Security all locked up
AMID a spate of house breakins, a Southport shop is selling an ultra-safe door lock which comes with a £1,000 guarantee if it is broken in a burglary.
Thieves have been known to gain entry to houses by using drilling tools to break traditional lock cylinders.
The trend is believed to have started in Bradford, and has reportedly been seen on multiple occasions across Southport.
To defend against the trick, Southport-based Stanleys is stocking a newly-designed, more secure lock system, named the Brisant Ultion
The manufacturer of the new locks are so confident in the security of the product that it is promising £1,000 to any registered owner whose lock is broken into in this way.
The new designs have been recognised by an industry body as passing the highlest level of safety tests.
Ian Britstone, owner of the Shakespeare Street store, said: “We’ve heard of a few of these types of break in Southport. If you haven’t got a threestar cylinder, you could be at risk.
“Master Lock Association and insurers have got together to make something much safer than what’s already out there.”
The new locks are made using molybdenum, a heavy-duty metal which is 25% denser than iron, and have keys which feature 11 pins, rather than the standard six.
“With the molybdenum in the lock, if they did snap it, the lock will not be able to be opened from the outside,” explained Ian.
An additional issue to beware of from the break-ins, is the safe storage of car keys.
“The main target of these attacks is often car keys. People are targeting houses to get the keys because the electronic systems in cars are so difficult to break into nowadays.
“You might want to think about keeping your keys in a small safe for extra security.”
The family-owned shop, which was first opened 1940, and reopened in 1945 following the end of World War II, can also fit the locks for customers and often does discounts for customers buying the lock and installation service together.
Stanleys also provides a car key programming service, meaning it can replace car locks in instances when keys are stolen, in order to prevent the thief from being able to gain access to the vehicle again.