They’re small. They’re inexpensive. Most importantly sash jammers are an added dimension when it comes to keeping your home secure.  And with a funky name, how can you not like the Sash Jammer? What is a sash jammer? The sash jammer is a small home security device which can be added to uPVC windows and doors. When attached, the handle can pivot and secure over the window or door frame. This can offer added resistance to deter any forced entry. No substitute It’s important to stress that these natty little things are only an additional security device and should never be consid ..read more

Euro Cylinder Lock The euro cylinder is the most common lock we see today. It’s fitted to UPVc and composite doors within a multi point lock. When fitted in a lock case they can be installed in aluminium and wooden doors. Euro cylinders are a really good idea as they can be replaced separately from the multi point lock mechanism making them a cost effective design. Euro cylinders did have a weakness when they where first made which enabled burglars to get in quickly, quietly  and leave minimal evidence for the police to get a conviction and we see a lot of break-ins through doors with ea ..read more

After attending a call from someone who had recently used a national locksmith company, I felt compelled to inform any potential customers why they should only ever use an independent locksmith… The customer in question had suffered a failed mechanism on a UPVC door similar to that fitted on most homes in the UK. The door was unlocked, and only held in place by the latch in the middle. The part of the mechanism that had failed meant the door handle was unable to be operated, so they were effectively locked out. The locksmith from the national company who arrived advised that he needed to ente ..read more

Finding yourself locked out is not a situation you can always prepare for. We at Pick me locksmith Ltd answer more calls to a failed lock or UPVC mechanism than we do to keys being lost or left in the house, therefore a supportive neighbour or close family member may not always be the solution. So, before you launch an attack on the small side window or send the smallest person up a nearby drain pipe in a precarious attempt to gain entry through a slightly open upstairs window, you decide to call a locksmith. What do you need to consider when calling a locksmith? Choosing the right locksmith ..read more

The MLA is recognised as the authoritative body for locksmiths by the Police, Home Office, British Standards Institute and more. This is why I felt that Pick Me Locksmith Ltd should become an “Approved Company”. There is currently no legal requirement for locksmiths to be licenced like some other trades.  The network of MLA locksmiths work hard to expose those operating below appropriate standards, and quite often it’s an MLA locksmith who will be called upon to make good after a less qualified person has made an attempt at a repair or entry. So if you want your locksmith to be Vett ..read more

Before the introduction of the euro cylinder most, if not all, side and rear entrances would have had a mortice lock fitted. There are lots of different brands of mortice lock, but ultimately there are two types, a sash lock or deadlock. The difference is a sash lock has a handle built in to the lock and a deadbolt doesn’t. (So in the case of the deadbolt you would have a separate handle fitted if required).  I often hear these two locks referred to as Chubb locks, this is like calling a vacuum cleaner a Hoover and the reason is the same, Chubb are one of the founding brands of lock. Som ..read more

Simon from Measham called upon our services yesterday when he returned home from business without his keys. We were very interested to learn that he had Locksmith cover through his insurance. He called Mark at Pick Me Locksmith after he was informed how much the excess on a  call out would cost him through his insurance. It Turns out we were nearly £100 cheaper! It just goes to show that local independent locksmiths who keep their overheads down can be really competitive. The post Access That’s Cheaper Than Your Excess appeared first on Pick Me Locksmith ..read more

Being burgled is everyone’s nightmare and here at Pick Me Locksmith we see the aftermath too often. We have listed 10 things we think you should do if you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a break in. 1. Call the police, do this as soon as possible; Don’t enter the property if you think someone is still inside, make the call from your car or a neighbour’s house. The quicker the police are informed the more chance there is of the thief being caught and any stolen goods being returned. You will need the crime reference number for your insurance claim. 2.   Don’t to ..read more

Mark talks about a door that wouldn’t open and shows what happens if you have to force your door handle to operate it. The post Failed UPVC Door Mechanism appeared first on Pick Me Locksmith ..read more

We’ve pretty much all done it, ran around the house last minute, have you packed your passport? Have you got your swimwear? Have I cancelled the newspapers? Let’s go…only to find ten minutes down the road that niggling feeling…have I locked the door? Have I turned off the lights? Have I cancelled the milk? Even the best of us with flawless checklists can have moments where we doubt ourselves. Some people may not worry about the same things but how important are they? Here are our top ten tips for leaving for that ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday to try to avoid the return to everybody’s worst ni ..read more