Expert Locksmith Advice

Barnsley Home Security After Lockdown Ends

Well, say it quietly but it looks as if we might be getting there. The latest relaxation of the lockdown measures has taken place, and we can all now meet outside to play golf, as long as we’re having a picnic and there are no more than six of us, because that’s how many Viennese Whirls are in a box. I think that’s it anyway, I was distracted by the ship stuck in the Suez canal to be honest. 

The easing, and then hopefully ending, of lockdown is obviously a great step forward, and one we’ve been looking forward to for what seems like decades now. However, as with all these things, there is a caveat. I’m not about to go all Chris Whitty or Jonathan Van Tam about social distancing, as that’s not really my specialty. Rather, the warning is about the impact on the security of your home. 

Patio Door Repairs In Barnsley

People very rarely ask me “Hey, what’s a thing a locksmith spends most of their time doing?” Which is a shame, as if they did that, it would have provided a very good segue into today’s blog. Instead, I find myself floundering, trying to think of something to say to sum up the last 12 months of lockdowns and social distancing, perhaps also striking an optimistic tone about the vaccination rollout and the very real likelihood of more normality returning in the months to come, all the time trying to come up with a seamless segue. It’s all very 2021, I tell you. 

So, that question that people rarely ask me….well, I’m glad you asked. A disappointingly small amount of time is spent carrying around huge chains of keys, helping MI5 break into secret lairs, thus foiling plots by megalomaniacs to take over the world. At the most, that happens once a week. 

Be aware of the latest Burglary tricks

Whilst we’re all still in lockdown we still need to be on guard when it comes to home security. It is estimated there are still over 1,000 burglaries happening each day in the UK despite most of us finding ourselves at home both during the day and in the evenings. This is forcing burglars to have to come up with new, creative ways to beak in to our homes.

Burglars are having to be mindful of people at home, in this blog we discuss some of the latest burglary tricks. Being aware of these tricks will help you better prepare, allowing you to fully safeguard your home for both you and your family.

A Short History Of Locks

“Hello there, and welcome back to the home-schooling history class. I’ll be your guest teacher today, leading the lesson for a one-off look at the history of locks and locksmithing. Think of me as a slightly low energy Joe Wicks, but without the PE kit and less risk of injury. Before we start, just to say I know how supply teachers are often treated, and let me tell you, there will be none of that on my watch, but thank you to whoever left me this lovely chocolate cake here which is… oh, that doesn’t taste like chocolate. (Was that you, Kerry? How are your dogs getting on?) Anyway, on with the lecture. 

New Year Security Resolutions

Happy New… well I’m a bit tentative about wishing everyone a Happy New Year because I did that last year in 2020 and look how that turned out. But on the basis that lightning can’t strike twice, even though we know it can, I will still send out my best to all my customers for 2021 – fingers crossed that the vaccine brings brighter times ahead. 

A new year is often a time to take stock, (by which I don’t mean stealing gravy), and focus on actions we can take for the year ahead. This is no different when it comes to home security, and in that vein, I have put together a few reminders of what we should be reassessing, and changes we can implement in the year to come. Think of them as New Year security resolutions. 

A Barnsley Locksmith Carol

2020 has been quite the year, hasn’t it? One probably best forgotten by many, but certainly one we’ll be pleased to have gotten through. And with Christmas on the horizon, as well as the excellent news about the new Covid vaccines, it does look as if there may well be hope on the horizon into the new year. 

I’d like to thank all my customers for their loyalty throughout this year, and am glad I’ve been able to provide a continuous service all through the year when I know others have not been so lucky. In a break from the locksmith advice you normally find here, and seeing as it’s Christmas after all and you probably need something to laugh at, here is my slightly re-arranged version of the 12 Days of Christmas – this one’s for all the Barnsley  locksmiths and their customers out there:

Who Has Keys For My House.

It seems there has been rather a lot of news about recently. What with the second lockdown being announced and enacted, and the saga of the US election and its aftermath (will Donald have to be dragged out by the Marines in the end?), you may have missed the startling revelation by McVities that the chocolate part of the Jaffa Cake is actually the bottom of the treat, and not the top. Never mind lockdown and Biden’s triumph – it was the Jaffa revelation that really shook up my world. 

Jaffa cakes aside, it will no doubt be another tricky period for a lot of you, whether you’re continuing to work, are on furlough, or are not able to work at the moment. Yours truly will be working throughout lockdown, due to my status as an essential  worker. I’m still practicing social distancing, and have the relevant PPE and sanitiser, thus reducing the COVID risk as much as possible, so please do still call on me if you have any need for a locksmith – I’m here to provide emergency assistance, lock replacement, and the usual security advice. 

Do Burglars Come Back A Second Time

It’s a bit of a testing time recently (pun slightly intended) with the threat of a full blown second wave of Covid 19. This was anticipated by many virologists, and it got me thinking about statistics and probability. Because that’s just the sort of fun guy I am. 

Imagine for a minute that you had no knowledge of how viruses work and you were looking on from afar. You’d probably think it was mighty unlucky that after decades of no Coronavirus sweeping through the population, we then have two waves in the space of six months. “What were the chances of that?” you might think. This would be because you’re treating the two waves as mutually exclusive events – like rolling a fair dice to get a 6, and then rolling it again to try and do the same. The outcome of the first roll will not affect the outcome of the second – this is the case for most instances of luck such as winning the lottery, tossing a coin etc. 

Are Low Locksmith Prices Real Or A Scam

Finally, September is on the horizon and the schools are on the brink of reopening. I’m sure parents all over the region will be breathing a sigh of relief at that, although understandably this relief may be tinged with anxiety given the circumstances. However, it’s a big step back to normality, and to commemorate this blessed moment, I thought I’d try and contribute by delivering a little bit of learning of my own. This will be in the form of raising awareness of a dodgy scheme that seems to be gaining traction across the country recently, and that I’m keen for you all to avoid. 

Increase In Burglary

There haven’t been many advantages to lockdown. I guess it’s been a time where you can catch up with box sets, save a bit of money on petrol and eating out, and get to know which member of your close family annoys you the most. But apart from that it’s slim pickings. As opposed to Slim Pickens, who you may have seen if you’ve also been catching up on films from the 50s and 60s. 

However, one advantage has been the reduction in burglaries. The reason for this is pretty obvious – most burglars target properties that are empty, and during the past 4 or 5 months, houses have rarely been left unoccupied, save for those of key workers who live alone or with other key workers.