BBB Alert: Locksmith Swindle On The Rise

CONSUMER ALERT

Locksmith Swindle on the Rise

· Untrustworthy locksmith companies are ripping off consumers in Memphis

· A local phone number doesn’t always mean a local locksmith

· TN enacted a locksmith licensing program in July 2008

April 9, 2009 – The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be wary of untrustworthy locksmiths operating in the Mid-South. Some “local” locksmith companies are not physically located in the area, but are simply distant call centers that farm the jobs out to unlicensed and unprofessional locksmiths who may end up doing more harm than good.

According to Kara Peifer, West TN Locksmith Association Secretary/Treasurer, a consumer who searches for a locksmith in a yellow pages directory or online may not end up with the local business they think they are contacting. “The local yellow pages directories list over 150 locksmiths in each book,” said Peifer, “and if you search online, you may end up with as many as 850 names of reputed locksmiths in the Memphis area. Many have no physical location here.”

Peifer says that the proliferation of unlicensed locksmiths is one reason that states are beginning to enact locksmith licensing laws. “Nine states have already passed these laws,” Peifer stated. “The TN Locksmith Licensing Program was enacted in July 2008.”

“Unlicensed locksmiths tend to move from state to state, leaving when the heat gets turned up in one location,” said Peifer. Pam Smith, Administrative Assistant with the TN Locksmith Licensing Program agreed.  “We’re seeing this problem all over the state,” Smith said. “It’s everywhere.”

The State of TN requires individual locksmiths to be licensed and locksmith companies to be registered with the state. Additionally, either the license or registration number must be printed on all business cards and advertising. The State of TN has both education and experience requirements for each level of licensing. And persons convicted of fraud or theft are not eligible.

“Because locksmiths are able to access secure areas and data, they could potentially be a Homeland Security threat,” Peifer said. She hopes that public awareness of the locksmith licensing requirements will help protect both consumers and her profession.

The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South offers the following tips for hiring a reputable locksmith:

· Check out the company with the BBB, preferably before you need a locksmith’s services.

· Ask the locksmith who shows up for identification and his TN license or registration number.

· Find out if the locksmith is insured to cover any damage incurred during a repair.

· Expect the locksmith to ask you for identification. A legitimate locksmith will confirm your identity and make sure you are the property owner before doing any work.

· Be wary of locksmiths who answer the phone with generic sounding names like “locksmith services”. Always ask for the legal name of the business and its physical location.

· Be wary of locksmiths who arrive in unmarked vehicles. Most legitimate locksmith companies will have vehicles that are clearly marked with the company’s name.

· In case of a lock-out, be cautious if you are told up front that the lock has to be drilled and replaced. An experienced, legitimate locksmith has invested in the tools and education to be able to unlock almost any door.

· If you are a victim of an unscrupulous locksmith, file a complaint with the BBB at bbb.org. Complaints should also be filed with the State of TN Locksmith Licensing Program by calling Pam Smith at 615.532.9170 or online at www.tn.gov/commerce/boards.

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Nancy Crawford | Director of Marketing & Communications

Tel: 901-757-8627

Cell: 901-827-6128

Fax: 901-757-2997

Email: ncrawford@bbbmidsouth.org

www.bbb.org | Start with Trust

BBB of the Mid-South

3693 Tyndale Drive

Memphis, TN 38125

I received this the other day, and wanted to pass on this very valuable info!

Watch out & be safe!

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
Sherwood Locksmithing

http://www.personalsafetyebook.com

Put Your Keys Beside Your Bed At Night

Greetings,

Today’s great post comes from my friend Jessica, and I want to thank her for allowing me to use it to help keep others safe. Thanks Jess!

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Doctor’s Office, the checkout girl at the market, everyone you run across. Please feel free to pass this blog post to them. However you can do it, please do. Keep them informed with this very simple tip.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for your car, providing your car does have an alarm system and you do have the alarm remote.

The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound either until you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.  Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: it’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.  It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the remote unit.  It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are that the burglar/rapist won’t stick around….after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there, and sure enough the criminal won’t want that!

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.

This is something that should really be shared with everyone.  Maybe it could save a life or prevent a sexual assault.

My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn’t hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she’ll know there’s a problem.

P.S…it would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone.

Audio Version of Burglar Alarm Information

Greetings all,

This weekend as I was going through some folders, I came across an audio
version of How to Select a burglar alarm.

For those folks that are very busy and can’t read all the posts, I thought that
this audio version would be useful.

Feel free to download it to your computer, or your ipod, and forward it to
your friends if you would like to.

Please let me know how you like it, and I can produce more on the different
topics we discuss here.

Hope you enjoy this and find it useful.

http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/episode2_burglar_alarms.wav

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
Sherwood Locksmithing

PS…The Holiday’s are here! Discover how to protect yourself from
Identity Theft with our FREE report available at :
Personal Safety and Security Secrets Revealed

Preparing your Home for Holiday Travel

Greetings,

While you are likely very excited about your upcoming plans to travel for the holidays, you need to make sure you take the time to prepare your home as well. Criminals are very aware that people travel for the holidays and they look for homes to target during that period of time. There is a much lower risk of getting caught during this time because so many people are paying attention to their own plans.

Make sure you carefully check all the doors and the windows before you leave for the holidays. They should all be securely locked to prevent someone from slipping into them undetected. If you have an alarm system you want to make sure you set it before you head out. Put fresh batteries is motion lights and outdoor video equipment that you may have installed. Don’t leave extra keys under the mat or other common locations where criminals can easily find them and walk right into your home.

You don’t want your home to appear to be empty when you travel for the holidays. If possible have a friend or neighbor stop by daily. Most criminals stake out homes so if they see different lights on or they see fresh footprints in the snow they will be less likely to target your home.

Either have someone collect your mail and newspapers daily or put them on hold until you return from your holiday travel. Not only is this a dead give away that you are out of town, it can also lead to identity theft. All it takes is for a criminal to get their hands on your bank statement or a credit card statement and they could wipe out your account and charge items that you will have against your credit card.

If you are traveling during the colder part of the year for the holidays, have someone shovel your driveway and sidewalks. This definitely gives the impression that you are home or at least that someone is keeping a very close eye on your home. You also want to set your thermostat at a decent temperature while you are way. The added expense of the heating bill will be nothing compared to the damage from broken pipes that may have froze due to the drop in temperatures while you were traveling for the holidays.

Make sure a friend or a neighbor has a way to contact you in the event of an emergency involving your home while you are away for the holidays. Hopefully they won’t need to contact you but having such measures in place can be very beneficial if an issue does arise. They may be able to take care of low priority issues for you such as the sprinkler system not turning off or someone hitting your mailbox with their vehicle due to sliding on icy roads.

It can be very nice to travel for the holidays, but do all you can in order to ensure your home will be protected while you are away. You don’t want to come home and find that your home has been burglarized or later that your personal information has been compromised. Some planning before you travel for the holidays will help to ensure everything is safe and sound when you return.

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
Sherwood Locksmithing

PS…Our “Personal Safety and Security Secrets Revealed” ebook makes a Great
Gift for the new home owner you may know.

Motion Detectors for Your Home Security; part three

Greetings and welcome back for part 3 of Motion
Detectors for the safety and security of your home.

I appreciate you bearing with me for 3 parts. I know
Motion Detectors are not the most exciting topic
to write about, that is why I broke it down into 3 parts.

Let’s wrap this puppy up.

Motion detectors are affordable. In addition, you can combine
motion detectors with hardwire alarm kits; hardwire alarms,
wireless alarm kits, security cameras, etc.

Online you will find clearance on home security, which can
provide you a savings on motion detectors combined with the
home security solution of choice.

Online you will also find contact door and window systems,
door and window alarms, chimes, outdoor sensor lights,
driveway alarms, and more.

In addition, you will find garage alarms, dummy cameras,
siren speakers and strobe lights, smoke/heat detectors,
and more.

Do not forget to add smoke detectors and CO
(Carbon Monoxide) alarms to your home security
package, to achieve the prized protection you deserve.

Remember, if you DO NOT have a hard-wired smoke alarm,
change your batteries every fall & spring.

I recommend doing it when the clocks are adjusted for
Daylights saving time.

All for now, thanks for reading.

Sincerely,

Trapper

http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

Motion Detectors for Home Security; part 2

Greetings again and welcome back to part 2;
Motion Detectors for your Home Security.

The Sharp Shooters designed on infrared technology, supply
detectors that are sensitive to motion. The alarms will not sound
when static, vibration, changes in temperatures occur, or when
light is stray.

The signals work from a digital processor, including ASIC which
reduces false alerts. The advantage of these devices is that you do
not have sensitivity that other devices do. In other words,
the alarm will not sound when dust, bugs, dirt, or changes in the
temperature occur.

Many alarm systems today will detect motion at various ranges on
a db alarm system. In addition, you have the option of programming
security codes, or adjusting sensor heads. When the battery is low,
the units will send you a signal on indicator lights.

The digital encores are controlled by various technology solutions,
which announce motion when detected. Few units have integrated
channels that help to eliminate wiring faults.

Most units today are easy to install, and you have the advantage of
adjusting the units to fit your needs.

Few of the units available today, offer 15m x 15m of pattern
coverage. The temperature is compensated by pulse counts, which
you have the option of selecting. Most units are easy to mount, and
the features provide you trouble free, and quick installation
capabilities. You can also disable or enable LED with few systems.

In addition, you can choose vertical and horizontal patterns, which
you can adjust. The pulse counts may include polarity on a SMD
structure, which filters white lights.

Please join us again shortly for part three where will will wrap
up our discussion of Motion Detectors.

Sincerely,

Trapper

http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

Motion Detectors for Home Safety; part 1

Greetings,

The next couple of posts we will deal with Motion Detectors.

Choosing motion detectors are easy when you know what is
available. In addition, if you know what you want, it is easy to
purchase your choice of motion detectors.

First, you must decide what the detectors can do for you.

Infrared detectors are available, which work as temperature gauges.
The units are engineered to deliver home security in zones. Some
units offer more than others do, in that the units provide full
coverage.

In addition, the units today are designed to guard against
false alarms. Security devices, such as the motion detectors provide
easy mount, easy installation, and a selection of pulse counts.
You receive white light security, sleeves, distance lens range, and
interior cable ducts, which provide amble space for wiring.

The ZoDIAC models are available, which are designed to deliver
comprehensive performance against false alarm. The compact units
are easy to maintain, and offer versatile swivels on an optimal
mounting platform, such as walls or ceilings.

Additional home security devices include the CoMET models. The
units work on reliable technology-based platforms. The home
security devices work by detecting environmental changes that
could affect your home. The coverage for few units reaches up to
40 feet, which provides you compensation against temperature.

In addition, you get the best with the pet immune options. Pulse
counts, protection against white light, LED prism, etc, are just a
few additions added to today’s home security-motion detectors.

Please revisit us soon for part two, you don’t want to miss that
do you?

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood

http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

How to select a burglar alarm

Greetings,

Here’s the question of the day.

Do you have a home security system or burglar alarm?

If you do, GREAT! If not, WHY?

A home security system is like an electronic eye looking
out over your house while you are away.

Please take a quick read at this post and discover why
you really should have one.
Burglars dislike noise – it attracts attention. A barking
dog is a good deterrent in preventing burglaries. However,
never totally depend on a watch dog. Some professional
burglars have been known to carry delectable “dog snacks”
in their pockets and with a full stomach, some watch dogs
make friends easily and forget their purpose of guarding
the premises. The most reliable safeguard to protect your
home and possessions is a reliable alarm.

Many types of burglar alarms can be obtained for residential
use. It is advisable, however, that basic hardware security
measures be followed first.

If additional security is desired, the following
recommendations could be helpful:

1. Have a home demonstration with the alarm done in your
home, not at their office.

2. An audible alarm is recommended over silent alarms for
residential use in order to first – protect persons and
secondly – property.

A RELIABLE ALARM SHOULD INCLUDE:

A. A battery-powered fail-safe backup.

B. A rearming capability and siren timer shut-off.

C. Read-out ability to check working system.

D. Siren sounding device that can be installed on exterior
of home to alert neighbors of possible intrusion.

When shopping for an alarm system, please take this list with you.

SECONDARY BARRIER

If the value of small personal items warrants protection, a
secondary barrier is an additional safeguard. On a hinging
closet door, install a 1″ deadbolt lock. Store your jewelry,
furs, cameras, guns, silverware and other valuables behind
this barrier. Be sure to “pin” the hinges and disguise the
door as best as possible.

For any questions concerning the above article, please feel free to
contact me.

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS..do you know what Identity Theft really is,
and how you can protect yourself from it?

FREE Report available at:

http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

Protect your house and family from bump keys, part 2

Hello,

Our previous post was part one about bump keys.

Here now is part two. I hope the previous and following
tips and guidelines are useful for you.
Grade one hardware: locks that are classified grade one generally are made
for commercial installations and can be used hundreds of times each day and
still work for many years.  Even though they are commercial grade, many are
used on homes where people want the strongest hardware possible.

Grade three hardware: this is the lowest quality type of hardware usually sold
in most hardware stores and many internet stores that are not really familiar
with quality hardware.

We strongly suggest you never use this cheap hardware.

ASSA is one the predominant high security lock manufacturers in the United
States and has been trusted for more than thirty-five years to provide cylinder
and hardware security for the private, commercial and government sectors.

“No, you cannot go to the local hardware store or Home Depot and obtain
ASSA blanks or have ASSA keys copied.” says Sherwood

The real threat to the public is in not taking responsibility for their own safety
and not taking criminals seriously.

The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has issued press releases
to the public advising concerned individuals to contact and consult with a
Certified Locksmith (CRL, CPL, CML) or we also reccommend a State
Licensed Locksmith.

ALOA is located on the web at www.aloa.org

Instead we are giving you a broad range of security tips that will help make
your home less inviting to an opportunistic criminal, the above solutions
overview gives you an idea of what you can do immediately to improve your
security.

The final message is simple and some good news: Fit a bump proof lock to
your door today as there are several locks available that aren’t vulnerable to
bumping.

If you are concerned your safety is at risk feel free to call us for a security
consultation.

Ask us about ASSA high security locks that resist bumping.

I hope you will share this information with your family friends… and that you
will contact us when you are ready to upgrade from that less than ideal
lockset on your front door.

Sincerely,

Thomas Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS…Update about the so-called “WD-40 fix.” There are news media
agencies reporting that spraying WD-40 in the lock prevents the bump key
from working, however this information is absolutely wrong.

If you want more information or if we can advise you further on the security
of your home or business, we will make ourselves available at your
convenience.

Protect your house and family from bump keys, part 1

Hello,

This post has to do with “bump keys”.

On August 2nd, 2006, Newsweek ran a web article on bump keys that
started a public media spread of the information.

Bump Keys are an old locksmith method of opening or bumping locks.
Bump keys are usually considered to be a lock pick, so if lock picks are illegal
to possess in your geographic area, the bump key is probably also illegal.

Bump keys are “basically an old-fashioned way of picking a lock,”
said Jerry Cunningham, of the Danville Police Department.

Bump keys are certainly not the only way a criminal can enter your home,
business, or vehicle.

Police say burglars also tend to break-in in a more straightforward way, like
smashing a window.

Bump keys are just one more example of a threat to your personal safety.

Bump keys are no more a threat than any of the hundreds of other ways of
getting in your home, but now thanks to the internet and video sites,
lock bumping and lock bump keys are sweeping the internet and America.
So how can you provide the much needed security of your house against
bump keys?

First, you should be aware of this security vulnerability to your home and two,
you should consider buying a better lockset with more pins to make this
attack harder to execute.

In America, almost all the locks sold in hardware stores can be opened with
just two different bump keys.  ” Most consumer-grade deadbolt locks and
keyed doorknobs made by companies such as Kwikset and Schlage and
sold at home-improvement and hardware stores are easily opened with
bump keys.”

“Bump keys are able to bypass both the standard lock in your knob and the
deadbolt and it’s not just locks at home that concern security experts “It can
be pretty serious especially when you consider that more than five million post
office box locks can be bumped open in the same fashion which is perfect for
identity thieves.”

“High security locks add extra locking features within the cylinder which
makes the bumping much more difficult,” said Clyde Roberon of Medeco, Inc.

Police say there’s more to home security than just locks.

Police do say spending all that money won’t matter if you don’t take the next
step of locking your doors in the first place, or activating your home security
systems.

In part two, to be posted soon, we will discuss the different grades of locks,
High Security locks, and an internet rumor that is FALSE about bump keys.

Thanks for reading, stay safe,

Sincerely,

Thomas Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS….if you have any questions, please feel free to
contact us.