​A couple of months ago, I fitted an Ultion Diamond Rated TS007 Security Euro Cylinder for a customer in Milton Keynes who was looking to upgrade her home security.  There had been a couple of break-ins in the village and my customer was concerned that her current level of security might not offer her an adequate level of protection.  The criminals had been carrying out cylinder-snapping as a means of gaining entry to properties.  This is a popular method for thieves but luckily there are steps you can take to protect your property and these are outlined in another of my blog posts – How to prevent cylinder snapping.    
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The cylinder I fitted foiled an attempted break-in at the property and my customer was of course, very pleased with her decision to upgrade her security but then sadly she had a fall within her home and the fire brigade had to make a welfare call and gain access to the property.  Despite their best efforts, the cylinder proved just too tough for them and they had to move to another door and remove a panel in order to gain access.

Fortunately, my customer is now fully recovered and sent me some photos of the cylinder after the fire brigade had done their very best to open it.  She just could not believe that not only did it beat the burglars but also beat the fire brigade too!  It led me to pose the question – can a property ever be too secure?  What do you think?

If you have any concerns regarding your home security or would like a FREE security survey to discuss the options available, please contact us at Errington Locksmiths in Milton Keynes.  

One of the worst things about being a locksmith in Milton Keynes is the fact that I am often called out to assist the victims of a break-in.  I decided to write this blog to offer some practical advice to all those that find themselves in this situation.


Of course, prevention is always better than cure so if you would like a FREE security survey to address any of your current security concerns, please get in touch with our friendly and experienced locksmiths in Milton Keynes who are always happy to help and advise you.  You may also wish to read some of our previous blogs to help you assess your home security:

Cylinder Snapping
The benefits of upgrading your front door
Why you should consider installing or upgrading a burglar alarm

If you find yourself the victim of a break-in, the first thing you should do is call the police and be sure not to touch anything.  The police will want to check the crime scene for any evidence. 

You may have to wait a while for the police to arrive.  During this time write down everything that you can remember such as the time you first noticed the break-in or the time you went to bed if the break-in happened during the night.  You may not think this is important but it is amazing how many details we can forget during a period of stress. 

Take photos of where items have been taken from and how the thieves gained entry to the property.  These photos can help you when you later talk to the police and insurance companies. 

After talking with the police, you will need to file a police report.  You should then contact your insurance company (if you haven’t already done so) who will ask for specific information from the police report. 

If you have noticed that keys have been stolen then locks should be replaced. When replacing your locks, you may want to consider patented locks that can’t be copied.  Your local MK locksmiths can provide you with more information about these. 

Make sure you check to see if any documents have been stolen.  Replacing these can often be one of the most frustrating and time consuming aspects of a break-in.  If your driving licence has been stolen you should report it and organise a replacement.  If your passport has been stolen, you will need to report this immediately also.  Any travel passes and/or tickets should be reported stolen to the issuing travel companies. 

If you notice that a mobile phone has been stolen, you should report the theft to your network provider who may ask for an IMEI number.  If you have a tracking app on any electrical devices, inform the police but don’t follow up any information on your own. 

One of the most frustrating and difficult aspects of a burglary can be cancelling and replacing important documents and electronic devices. In Milton Keynes our locksmiths are supplying and installing safes at an increasing rate and we would be delighted to discuss the various options with you. 

Burglary can have a huge emotional impact and this should not be underestimated.  In the short term, make sure that you get in touch with family and friends so that they can support you.  If you have children, you may find that you are supporting them and forget to look after yourself.  In the longer term, victim support groups can be a great source of comfort and support. 
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If you require any more information or advice, please contact our friendly, experienced and professional locksmiths in MK today.  

Milton Keynes was built for growth so it’s not surprising that the MK population continues to grow on a daily basis.  As a locksmith working in Milton Keynes, I am often called out by the new owners of a property to assess their security so here is my list of the top ten security issues to consider when moving house in Milton Keynes:

1: Lock Replacement:  When moving into a new property, I would always advise new owners to replace all of the locks in their house.  Our Milton Keynes locksmiths can replace locks quickly and easily and this provides great peace of mind as you never really know who may still have the keys to your property once you have moved in. 

2:  Intruder Alarm Systems:  Many new owners inherit an alarm system and codes.  I would always advise changing the code to your alarm immediately because just as with the keys to your property, can you really be sure just who has had access to the alarm code in the past?  It is also worth checking the age of your existing alarm system.  Our Milton Keynes locksmiths install wireless intruder alarm systems that link to your mobile phone and can control your home security from anywhere in the world.  Read our previous blogs explaining the benefits a smart security system can bring and why you should consider installing or upgrading a burglar alarm. 

3:  CCTV:  If you move into a property with a CCTV system already installed, it may be worth discussing the effectiveness of the existing system with one of our experienced locksmiths in Milton Keynes.  Are the cameras installed in the best positions for example?  Would it be beneficial to install more cameras?  New CCTV systems can link via an app to your mobile phone and help you to manage your home security from anywhere in the world.  CCTV systems can help to safeguard items inside the property but also those left outside too.  Our experienced locksmiths in Milton Keynes would be happy to discuss how CCTV systems could help to protect your property. 

4:  New Doors and Windows:  If you are considering lock replacement for your windows and doors, it may also be worth considering whether your existing windows and doors are in need of replacing.  New windows and doors can enhance not only the security of your property but also the appearance and energy efficiency too.  Our competitively priced locksmiths in Milton Keynes would be happy to provide you with a free security survey in order for you to assess how secure your existing doors and windows are.  See also our previous blog outlining the benefits of upgrading your front door. 

5:  Home Contents Insurance:  I would always advise checking your home insurance to make sure that it still meets the requirements of you and your family.  Extra security features can help to bring the price of a policy down so it is always worth discussing your existing home security with your current insurance providers.  Also check for any stipulations in the policy such as the standard of locks that should be installed.  Our MK locksmiths supply and install a range of British Standard and Insurance approved locks and would be happy to discuss and demonstrate these to you. 

6:  Garages and Outbuildings:  It can be easy just to focus on the new home but remember that garages and outbuildings such as sheds can also be a prime target for thieves.  In Milton Keynes, our fully trained locksmiths can provide a free whole site survey to highlight any weak security areas in your property and advise you on how to address any issues that arise.

7:  Speak to your neighbours:  Your neighbours will be a great source of knowledge about security in the local area.  Have there been any burglaries or thefts?  How have the thieves accessed the properties?  Cylinder snapping is a popular way for thieves to gain access to your home.  See our previous blog explaining cylinder snapping and how to prevent it.  Perhaps there has been a spate of vehicle crime?  This knowledge can help you to decide which areas of security need addressing in your new home.  Our locksmiths in Milton Keynes can advise you on how to tackle your security concerns and beat the burglar. 

8:  Safe Installation:  Moving house may provide an opportunity for you to consider installing a safe.  Safes come in all different shapes and sizes and can be installed by our Milton Keynes locksmiths at a very competitive price.  Remember a safe should be securely fixed to a solid surface.  

9: Try to hide the move:  Unfortunately, unoccupied properties or properties that are preparing for a move can often be targeted by thieves.  Try to leave curtains up until the last minute and make sure that boxes are not in plain view of windows and doors.  I would suggest making security at the new property a priority.  Our MK locksmiths offer a 24hr emergency service so please contact them to book a security survey. 

10:  Enjoy your new home in Milton Keynes:  Milton Keynes is a fantastic place to live!  Enjoy the open spaces (almost two fifths of Milton Keynes is open space) and the shoreline (according to an article published in The Guardian, we have more than the whole island of Jersey).  Also enjoy the countless things available to do in MK such as indoor skiing, skydiving and shopping!   

We really hope you enjoy your new home in Milton Keynes.  If our MK locksmiths can help with any aspect of your home security, please contact us at Errington Locksmiths.  

I have said before that the most difficult part of my job is when I am called to a property that has suffered a break-in.  Fortunately, security products on the market today are making it more and more difficult for would be burglars to gain access to properties but one method of entering a property is still on the rise – “Cylinder Snapping” – often also known as “Lock Snapping.”

Cylinder snapping is a popular method for burglars because it is easy, quick and relatively quiet.  Frustratingly, the tools required to snap a cylinder are also widely available online.  It can be used on any property (commercial or domestic) where there is a Euro cylinder in the door.  Our website has lots of information regarding the different types of lock available for commercial and domestic doors should you require any further information.  If the Euro cylinder is protruding from the door then burglars can simply snap the cylinder and gain access to the lock.  It can then take seconds to manipulate the lock until the door opens. Usually, the more of the cylinder that is accessible to the burglar, then the easier it is to snap. 

Fortunately, there is a solution to the horrible trend of cylinder snapping.  Fitting an anti-snap cylinder to your existing door will prevent a would-be thief from using this method.  It is important that an anti-snap lock is fitted correctly, ideally by a professional locksmith.  It should be flush with the handle so that the cylinder itself is inaccessible to tools designed to snap it and meet existing British Standards regulations.   
   
Errington Locksmiths in Milton Keynes offer a FREE SITE SURVEY and would be happy to advise you as to whether or not your existing locks are vulnerable to this type of attack.  

Although it seems obvious to me, I am often shocked by the number of people who ask me what I do or assume that a locksmith just lets people back into their houses when they are locked out!  I’m sure lots of locksmiths both in Milton Keynes and outside of MK would agree that our jobs would be a lot simpler if locks outs were all we had to worry about.  I have written this post to give an insight into a typical day for a Milton Keynes locksmith …

My day would usually start around 8:30 but today I was woken up around 6:15 by a London commuter, living in Bletchley, who was unable to secure her front door when leaving for work that morning.  Fortunately, I am a locksmith based in South Milton Keynes so I was able to get over to Bletchley within 30 minutes.  The fault with the door turned out to be a failed UPVC multipoint lock that I was able to replace there and then.  Hopefully, my customer was able to travel down to London from MK and not be too late for work. 

I was hoping to nip home to South Milton Keynes after that for a quick spot of breakfast when I received a phone call from a professional dog walker who had accidentally become locked out after leaving her bunch of keys in a client’s house!  Conscious that a lot of pups in MK would be expecting their early morning walk, I made my way across Milton Keynes to open the door for her.  Fortunately, she had just pulled the door shut behind her so her keys were retrieved within minutes.  After meeting this lady and some of her pups, a career change from locksmith to dog walker was considered before I made my way home for some breakfast.

Next stop for this MK locksmith was a 9AM appointment with a customer in Olney where I spent the morning installing a smart alarm system.  Smart alarm systems are becoming more and more popular in Milton Keynes as people become more aware of their benefits.  See my previous blogs for more information:

Is a smart security system really a smart investment?
The benefits of installing or upgrading an intruder alarm

I had then planned to meet another MK locksmith for lunch but during the alarm installation in Olney, I had received emails from a couple of letting agents based in Milton Keynes asking me to attend properties in MK and carry out lock changes.  Luckily for me, the properties weren’t too far apart as I can often find myself driving from one end of Milton Keynes to the other carrying out locksmith work.

Managed to grab a sandwich and then made my way over to a school in North Milton Keynes that had booked a free site survey with me.  The finance office in the school required a new safe, so I discussed various options with the office manager before measuring up so that I could prepare a quote for them.  Most of my safe work in Milton Keynes still comes from commercial clients but I am finding that safes are also growing in popularity for residential customers in MK.  A recent customer of mine  commented that a safe teamed with a smart alarm system gave her added peace of mind that should an intruder get into her home, she would be alerted and able to act before the would-be thief had a chance to access the safe. 

Planned to then head back to the office and prepare my quote for the school when I was asked to attend a property in Central Milton Keynes with the police.  The owners were away and thieves had broken the handle off of the back door before snapping the cylinder to gain entry.  I replaced the cylinder with a break-secure version and replaced the damaged handles.  Attending break-ins tends to be the worst part of my job and I am always happy to advise customers on measures they can take to make their home more secure.  Please see my previous blog posts for more information:

Keeping your home secure this Christmas
Securing your home
How to secure your garage

If you have any further questions, please contact our Milton Keynes locksmiths.

I then managed to get home to spend some time with the kids before dinner.  Tried to tell them about my day but not sure they were very interested.  Perhaps I should get them to read this blog instead!