Schlage is popular in Toronto.

Spadina Security is proud to recommend Schlage products to our customers in Toronto.

Weiser Deadbolt

Many people try to install their own deadbolts that they buy at the hardware store.  Some people do a good job.  Others make mistakes.

One customer knew that something was wrong and gave me a call.  When I saw the deadbolt I realized that the customer made a mistake when he installed the lock on the door.  The bolt only extended out of the door half an inch.  That is not enough material to keep the door closed.  The door and frame can be pried half an inch apart with hand tools.

To make matters worse, the bolt did not deadlock.  That means that a burglar can push the bolt back into the door with a credit card or similar tool.

I installed a Schlage B560 Deadbolt in the place of the hardware store lock.  This is a professional grade two lock.

Lock Installed Right

Home owners should at least understand the lock grading system before trying to replace a lock.  Replacing a grade one lock with a grade three lock is like replacing a car with a tricycle.

Notice in the photo that the bolt extends one inch out of the door.

Fact Sheets

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security 101

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Exterior

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Alarms

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Doors

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Windows

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Patio Doors

CMHC Lock Out Crime: Home Security Common Sense

]]> http://www.spadinasecurity.com/blog/fact-sheets-offer-valuable-information-for-home-owners/feed/ 0 http://www.spadinasecurity.com/blog/hid-proximity-access-cards-in-toronto/ http://www.spadinasecurity.com/blog/hid-proximity-access-cards-in-toronto/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:25:22 +0000 Toronto Locksmith http://www.spadinasecurity.com/blog/?p=282 ...Continue]]>

Invisible HID Prox Card

It seems like everyone in Toronto is using proximity cards to unlock doors today. Hold up the card to the reader and the door unlocks. In fact, I leave my proximity access fob in my pocket and stand close to the reader and the door unlocks. This trick works with a purse too.

How does it work?

An HID card has a copper coil that works like an antenna. The reader puts out a radio signal that the card bounces back with a small distortion. That distortion is the number programmed on the card.

As you can see in the photo the coil is attached to two microchips. One for regular readers and a second for the new iclass cards. There is also a magnetic strip. This is three cards in one!

At Spadina Security we use Paradox Access Control systems with Prox cards for a variety of applications. The same system can work on the front door of a building and your single office door.

Call us today for a free access control system quote.

More info at www.spadinasecurity.com

Don’t gamble with life safety. Spadina Security Toronto Locksmith recommends Von Duprin Panic Bars for your exit doors.

Category: Film & Animation
Uploaded by: jasonscheide
Hosted: youtube

Web Catalog

At Spadina Security we like to make sure you get value for your security dollar.  Security spending makes sense if you get a return for your investment.  One of the ways we attempt to make your life easier is by publishing our prices online.  We are the only locksmith in Toronto to publish our prices.

We do this in our web catalog.  An online store where you can view our products and services descriptions and prices.

Of course other locksmiths in Toronto can see our prices and set their prices a little bit lower.  We hope that you prefer an honest locksmith who gives you the prices up front to saving five dollars.

There are hundreds of products and services in our online web catalog.  We actually sell over 10,000 different locks for your home and business.  It is taking us a while to get them all in the catalog.  :-)

The most popular products are already in our web catalog.  Please take a moment to browse and maybe even click the “Add to Cart” button.

Medeco Cylinder Damaged

Vandals used a pocket knife to attempt to open this Medeco mortise cylinder in a Toronto Coop.

Medeco cylinders are robust and virtually burglar proof.  The would-be burglars had no chance of opening the lock last night.

They did manage to damage the lock.  The brass pins were bent by the break and enter attempt making it appear as if there were a broken key left in the lock when other keys could not be inserted into the lock.

Medeco is a manufacture of a class of lock often called “High Security” and are UL 437 Listed.  This means that a Medeco lock is pick resistant, drill resistant and has key copy control.  This customer was happy to learn that the burglars had failed to gain entry.

Spadina Security often recommends UL437 listed locks and cylinders from Mul-T-Lock.

Mul-T-Lock Toronto is now on Facebook.

Von Duprin Panic Bar

Most buildings in Toronto have panic bars on exit doors. Offices with high occupancy also need panic bars on fire exits.

Exit devices are an important part of a buildings fire safety plan.  Like a seat belt, we hope we will never need it but we use it every day anyway.

The idea of a panic bar is that if a crowd of people are panicking behind you and crush you against the door the panic bar will unlock the door so that everyone can leave the building and get to safety.

A good quality, professionally installed panic bar lock will last for 25 years.  A lock is the most dependable machine you use everyday.  It can be very inconvenient when a lock stops working.  When choosing exit hardware it is important to use the correct panic bar for each door.  Many panic bars are designed to be used hundreds of times each day for many years.  Some are not.  The Von Duprin 2200 series is meant for light use, several times per day.

For high traffic doors we recommend the Von Duprin 98/99 series exit devices.

Paradox Alarm Keypad

In Toronto, it is important to have an alarm company near to your premise.  Local, neighbourhood alarm companies, like Spadina Security, offer personal care and quick service.

Yesterday a customer had a problem with their office burglar alarm.  The last person to leave did not arm the burglar alarm system.

The first person in the next morning unlocked the door and entered their alarm code just like she always does.  This time, since the burglar alarm was not armed, she actually armed it when she entered her code.  The keypad beeped the countdown timer to inform her she has time to leave.  She entered her code again and called our main phone number (416) 706-SAFE for service thinking that there must be something wrong.

My alarm technician was on site and resolved the issue within 90 minutes.  There was no charge for this service call.

The response to an alarm signal is very important.  Our security guards have had excellent response times when an alarm is triggered.  The fastest time we have recorded was less than a minute.  Our Security guards patrol the area and buildings where our customers reside.  This is our guard patrol service that many of our customers enjoy.  The guard was already in the building conducting a patrol when he heard the alarm.  By the time the monitoring station called the guard to dispatch he could already report that the premise is secure and it was a false alarm.

Toronto Lock Shops

In Toronto we have 20 locksmith shops and hundreds of locksmith websites.   It is a good idea to stop by one of these shops and get to know the locksmiths in your area.

Locksmith shops are the best place to make copies of keys that actually work.  Locksmiths often calibrate their key copy machines to ensure an accurate copy because they make copies of keys for their own work as well as for you, the customer.

If you do an internet search for locksmiths or check the Yellow Pages you will find hundreds of listings for locksmiths in Toronto.  You will have to look really hard to find one of the 20 real locksmiths.  Often there are no addresses or false addresses in these ads.

We want to help you avoid the scam artists out there.  We posted a website called TorontoLockShop.com where you can get the contact information for all the locksmith shops in Toronto.

The association of Ontario Locksmiths also has a locksmith finder service.  Call 416-321-2219 to check on a locksmith before you hire one.

Spadina Security is a locksmith operating in Toronto.  We have two locations where you can walk in and speak to a real human being.