NorCal Locksmith is proud to be considered the local Locksmith Granite Bay CA.  With offer a wide array of locksmithing services to the the residents and business located in Granite Bay.

For example, maybe you have lost your keys to your home and need it rekeyed.  Our highly trained locksmith technicians can get all of the locks on you home rekeyed and  usually within an hour.

Or perhaps you own a business and are facing the unfortunate situation of having to let someone go.  We can come out and rekey your business so that you can rest assured that your previous employee or employees can come back and get it after hours.

We at NorCal Locksmith also offer a wide range of Safe related locksmithing services. Our  skilled safe technicians sell, service, and open all varieties of safes and vaults in Granite Bay California.

So what ever your locksmithing need may be we at NorCal Locksmith are happy and honored to be your local Locksmith in Granite Bay California.

Many people already know that before one moves into a new home it is important to have all of the locks rekeyed.  Unfortunately, one thing that is often over looked is the garage door opener. Since there is no way to know for sure how many garage door openers are out there it is a good idea to reset the garage door openers code. This is a service that NorCal Locksmiths Locksmith Roseville CA and our Locksmith Rocklin CA offers our residential customers. When we come out to rekey your locks ask us to also reset your garage door opener.

This is typically an easy procedure which usually requires little more than clearing all of the remotes out of the system and then adding them back one by one. So if the previous home owner gave you one remote but you are not sure whether or not any other remotes are out there; by  having the opener reset you can rest assured that the only clicker that will open the garage door is the one in you possession.

Don’t run the risk of coming home to an empty garage have one of our locksmiths reset your garage door today.

Take it from me a Local Locksmith in Roseville California When it comes to locksmiths the guy with the lowest advertised price isn’t always the best deal. In fact, more often the not with these “$19 Locksmith Services” you usually get a whole lot more than you were looking for.

When you call one of these numbers that are advertising such low rates you are connected to a call center or a dispatcher who is most likely located in a totally different state. The dispatcher then tries to locate a “locksmith”, oftentimes a illegitimate one  who is likely unlicensed and uninsured, who can perform the required work for them. In return the “locksmith” is charged the $19 dollars as a referral or lead fee.  At this point the technician is already in the hole $19 dollars, therefore once he shows up to do the work he needs to charge you $19 plus what ever trip fee and labor fees he can in order to make the job profitable.

What usually happens is the locksmith will show up for lets say a simple lock rekey and then he will give you a song and dance about how the lock can’t be rekeyed and how it needs to be replaced (All of this is untrue by the way, the vast majority of locks can be rekeyed with very few complications). He then will try to charge you $50 or more for a knock of brand that may of cost him $5. Thus, once the technician is  done with his work he will hand you a bill that is two to three times the amount that a legitimate locksmith would have charged you for the same work.

The moral of the story is do your self a favor and avoid calling the guys who are advertising a low ball rate, since they are typically a bait a switch operation who are out to take you for a ride.

Working as a Roseville Locksmith I have noticed that many homes built prior to 1990, and some even after that, don’t have a deadbolt lock on the exterior garage door. This means the only thing guarding your most vulnerable entry point is a spring latch that can in most cases be bypassed through the simple use of a credit card.

Not having deadbolt securing your exterior garage door represents a serious residential security risk; once inside of the garage the would be burglars have all the time and usually tools necessary to break down the interior garage door and thus gain access to the rest of your home.

Many home owners may not realize how vulnerable they are or perhaps they  just might not want to pay the money to have a deadbolt installed by a professional locksmith. In either case installing a deadbolt lock into your exterior garage door is probably the most cost effective way of increasing your residential security.

If money is an issue, as these days it often times is, you can perform the installation yourself. To assist in this task we at NorCal Locksmith have put together an instructional video that walks you step by step through the fresh installation of a deadbolt door lock. How To Install a Deadbolt Lock : Fresh Installation

Your home is truly only as secure as its weakest link. As a Locksmith in Roseville California I see alot of break ins and believe me, you can spend all the money you want on high security locks and door hardware, but in the end if there are windows at ground level then your home is not fully secured. One way to prevent burglars from smashing out a window and walking right into your home is to have a window coating such as ShatterGards window film.  Go to there website and check out their product line, they have a demonstration on how this film helps protect your glass.

In short, ShatterGard is installed in a similar fashion to window tint.  Once applied to the glass it makes the whole window highly resistant to break ins;  being that once the glass has been shattered the film holds the pieces together thus preventing entry.

ShatterGard is just another layer of home security that helps protect your home from burglaries and invasions. Ask your local locksmith about this security upgrade and find out if it is right for you

We at NorCal Locksmith are proud to extend our territory of service to Citrus Heights. If you live in or your business is located in Citrus Heights California then please visit our Citrus Heights Locksmith page to contact a local locksmith near you.

As is the case with all of NorCal Locksmiths Technicians you will find that our Citrus Heights locksmiths are fully trained and equipped to deal with all of your residential and commercial related locksmithing issues.

When you call one of techs out to site we guarantee that they will show up in a clearly marked company van and will be dressed in a company shirt.  Furthermore, all of our techs carry a current locksmithing license and will be happy to present this to you upon request.

Our Locksmiths in Citrus Heights often work with people that have been burglarized or are concerned about being broken into. Do to this fact we must keep up on all of the latest industry advancements in security, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Whether you need your home picked open, your locks rekeyed, or your hardware repaired or replaced NorCal Locksmith is here to assist you with all of your security related concerns.

Most people have key rings that would function equally as well as a 10 pound fishing lure. These heavy key rings can be very cumbersome and extremely uncomfortable especially for a man who might carry them in his pocket. Believe it or not these rings can also be your ignition cylinders worse enemy. The problem is the weight of the keys  suspended from the ring can actually cause your ignition cylinder to wear out prematurely.

As a Roseville Locksmith one of the things that we try to do is reduce the number of keys that our customers have on their rings and in their possession. One simple way to do this is to get rid of that old master lock padlock  and replace it with a padlock such as the Abus 83/45 rekeyable one.  Abus is just one company that makes these locks you can find similar ones made by Schlage, Almont and Master Lock. These padlocks can be keyed to a Kwikset, Yale, or Schlage key. The advantage to this is that these keys happen to be the most common residential keys on the west coast. In other words you can have the padlock that is on your gate open with the key that is used for your front door to your house. Thus you can have one key that works all of the locks on your property. Talk about convenience.

I can’t tell you the number of safes that I have been called out to just to find out that the customer was dialing the numbers incorrectly. There’s a simple solution to this problem, have a locksmith replace the old combination lock with a contemporary digital safe lock. These locks can be easily swapped in fact most modern safes are designed to be able to accommodate either lock style.

There is nothing like the convenience of a Digital safe lock, now you can say goodbye to repeated attempts of trying to dial your safe open. Digital safe locks allow the end user to set and change there own 6 digit combination easy and within seconds. You can make the combo easy to remember by using numbers that have some personal significance.

There are many models to choose from but a few of the most popular models include

Sargent and Greenleafs 6120 and  La Gards LCMX

Both of these locks offer similar usability as well as security features.  The do feature different style elements so choose the one that you feel best matches your safes design elements.

It is important that these locks are installed properly, being that there are often times things to consider such as external relockers, it is strongly advised that you hire a trained professional such as a safe locksmith. Be sure that who ever you hire is licensed and insured.

If you live in in the greater Sacramento California area then please call your local Roseville Safe Locksmith .

When it comes to locking up your work trailers, storage units, bins or even your bicycle choosing the proper padlock is essential. When you put your head down on the pillow at night you want to rest assured that what ever it is that you’re locking up will still be there in one piece in the morning.

First and foremost, you must come to accept, like so many other things in life, that  not all padlocks are alike. For example, one might be able to find a padlock at a hardware store for $5-6 or maybe two for $10. Just don’t think that a cheap padlock is of good quality. More likely than not a padlock that costs you this little offers little in the way of security as well. Often these inferiors padlocks can be simply pounded off or cut with a pair of bolt cutters rather quickly. Be warned if you do choose to use such a padlock make sure that what ever your securing with it is of little or no value.

With that being said lets explore how one may go about finding a quality padlock. What should one look for when deciding which padlock best meets their needs and requirements? Any padlock you get needs to have a case hardened shackle. A case hardened shackle is one that is much more difficult to cut with a pair of bolt cutters. This type of shackle comes standard on both Master Lock as well as American Lock Padlocks. You may also consider the use of a padlock that features a shackle guard. A shackle guard further prevents the cutting of the shackle buy insulating it from such attacks. This type of shackle is available from both of the major manufactures.

Cutting the shackle isn’t the only threat to a padlock. Like most cylinder locks a padlock runs the risk of being picked open. The majority of Master Lock padlocks can be picked by someone with the proper tools in a matter of seconds. Ultimately this is one of Master Locks greatest weaknesses. Recently Master Lock has tried to respond to the threat of picking attacks by adjusting the spring tension and adding special driver pins in their lock cylinders. While this has resulted in decreasing the probability of them being bumped it has done little to nothing against the use of traditional tools.

American Lock padlocks come standard with pick resistant pins called spooled driver pins. Spooled driver pins make it extremely difficult to pick the cylinder even with the proper tools. Spooled driver pins also make American Padlocks difficult to bump even with specially cut bump key.

Most of the standard Master Padlocks can be rapped with a wooden handle or a hammer in a precise manner and the lock will release the shackle.  This is due to the fact that the shackle retainers are spring loaded and the inertia from the blow causes them to release the shackle. The fact that they are spring loaded is also the reason why these locks can be shimmed open.

American Lock withstand the brute force attack because in the place of the spring loaded retainers they utilize ball bearings. These ball bearings only allow the shackle to be released when the cylinder is turned to the unlocked position. The ball bearings also make these locks impossible to open via shims.

Take it from me, a local Sacramento Locksmith, when your locking up your valuables and want to guratee they’ll still be there in the morning go with American Lock Padlocks

Whether your trying to secure your valuables or keep your teens away from your liquor a cabinet door lock is definitely a good addition to your residential security. We at NorCal Locksmith working as your local Rocklin Locksmith have installed thousands of cabinet locks. We understand that your cabinet may be an important piece of furniture and that you want the lock installed professionally avoiding any unwanted damage.

While it is possible for you to go out and buy all the tools required in order to install a cabinet lock, as a professional locksmith company we would not advice it. There are many small, yet, important things to consider when installing a cabinet lock.

To begin with, the length of the cam lock cylinder and casing need to be considered. It is important that the overall length allows the tailpiece of the lock to properly engage either the support beam or the other door. If the lock is not longer than the thickness of the door then you won’t be able to put the nut on the back of the cam lock, thus nothing will hold it in position.

One also must consider the distance from the door edge where the locks will be installed. If to close to the edge then you risk splitting out the door when you drill it. On the other hand, if the lock is to far from the edge then the tail piece will not be long enough to secure the door.

If your are installing the cam lock on a set of double doors then you must consider the use of an elbow catch or something similar in order to secure the door that is not incorporating the cam lock. By securing this door you will now have a solid anchor for the cam locks tail piece to lock against.

So in conclusion, while it is a good idea to install a cabinet lock on any cabinet that you have valuables in or want to keep children out of, it is recommended that you have a professional locksmith do the installation. In the end you will find that paying a professional will cost you far less than replacing a cabinet door that has been drilled unproperly

A few years back Kwikset came out with a lock cylinder that can be rekeyed by the home owner with out having to call a locksmith. While this end user key changing technology has been around for years, it has primarily been used in   corporate applications by means of the U-Change cylinders. Now for the first time ever this technology is being produced by both of the largest residential lock manufactures Black and Deckers “Kwikset” and Ingersol Rands “Schlage”.

Both Schlage and Kwikset offer the same primary advantage for choosing their cylinder over any other cylinder that is the ease and convenience of being able to rekey your locks without having to take the hardware off of the door or calling a locksmith.

In order to change either cylinder special tools are required.

In the case of Kwikset it is a small shim like device that is inserted into the face of the lock. To do this you must first insert the original key and turn the lock cylinder 90 degrees clockwise. Now insert the shim, you will feel a click , this indicates that the lock has entered programming mode. Remove the shim and the original key and insert the new key. Return the lock cylinder to its original position and remove the new key. The lock is now set to the new key. Notice that two things are required in order to change a SmartKey Cylinder and special shim and a new set of keys (in addition to the oldset, without the old set changing the key is not possible).

In order to change the key in the Schlages SecureKey lock one must have the original keys, two specially milled change keys which can be purchased for around $10 dollars and the new keys that will work the locks.  The original key must then be copied onto one of the change keys and the new key onto the other change key. Now in order to rekey the locks the first change key must be inserted into the lock cylinder and turned to the 11 o’clock position then the first key is removed and the second change key inserted into the lock and turned to the original 12 o’clock position. Now the lock should be essentially rekeyed to the new key.

This is where Schlages SecureKey and Kwiksets SmartKeys similarities begin and end. So how are they different?

First and foremost they use two different  keyways, what this means is that the locks can not be keyed alike.  Take it from a Sacramento Residential Locksmith, if you want to eliminate the number of keys that you have to carry around then make sure not to mix and match Schlage and Kwikset lock hardware.

Second, they do not offer the same level of security in regards to saw and pry attacks. While both do make a deadbolt, both deadbolts are by no means equivalent. The bolt that extends into the door jamb on a Schlage  is definately more secure against sawing attacks because it features a hardened pin inside of it, while Kwiksets does not.

Third Schlages SecureKey can be picked fairly easily while Kwiksets Smartkey can not. This was proven at a recent ALOA Locksmithing convention in which 50 locks of each brand were tested side by side by trained locksmiths. The locksmiths had ten minutes to attempt to pick each lock. While close to all of the Schlage locks were defeated only one of the Kwikset locks were. This is clear cut evidence that when it comes to pick resistance the Schlage just doesn’t hold up to Kwikset.

So what lock should your use? As has been illustrated it really depends on what exactly your trying to accomplish with your locks. Consider whether picking is the greater concern or if it is sawing or brute force. Then choose wisely because changing your mind once the locks are in place can be an expensive mistake.

In matter of seconds a your day that was going good up to this point just started to get a whole lot worse. Being locked out of your house can be extremely frustrating and make a person think a little less clearly than they might usually. No matter what don’t get tempted to break a window to get in. Breaking a window is a very costly method of entry. The best thing you could do would be to call a locksmith.

Locksmiths are trained in the art of opening door locks. They have all of the specialized equipment necessary to unlock your door without ruining the hardware or costing you any extra money.

There are some types of locks that when your locked out do require drilling but most don’t, so if your locksmith goes straight for their power tools be very skeptical. A professional locksmith will first exhaust all of his other options which should begin with a nice set of lock picks.

Most locks on homes and businesses can be picked and through the proper use of a pick and a tension wrench your local locksmith can unlock your home.

Keep in mind that not all locksmiths are the same so if you don’t know of one before your in need make sure that you call all of your friends and family until you get a referral that can be trusted. If you are in Placer County call your local Roseville Ca. Locksmith at 916-632-3400

Historically locks remained pretty much unchanged for almost a hundred years. For example, General Motors came out with a lock cylinder back in the thirties and used it until around ten years ago. This is not the case anymore like so many other sectors of society electronics is now playing a major roll in commercial as well as residential locks and entry hardware.

There are many advantages add a few disadvantages to going electronic. Some people like the concept of not carrying keys, now all they have to do is carry a fob or even more conveniently just memorize a combination that they can input into a digital entry lock. One company that produces a full line of electronic locks is Schlage who is owned by Ingersol Rand.

Schlage now makes a wireless lock system called Schlage Link that you can access remotely via the internet thus enabling you to unlock or lock certain doors with a push of on your computer. This system can also be integrated with lights, thermostat and other devices. The feature that makes this truly revolutionary is that it is completely wireless; no special installation is required. Furthermore, most of the electronic deadbolt lock hardware can be installed in the holes that already exist in you door where your current deadbolt is mounted so no drilling is necessary.

Most of the installations of this style lock hardware is simple enough to do yourself, however, if you decide that you don’t have the time nor the inclination to do it call your local locksmith and they can install this hardware for you. If your live in the Roseville California area then please call your local Locksmith Roseville California. 916-632-3400

Working as a locksmith in Roseville California I can’t tell you the number of times that I have been called out to a job because a key was no longer working and all that was needed was a little lubrication in the lock cylinder.

So take it from a professional locksmith if your key has been working and then all the sudden stops, the first thing you should try, before calling anyone out to fix the problem, is putting a little lubricant in the lock.

Locks are composed of movable parts when you slide your key into the lock cylinder the blade of the key pushes up a series of either wafers or pins. As time progresses elements such a dust and corrosion (caused by hard water) can cause the movable parts to stop moving freely. When this occurs your key can stop working.

By spraying a little lubricant such a Tri-Flow or even WD-40 into the keyway of the lock cylinder you diminish the friction that is binding and preventing the pins and wafers from moving freely. If this was indeed the reason that your key stopped working,  then after applying lubricant, it should begin to work again.

I also advice that you apply the same lubricant to the latch as well as the bolt that comes out of the edge of the door; lubricating these parts can make the door both  open and close and even lock more easily.

If your key still does not work after applying lubricant then it may indeed be time to call out a professional such as California based Roseville Locksmith.

Is your door looking a little run down do to the fact that the hardware on it has lost it’s shine or is just out of style?

Among the many residential services that a locksmith can provide is the sales and installation of door hardware.

Handlesets, as pictured here, can add a taste of class and elegance to a door. The handle portion typically works a latch  independently from the deadbolt.

When upgrading this hardware there are a few things to consider. First, what is the backset of the door. This is determined by measure the distance from the doors edge to the center of the whole located on either face of the door. The two most common backsets are 2 3/8″ and 2 3/4″. Most locks and handle sets come with adjustable latches to accommodate both backsets.

The second thing to consider is the length of the handle itself. This is determined by measuring from the center of the latch on the doors edge to the screw that goes through the face of the door on the bottom of the handle. This over all length does change from brand to brand and over time so unless you want to drill a new hole through your door make sure the new handle set is the same length as the old one.

Handle sets are only one type of hardware that locksmiths can provide some of the others include kick plates, decorative trim, peep holes, hinges and much more.

To find out more please contact your local locksmith. If you are located in the Rocklin or Roseville California are then contact your local Rocklin Residential Locksmith or call 916-632-3400

We at NorCal Locskmith working as your Local Roseville Locksmith pride ourselves on our ability to perform all of the locksmithing services that you may need in the most professional manner possible. That is why when you call us to unlock your home, business or auto we will get it done rapid fashion without causing damage to your locks or hardware.

All of our technicians are trained in advanced lock picking techniques. So while some unprofessional locksmiths may use pick guns, or simply luck, to unlock your locks, we will use approaches such pure picking. Pure picking is a lock picking technique in which the locksmith feels every pin individually and gently applies pressure to them until all the shear lines are achieved an the lock opens. This approach is unique from other methods such as raking and the use of pick guns in that the technician should be fully aware of when the lock is about to turn. No luck there.

NorCals Locksmiths will also never suggest drilling a lock, unless absolutely necessary, which is extremely rare. Many amateur locksmiths will go straight for their drill gun as soon as they see that the door is indeed locked. Drilling is a very costly method of opening a door and in many cases an unnecessary on.

Our belief and commitment is that when you higher a professional to do a job they should be able to complete that job  in a professional fashion, which requires skill and training.  Anyone can stick a pick in a lock wiggle it around and hope that it opens, and anyone can pick up a drill and force their way in. That is not professional locksmithing. We believe that when you call us you want the job done right in a manner that saves you both time and money,  so that is what we deliver.

Most doors are any where from 1 1/2  – 2 inches thick.  Unfortunately in order to install a standard lock in the door a 1 inch hole must be drilled in the doors edge. This means that a piece of wood any where from a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch thick is all that is keeping the door from being forced open. Thus a solid kick or even a good hit with the shoulder can break out the door.

Don’t be to alarmed though there is a simple and cost effective way to prevent kick in attacks. All you need to do is measure the thickness of the door and the back set of the lock ( the back set is the measurement from the edge of the door to the center of the lock) and take these measurements down to your local hardware store and purchase a wrap around.  A wrap around or door reinforcement plate actually wraps around the edge of the door thus protecting the wood from splitting out.

A door wrap around is easy to install all one has to do is remove the two screws that are currently holding the knob or deadbolt on the door and put the wrap around over the door edge. Then put four screws one in each corner of the plate and  reinstall the knob or deadbolt and presto your door is instantly reinforced.

Even though a door reinforcement plate is fairly easy to install sometimes it is best to let a qualified locksmith do the work for you.  NorCal Locksmith a Roseville Ca. Locksmith performs this type of installation in the greater Sacramento area.

Our lives are so busy these days it seems like most of us spend the majority of our lives away from our homes. The question is who is watching ours homes while we’re gone? Unfortunately the most accurate answer no one. So while are homes sit for the larger part of every day totally unattended, this does not have to be the case. With the advent of wireless residential security cameras you can have eyes on the ground when your not there to do it yourself.

In the old days if one wanted a camera security system they would have to most likely hire a professional to come out and drill a bunch of holes through the wall of the house and run the wire for the cameras, this would take both time and money. Now with the wireless cameras these wire and added expense are no longer necessary. Just mount the camera connect it to the preexisting wireless network and your up and running.

Maybe your at work and would like to see whats going on at your house, many of the cameras can be accessed remotely by logging on to your home network. If your already at home you can check who is at the door before you even get out of your chair.

While there are many steps to properly securing your home a wireless camera is a definite must; it adds security and piece of mind.

If installing your own wireless security camera system still sounds like it might be a little more then you would like to take on your self, then contact your local security experts such as your local Roseville Locksmith.

While there are many things you can do to increase the security of home such as reinforcement plates and bump proof locks etc. one of the most effective lines of defense is your neighbors eyes.  If you don’t all ready have one in action you should seriously consider putting together a neighborhood watch program.

One of the unfortunate side effects of a slumping economy is that crime and burglaries tend to increase. But before you go out and get a mean dog or spend an exorbitant amount of money on high security locks and security systems you should first consider your neighborhood at large. Are there conducive conditions that may attract criminals? Look around are the yards well kept? Do people leave the newspapers in the driveways for an extended amount of time? It may sound funny but these are some of the cues that criminals use to identify which homes are left unattended.

CNN reports that burglars masquerade as solicitors knocking on doors checking who is home and and which houses are vulnerable. The best way to prevent such would be crooks is to have eyes and ears on the street watching for unusual activity and reporting suspicious  persons. Since burglars are opportunists the best way to prevent them is to demonstrate that the houses in your neighborhood would be difficult to rob without being noticed.

There are many resources out there explaining how to go about setting up a neighborhood watch such as

Mobilizing a Community With a Neighborhood Watch Program

Another valuable resource is your local police department, if you contact them they will usually come and talk to you and your neighbors about how to go about initiating a neighborhood watch program as wells as what kind of suspicious activity to look out for.

In the end in the unfortunate instance when the burglar gets past the neighborhood watch program it is still a good idea to have quality residential locks and door hardware. A Qualified Locksmith such as Rocklin Locksmith would be a good choice to get the job done right the first time

A master key system is a very important locksmith tool. By properly utilizing this keying technique a professional locksmith can key a commercial building or a house in such a way that one owner manager can open all the doors with his key while at the same time isolating other areas to work on only certain specific keys.  For example, lets say there is a managers office and only the manager should have access to this room, but the manager doesn’t want to carry multiple keys, by simply keying the managers office to open only with the master key this can be accomplished. In addition, there may be other doors in the building that employees should be able to access, such as exterior entry doors or individual offices etc., these doors can be keyed to both the master key as well, as what is referred to, as a change key.  Anyone with one of the change keys can only open the doors that were keyed specifically to that key.Notice the master key was still part of the equation when keying the other doors thus the master key which the manager has a his only key now opens everything.

The system described here is a two tier master key system, additional levels can be added if needed. For instance, maybe a assistant manager needs access beyond just the entry doors but is not permitted in the managers office. By using a three tier master key system the managers office can remain off limits to everyone but the manager while still affording the assistant manager access to all the other necessary doors.

Master key systems can be set up to accommodate future business expansion. It may be the case that there are currently only four doors that need to incorporate the master key but down the road as the business grows there may be hundreds, if properly structured a master key system can grow with your business. This is convenient because it prevents the whole system from having to be done all over as time progresses.

If a master key system seems like it may benefit you or your business please contact a qualified commercial locksmith to assist with further clarification and setup.

Whether you’re locked out of your car or need you’re home or business rekeyed NorCal Locksmith can get the job done for you in a prompt and professional fashion. We at NorCal Locksmith are proud to offer our full line of professional locksmithing services to the Lincoln California community.

Lincoln is a rapidly growing city, unfortunately as cities grow so to does the crime rate. Are your vulnerable? The best way to determine this is to understand how burglars or home intruders typically enter a house; once you know this then you can increase the security of those entry points and decrease your vulnerability.   NorCal Locksmith can help. As your local security expert can we  provide you with a free residential security assessment with the purchase of any of our residential services including lockouts.

Some simple fixes may be adding a deadbolt to a garage door that does not currently have one or possibly reinforcing your windows with window locks. Although, before you go out spending a fortune on security products take the time to do your home work. Find out how and through what entry points most home invasions have been occurring in your area. Once you know the entry points invest in some approaches to securing those points of entrance. If you don’t know what products would be the best to fit your particular needs then ask a professional.

So whether your locked out,  need you home rekeyed, or would like a security assessment performed contact your local Lincoln Locksmith.

All doors are vulnerable to certain types of attacks but there are some sure fire ways to prevent many techniques.

Glass paneling is one of the main vulnerabilities that a door can have. Do to the fact that a burglar can simply break out one of the glass panels and reach inside and undo the deadbolt and other door locks.  Glass on doors is a big concern, especially if the glass is located within 40 inches or less of the locks.  If the glass is more than 40 inches away from the locks then the concern becomes whether or not the area of opening is big enough for a burglar to crawl through.

Any door that has Glass near the locks should have a double sided deadbolt installed on it. A double sided deadbolt is a dead bolting lock that has a key cylinder on both sides of the door, this insures that no one can reach in through a broken window and unlock the door unless they have a key.

There are some solutions to preventing the glass from being broken out.  For example, 3M makes a film that you can put over the glass itself; thus making the glass more akin to Plexiglas in that it if cracked will remain as one sheet. Another solution is to put metal grills over all of the vulnerable windows. Metal grills use to pose a substantial fire hazard but the new designs actually allow the resident to release the grill from the inside in case of an emergency.

Whatever solution you prefer it is always best to get a professional consult from a security expert such as Sacramento based Roseville Locksmith thus insuring that you don’t take any costly steps that were unneeded.

Many homes in Rocklin, Roseville, and Granite Bay only have a knob on the exterior garage door.  This makes this door extremely vulnerable to kick ins as well as door spreading attacks.  Your local Roseville Residential Locksmith can help resolve this security threat by performing a fresh installation of a deadbolt of your garage door or doors.

By installing a deadbolt on the garage doors you are increasing the security of that door; not only will it be much more difficult to kick in or spread open it will also be more secure against pick attacks or lock bumping. To further increase the resistance to picking and bumping ask your locksmith to install spooled driver pins into you deadbolt cylinder.

Although it may be possible to for you to perform a fresh installation of a deadbolt lock on your door it is not advisable for a couple reasons.  First and foremost, it does take specialized tools such as hole saws, drill bits and chisels in order to properly install the lock. A professional locksmith will have all the necessary equipment to get the job done right.  Second,a professional locksmith will also be able to reinforce the door jamb and install security strike plates. This is important because when it comes to kick ins the door breaks at the weakest point, if the jamb is reinforced then it is unlikely to split out.

So if you decide that you would like to increase the security of your home please call your local Roseville Locksmith at 916-672-8565.

Your day has just gotten alot worse in about .5 seconds you’ve shut the door of your car and locked the keys inside, aught oh auto lockout. Now your first instinct might be to pick up that rock that’s sitting on the ground near by and bash out the window, don’t do it that would be an extremely expensive option usually averaging from $300 dollars and up. The next thing that might cross your mind is to call “Bob” that friend or acquaintance , you know we’ve all got one, who likes to collect weird tools like the classic “slim jim”.  This to would be a bad idea too; many cars these days are equipped with side impact airbags a well as censors, so you don’t want just anyone probing around inside your door. Believe it or not a few years back a police officer was using a slim jim to open a door for some one who was locked out of their car and he hit the the air bag, it fired and penetrated his head underneath his chin killing him immediately.

Take my advice and save yourself some money, call a professional automotive locksmith to open the car for you. They will come out equipped with all the essential automotive tools and know how to  unlock the car in a manner that doesn’t do any damage to your vehicle or your friend Bob. In addition, if by chance the keys are not in the vehicle like you were hoping a auto locksmith will be prepared to make an original  key for your car, thus insuring that you will be able to get moving along down the road in a matter of minutes.

If your in the Sacramento area then call your local Sacramento Automotive Locksmith at 916-672-8565.

John McAllister a Seattle based locksmith has broken the highest score record previously held by Scott Safran.  John scored a whopping 41,338,740 points on this classic Atari arcade game. This is an amazing achievement for a locksmith, not only because Asteroids is a fairly difficult game, but also because in order to achieve such a high score as John did, one has to sit at the controls for days.  Fortunately for Mr. McAllister, if any profession promotes patience, it is that of a locksmith.

The same level of patience is necessary for a locksmith to insure that they provide the highest quality of security related work. From the precise  installation of lock hardware, to picking lock cylinders,  to the manipulation of a safe locks a locksmiths patience is continuously being tested.  It is fair to say that patience and the ability to persevere are essential and if one lacks either attribute then the  profession of locksmithing is not for you.

To read more about John McAllister and his great achievement visit Game Spy.

If your are need of a Professional  Locksmith in Roseville California then visit NorCal Locksmith

As the U.S. economy continues to sputter along residential burglaries keep increasing. While the numbers are skewed, due to the fact that 50% of home burglaries go unreported, they do continue to increase.  To make matters worse the FBI Uniform Crime Report estimates that only about 16% of Burglars get caught, thus this perpetrators are able to hit house, after house, after house.

The truly unfortunate thing is  80% of residential burglars gain entry through a door by just kicking it open. The reason that this technique works is do to the fact that the door jambs are usually made of a soft wood and the strike plates are insufficiently mounted to just the surface wood with short screws.

The good news is this lack of door jamb strength can be easily remedied.  The lock technicians at Sacramento Locksmith resolve this problem by installing heavy duty strike plates fastened with 3″ screws to the 2 by 4 that is located just behind the jamb door jamb.  With this security upgrade our Sacramento Residential Locksmiths can help insure that your family and valuable are protected and furthermore that your house doesn’t become the next FBI statistic.

Reports of customers being under quoted and over charged for locksmithing related work has become ever to common these days. So how does one avoid such scams and  go about finding a Reputable Professional Locksmith.?

First off make sure that you locate a local phone number, that is one in you area code.  Avoid all 1-800 numbers unless they have a an additional local number listed as well.  Try to find someone that you’ve heard of or ask a friend.  Next make sure that you get an estimate for the work that is to be done prior to the locksmith coming out. Once the locksmith arrives verify that the vehicle they came in is marked with a company logo, if not turn them away; you want someone invested in their line of work.  Again ask them what the charges will be before they begin to perform any work.  Don’t let them tell you any stories of why they need to charge you double because the gas pump will shut off if you don’t stick the keys in the ignition within 10 seconds.Tall tales like this defy common sense and should be cause for you to call another locksmith without paying the scam artist standing in front of you a single dime.  In addition to getting them to reiterate their rates ask to see their valid and current locksmith license.  Any Professional Sacramento Locksmith operating his business legitimately will be able to provide such ID when requested.  When the work is done if the bill is other than quoted and you were not notified in advance to why it was going to cost more, refuse payment and contact the local authorities.  If the bill is acceptable then make sure you receive a copy of it in addition to a business card; you never know when you or you friends will need a good locksmith again.

In closing trust your gut if something doesn’t seem up to par chances are its not.  If your in the Greater Sacramento area please contact you local Sacramento Locksmith.  We at NorCal Locksmith pride ourselves on Professionalism and Quality Locksmithing work.

Norcal Locksmith is proud to announce that we are now offering an Auburn Locksmith service.  Born and raised in Placer county I am very familiar with the territory from the valleys of the American River to the crests of the foothills reaching elevations of 1400 feet.

Auburn is a beautiful area the heart of the gold country was considered the proper place for the Capital.  All though that never came to pass one can tell just by looking around that the area is steeped in history.   As a locksmith there is much to consider when assessing the security needs of any particular building.  For instance the old Victorian style homes may still have the original skeleton key mortise locks and the owners may want to preserve these features.  We at NorCal Locskmith working as your local security expert can make keys for this old hardware, and also provide you with information as to how you can increase your security without changing the aesthetic of your house.

Not all of the homes and buildings are old in Auburn in fact the majority are of a more contemporary sort.  Therefore, we as your Auburn Locksmith can provide you with the most up to date security and lock solutions.  Whether you are locked out of your home or auto or need your house or business rekeyed we as your local locksmith in Auburn would be happy to take care of all of your  locksmithing needs.

NorCal locksmith offers a wide array of residential locksmith services in the greater Sacramento area.  Many of the services that we provide may be things that one would already know and expect from a locksmith but some might actually come as a surprise.  For instance, some of the things that one may already expect could include residential rekeys, lockouts, door lock upgrades and replacements, generating keys and duplicating keys.

Now, some of the things that you might not expect form a locksmith could include adding a deadbolt to those garage doors that only have a knob inadequately securing them currently.  Or maybe the teenagers in the house are getting into the buzze.  A cabinet lock would help keep them out of the out, and there is no one better that a professional locksmith to install such locks without  destroying that precious wood.

One thing that is a unique art of a professional locksmith is that of opening safes and repairing  safes.  Whether the combo o is lost or its just no longer working a locksmith can get that safe up and going again. Once the safe is open it may be a good idea for convenience to have the locksmith swap it out with a digital safe lock.

One of our Sacramento Locksmiths, in your area, would be happy to provide any of these locksmithing services. Just give us a call.

NorCal Locksmith is now opening safes in the greater  Sacramento area.   Whether you’ve lost the combination or have had a recent death in the family and need to get into that old safe you can trust a Sacramento Locksmith to get it open for you.   Life can hand you unexpected twists and turns and  sometimes unfortunately  are memories just simply fail us and we forget those numbers that are not used regularly.  Or maybe you remember the numbers but the safe still won’t open. Perhaps when it closed last you heard a clunk which, unbeknown to you was the relocker firing, and now the safe what open.  Likely all of your important documents are now locked safely away in a place that even you no longer have access to.  Don’t worry there is a solution, call a Safe Cracker. NorCal Locksmiths safe technicians are highly trained and certified in opening and repairing all sorts of safes and safe deposit locks.  So if you find yourself needing one opened and repaired and need it done by a true professional security expert then call us at NorCal Locksmith and we will get the job done right the first time.  We at NorCal Locksmith pride our selves on protecting your security and confidentiality therefore we always do are utmost  to leave our customers feeling fully guarded, that’s our guarantee.  Contact our techs near you by visiting our Sacramento Locksmiths.

Whether at home or at business it is likely that you may have many valuables from important papers to precious jewelry lying out in the open for many to see.   Believe it or not the most likely thief is someone that you know.  If you think about it this makes a lot of sense since they have been in your house and may be aware of what kinds of things you have just sitting around.  I realize that no one likes to think of their friends or family as possible thieves but the truth is if you haven’t taking any steps to secure your valuables you are partly to blame for their disappearance.  A home or business safe is an inexpensive insurance policy and from a Sacramento locksmiths perspective a must have.  If you order one from a reputable locksmith then they will likely be able to bolt it down for you as well.  This prevents the whole safe from being carried away.   A decent safe is reasonable priced any where as from low as $240.  Definitely consider getting a fire resistant one; there is little point in protecting your goods from a thief only to have them burnt up.  A descent safe should have at least 1 hour fire protection at around 1700 degrees F.  If you’re interested in security steer clear of the safes that you can purchase at places like Office Depot or Sams Club; the offer little protection to the most rudimentary of attacks.  In addition for the same price that you will pay for a Sentry Safe you can purchase an Adesco or an Amsec both of which will offer a descent amount of security as well as fire protection.

Should you go with a digital lock or should you go with a mechanical one?  This is a good question to consider for they both have their advantages and disadvantages.  For example a digital safe lock can be opened fairly easily in seconds, while a mechanical lock may take a few attempts at dialing it before it opens.  In addition, the digital locks are usually easy for the user to change the combination on, while the mechanical variety may require a locksmith.  On the other hand the digital locks to require batteries which do need to be changed every so often.  Also the digital locks are electronic and we all know that electronics do have a tendency to fail, and the question is not if but when.  The mechanical locks will most likely never fail.  If you do decide to go with the digital version make sure that you have a key override in case the electronics do fail.

No matter what kind of safe that you decide on the most important thing is not what kind you get, but that you actually get a safe.  If you live in the Sacramento area and would like to purchase a safe or have one serviced, opened or bolted down or  have any questions please contact your local Sacramento Locksmith.

Nor-Cal Locksmith is now offering quality locksmithing services by our Rocklin Locksmith.

As the economic recession continues  we in the professional locksmithing industry are seeing an up tick in home and business break ins.  One way to help avoid having such an occurrence  is to increase the level of home or business security.

Key Control

One of the most rudimentary things that can and should be done is keeping track of how many keys for your home or business are out there and who has them.  If there is any doubt about your key control then you should have a licenced locksmith come out and rekey your locks.

Deadbolts

Once key control is reestablished it is important to make sure that all of the points of entry into your home or business are adiquately secured.  This includes all windows, doors, animal doors and chimneys.   Be adviced an exterior door is not considered secured if the only lock on the door is a knob.   In our experience if it is just a knob on the door 9 times out of ten it can be bypassed by simply shimming the door.  In order to avoid such entry techniques it is essential that you have a deadbolt installed on all vulnerable doors.  (A Deadbolt can not,  if properly installed, be shimmed or knifed into the open position once  fulled locked. ) If the door has windows that could be knocked out either replace the door or at the very least request that your locksmith install a double sided deadbolt.

Home Security System / Alarm

No home security system is complete without an alarm system.  Checking your locks and windows is the surest way to keep intruders out of your home  but if they get in the next line of defence is an alarm system.  An alarm system will detect that one of the doors or windows has been forced open and then signal an alert to the monitor who will in turn contact the police.

If you need any Rocklin Locksmith advice or service done in Rocklin California contact Nor-Cal Locksmith.  Rocklin Locksmith.

Bumping locks, although not being a new security concern, is getting alot more attention these days due in part to the propaganda spread by some locksmiths attempting to  promote their own pricey high security keyways.  So before you go out and spend an exuperant amount of money on new locks, lets take a moment to uncover what exactly lock bumping is and briefly discuss how vulnerable you really are to such an entry technique.

First a lock is bumped through the use of a specially cut key that when applied using a certain technique actually pics the lock cylinder.  Be advise that this lock opening approach does require a certain level of finesse, similar to that which  is required to pick a lock the old fashioned way through the us of lock pics.   Essentially racking a lock open with a pick and bumping a lock open with a bump key both defeat a tumbler lock cylinder in the same way, that is, by bouncing the tumberlers up and down until the shear line is achieved.

Bump keying unlike old fashioned picking should by no means be considered a covert entry technique.   First of all it produces a significant amount of sound via the bumping process.   In my oppinion if a crook is going to make that much noise then they may as well just kick the door in or break a window.   Second, it leaves a noticeable scar on the top of the lock cylinder keyway, clear evidence that such a technique has been attempted.  However, truth being told locks can be opened through such a technique I have seen it my self and done it myself as a Locksmtih here in, Rocklin California,  although always completely legally.

Norcal Locksmith is now open for business.  We are located in Roseville California and service all of Placer County.  We provide services for both Residential and Business.

These services include:

1. Rekeying lock cylinders
2. Producing and duplicating keys
3. Master keying locks
4. Hardware repair and replacement
5. Emergency exit device installation and repair
6. High security lock installation
7. Restricted key way installation
8. Access Control
9. Door closer installation and replacement
10. Security analysis and upgrade

We also to make keys for most vehicles.

One of the best three point locking mechanisms out there, beside Anderson door locks, Hoppe offers a multi-point lock at a fairly reasonable price.  Just like Anderson door locks Hoppe lock Mechanisms do once in a while break in such a way that the spring no longer return the handle to the upright position or even in some case so that the door cannot even be locked. The remedy to this is to have a locksmith come out and replace, typically, just the mortice lock body and the bottom section of the mechanism. A do it yourself type can try to replace this mechanism on their own but there are a few things that can make it difficult. For one the profile euro style cylinder that the Hoppe lock Mechanism uses to lock the door needs to be removed in order to swap out the hardware. Sometimes this cylinder can be difficult do get in the right position to remove from the door. In addition, the new bottom half of the mechanism needs to be properly connected to the top portion in order for the lock to function properly. Furthermore, often when these locks fail it is because one of the strike plates is not lining up correctly, a well trained technician will have the knowledge to identify when this is the case, and will be able to make the appropriate adjustments. Therefore, although it is possible to do-it yourself it may behoove you to call a professional for this lock style.

If you are located in Placer county we at NorCal Locksmith would be happy to help you resolve any issues you may be having with you Hoppe Multi Point Lock Mechanism.

Working as locksmiths in Roseville CA and the surrounding  areas such as Lincoln Ca we at NorCal Locksmith come across Anderson Windows and Doors frequently.  Anderson Windows and Doors is a great company that makes a solid product.  Their three point locking system is second to none.  In fact, they are so confident in their product line that they offer a ten year warranty on their door locks.  This is a good thing, since from time to time they do break.

The most common issue that we have seen occur on Anderson Door Locks in Lincoln California is a broken lever return spring.  You will know that this is your issue when the interior handle does not return all the way up to the horizontal position on its own. It is important to resolve this issue;  if you don’t latch will remain retracted and the door will not remain shut unless you lock it.  Since the return spring is inside of the door lock mechanism the only solution for a broken return spring or a sagging handle is to have a qualified locksmith replace the door lock mechanism.  Now if your door is under ten years of age then Anderson Window and Door will supply the parts to a licensed locksmith at no additional cost.

If you live in the greater Sacramento area and are having issues with your Anderson Glass and Door Locks please give us a call.

We at NorCal Locksmith to announce the expansion of our locksmithing service area to incorporate Locksmith Antelope CA. Our Locksmithing services include:

Residential:  Rekeys, Door Hardening, Fresh Lock Installation, Single sided Deadbolt Installation, Peephole installation, Cam Lock Installation and much more.

Commercial: Rekeys, Masterkey Systems, Door Hardware installation and replacement, Door Closers, Emergency Exit Devices, and Access Control.

Safes: Sales, Service, Opening and Repairing, Securing to the Floor, and Safe Restoration.

So whether you are locked out of your home or auto or need your office building rekeyed in Antelope California one of our quality locksmith service technicians can get your security related issues resolved in a prompt and timely fashion.

We are proud to serve the Antelope community and will always strive to provide top notch customer service. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment please call us at 916-632-3400.

NorCal Locksmith is proud to be considered the local Locksmith Granite Bay CA.  With offer a wide array of locksmithing services to the the residents and business located in Granite Bay.

For example, maybe you have lost your keys to your home and need it rekeyed.  Our highly trained locksmith technicians can get all of the locks on you home rekeyed and  usually within an hour.

Or perhaps you own a business and are facing the unfortunate situation of having to let someone go.  We can come out and rekey your business so that you can rest assured that your previous employee or employees can come back and get it after hours.

We at NorCal Locksmith also offer a wide range of Safe related locksmithing services. Our  skilled safe technicians sell, service, and open all varieties of safes and vaults in Granite Bay California.

So what ever your locksmithing need may be we at NorCal Locksmith are happy and honored to be your local Locksmith in Granite Bay California.

Many people already know that before one moves into a new home it is important to have all of the locks rekeyed.  Unfortunately, one thing that is often over looked is the garage door opener. Since there is no way to know for sure how many garage door openers are out there it is a good idea to reset the garage door openers code. This is a service that NorCal Locksmiths Locksmith Roseville CA and our Locksmith Rocklin CA offers our residential customers. When we come out to rekey your locks ask us to also reset your garage door opener.

This is typically an easy procedure which usually requires little more than clearing all of the remotes out of the system and then adding them back one by one. So if the previous home owner gave you one remote but you are not sure whether or not any other remotes are out there; by  having the opener reset you can rest assured that the only clicker that will open the garage door is the one in you possession.

Don’t run the risk of coming home to an empty garage have one of our locksmiths reset your garage door today.

Take it from me a Local Locksmith in Roseville California When it comes to locksmiths the guy with the lowest advertised price isn’t always the best deal. In fact, more often the not with these “$19 Locksmith Services” you usually get a whole lot more than you were looking for.

When you call one of these numbers that are advertising such low rates you are connected to a call center or a dispatcher who is most likely located in a totally different state. The dispatcher then tries to locate a “locksmith”, oftentimes a illegitimate one  who is likely unlicensed and uninsured, who can perform the required work for them. In return the “locksmith” is charged the $19 dollars as a referral or lead fee.  At this point the technician is already in the hole $19 dollars, therefore once he shows up to do the work he needs to charge you $19 plus what ever trip fee and labor fees he can in order to make the job profitable.

What usually happens is the locksmith will show up for lets say a simple lock rekey and then he will give you a song and dance about how the lock can’t be rekeyed and how it needs to be replaced (All of this is untrue by the way, the vast majority of locks can be rekeyed with very few complications). He then will try to charge you $50 or more for a knock of brand that may of cost him $5. Thus, once the technician is  done with his work he will hand you a bill that is two to three times the amount that a legitimate locksmith would have charged you for the same work.

The moral of the story is do your self a favor and avoid calling the guys who are advertising a low ball rate, since they are typically a bait a switch operation who are out to take you for a ride.

Working as a Roseville Locksmith I have noticed that many homes built prior to 1990, and some even after that, don’t have a deadbolt lock on the exterior garage door. This means the only thing guarding your most vulnerable entry point is a spring latch that can in most cases be bypassed through the simple use of a credit card.

Not having deadbolt securing your exterior garage door represents a serious residential security risk; once inside of the garage the would be burglars have all the time and usually tools necessary to break down the interior garage door and thus gain access to the rest of your home.

Many home owners may not realize how vulnerable they are or perhaps they  just might not want to pay the money to have a deadbolt installed by a professional locksmith. In either case installing a deadbolt lock into your exterior garage door is probably the most cost effective way of increasing your residential security.

If money is an issue, as these days it often times is, you can perform the installation yourself. To assist in this task we at NorCal Locksmith have put together an instructional video that walks you step by step through the fresh installation of a deadbolt door lock. How To Install a Deadbolt Lock : Fresh Installation

Your home is truly only as secure as its weakest link. As a Locksmith in Roseville California I see alot of break ins and believe me, you can spend all the money you want on high security locks and door hardware, but in the end if there are windows at ground level then your home is not fully secured. One way to prevent burglars from smashing out a window and walking right into your home is to have a window coating such as ShatterGards window film.  Go to there website and check out their product line, they have a demonstration on how this film helps protect your glass.

In short, ShatterGard is installed in a similar fashion to window tint.  Once applied to the glass it makes the whole window highly resistant to break ins;  being that once the glass has been shattered the film holds the pieces together thus preventing entry.

ShatterGard is just another layer of home security that helps protect your home from burglaries and invasions. Ask your local locksmith about this security upgrade and find out if it is right for you.

We at NorCal Locksmith are proud to extend our territory of service to Citrus Heights. If you live in or your business is located in Citrus Heights California then please visit our Citrus Heights Locksmith page to contact a local locksmith near you.

As is the case with all of NorCal Locksmiths Technicians you will find that our Citrus Heights locksmiths are fully trained and equipped to deal with all of your residential and commercial related locksmithing issues.

When you call one of techs out to site we guarantee that they will show up in a clearly marked company van and will be dressed in a company shirt.  Furthermore, all of our techs carry a current locksmithing license and will be happy to present this to you upon request.

Our Locksmiths in Citrus Heights often work with people that have been burglarized or are concerned about being broken into. Do to this fact we must keep up on all of the latest industry advancements in security, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Whether you need your home picked open, your locks rekeyed, or your hardware repaired or replaced NorCal Locksmith is here to assist you with all of your security related concerns.

Most people have key rings that would function equally as well as a 10 pound fishing lure. These heavy key rings can be very cumbersome and extremely uncomfortable especially for a man who might carry them in his pocket. Believe it or not these rings can also be your ignition cylinders worse enemy. The problem is the weight of the keys  suspended from the ring can actually cause your ignition cylinder to wear out prematurely.

As a Roseville Locksmith one of the things that we try to do is reduce the number of keys that our customers have on their rings and in their possession. One simple way to do this is to get rid of that old master lock padlock  and replace it with a padlock such as the Abus 83/45 rekeyable one.  Abus is just one company that makes these locks you can find similar ones made by Schlage, Almont and Master Lock. These padlocks can be keyed to a Kwikset, Yale, or Schlage key. The advantage to this is that these keys happen to be the most common residential keys on the west coast. In other words you can have the padlock that is on your gate open with the key that is used for your front door to your house. Thus you can have one key that works all of the locks on your property. Talk about convenience.