HOW TO BURGLAR-PROOF YOUR WINDOWS

Greetings Friends,

Here is your January 2008 edition of Sherwood Locksmithing's Security eZine. We look forward to delivering you information monthly on Security issues.

This months Newsletter deals with the Security of your windows. We hope you find the following article helpful.
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HOW TO BURGLAR-PROOF YOUR WINDOWS
Many burglars enter homes by simply breaking glass windows. A good deterrent is to have better Quality glass installed at vulnerable points around the perimeter of your residence. Most burglars avoid attempting to break the following types of glass due to the fear of attracting attention.

LAMINATED GLASS is made by a vinyl or plastic interlayer sandwiched between two layers of glass. This type of glass adds additional strength to your windows. To gain entry, a burglar would have to Strike the glass repeatedly in the same spot in order to make a small opening. Most burglars are reluctant to create this type of noise for fear of being detected.

TEMPERED GLASS is made by placing a piece of regular glass in an oven, bringing it almost to the melting point, and then chilling it rapidly. This causes a skin to form around the glass. Fully tempered glass is four to five times stronger than regular glass.

WIRED GLASS adds the benefit of a visible deterrent. Extra effort will be needed to break the glass and then cut through the wire located within the glass, in order to gain entry.

PLASTICS: Plastic material is divided into two types: acrylic or polycarbonate. The acrylics are more than ten times stronger than glass of the same thickness and are commonly called plexiglass.

Polycarbonate sheets are superior to acrylics and are advertised as 250 times more impact resistant than safety glass, and 20 times more than other transparent plastic.
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With SLIDING WINDOWS the primary object is to keep the window from sliding or being lifted up and out of the track. There are many manufactured products available for securing windows. Here are some suggestions:

PINNED WINDOW ANTI-SLIDE BLOCK SLIDEBOLT: It is not recommended that you lock a window in a ventilating position. This is an invitation to a prying action which can result in entry. Key locking devices offer no real security, and they can be a fire exit hazard.

CASEMENT WINDOWS are the simplest to secure. Make sure the latch works properly and that the "operator" has no excess play. If so, replace the worn hardware.

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS latches may be jimmied open. If a window is not used, screw it shut (except bedrooms). For windows in use, drill a sloping hole into the top of the bottom window, through and into the bottom of the top window, and insert an easily removable pin or nail.

LOUVRE WINDOWS are bad security risks. Remove and replace with solid glass or other type of ventilating window. Or protect with a grate or grille (except bedrooms).

At night, a bedroom window may often be the quickest and safest means of getting out. Because of the danger of fire, decorative grilles are not recommended on bedroom windows. ===============================================================

Sincerely, Thomas "Trapper" Sherwood
http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com
Call Us with any questions you may have. 615 345-6169
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How To Burglar Proof Your Doors

Greetings,

Here is your December 2007 edition of Sherwood Locksmithing's Security eZine.
With the Holiday's in full swing now,I hope you find the following article useful.

HOW TO BURGLAR-PROOF YOUR DOORS

The majority of devices mentioned in this report cost very little. All of them will help reduce burglary and make your house or apartment more secure.

Begin with a home "security" check. Start with the front door and work clockwise around the entire inside of yourhome, finishing with the back yard, fence and shrubs, gatesand garage.
Shrubbery should never block the view of your front door. This allows an intruder the opportunity of privacy to gain entrance.

A wide-angle viewer in the door lets you know your visitor in advance. This item is recommended over a chain lock. ============================================================
LOCKS, BOLTS AND HINGES

A DEAD-LATCH is an inexpensive lock set which keeps the burglar from simply slipping your Door open with a plastic credit card. This method of entry is common in many areas, but very easy to prevent.

AUXILIARY DEADLOCK: 1" deadbolt, single cylinder with hardened cylinder guard, and thumb turn. For extra security, a single cylinder deadbolt lock, with one-inch throw and case hardened insert, is recommended for all exterior doors. If you have easily breakable glass within 40 inches of a deadbolt lock, it should be augmented with a stronger type of glass or plastic to provide adequate security.

Most police departments do not recommend double cylinder deadbolt locks for residential use. You may be adding additional security at the expense of personal safety with a double cylinder deadbolt. For example, you could lock yourself in and not be able to escape in case of fire or other emergency.

The RIM LOCK is a 1" deadbolt lock which is installed on the inside surface of the door. It is less expensive than other types of locks, but equally effective for security.

The "JIMMY -PROOF" RIM LOCK is another lock which is installed on the inside surface of the door. But this lock has vertical dead bolts, which is an approved device.

CANE BOLTS: 1/2" in diameter by 12" high installed at the top and bottom of the inactive door offers minimum security. Many homes with pairs of doors, use half-barrel slide bolts on the inactive door. These are weak and totally inadequate.

FLUSH DOLTS: installed at the top and bottom of the inactive door or pair of doors, flush bolts Offer additional security, since the intruder cannot get at these devices to tamper with them if the doors are locked. ============================================================
HINGE PROTECTION
Some exterior doors are improperly installed so that the hinges are installed from outside. To protect such a door from being lifted from its hinges by pulling the hinge pin, follow these simple steps:

1. Remove two screws, opposite each other, from both leaves of the hinge plate.
2. Insert screw or concrete nail into jamb leaf, protruding 1/2".
3. Drill out the opposing screw hole in the door. Do this in the top and bottom hinge of the door. When closed, the hinge pins may be removed, but the door will remain firmly in place.

Sincerely,
Thomas "Trapper"Sherwood
tom@sherwoodlocksmithing.com
http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com
Business Hours Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Phone Number 615 345-6169


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HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CARS, BICYCLES AND MOTORCYCLES

Hello again!

What a crazy past couple of month's! Do you find yourself
asking "Where did summer go?" Between vacations and schools
restarting, I don't know where the time has gone.

As I promised last month, here is this months Security Blog.

As always, I hope you find the following article helpful.
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HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CARS, BICYCLES AND MOTORCYCLES

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CAR
Always lock your car doors. Be certain all windows are
completely closed. When driving, keep all doors locked.
It is best to park in attended lots. If you must leave a key
with the attendant, leave only the ignition key. In all cases
lock your car. At night, park only in well-lighted areas.

If you have a garage, the single lock on the door is
inadequate to keep intruders from prying up the opposite side
and crawling in. One of three methods may be used to secure
the door:

(1) Add another bolt and padlock on the opposite side.

(2) Install a pair of cane bolts on the inside - only operable
from the inside.

(3) Add a top center hasp. Any person of average height can
operate this locking device. The hasp must be of hardened
steel and installed with carriage bolts through the door or
gate. Use large washers on the inside. After the nuts are
secured, deface the threads of the bolt ends with a hammer
to keep the nuts from being removed.

In every case, use a minimum standard exterior padlock. If
hideing a key outside, try a diversion safe. Most hiding
places are obvious to the burglar.

Never leave a padlock unlocked. This is an invitation to have
the padlock removed so that a key can be made, and the lock
returned to its position. Later, the burglar returns when no
one is home and enters at his leisure, using "his" key.

HOW TO PROTECT BICYCLES
You don't leave your car unlocked, so treat your bicycle the
same way. Use an approved chain and padlock whenever you are
not on the seat! Lock it to the garage - with a 3/8" x 6" eye
screw fastened to a stud. The eye screw should be at least 3
feet above the floor, because this makes using a pry bar much
more difficult.

Whenever you lock your bike in a public place, chain it to a
secure rack or stanchion through the frame and a wheel. Keep
the chain as high above the ground as the bike will allow.
This reduces the leverage for a pry bar or bolt cutter attack.

MINIMUM STANDARD FOR APPROVED CHAIN
Must be at least 5/16" hardened steel alloy. Links must be of
continuous welded construction. Lighter chain, or chain with
open links simply will not withstand bolt cutting attacks.
Don't GIVE your bicycle away! Using anything less will invite
its theft.

HOW TO PROTECT MOTORCYCLES
These expensive bikes require additional security measures.
They must be secured with a mated 3/8" hardened steel alloy
chain and a padlock of equal strength. Sheathed cable has not
proven to be a satisfactory deterrent to theft.

LIGHTING
GOOD exterior lighting is important, particularly when the yard
area is obscured by high, non-removable shrubbery. The best
possible location for outside lights is under the eaves. This
makes ground level assault more difficult. You can buy an
inexpensive timer or photo-electric cell which will
automatically turn the lights on at dusk and turn them off at
dawn.

Sincerely,

Trap
http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

How to Protect your Valuables from Theft

Hello, as I find myself with a little more free time these days, I am going to try and use this blog to bring security tips to everyone. I hope you findthe following tips useful.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES FROM THEFT

One of the most effective tools you can use to retrieve property stolen from you home is a simple electric engraving pen. With this pen you can inscribe your name or a number on the most valuable items in and around your home. Before you do this, check with local police to see which they prefer you use - your name, driver's license number, social security number or whatever.

Engraving your name or number on your valuables helps deter robbery in two ways: First, you discourage the thief since marked property is much more difficult to sell Second, if a thief does steal your property, it is much easier to catch and prosecute him when he is discovered with goods in his possession that are easily identifiable as stolen.

Billions of dollars worth of property stolen each year is never returned to the owners. Why? Because without some identifying mark or number, the police are unable to verify stolen property, or trace the owner. More than half the property recovered by the police is eventually auctioned off or destroyed because the goods have no identifying characteristics.
In some cities, local law enforcement agencies will lend you and your neighbors an engraving pen free. In these communities, you may borrow an engraving tool for several days! days. If this service is not available to you, you can purchase an inexpensive electric pen from your local hardware store for as little as $10 or $15. This small investment could be worth a great deal more to you at a later date.

Items already marked with a serial number - such as cars, TV's, cameras, typewriters, radios, stereos, tape decks, appliances, etc. - may not have to be engraved with your name or personal number. Check with local police first. If they recommend you inscribe your identifying mark on serialized items, inscribe this information just above the manufacturer's serial number.

On unserialized property, inscribe your name or number on the upper right comer of the rear or backside of each item. Should you decide to sell or discard the item at a later date, you should invalidate your number by using the engraving pen or any sharp tool to draw a single line through your name or number from upper left to the lower right hand corner. Do not deface your name or number in any way. It is also advisable, when selling "marked" property, to write out a simple receipt and specify on it that you were the previous owner and indicate the name or number used by you. This could prevent legal hassles for the new owner at a later time.

To protect smaller valuable items such as jewelry, silverware, etc., it is wise to take a photo of each item. A simple, instant-type camera photo is sufficient.

After you have marked and/or photographed all your valuables, make a detailed list of these items and keep it in a safe place. When new items are acquired, add them to your list As other valuables are sold or discarded, cross them off the list.

If you use credit cards, they should be recorded on your list. Either copy your account number and expiration date from each card, or you can have photo copies made for your records.

Sincerely,
Trap

http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com/