This series of common sense articles walk you through ideas in security that should be universally accepted but crime statistics tell us are far from common.
It is just common sense to change your locks when you move into a new home, apartment or office. Sometimes the property manager will do this for you – and that is a sign of a well run building – most of the time you are simply handed a copy of the key that the previous occupant was using.
Always change your locks when you move.
It is important that you know who has access to your important stuff. Who can come into your private space when you are not there – or more importantly when you are there.
Renters Be Aware
Most landlords in the city get copies of the keys from the vacating tenant and just pass those copies along to the new tenant. It becomes the responsibility of the new tenant to change the key of the lock. If your landlord hands you new keys and tells you the lock has been changed you have a good landlord. Be nice to him or her.
Home Owners Take Control of Your Property
When buying a home, new or previously owned, it is imperative that you change the locks when you gain possession.
If you have not changed your lock previous tenants, owners, trades persons and who knows who have copies of your keys and can come in at any time. In fact, by having a working key in their possession they have permission to enter and authority over your property. Even if the police are called in, your burglar only has to show working key and the police will leave them alone.
How to Change Your Locks
If you have good quality locks there is no need to change the hardware. When you buy a new home or move into a new office we can lock out the previous key holders with a retooling or “rekey” of the lock.
Our most requested service is called Rekeying. We take the lock off the door, remove the combination for the existing key, and put in new pins for a new key to operate the lock. This is the most economical method of taking control of the keys for your home or business.
If your locks are not good quality, or if they are in need of repair it makes sense to change the lock itself. Make sure you choose a good quality deadbolt lock for all your exterior doors. Your deadbolt lock is your first line of defense against burglars and robbers.
Spadina Security often gets calls from tenants, trades people and burglars who want to copy a protected key. They get very upset when I tell them they do not have permission to make this key.
Common sense is not so common. Many people take the keys they are handed and think they are the only keys that open their door. Make sure. Call Spadina Security to rekey your locks today.
Jason Scheide
Jason Scheide has worked as a locksmith in Toronto since 1994. He is currently the president of Spadina Security.
