Hitting the hardened pins designed to protect your lock from a drill attack is very likely to shatter the drill bit, and generally the energy goes into the bit as velocity.

Losing an eye for the sake of calling a pro would be horrendous. Please, if you do decide to do it, wear safety glasses or goggles.

I’m going to have to start tracking this, and see if it holds up to scrutiny.

However, it is important to me, and to my clients, that their information doesn’t get out onto the internet. While it is unlikely that anyone would misuse anything put up on this blog with any degree of success, I’m not about to take the risk.

All identifying info is removed, and I take care not to post key cuts or pictures that could be used to easily ID a door, as there would be little point changing someone’s locks then putting up a picture showing the key (which can be used to re-create the key and then, well, if the location can be traced there was no point changing the lock!)

Also, big security failures, photos of techniques and entries are usually limited to prevent re-use or location becoming obvious.

I have posted before about not revealing holidays and the like in advance, especially online, and I would be horrified if I accidentally did that same thing to a client! And if that info was mis-used, I have no idea what I would do to make things right, but I’d do my best, that is for sure! Either way, far better to use the precautionary principle.

Besides, the company is called ‘Discreet Security Solutions’ for a reason!

Yesterday, I went out to complete a job. I was fitting a 3R35 Chubb to a rebated fire door, which is not really outside my comfort zone at all. Yet things went a bit wrong, and time ran away with me, until it was 7pm, a full 2 hours after the finish time I had projected for the job.

Looking back, I have already learned a few lessons. Just because normally one battery charge will do a full rebate set, don’t assume it will this time. Make sure that your back-up drill is actually on the van, and not lost somewhere, so the back-up batteries can be used. Remember that old doors can have very neat things done to them that are long since forgotten by all, and then covered in more than one layer of paint. And finally, when dealing with an old hardwood door, don’t forget it can take half an hour to remove all the old hardware, and take another half an hour to put it all back perfectly afterwards!

The job was finished, and looks perfect (at least, my bit does – I’m going to go back when doing the next job and fill and make nice some damage caused by another – look just under the bottom edge of the handle) with a lovely brass handle set. True, it doesn’t match perfectly, but there are no handles that would, but it still looks good.

In fact, judge for yourself:

One beautiful door

They’ve put an newer padlock on it, though. Looks like a Squire…

Today I installed a digital CCTV system in a stately home, and, at the same time, I was asked to repair the lock pictured below.

One is a state-of-the-art IP camera system with motion detection and months of recording (before automatically looping the ‘tape’) and the other is a few bent bits of metal in a simple and obsolete warded lock.

What is very interesting is that the obsolete technology is actually more effective as security! CCTV, even monitored CCTV, can only ever be a deterrent, and cannot prevent the crime should the criminal decide to press on. On the other hand, the huge iron bolt on the ‘obsolete’ door lock (combined with the massive door it came from) would stop most attackers, even very forceful ones, cold!

Combined, of course, they are more than the sum of the parts.

I’ve only been after this for 5 years.

I shall be doing photos and words on each EVVA locking system in turn, for both on my blog and for articles in Locks And Security Magazine.

Click to make huge!

I was too busy for photos, but I did snap a few when my friend managed to fail his police handcuff escape! You can see them below.

I also spent a fair bit of money, including buying my first flexi borescope for safe work. It is steerable, which means that being a fraction out with aiming the hole now doesn’t matter quite so much. Which is nice!

So, if you have a safe that needs opened, give us a call. (Though I promise I won’t drill it just to try the ‘scope!)

Anyone got a key?

If you wear handcuffs, that makes them clothing, right?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-17075027

It isn’t the end of the world, but you likely do need to change your locks to remain secure.

Yes, give us a call and we can keep you secure.

I knocked the ice coat off and it worked first time.

…and here’s a nice photo of just how fun freezing rain can make things!