Home and Office Security Blog

In Toronto we ignore door closers. They just work. We look at door operators with suspicion. It is the operator that opens the door when you push a button and it doesn’t always work when we want it to. An electric motor takes a second to power up, then slowly opens the door allowing you to walk, gingerly, through the opening.

Installing an operator is a big deal. Imagine installing one on the front door of your home. You need a locksmith with special equipment to install the door operator, and an electrician to bring power to the unit. Before either can take out a screwdriver you need an architect to tell you if the wall above the door can support the hefty weight of the operator that is as wide as the door and sometimes heavier!

The front door of your home will probably require the services of a contractor to build the support for the monster door operator.

If only we could install a door opener the same way we install a door closer. Automatic door closers are installed by locksmiths only. Just about any door can support a door closer why not an opener? It’s the same thing only backwards right?

That is the concept behind the ADA EZ door opener/closer. Just about any door that can support a door closer can also support this door opener.

What about power?

With any door most people push or pull the door open. The ADA EZ uses this normal activity to provide the power. No electrician needed.

Who uses ADA EZ?

Anyone who would normally have trouble opening the door. As long as it is less than 1 out of 5 people the device powers itself.

Spadina Security is very happy to be offering this outstanding, new, made in Canada product.

Buy Now

Locksmiths use plain English words to describe things. Dead-bolt. Door Closer. Not too difficult to understand.

That doesn’t mean that the products we install are simple. A deadbolt is composed of four or more essential parts and a door closer can have three cylinders each containing a spring and hydraulic oil. These are machines designed to work continuously, year round, for many, many years.

So it is not often that we see innovation or even an evolution in the products we install.

Norton Door Controls, (often referred to simply as Norton) has been manufacturing door closers since 1880. Today, they offer us an innovation.

The problem with door closers is that they close the door - even if someone is standing in the way. Little old ladies and little old men (and even me!) get hit by the door while we slowly make our way through the opening.

Norton’s Safe Zone® door closer is smarter. It holds the door open while we shuffle past, then it closes the door.

Good work Norton.

Common sense has to start somewhere. Professional advice is a good place to start.

Locksmiths often say “Never give out your keys”. This is reasonable advice. First, you might not get them back! Second they might be copied even if you do get them back.

As a locksmith, I am familiar with the various techniques and skills required to manufacture locks and keys. There are several ways to steal keys.

A key is number, (such as 32596) physically encoded by cuts that match the code of a lock, physically encoded by pins. Once the details of a key are known, it becomes a simple thing to make a copy of that key.

Method 1: Duplication
Most of us are familiar with this method of copying a key. You take one copy of a working key to a key cutter, who uses a tracing machine to make a duplicate. The key cutter does not ask for ID or if we have permission to make a copy of the key. In about ten minutes anyone can copy your common keys.

Method 2: Cut by Code
Take your keys out and look for a code stamped on them. Smaller keys have a letter and three numbers (W101). House keys have five or six numbers stamped on the key (32596). This is the code that operates the lock. This code, combined with the keyway (also engraved on the key), will allow a locksmith create a working key from scratch. Again, no ID or permission is needed. Since this is not a registered key the locksmith has no way to check ownership of the key. Anyone who gets a chance to look at your keys can make a copy from this information. (Copies don’t usually have the code stamped on the key.)

Method 3: Matlock
The famous TV lawyer once showed me how to steal a key. He took some silly putty and flattened it out. Then he took someone’s key and made an impression in the silly putty. This is a quick and easy way to copy a key. Anyone who handles your key for more than a few seconds can steal your key information to make a copy by code.

New, registered keys are available. These keys are never copied. You, the owner of the lock, can make additional keys using a key order card and showing ID to the locksmith who installed the lock. Insurance companies like this style of key. They are very difficult to copy.

There is a lot of information on www.SpadinaSecurity.com about the evolution of keys and how important it is to make sure you have registered keys for your home and office. What makes modern keys so important is that it has become easy for burglars and robbers to gain entry with the old style of keys.

We stopped using the barrel style key when skeleton keys become available. Now we recommend upgrading your keys to Mul-T-Lock registered keys. These keys cannot be cut at the corner store for $2.00. They are much stronger so they do not break as often. They are double sided which means you can have your office key on one side and your home key on the other side. They are colour coded so you know which key is which. They have ten cuts instead of five which makes the lock harder to pick. Only you can get more keys!

Ordering keys is simple with the key order card and impossible without it. Do not lose this card.

As a locksmith in Toronto my job is to reduce the number of keys in your pocket.

One Toronto property manager customer of mine has one Synerkey that opens 28 buildings. All the locks and the card access on the front door of some of the buildings. I consider this a success.

The first question that comes up when one key opens so many locks is what happens if it is lost or stolen. There are two safeguards in place. First, the key is a Mul-T-Lock 3-in-1. That means that if the key is lost or stolen all the locks can be rekeyed in a short period of time at little or no cost. Second, the access card in the head of the key is a true access card. We can turn that one card off if it is lost. The lost key is deactivated.

Another way I help you reduce the number of keys in your pocket is by installing keyless locks. Card access is one example of a keyless lock. A proximity card or fob is used instead of a key. This card can be left in your purse or wallet as it only has to get close to the reader to unlock the door.

I also install biometric locks, where your finger print can be your key, and code locks. Code locks have become very interesting over the last two years with new and innovative products hitting the market. Such as the inTouch by Yale. It features a touch screen to enter the code and program the lock.

Some products that I have been installing for years also allow entry without a key. Enterphones for example, often have a keyless code option. I don’t always turn it on for security reasons but it can be a valuable tool for a property manager with a number of buildings in his or her portfolio.

The Yale inTouch keyless lockset is now available in Toronto from Spadina Security. This is an exciting new product that offers durability and robust features not found anywhere else. Unique to the inTouch is the voice guided instructions. Available in English, French and Spanish the lock will guide you through the steps needed to program a new code or turn on and off various features.

The sleek design makes it a welcome addition to any door in Toronto.

Features include:
-User friendly electronics
-Voice guided programming
-Certified ANSI Grade 2
-ULC listed for use on fire rated doors
-ADA compliant levers
-Weather resistant
-Three year warrantee

That last feature is most impressive to a locksmith. Some of the electronic locks we see on the market today only offer only a one year warranty on the electronic portion of the lock. More info

When you are working with a locksmith communication is key. The new Toronto Locksmith app for the iPhone makes communication simple.

We all have a lock on our door. There are tens of thousands different locks in various finishes, back sets and functions. To be able to identify your lock you really have to go to school and become a locksmith. So when your lock needs service how do you explain to your locksmith what type of lock you have?

Most of our customers tell us, “It’s just a normal lock.”

Locksmiths get to help people everyday. We get paid to help people. It is a great job. Our greatest satisfaction comes from giving good value to our customers.

Our new iPhone app offers a powerful combination of mobile tools designed to help the customer stay informed and in touch. The most powerful tool allows our customer to email us a photo of their lock, key or door. A photo will tell us what product to bring with us and in which finish. This can save a trip to the customer’s door to determine the parts we may need. In turn, this saves the customer money.

App Features:

* Contact our locksmith with one touch
* Get GPS directions to our store
* See our product and service prices
* Get a quote or make an appointment
* Email a photo of your lock to our locksmith from within this app
* A special iPhone offer is included in this app
* Includes our entire catalog
* Staff bio and photos
* Read our blog and tweets

Download the Toronto Locksmith app from the iTunes app store.

Your tenants have an expectation of security in exchange for their monthly rent.  If they return to their rented space to find their stuff has been rummaged through they will lose their sense of security.

As your locksmith, it has been our duty to hold your trust and keep your tenants reasonably secure.  Part of that security has been keeping information private.  Key codes can be used to make new door keys and master keys.  We lock the documents with your codes away, securely.  Techniques of lock manipulation have been taught only in registered classes to students with photo identification.  Even when we are working and need to open a door quickly we will often ask the customer to get us a screwdriver or a glass of water so that he or she will not learn how easy it can be to unlock a door without a key.

Our biggest problem now is information leaking into the wrong hands.

Locksmiths have long kept the secrets of opening locks from the general public.  Now the internet is training the next generation of burglars in picking, bumping and bypassing the locks we depend on to keep our doors closed.  This training is happening indescriminatly and annonomusly.

Why does your locksmiths take such pains to protect information?  Think of the new crime of Identity theft.  The theif steals your social insurance number, birth certificate or other identification and applies for photo ID from the government with their photo.  Then the theif pretends to be you and sells your house.  You find out when the new owners try to move in.  Sometimes keeping a secret is like locking the door.  Information is power.

How big a concern is this information leak to locksmiths, property managers and other security professionals?  HUGE.

Locksmiths have been recommending High Security Locks for years, partly because even a locksmith cannot open one without a key, and even your locksmith will not make you a key without the key control card.

Lock manufacturers are releasing new types of locks to be “bump resistant” and offer more control over the coping of keys.

There is a lot of work that goes with the job of property management and maintenance.  High security locks are designed with features to make your work easier.  First, high security locks make your dream of less keys come true.  Imagine one key for all your buildings.  One key that is 100% secure and if lost can be deactivated both electronically and mechanically without the need for your tenants keys to change and without the need to spend thousands, or even hundreds of dollars on rekeying locks.

Mul-T-Lock products offer the 3-in-1 feature where you can rekey your own locks, twice each.  This is set up when we design the system for you.  The master key can change while the tenants key stays the same -or- the Tenants key can change while the master key stays the same -or- both the master key and the tenants key can change.  This is done with the turn of a key.  The lock is not removed from the door.

If you are concerned about loosing a master key then the first option is for you.  If you don’t want to call out a locksmith everytime you change a tenant then the second option is for you.  The third option is ideal for small master key systems where you hand out lots of keys and need to rekey often.

This is all done mechanically with special master pins.  The robust pinning options of Mul-T-Lock’s ten pins allow thousands of possible tenants on one master key.  The ability to lockout a master key quickly when it is stolen or lost (without having to even tell your tenant) protects you from liability when something goes wrong with your staff.

A master key system of this sort would have sub-masters.  Only the landlord and the top property manager would have the single grandmaster key to open every lock.  Supers will be given a sub-master key that only opens their property.  Cleaners can be given a key that only opens the doors they are allowed access to on their property - or with the advanced software we use the cleaner’s key can open all the cleaner’s rooms in every building you own or manage.  This makes sense if you have one cleaning company taking care of all your buildings.

These keys cannot be copied.  We track how many of each key is cut and only we can cut these keys.  If you change cleaning companies ask for the keys back - each and every one.  If they fail to return the keys then your old cleaning company can pay to rekey these locks.  Infact, deduct the cost of rekeying the locks from their final payment cheque.

Second, Mul-T-Lock offers Cliq for another level of security and access control on your most sensitive locks.

Cliq is an electronic lock added to the Mul-T-Lock cylinder.  It works with any Mul-T-Lock cylinder even on a filing cabinet or padlock.  Think of it as an 11th pin that is only retracted (inside the cylinder) when the correct key is inserted.  The key contains a battery that supplies the power for this pin to unlock.

Once we add electricity to locks we can store and transfer information.  Cliq does all the advanced access control functions of your card access system. 

1.  Audit Trail -You now have a log of who used that lock, or attempted to use that lock and when. 

2.  Timed Acces Schedule - You can program a schedule so that office users cannot enter the building at night or cleaners can only enter on the weekends while your master key works 24 hours a day. 

3.  Individual Dual Credential - Keys contain a code.  Mechanical keys all contain the same code.  When one mechanica key is lost or stolen all the keys must be changed.  With electronic keys each contains a different code.  When one electronic key is lost or stolen it is deprogrammed from the lock - other keys are unaffected.  This gives you even more control over your master keys.  If you electrician does not return his master key after you fire him for not installing that pot light in the right place you can just turn off the electronic part of his key - locking your electrician out of your most secure areas.

The Cliq key is a dual credential.  Meaning it has a mechanical key component and an electronic key component.  It will work on your mechanical locks as a master key but your mechanical master keys will not work on your Cliq locks.  In the above situation the electrician can still enter a tenant’s suite that does not have a Cliq cylinder but a standard Mul-T-Lock cylinder on the same master key.

4.  No wires.  Each cylinder is a stand alone access control system.  It is programmed by inserting a key.  Information is downloaded by inserting a key.  The power supply is a battery in the key.  That’s right, access control with the turn of a key. 

Now this makes sense for the property manager.  When a new tenant arrives at your office with their deposit cheque and signed lease you can just go to your small key cabinet, hand the new tenant a new key and when they unlock the door the will  also be rekeying their suite.  Even better if the old tenant returns all of their keys (we know how many there are) you don’t have to rekey the suite at all.  And  your master key, your ONE master key for all your buildings will always get you into the doors you need to enter, quickly, easily and professionally.

Please contact Spadina Security for more information, demonstrations and to design a system that makes sense for you.  See our website for more detailed information on Cliq, Mul-T-Lock and master key systems.  www.SpadinSecurity.com

Never open your door to strangers. Never open your door to strangers. Never open your door to strangers.

You hear it in school, on the radio, on TV. There are thousands of printed brochures that say “Do not open your door if you do not know the person on the other side.”

I am a locksmith. I install good quality deadbolt locks on your doors to keep the bad guys out. For your protection I recommend a good quality deadbolt lock - at all times. This lock will keep the door closed when a burglar or robber wants to get in. The easiest way to unlock a deadbolt without a key - is with a knock. Never open your door to strangers.

The Chain Lock Myth
Many people depend on a simple chain lock, available from the dollar store, to keep their door locked. A chain lock uses very very small, very very small, short brass screws. The chain itself can be broken by a ten year old with a good push. They don’t do a very good job of keeping out an adult burglar or robber. If you open your door, even with the chain lock engaged, you are at risk. Movies actually do a good job of showing chain locks breaking. It happens so quickly that you might have missed it.

Try for your self. Lock your door chain while standing outside your door. Now give it a good push. Don’t be shy, try to break the chain. It was easy to get in wasn’t it?

Peep Holes
One of the least expensive tools you can install in your door is a peep hole. This tiny device allows you to see who is on the other side of the door without having to open the door and put yourself at risk. Consider putting one in if you don’t already have one. If you already have a peep hole installed in your door use it.

Modern Peep Holes
Technology has come a long way over the past few decades. We still offer the old style brass and glass peep hole that you see on almost every door and now we can offer you more. A door viewer has a large screen on the inside of the door showing the person on the other side. The screen is large enough that you can see it from across the room without the need to approach the door.

The next step for technology is a camera in place of your peep hole. Spadina Security sells a nifty unit that sits in your door like a peep hole with a camera on the outside and a screen on the inside. The best part is you can see who came to your door while you were away.

Of course we often install CCTV systems with a view of your front door as well as video intercoms.

Alarm System Tip
If you do feel the need to open the door to a stranger do not disarm your alarm system before you open the door. Let the alarm entrance delay begin. If the person on the other side of the door cannot justify why he should be let in before the time runs out you can tell him “if I don’t close the door the alarm sire will start and the police will come”. However, if he forces his way in, you don’t have to take action and help is on the way.

To us it is just common sense not to open your door to strangers. Everyday people forget to use their common sense and fall victim to the evil people we share our city with. At Spadina Security we hope this reminder helps to make it harder for the bad guys to do their dastardly deeds.

Mul-T-Lock keys are very colourfull. This helps you keep track of which keys open which door.

Second Trick: Fewer Keys Opening More Locks
There are three ways that our locksmiths can help you reduce the number of everyday keys in your pocket.

First, Mul-T-Lock keys are double sided. This means there are actually two different keys on one key blade. Imagine the simple process of turning your key face up to unlock your office door and face down to unlock the front door of your home. That is one less key in your pocket.

Second, Mul-T-Lock makes a huge number of retrofit cylinders. That means we can change the cylinder (the part of the lock that the key goes into and turns) of many, possibly all, the locks you use in a day to accept the Magic Mul-T-Lock Key.

Third is a technique called Master Keying. You probably share locks with other people. You don’t want other people’s keys to open your private locks. When we master key a lock we make more than one key operate that lock. So your office key can open the front door of your building and so can your neighbour Jan’s key. However, Jan’s key will not open your office and your key will not open Jan’s office. Magic.

Our best customer is the owner of 29 buildings across the city. Each building has it’s own master key for it’s superintendent. The owner of the buildings has one key that will open all 29 buildings. There are very few of these keys in existence.

To make his life easier we used a version of the Mul-T-Lock key called the SynerKey. This same two-in-one key that will open your home and office will also open the proximity card reader on the front door of your condo or office building. The SynerKey is actually three-keys-in-one.