Security tips from a local Barnsley locksmith
As a locksmith I’m always on the lookout for news stories concerning burglaries so that I’m up to date with the location of the latest hotspots and am best able to advise my customers of this information. Last week I happened upon a story on a local news site which told the story of a man being charged with carrying out three break-ins on the same day in Ardsley and Birdwell.
This painted a very sinister picture – less Four Weddings and a Funeral, but more like Three Burglaries and an Angry Locksmith. And like the Hulk, you won’t like me when I’m angry! Yes, stories like this really get my goat (he’d probably have nicked that too) as I know all too well the consequences of these break ins – after all, I’m witness to them on a daily basis.
Now at this point, you might be forgiven for replying “Wait a sec, Steven – if it wasn’t for burglaries you’d be out of work, surely they’re good for business?” Now, I understand why people might think it, but it’s a misleading argument. I would be delighted if the day ever came that all burglaries ceased and there would no longer be any need for my services as an emergency locksmith. It would be great if my work just revolved around day-to-day work at sociable hours and for me not to be called out by customers in a state of distress.
Prevent any further break-ins
This is what so often goes forgotten by the burglar (or not even considered in the first place). The consequences of a burglary on the victim can be deep-rooted and last for a long time. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been out to see a customer in the aftermath of a break-in and found them in a highly emotional state. In these circumstances I of course make their property as secure as possible, fixing any damage that has been caused; but repairing the customer’s mental wellbeing is a much tougher job. I can find myself in the role of a counsellor in this situation, being one of the first people the homeowner has encountered since the break-in. They are often angry, upset, and their sense of security has been shattered. I do my best to allay their fears and, by assuring them that I have made their property secure, they can at least be confident that they have done all they can to prevent any further break-ins.
I do love my job, and it can be very rewarding when I am able to make the customer feel better in the aftermath of a break in, but I sincerely wish that the emergency aspect of the job is one I did not have to do. For I know that no matter how successful I am in my job of calming and reassuring the customer, their fears and anxieties will hang around for a long time – maybe never fully disappearing. Which is why I do get so infuriated when I read about stories such as the one mentioned above where a man was suspected of breaking into several properties in one day. I’m sure he moved from one location to another, not reflecting for a moment on the effect his actions had on his victims and, if he hadn’t been apprehended, he’d have quite happily gone about his life, soon forgetting about what he’d done. Sadly, the same cannot be said of his victims – they will be psychologically affected and may never truly feel quite so safe again.
Make your house a much less attractive proposition to any burglars
The silver lining to this cloud is that the suspect seems to have been arrested in this instance. Unfortunately, there will soon be another along to take his place. But there are things you can do to try and ensure your property is not the one that is the next target. There are several home security blog posts on this site where I give specific advice and I’d recommend taking a minute or so to check these out. By ensuring all your home security arrangements are fully up to date and all locks in working order, this is a big step towards making your house seem a much less attractive proposition to any burglars. Needless to say, you can also call on the services of a qualified locksmith such as myself BEFORE any incident happens, and I can provide specialist advice and review all your security arrangements. This is a much more pleasurable call out for both myself and the customer – working together pro-actively to prevent any future break-ins rather than having to deal with the aftermath and all the distress that entails.
20 years experience as an emergency locksmith
Of course I will not shirk from the task of attending the scenes of break ins, and with over 20 years experience as an emergency locksmith I believe I do as good a job as any of my peers and I have a customer base grateful for the service I have provided. But, to reiterate again, although it’s a task at which I’m highly experienced and I find rewarding, I really hope that one day there will be no need for that part of my job.
To finish on a brighter note, at least the above suspect is off the streets for the time being; due to appear in court later this month and until then he is remanded in custody, unable to carry out any more burglaries. I do hope in cases like these that the effects that the burglar’s actions have had on the victim are taking seriously when it comes to any sentencing by the judge.