previous post we described the safest lock type on the market (integrip styles such as the Lockwood 355). This post we discuss the deadbolt lock, which we rate third best. Although the bolt from the lock is stronger and more secure than the 001 deadlatch that came in second, it is far less functional. With a double cylinder deadbolt, it will have a key hole both inside and outside. So to open it from the ...inside needs a key and leads to a bad security habit of leaving a key in the lock on the inside. If it is a single cylinder deadbolt then it will have a turn snib on the inside to lock and unlock it, as shown in the image. In this case it is not possible to deadlock it, which means it can’t be opened from the inside. So it has reduced functionality over the other options and so ultimately we don’t believe it is quite as secure as the 001 deadlatch. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

19.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #4 - Low cost security screen doors and windows are not designed or built to keep determined people out, never leave your main door or window open and rely on the security screen for protection. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

18.01.2022 Toplock Tips: WARNING - New Qld legislation! Anyone who hires an unlicensed security provider to carry out lock or security related work, may face a fine exceeding $55,000 for a first offence and even imprisonment for second or subsequent offences. Make sure you use a locksmith rather than a handyman and they hold a Queensland Security Equipment Installer Licence, you can check at http://ed.gr/cbv1w. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

17.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Did you know that safes come with an insurance rating? This is the maximum payout your insurer will make for goods stolen from that safe. Effectively it is a reflection of how difficult it is to illegally remove the goods from that safe. The moral in that is before buying a safe, understand the value you might secure in it and buy appropriately. You wont get that level of expertise from somewhere like Officeworks, so we strongly recommend using an approved Locksmith. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

17.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #4 - Carry out annual maintenance on locks and other door hardware. The best security system falls down very quickly if a door closer isnt latching the door shut for example, or the lock is not configured for the door handles on each side to work correctly. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

17.01.2022 From one of our locksmiths - Sean Simmons. It is illegal to have a deadbolt installed on a fire door as they negate the function of the door to be self-latching and the hole is too big, taking too much of the fire retardant from the door. If your property is audited you will be asked to remove the deadbolt and in many cases you will be asked to replace the door. BUT Instead of replacing the whole door you can fit this fire rated filler plate in its place and you can still fit a dead latch. Cheaper and faster.

16.01.2022 Thinking about upgrading your home or business security? Uncertain whether Previous owners have dozens of copies of your keys in circulation? Eliminate the Risk now! With Toplocks newest Restricted keying system, Secure 6. Secure 6 was designed in Australia and is fully compatible for commercial locks. Secure 6 is a master keyed system you can rely on that has a registered design protection until 2030, which gives you peace of mind knowing your Secure 6 keys will never be created without your knowledge or approval. With 17 different colours key heads available you will be able to easily identify your keys.

16.01.2022 [Beware of Locksmith Scammers] They are now getting traction here in Brisbane. There are two companies that we know of and each offer really low - $39-$45 call out fees to get you in, more charges are always added once they are on site. This is a screen shot of the fine print from one of the scammers websites way down past where they show their cheap prices. Note how small and hard to read it is. So I have copied the text here for you to read: "This cost is a minimum estimate... for the respective job. The final cost will vary. It will depend on the security level of the lock system and type of door plus labor charges. Important Note: Unforseen complications may arise at the site, these changes may affect the price by way of labour or parts. In any circumstance, we reserve the right to explain the final price changes after the work has been done". Buyer beware. We have had to fix many jobs from these scammers where customers have already paid large amounts for work that was done incorrectly. Ask to see a security license of any locksmith attending at your home or business, as none of the scammers have a security license and they don't know what they are doing. Fair Trade are currently investigating.

15.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Double sliding doors are an increased security risk, by this were talking about where two sliding doors meet in the middle of the opening and latch together. These types of doors lend themselves to the two doors being slid together to one side of the opening, thus allowing access. Although it may not be apparent to you as to how to manage this, criminals know these tricks. The solution? Insert patio bolts (such as shown below) on the doors and make sure they are the type that are lockable by key. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

15.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #8 - Keep abreast of new technology which may benefit your business, on either of a security or efficiency basis. For example wireless access systems such as Salto and Salto KS allow you to unlock or lock all doors instantly from anywhere in the world using an app. Similarly, Videofied is a wireless remote monitoring system that easily allows to you monitor multiple locations without the need to run cabling. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

13.01.2022 Why won’t my key turn in the lock sometimes? (Yes it is frustrating!) Let me start by explaining how a lock and key works. There are 4 main components in a lock - (1) Cylinder; (2) Barrel; (3) Top Pins; and (4) Bottom Pins. As shown in the first image, there are two pins in every chamber and it is the location of those pins vertically that determines whether the key (and barrel) can be rotated. The key can be rotated only when the join between all top and bottom pins is at th...e same location as the join between the barrel and the cylinder (as per image above). This is called the shear line and allows the barrel to turn inside the cylinder. The second picture shows what happens when an incorrect key is used. Some of the pins sit at the wrong height (Pins 1 and 4 from the left) and so a shear line hasn’t been formed. So why won’t your key turn sometimes and what to do about it? With worn keys or poorly cut keys, the pins are not lifted to the right height. If the key is pushed too far into the lock, or not far enough, then the pins are not lifted to the right height. In both cases the shear line is not formed. These two issues can be fixed by ensuring you get keys cut at a professional locksmith, instead of somewhere with no locksmith training, such as Mr Minute or Bunnings. The other primary cause is poor quality locks, such as cheap Chinese products. When it comes to locks, you do get what you pay for!! Low quality locks have less accuracy in the length of the pins, the diameters of the chambers and pins, etc. This allows the pins to move more within the chambers and means that sometimes, even when the right key is used, a shear line is not formed as it only takes one pin to be slightly out and the key won’t turn. This can be fixed by installing a new and better quality lock, such as Lockwood, Brava, Carbine, Karba or Gainsborough. I hope that helps! Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

13.01.2022 [Who do you trust with your Security] Mitch gives warning about shonky locksmith getting around Brisbane. http://ed.gr/cbqko

13.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Heard of bumping? It is a method of picking locks commonly used overseas that is easier and quicker than the traditional methods. Were not going to explain exactly how it works, as our aim is to negate bumping rather than spreading it. However, there are lock and key options which cannot be bumped, such as the Galaxy key system as shown below. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

13.01.2022 Did you know that door latches have a dead lock pin that has a function of stopping the door from being shimmed open. If the lock has not been fitted correctly, then this function is rendered useless and the lock is easily broken into.

12.01.2022 This is the first article written in response to a question from a customer on our email list. Feel free to send any questions in and hopefully we can answer them! Apparently, the stealing of mail from letterboxes is a very easy method of identity theft. But that is not our field of expertise, so I will stick to commenting on locks and keys. Many of the simpler locks such as letterbox locks or filing cabinets have numbers stamped on the lock near the keyhole. Below is an exam...ple from a filing cabinet. The three numbers 513, are the depths of cut on the key for each of the three pins. Experienced locksmiths can look at the keyhole, or a photo of it and tell what the key profile is. So if the lock you have lost your key for has these numbers printed on it, youre in luck! That means you can take a photo with you into a locksmith and get them to cut a key for you on the spot, saving yourself the expense of a call-out fee to have them visit you at site. If it doesnt have any numbers on it, it is still worth taking a photo and sending it to your local locksmith and asking how they can help. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! #LicencedToLock

12.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #2 - Think about a restricted key system for your residence. The key benefits of these systems are that keys cant be copied without your authorisation and theyre much more pick proof than conventional locks, making them harder to be broken into. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

11.01.2022 [Ensure your safe is bolted to the floor]. We were called out to change the locks after this house had been broken into. The thieves took the car keys and tried to take the safe as it wasn't bolted to the floor. They managed to get it to the curb but it was luckily too heavy to lift into their get away vehicle so they left it. But this highlights the importance of bolting it to the floor. #LicencedToLock

10.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #6 - All windows that you wish to leave open should have locks installed with the ability to lock in a partial open position in addition to the fully closed position. They should not be open any more than a closed fist whilst in the locked open position. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

10.01.2022 What dictates whether a key will open my lock and how hard my lock is to pick? So there are two things that dictate whether a key will open your lock or not - they are the key profile and the cut profile. The key profile is the shape of the key as you look at it from the end of the key, as shown on the left of the photo. This dictates whether the key will fit into the lock or not and there are thousands of different key profiles. The cut profile is the series of peaks and tro...ughs in the key when viewed side on, as shown on the right of the image. It is the troughs that force the pins in the lock to the right height, which then allows the lock to open. Counting the number of troughs will tell you how many pins there are in your lock. The key below is for a 5 pin lock, which is standard for door locks, the better door locks will be 6 pins. Items such as filing cabinets are often only 3 pins. This indicates how hard the lock will be to pick, the more pins, the harder it is for the person picking to get them all lined up correctly, so as to be able to turn the lock. Also, the more variation in height from one cut to the next, the harder it is for the person picking to get the variation in pin heights required. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

09.01.2022 An example of how easily criminals can ruin your life! I wanted to take the opportunity to share an event that happened this week for one of our customers that is a great learning opportunity for everyone. Bill (not his real name) caught a ferry over to one of the islands for the weekend and left his car in the ferry terminal car park. Thieves smashed a window to break into it overnight. Inside the car they found a garage remote and so then went looking for any documentation ...in the car (such as your log books) that listed the home address. Bingo! So they took the remote, easily entered Bill’s home through the garage and then stole goods and to really rub things in, drove off for a joy ride in his much better and much loved car that was at home in the garage. It is easy to have something in your car that indicates where you live, so a great starting point is never leaving a garage remote in your car. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

09.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #3 - Install double cylinder deadbolts or deadlatches on your doors. This will not only strengthen the door/lock combination, but will also mean that you can lock the door from the inside and outside so it cant be used for exiting premises. This will limit theft of items too large to be taken out through a window. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

08.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Understanding the difference between a fire container and a safe (continued). How heavy is the safe? A security rated safe is quite heavy and generally will need 2 or more people to lift (depending on the size), they are manufactured using 3mm or thicker plate steel and fire rated safes are filled with a heavier grade fire retardant material, keeping your documents and valuables safe from fire AND criminals. Stands to reason really they should be heavy, you dont want the criminal to be able to pick it up and just walk away. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

08.01.2022 My Crimsafe Is On a Different Key To My Other Doors, Can I Fix That?! Another question from a reader, who has different keys for their Crimsafe screens to their other doors in their house and can it be fixed? In most cases the answer is yes. Crimsafe doors come with Euro cylinders as part of the lock and any locksmith can just swap these out and put in new cylinders which are keyed alike to the other doors in your house. The exception being what we describe as cheap chinese ...locks, if you have these on your other doors then the Crimsafe the new Euro cylinders may not be able to be keyed to those locks. Send a photo to your locksmith and they will be able to tell you. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicensedToLock

08.01.2022 If You Have A Gainsborough Tri-Lock On Your Front Door, You May Not Be Locking It Securely! We commonly come across Gainsborough Tri-Locks (pictured below) with the owners not locking them securely and so leaving themselves very exposed to break-ins. There is a trap in that they are not locked correctly unless you have locked them using the key. Please watch the video below for a better understanding. http://ed.gr/cbqcg... Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicensedToLock

07.01.2022 Professional Locksmiths should show you their security providers license before you let them onto your property. This is something I am also passionate about as there are so many people out there masquerading as a locksmith that have not done the proper training and do not have the proper security licenses. Don't let anyone on your property that you don't trust with your security. http://ed.gr/cbqkp

06.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Knowing the difference between a fire container and a safe. Does it have a security/insurance/cash rating? No? Then it definitely is not a security safe, all safes that are rated to hold cash or anything of monetary value must go through testing to earn their rating. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

06.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Patio bolts (locking bolts which are located at the top or bottom of doors and slide up or down into the door frame) come in two types. Lockable by key, or those purely just with the slide action. Invest a little more if installing them and go for the key type which means criminals cant get in our out via that door. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

06.01.2022 Why won’t my key turn in the lock sometimes? (Yes it is frustrating!) There are 4 main components in a lock - (1) Cylinder; (2) Barrel; (3) Top Pins; and (4) Bottom Pins as shown in the image attached. There are two pins in every chamber and the key can only be rotated when the join between all top and bottom pins is at the same location as the join between the barrel and the cylinder. This is called the shear line. So why won’t your key turn sometimes and what to do about it...? With worn or poorly cut keys, of if the key is pushed too far into the lock, or not far enough, then the pins are not lifted to the right height. These two issues can be fixed by ensuring you get keys cut at a professional locksmith, instead of somewhere such as Mr Minute or Bunnings. The other cause is poor quality locks, such as cheap Chinese products. Low quality locks have less accuracy in the length and diameters of components. This allows the pins to move more within the chambers and even when the right key is used, a shear line is not formed. This can be fixed by installing a new and better quality lock, such as Lockwood or Brava. We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

06.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #1 - get your locks rekeyed, that way all keys by past residents no longer work and you dont need to worry about who has keys to your house. This does not require new locks, a locksmith can just open up your existing locks and re-pin them. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

05.01.2022 I only have one key for my car, what will it cost me if I lose it? Automotive car keys can be cloned (copied) if you have an existing car key, but if you only have one car key and lose that, then a new key has to be originated from scratch. This can be a timely and expensive process! The typical price range to clone a spare key is $150 to $250. The typical price range to originate a new car key is $400 to $5,000. If you drive any Toyota that is later than about 2010, then you... are looking at the higher end of that range for an originated key. If you drive any of the European cars such as VW, Audi, Volvo, etc. then an originated key will come at a very high cost. And if you have a Ford model later than about 2007, then you need to introduce two new keys to the car rather than one, so would be up for at least $700. So if you only have one key for your car, it may well be worth reducing your risk by ensuring you have a spare. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

05.01.2022 Passage Set? Privacy Set? Let's demystify lock functions. Some background understanding of lock functions can come in handy. One example of this is when looking at the features of new locks and it has a feature of being able to place the lock into passage mode. What is passage mode? This post weve created a video to explain the differences. The link is below and please let us know if it doesnt work.... http://ed.gr/cbqci Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicensedToLock

04.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #7 - Electronic access systems (swipe cards) not only provide a very high security system, but they also provide a full audit trail of access to and from any particular areas. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

04.01.2022 What is the safest lock for my home? Ever wondered what are the best locks for sale to keep your home secure? Below are Toplock’s preferences based on our technician's experience in the real world. Top 3 Residential locks:... 1. Intergrip style lock. Ie. Lockwood 355 2. Deadlatch. Ie. Lockwood 001 3. Deadbolt. Ie. Carbine ALB4011A So why is an intergrip style lock, such as the Lockwood 355 shown below, our number one rated lock for general usage? The bolt from the lock is actually captured inside the strike (the part that bolts onto the door frame). This is much more difficult to force open because the bolt is surrounded by the strike, as distinct to a normal deadbolt where the bolt sticks into the door frame and can be potentially levered out. It is also more functional as you can open it from the inside without needing a key as it has a door handle. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

03.01.2022 Toplock Tips: The photo below is of my office key - yes that small white sticker on the back of the phone. The product is called Salto and is electronic access, which is your standard swipe card that you hold against a reader to open the lock. However, there are two really cool things about it, firstly, it is wireless so it is easily and inexpensively retrofitted to any door without the need to run expensive cabling. Secondly there are numerous options for opening the lock, such as a sticker that can be placed anywhere. For example, on the inside of your watch and it will still work. Never leave your key at home again! Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

03.01.2022 Should I go with keyed alike or keyed to differ?? Let’s start with a definition, keyed alike are multiple locks that are all opened by the same key. Keyed to differ describes when each lock has their own individual key and no key opens any other lock. Before I got involved in locksmithing, I thought that to get my house rekeyed so that the old keys didn’t work, meant that I had to actually change the locks. So I never did it, which meant that I often walked around with a bunc...h of keys because the locks were all keyed to differ. But the beauty of being able to change the pins in locks and rekey them is it provides both security and functionality. So you could rekey every lock at home, know that old keys no longer work and you have just one key instead of a bunch of them. Or, you could do as I have done, I have all my house locks opened by one key and my gate locks opened by a different key, so I can give that key to anyone needing to access my property, but they can’t get into my house. What is also handy is that a locksmith can key a lock alike to a key you already have. So if you buy a new lock or padlock that is rekeyable and take it and your key into a locksmith, they can rekey it to that key. Which costs less than getting the locksmith to come and visit you.

02.01.2022 We have had many home rekey jobs lately keeping our locksmiths busy after properties had been broken into. This house had louvres beside the front door. The thieves slipped out one of the lourves and then opened the door. The deadbolt had not been locked making it easy for them to just open the door and walk in. We are finding that the thieves are taking car keys as a first preference these days and in this instance they took a Dyson vacuum and Dyson fan. We rekeyed the ho...use and also recommended that the louvers be replaced with glass or a timber panel for added security. It is important to ensure that the security in your house is just that bit better than your neighbours house so thieves will go elsewhere to an easier option. #LicensedToLock

02.01.2022 What do the numbers on your key mean? And should you do anything about it? Many original keys that come with your new lock are stamped with a set of numbers. In most cases it will be 5 or 6 digits stamped on the head of the key, as shown in the image below. These are actually the cut codes for your lock! Which means that a key can be reproduced using those numbers that will open your look. There are two things you can do to improve your security: Your local professional locks...mith can replace these keys with unmarked replacement keys, or You could have your house rekeyed on to a new key so those stamped keys no longer work. This would also allow you to key all your locks alike so you only have one key if that is currently not the case. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!! We believe safety and security should always be top of mind. We want to share with you things that we see out in our local Brisbane communities daily, where people are compromising their safety. These are simple tips on better ways to protect you and your family. #LicencedToLock

02.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Home Security Tip #7 - Dont leave a spare key hidden somewhere outdoors, it is likely to be found if someone looks hard enough and there are smarter options. A key box to hold that spare key can be installed on your house exterior, these are very solid and opened only by use of a PIN. Particularly useful if you have teenagers, or need to let others such as tradesman into your residence. Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!

02.01.2022 Toplock Tips: Business Security Tip #6 - Eradicate poor crime prevention behaviours or procedures. So for example rear doors being used for shortcuts, or doors wedged open by employees to make it easier for them to access for a smoke break. As with poor maintenance, poor behaviours can easily render a security system inadequate. Affordable stand alone kits are available to alert if the door is left open for too long (similar to fridge door). Make it hard for them - never give a criminal an even break!!