Home Security Systems- A Consumer Guide

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We recently received an email from Chad at Reviews.com concerning extensive research into the many popular home security systems available on the market today. Chad writes “Our team at Reviews.com has completed an extensive study comparing the Best Home Security Systems for 2018. Our resource not only rates some of the best home security options of 2018 but it also includes a review of ADT security service and advice for ordering, installing, and using the top home security systems. After testing and comparing these security systems for 3 months we created our resource as an assistance guide.”

If you are considering having a home security system installed and are finding the choices overwhelming, this resource may be of great assistance to you in making the right decision. Click the link to find out more.  Home Security System Research Results.

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We Thought You’d Like to Know….

Stay Safe Citrus County!

https://www.1ablelocksmith.com

Citrus County Sheriff’s Department Notifies Community

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We thought you’d like to know……
Stay Safe Citrus County!
http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

Citrus County Sheriff reporting increase in Daytime Burlgaries

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This warning was posted on Facebook from the Citrus County Sheriffs office

BEWARE OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES: Over the past few weeks our county along with surrounding counties like Marion and Levy, have been experiencing a series of residential daytime burglaries. Doors have been forced open, and jewelry, medicine and handguns have been taken. Please secure your valuables, and report any suspicious persons who may knock on your door “looking for someone” who does not reside there, or solicitors without marked vehicles with company identification. In addition, report any suspicious vehicles in your neighborhood to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. All of these incidents have been occurring during the daytime hours so please make sure you watch out for your neighbors’ homes if they are away. If you have any questions you can contact Detective Serocki at 352-422-0518. Thank you.

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We thought you’d like to know…..

Stay Safe Citrus County!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

Is my Car involved in a recall?

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So your car is acting up and your mechanic has just told you that the problem is a common one for that vehicle’s year and model. Now there is a quick simple way to check to see if your vehicle is involved in a recall.

The website is called safercar.gov and is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA. The new website lets you search for recalls just by typing in your vehicle identification number or VIN. This number is found on your title or vehicle registration or is visible through the windshield of your vehicle on the drivers side dash.

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We thought you’d like to know…..

Stay safe Citrus County!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

Safe Manufacturers Customer Support Info

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We get several calls a week asking us to drill or open someone’s safe. Because keys can get lost and combinations forgotten, we have compiled this list of customer service numbers for some of the most common safes used in residential and commercial applications today.

Winchester Safes
4801 Esco Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76140

877-948-6723 or 469-735-4901

Sentry Safes

https://www.sentrysafe.com/ContactUs/Call_Or_Email_Us

Phone: 800-828-1438
Fax: 585-381-2940

Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc.
1199 West Utah Avenue
Payson, Utah 84651

1-800-247-5625

Honeywell Safes

Consumer Assistance Dept.
LH Licensed Products, Inc.
860 East Sandhill Avenue
Carson, CA 90746 USA

877-354-5457

American Security Products Co.
11925 Pacific Ave.
Fontana CA 92337
951-685-9680

Fax: 951-685-9685

Cannon Safe

6680 Surrey Street
Las Vegas NV 89115

800 222-1055

First Alert Safes
3901 Liberty Street
Aurora, IL 60504

800-323-9005

Mesa Safe Company

337 W. Freedom Ave.
Orange, CA 92865

Phone: 800-490-5624
Fax: 714-627-4016

www.mesasafe.com/technical-support/

Gardall Safes

http:www.gardall.com

Phone: 800-722-7233

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Stay safe Citrus County!
http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

2 Break Ins in 2 Days here in Citrus County Florida

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We have received 2 calls in the past two days from people here in Citrus county who have been broken into and robbed. First, a business in Hernando and then a residence in Floral City. Both happened at night and both times gates or the door were forced open. Might be a great time to think about installing an extra deadbolt on your doors to keep forced entry from becoming a quick way into your home or office.

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We thought You’d like to know….

Stay Safe Citrus County!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

2014 BMW X5 Recalled over child safety locks

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BMW is in the process of notifying owners of the new 2014 X5 SUV’s built between December 2013 and March 2014 of a recall due to faulty child safety locks. According to BMW, the child safety locks can deactivate without warning on vehicles with the automatic soft closing option. The recall affects 6400 vehicles.

According to a bulletin issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the lock mechanism on the rear doors “may not have been manufactured to correct tolerances,” meaning the safety locks could disengage with a simple pull of the door handle. Basically, with a pair of tugs, the rear doors could be opened from the inside, regardless of child safety locks.

Here is the actual press release issued by the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
SUMMARY:
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 X5 SAV vehicles manufactured December 12, 2013, through March 10, 2014, and equipped with the Soft Close Automatic (SCA) option. The rear side door lock mechanisms may not have been manufactured to correct tolerances and when the inside door handle is pulled, the previously engaged child safety lock can disengage.
CONSEQUENCE:
A disengaged child safety lock would allow the rear seat occupant to pull the door handle twice and open the door while the vehicle is parked or in motion, increasing the risk of injury.
REMEDY:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear side door locks and any affected door locks will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in May 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

We thought You’d like to know…

Stay Safe Citrus County!

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What is the deal with Bump Keys?

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If you do a Google search on bump keys you will find a lot of information on a technique that was once regarded as a top secret tool known only to locksmiths. For centuries this technique was guarded by reputable locksmiths and not shared with the general public.

Today thanks to the internet, many people have become aware of this once closely guarded secret and now that the cat is out of the bag, not only do the criminals have easy access to instructional how to videos but locksmiths themselves are using these videos and information on their websites to scare customers into purchasing additional security measures, thus making the cost of their locksmith service even more. The fact that scare tactics are being used on the consumer in an effort to increase the bottom line of the locksmiths business is bad enough, but add to that fact that locksmiths using these scare tactics are advancing the criminals efforts to learn and to use this technique to gain access to homes and businesses of the customers they claim to be so concerned for. Seems to me that if your customers safety and security is a concern, you would not be posting a how to video on your website, thus educating would be criminals about this technique

Yes the problem is real and the threat is there, but you have to wonder about a locksmith who claims to have your safety and security in mind and then posts videos educating criminals on how to do it. Don’t fall victim to these scare tactics, always hire a locksmith who truly takes your safety and security seriously. Here in Citrus county, 1 Able Locksmith is well aware of this technique and offers our customers the option of bump proofing their locks if that is what the customer feels they need.

The Citrus county Sheriffs Office will tell you that entry into houses and businesses are usually achieved through sliding glass doors or by throwing a brick through a window. I have not seen any reports where the majority of burglaries were carried out using bump keys. First of all the process of using a bump key makes a lot of noise. Noise is something a burglar tries to keep to a minimum in an effort to not attract attention. Add to that the fact that noise is not a quick one time thing but is often repetitive. Also a bump key is not as easy to use as the internet makes them out to be. They like anything else require practice to be an effective method of gaining entrance to a building. So when you are being told that you need protection against bump keys, keep in mind that although the use of a bump key is a possibility, it is not a preferred method of entry as many are trying to say it is.

You will not find on our website a video or any other form of scare tactic advising customers that they must have this service in order to keep their homes or businesses secure. We do take your security seriously, but we will not use scare tactics or contribute to the education of the criminals who would use the information given out on our website as a weapon to be used against our customers. Now that’s security!

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Citrus County Sheriffs Office Takes a Bite out of Car Theft

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Did you know that the Citrus County Sheriffs Office has designed a program to help residents stop auto theft here in Citrus County? They call this program C.A.T (Combat Auto Theft). We here at 1 Able Locksmith go to great lengths to insure that the person who calls us out to make a car key is the rightful owner of the vehicle before we replace a lost or stolen key, so we applaud the sheriffs office for their efforts to keep your vehicle safe.

This anti-theft program was designed to recover stolen vehicles in
timely manner. For people who leave their vehicles parked outside at night, for those who travel frequently, or vehicles left in parking lots during late evening hours, this program is beneficial for you. If the vehicle is stolen or taken without your knowledge, the bright yellow decal allows law enforcement throughout the state of Florida, and some other states, to stop your vehicle if seen out between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. This allows the law enforcement officer to determine if the driver is authorized to have the vehicle.

The Sheriffs Office website has a form you can fill out to request a sticker that you place in the lower left corner of the rear window of your vehicle. This sticker tells Sheriffs Deputies that your vehicle is not normally driven between the hours of 1:00 am and 5:00 am.

It is important to note here that if a law enforcement officer observes a person operating or occupying a vehicle with this sticker during these hours, they will reasonably suspect that such person is in possession of said vehicle without proper authorization. This knowledge permits the officer to stop the vehicle and conduct an investigation. In these instances, police action will include the necessary precautions generally taken to protect officers when approaching a potentially stolen vehicle. If you work the night shift or normally drive between the hours of 1:00-5:00 am, this program may not work well for you.

To register for this program you can download the form and take it to the Sheriffs Office along with your vehicle registration. You will then be given the decal for your vehicle. For more information or to download the form click on this link.

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We thought You’d like to know….

Stay safe Citrus County!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com