Protect Your Business from Break-Ins with Latch Guards

Jan 8, 2020 | Featured Product, Building Security

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Protecting your business from break-ins and burglary is a smart investment that pays off in more ways than one. Burglary incidents are common, and unfortunately, many businesses experience forced entries where thieves jam a crowbar between the door and frame to gain access. This method of break-in often causes severe damage, not only requiring door repairs or replacement but leading to high costs from stolen goods, lost productivity, and sometimes, a decline in tenant satisfaction and retention.

Frontline Defense’s new latch guard offers a proactive solution that stops these break-ins before they start, protecting your property and valuable assets. This latch guard is more than just a basic plate – it provides full door latch protection by covering the entire door opening, reinforcing it against prying tools. Business owners and property managers find the latch guard effective because it deters thieves and enhances safety, fostering a secure environment for employees and tenants.

When a break-in occurs, the costs quickly add up. Repairing doors and damaged frames can be expensive, and in many cases, the entire door needs to be replaced. What’s more, the cost of replacing stolen equipment, such as computers, cameras, and other essential items, can skyrocket. Beyond the initial replacement cost, downtime for repairs, asset replacement, and security upgrades can lead to significant business losses, which impact the bottom line. Even after security upgrades, it can take time for business owners and employees to regain confidence and feel secure again.

Frontline Defense’s latch guard is a powerful, cost-effective solution for these security concerns. With a focus on durability, these guards are designed to withstand high-impact force, helping deter burglars from even attempting entry. This latch guard not only keeps potential thieves out but also prevents property damage, saving businesses the hassle and expense of costly repairs. The latch guard provides full protection to the door latch, unlike partial plates that only cover the opening. Covering the entire latch area leaves no space for a crowbar to wedge in, dramatically reducing the risk of forced entry.

For property managers, these latch guards are also valuable because they can reduce tenant turnover. Tenants want to feel secure in their residences or workplaces, and knowing that their property managers have invested in high-quality security measures can significantly increase their satisfaction. This kind of visible, robust security can give tenants peace of mind, fostering a positive reputation and attracting reliable, long-term tenants.

Frontline Defense offers latch guards in various materials and finishes to suit your specific needs. Whether your building requires a sleek aluminum look or the strength of steel, these latch guards are customizable to match the aesthetics of your business. Available colors include classic finishes like aluminum/silver, white, brown, and black, and there are options for custom colors to ensure the latch guard complements your existing decor.

An additional benefit of the latch guard is its potential to reduce drafts around door frames. Many doors, particularly older ones, have small gaps where air can leak through, leading to higher heating and cooling costs. By sealing these gaps, the latch guard can enhance insulation, making your space more energy-efficient. This not only reduces operational costs but also makes your business more environmentally friendly, which is an added bonus for companies focused on sustainability.

Preventative security measures like latch guards are almost always less expensive than dealing with the aftermath of a break-in. Beyond the financial impact, break-ins can disrupt operations, causing downtime, security system overhauls, and even a loss of trust among clients or tenants. Proactive installation of a latch guard can make a major difference in business continuity and peace of mind. With an installation time of fewer than three hours, these latch guards can quickly be put into place, providing immediate protection and long-term benefits.

Taking action now with a latch guard is a wise choice for any business owner. Whether you manage a retail storefront, a commercial building, or a residential property, investing in security measures that prevent theft before it happens is invaluable. Our latch guards are specifically designed to protect your assets, reduce repair costs, and minimize disruptions that can hurt your bottom line.

Don’t wait for a break-in to expose vulnerabilities in your security. Contact us at (360) 696-4901 to learn more about how a latch guard can protect your property. In just three hours, you can gain peace of mind, knowing that your business or property is equipped to withstand attempts at forced entry. By investing in a latch guard, you’re making a smart, proactive choice that supports long-term business security and success.

5 Questions to Ask to Ensure You Hire Trusted Locksmiths

Jul 3, 2019 | Locksmith Services, Avoiding Locksmith Scams

5 Questions to Ask to Ensure You Hire Trusted Locksmiths

There are many reasons that you may need to hire a locksmith for your home or business. It might be an emergency situation – you’re locked out and misplaced your key – or maybe you want to upgrade your building’s security. Whatever the reason, it’s important to have a trusted locksmith you can call on in times of need. 

In most areas, there are many options for you to choose from, so how do you select the right one? Choosing the right locksmith is crucial; after all, the security of your home or business depends on it.

Many people, unfortunately, select their locksmiths based solely on the factor of cost. However, if you always opt for the lowest-priced services you can find, chances are you will not end up with a locksmith you can really trust. While you certainly shouldn’t be overpaying, there are a lot of factors that are more important to consider when putting your safety and security into the hands of a professional.

Here are five questions to ask to ensure you hire trusted locksmiths:

1. What Services Do You Offer?

Before you start to dig too deep into what makes the perfect locksmith, you should first find out what services your potential candidates offer. After all, you’re trying to see if they are trustworthy and a big part of that is experience and versatility. 

There are plenty of locksmiths out there who can get you back into a locked business, but chances are, at some point you’ll require other services as well. For example, you will occasionally want to change the locks on your doors, especially if there has recently been a security breach in your area. 

Also, find out if your potential locksmith offers rekeying services. If you lose a key, you will have to have it replaced and a reputable locksmith will be able to do this. They will also be able to repair damaged locks, improve security, and install safes and commercial locks.

2. Do You Belong to Any Professional Organizations? 

A trustworthy locksmith isn’t just someone who can come and unlock a door for you. The job is actually a very demanding one, requiring knowledge of mathematics, spatial perception, and excellent mechanical aptitude and hand-eye coordination. In addition to a great deal of technical proficiency, locksmiths must have a wide breadth of knowledge about the various types of locks and the latest technology and, perhaps most importantly, a commitment to the safety and security of clients. 

To ensure that any potential locksmith you might hire is committed to these things, check if they’re a member of any professional locksmith organizations. While it’s not an absolute necessity for trusted locksmiths to be members of organizations such as the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), being held to the standards of such a group will go a long way toward demonstrating that your potential locksmith is highly trained and always committed to increasing their knowledge.

Harry’s Key Service. Inc is an active member of the Building Industry Association of Clark County.

3. Do You Have Licenses and Insurance?

This one may seem obvious, but it is absolutely worth mentioning: always ask if your potential locksmith is insured. As locksmiths work with heavy equipment and specialized tools, it’s crucial that they take steps to protect your financial security if there is any sort of accident. Don’t be afraid to ask your potential locksmith any questions you can think of regarding their insurance. Make sure they’re covered in the case of injury or property damage. 

You’ll also want to verify that they have all the applicable licenses for your area; often, less-than-reputable locksmiths will attempt to operate without proper licensing and this should be an instant red flag. Proper licensing means that not only is your locksmith correctly trained, it also means this person will adhere to a stringent code of professional ethics. Check out our staff’s credentials and designations here.

4. How Will You Ensure My Security?

Your financial security is one thing, but you’ll also want to ask about your personal security. After all, locksmiths are in the business of safety, and you’ll want to make sure that they are absolutely committed. 

First, ask if they do background checks on their employees. It’s important that every member of their organization is trustworthy; needless to say, they should be properly screened before being hired and given access to your home and valuables. 

Check any references that the locksmith provides, as well. Don’t be afraid to call and ask past clients about the locksmith company. You’ll want to double check that previous clients have been satisfied, without any major issues pertaining to security. 

Lastly, you should ask what professional guarantees they offer. Trusted locksmiths will have no concerns about backing up their work with a guarantee, as they will be fully confident in the services they provide.

5. Where Are You Located?

After you’ve ensured that your potential locksmith is skilled, licensed, experienced, and committed to your security, you should start considering location. While it is, of course, better to choose a more trustworthy locksmith even if they’re farther away than a less reputable one, location is also important when it comes to key and lock services. After all, if you find yourself trapped outside late at night, the last thing you want is to wait an hour for your locksmith to arrive. 

Ideally, you’ll be able to select someone who is close enough that they can get to you quickly. For example, if you’re in the Greater Vancouver, Washington area or Portland Metro area, you’ll want to seek out the most highly trained professional locksmiths that serve that area. Harry’s Locksmith serves the Greater Vancouver area, Portland metro, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Washougal, Camas, Ridgefield, and more. Our service area extends throughout the Pacific Northwest’s I-5 Corridor. 

We offer residential, commercial, and automotive services, so all of your needs will be met without having to keep three different locksmiths on retainer for your home, business, and vehicle. We can assist you in a lockout, upgrade your building hardware to meet ADA standards, and provide any other security services you may need. Harry’s Locksmith is the pillar in the Vancouver community that you’ll want to find when looking for a trustworthy locksmith in your neighborhood.

Properly Securing a Building Starts with a Good Locksmith

May 23, 2018 | Commercial Locksmith, Building Security, Locksmith Services

Feeling safe at home and work is important. Unfortunately, many people assume they are secure without taking the proper steps to ensure that their house or place of business is truly properly secured.

Properly Securing a Building Starts with a Good LocksmithIt is easy to overlook certain aspects of securing a building and those oversights can lead to costly breaches. The good news is that, with the help of a good locksmith, areas that the lay-person would not give the proper attention to can be brought into focus and handled with the attention required.

By following certain steps with a good Vancouver locksmith the security desired when at home or work can be fairly easily acquired.

Change Your Locks

This may seem obvious to some, but it is often not considered by new homeowners or building managers. When moving into a new home or place of business, it is always a good idea to double check the state of the new building’s current locks. All the main entrances, such as the front and back doors, should have a secure deadbolt, ideally a double cylinder deadbolt. Check all windows, and skylights and make sure that they also have locks on them.

If moving into a new space that was previously owned by someone else, it is a good idea to get the locks changed. While the previous owners may have been honest in turning over all of the keys, they could have easily forgotten about a spare they once gave out.

If moving into a newly built home, many builders use construction locks during the building process. They often key the permanent locks shortly before the new homeowners move in. It’s best to not assume this was the case and to double check with the realtor. If this is the case, it is not necessary to change the locks. However, if the locks on the newly built home were often used by tradespeople, then it is a good idea to get these locks changed.

Changing locks doesn’t have to be expensive. Instead of replacing every single lock in the newly acquired building, get those locks rekeyed. A Vancouver locksmith can come to the home or place of business and change the locks so they can only be opened by a different set of keys. This is far cheaper and easier than replacing every single lock.

It also allows for the option to have all locks to be opened by one key, avoiding having to carry around a keychain with half a dozen keys.

Make a Plan

It is important to have a “security solution” in place that prevents anyone from walking into the property and damaging it, or making off with something that does not belong to them. In order for this to be effective, however, it is crucial to use the right locks so that the building’s security is not vulnerable.

There are some brands that security experts prefer over others, so taking the time to do the adequate research is imperative. If time for research is simply not available, a professional can provide the insight needed to make an informed decision.

It is also important to consider other factors where a professional locksmith can help ensure that a security investment is truly secure. If installed in the wrong way, if an incorrect lock is used, or if a lock is improperly maintained, there is an increased chance that the lock will be ineffective to intruders.

Light, Light, Light

Exterior lighting is important for anyone that wants to improve their security. Many burglars and criminals prefer to operate under the shroud of darkness. Therefore, if a property has poor exterior lighting it is more vulnerable to security breaches than a well-lit building. Lighting may sound like a decorative add-on, but it is an essential part of effective security solutions.

Consider Commercial Locks

The importance of commercial door locks cannot go unsaid. While the perimeter is the first point of access, the door’s locks are the cornerstone to any building’s security. If there are no door locks in place to bar access or grant access, then all the other aforementioned security measures will hardly be important.

There should be no mistake that commercial grade door locks are different than residential door locks, and any locksmith will tell you as much. Commercial grade door locks are built to last longer, due to the fact that they normally come into contact with more people. This means that they deal with much more foot traffic, which equates to more rotations and cycles by the door lock, so it has to be built to last much longer than regular house locks would.

Also, many commercial door locks have built-in measures that make it much more difficult for burglars and criminals to bypass. Many of these locks are anti-bump locks, as well as anti-pick and snap proof. In choosing your commercial door locks pay attention to the various access points. Remember that almost every access point will need a lock and this goes for offices, emergency exits and gates alike.

It is also important to take into account the medium that the lock is being used with, as well as the manner in which that particular access point is used. It is important to not use the wrong lock. While most doors, especially within an office-like environment, would be best suited to install grade one commercial locks, with some variation between the interior and exterior doors, this may not be the case for all doors and is another area where a professional locksmith’s expertise will prove invaluable.

Feel, and Be, Secure

Protecting a property can seem like an overwhelming task. However, with the help of a professional Vancouver locksmith, the key aspects to improving a building’s security can be addressed fairly quickly.

There is a difference between feeling safe and secure and actually being safe and secure and that difference can often be found in the time, care, and expert attention that has been paid to a building’s security, especially the locks.