What Items to Store in a Home Safe: Consider These

You own plenty of valuable items, whether valuable in dollars or in sentiment, that you keep in your home. Some of the items you own should be kept in a home safe, preferably a fireproof home safe.

There are several things you should consider keeping in a safe within your home. Here are some of the top items to put in a safe instead of just leaving exposed in your home.

Household Safe

10 Items that Belong in a Home Safe

1. Guns

All guns should be kept in a safe unloaded with the magazine separate from the actual gun. Ammunition should also be kept in a safe. Special gun safes are designed to keep your weapons locked up properly.

2. Precious Metals

If you own physical gold, silver, copper, or other precious metals, they should be kept in a home safe. These items are valuable and belong under lock and key.

3. Expensive Jewelry

While not all jewelry is valuable enough to go in a safe, some jewelry should remain locked up when it's not being worn. Expensive engagement rings, family heirlooms, and other high-value jewelry belong in a fireproof home safe.

4. Important Documents

Several documents should be stored in a fireproof safe including:

• Insurance policies

• Bank account information

• Wills and living trusts

• Health care documents

• And more!

These documents need to be protected and a physical backup copy is a good idea, even if you have them stored on your computer.

5. House Pictures

If a fire were to happen or a break-in, having pictures of the items you own will help with insurance. You store these pictures on a CD or thumb drive and toss them in your fireproof safe at home.

6. Important ID Documents

While you will likely carry your driver's license with you daily, other ID documents don't need to be kept on your person. Passports, birth certificates, and social security cards should be stored in a fireproof home safe.

7. Spare Keys

It's a good idea to place spare car keys and spare keys for other things, such as a storage unit into your home safe.

8. Safe Deposit Box Keys

If you have a safe deposit box for your valuables, the keys for it should go into your home safe. This will not only help to protect these keys during a disaster, but it will also keep you from losing them.

9. Emergency Cash

If a fire happens or another type of emergency event, having some cash is a good idea. Storing some emergency cash in your home safe is a good idea.

10. Family Valuables

Any other items you plan to pass down to the next generation or consider to be valuable to your family should also be stored in a safe.

If you don't have a home safe for your valuable items, it's best to have a Chicago locksmith install a safe for you. With proper safe installation, you can protect your most valuable items better.

What to Know About the Different Types of CCTV Cameras

Understanding the different types of CCTV cameras gives you the ability to choose the right ones for your needs. Surveillance is a big part of keeping your business secure and the right CCTV security cameras will make a difference.

There are a few specific types of cameras you will want to consider. Let's look at each of them to see what they are and how they can help your security system.

10 Types of CCTV Cameras

1. Dome Cameras

Offering both an interior and an exterior option, done cameras are one of the most common CCTV security cameras. They look like a dome instead of a camera, which means it's hard to know which way it will be pointing. These cameras deter criminals and they offer vandal-resistant features.

2. C-Mount Camera

Offering a good camera for distances up to 40 feet, C-mount cameras come with detachable lenses and fit for different applications. They are commonly used indoors.

3. Bullet Cameras

Another common CCTV camera is the bullet camera. They are often used outside and provide long-distance viewing with a protective casing. The compact size and night vision make bullet cameras a good choice for your security system.

4. Day/Night Cameras

The key with day/night cameras is the ability to capture images during the day and at night. These cameras come in many sizes and record in color or black and white.

5. Discreet Cameras

Sometimes it's beneficial to make it clear a camera is present and other times you don't want a criminal to know. These cameras are harder to spot and tend to blend in with the area.

6. Varifocal Cameras

A CCTV camera with the ability to zoom out without losing focus, varifocal cameras work well for dead zones and close-ups.

7. Dark Fighter Technology Cameras

A specialized camera created to pick up images in low light conditions, the dark fighter camera works during the day and night. Without the need for an extra light source, these cameras can pick up very high-quality images even during the black of night.

8. ANPR/LPR Cameras

Another specialized type of camera is the ANPR/LPR camera. This type of camera will pick up registration plates and read them. They work well for hotel overstay management, toll booths, parking lots, and more. ANRP stands for Automatic Number Plate Recognition, while LPR stands for License Plate Recognition.

9. PTZ Cameras

Pan, Tilt, and Zoom or PTZ Cameras provide an option for security guards to move as necessary. The camera can pan, tilt, and zoom as necessary to capture the proper picture.

10. Thermal Image Cameras

A great choice for airports, seaports, and other critical infrastructures, thermal image cameras or infrared cameras pick up moving figures even when it's pitch black.

Many of these CCTV cameras offer high definition, network capabilities, and many other features. It's best to speak with a security professional to find out which CCTV security cameras are best for your needs.

What to Look for in a Door Replacement

When it's time to replace your front door at home or at the office, the right door replacement makes a difference. Not only should you like the way your new entry door looks, but it should also offer the security features you desire.

There are plenty of things to consider when getting a door replaced. Let's look at some of the most important features of your new door.

5 Things to Consider with a Door Replacement

1. Door Material

Choosing the type of material, you want for your door replacement is a good place to start. You can choose wood, steel, fiberglass composite, or aluminum. While wood doors are the most common and often the cheapest, steel doors tend to offer the best security features.

Fiberglass-composite doors offer a good choice in humid or harsh climates and they are very tough. Aluminum doors provide a custom-built option with a good mixture of security and affordability.

2. Solid or Glass

Some front doors will be solid with no glass in the door at all. This is the most secure option, but you can choose a door with glass in it and still get good security.

With the right type of glass installed in your door, it will be harder to break making it more secure. Glass can also help to add to the aesthetic appeal of your new entry door.

If you prefer glass, but you don't want people to be able to easily see into your front door, you can choose glazed glass. This type of glass makes it harder to see through the door and offers more privacy.

3. Consider the Lock

While choosing the door might not limit the locking mechanisms you can choose, it's still important to consider the lock. You will likely have a lock on the doorknob or handle, but you will also want to consider a deadbolt or additional locking mechanism for security.

Before you choose your door and the type of lock you want, consider the level of security you prefer. Some front door locks offer more security than others. You can also add a strike plate and other options to ensure maximum security.

4. Additional Hardware

Do you need a mail slot, knocker, peephole, or other hardware for your new door? Consider the accessories you want and make sure the door you buy is designed with the right accessories for your needs.

Mail slots and knockers can often be added to make your door more functional.

5. Installation

You can install your new front door yourself or hire a professional. Unless you are very handy and have experience installing doors, it's best to leave it to a professional.

When you need door installation in Chicago, you don't want to take chances. Poor installation can lead to higher energy bills and lower security. Make sure you hire a professional to install your new entry door.

The right front door for your home or business will not only provide the aesthetics you prefer but also the security. Replacing your door is a big deal and should be handled with the proper care. Your new door should function the way you prefer and offer peace of mind knowing it's secure when locked.

Simple Tips to Not Lose Your Keys

Do you ever have that problem of losing your keys? Your day is going along just fine and suddenly you can’t find your keys to get in the car and head home for the day. Maybe you made it home and you can’t find the keys to your house. Perhaps your teenager misplaced your car keys or you can’t find the key to your office.

Whatever the case, losing keys you use every day can give you that sinking feeling of worry, dread, and panic. Not only are you wasting time searching everything you own to find them, but you may be missing out on important obligations because you can’t get into the office, the car, or the house. Fortunately, there are some easy tricks that you can learn to ensure you don’t lose your keys anymore and the likelihood of losing them in the future will be slim to none. Try these tips to stop losing your keys.

Your life is too cluttered

One of the main culprits behind losing your keys or anything in your life is that you are lacking organization. It’s time to get rid of clutter once and for all, allowing you to easily see where you’ve placed items without things other visual distractions along the way. Minimizing your belongings to only keep on you the things you really need allows you to more easily find missing objects since there are fewer hiding spots.

Make a home for everything

Once you’ve started paring things down, you can start to make a “home” for everything you own. Now that you have less stuff, you can dedicate a place to where things go when they are not in use and this allows for you to eliminate excuses about why things are missing. As long as the keys, wallet, and phone have a spot that it’s supposed to go, it would be much harder to lose these items.

When you arrive home at night, make sure to put each item you’ve brought home with you in its dedicated spot, whether it’s the key rack, the bowl on the counter, or the hook by the door. Do this for each household member so that everyone knows where things go after using them and things stop getting lost.

Use technology for help

Now that you’re organized, it’s time to use technology to your advantage. For starters, it’s much harder to lose a phone when the ringer is on and you can find it by calling the phone. Sometimes you can’t find an item when looking for it or feeling for it in a bag, but you’ll eventually hear it and see it light up. Next, use technology to help keep track of your phone even easier.

You can attach a BlueTooth tracking device like Tile or download apps like “Find my Phone” to help you track the item in the event that it is lost and nowhere to be found. Just get on a desktop to locate your phone through these tech options.

It’s important to remember that life gets busy and forgetting things is bound to happen. By implementing tricks like these, you’ll find it easier to keep track of your stuff and have methods in place to find them if you were to lose it again. When you dedicate a space in your home for things to live, hang a motivational sign to remind you to put things in their place, stop collecting clutter, and use technology as an aid, things can stop getting lost and life can get a little simpler.

Use these tips to make sure you don’t lose your keys anymore! If you do get locked out, please call The Professional Locksmith and they'll get you in!

Does My Car Insurance Cover an Auto Locksmith?

When you’re paying your monthly car insurance to keep you covered in the event of an issue, you may wonder if it’s going to cover you one of those times you need to call a locksmith. Getting locked out of the car is the worst because you’re likely trying to get somewhere or ready to get out of the elements and into your car. 

Luckily you can call an auto locksmith if you don’t have a spare key or there is an issue with the lock. Whatever the reason, call a Chicago Auto Locksmith to get back into your car safe and sound. 

Understanding your auto insurance

Everyone has a different policy and the first thing to understand is that your policy may look different than your neighbors. Some auto policies may cover this service while others may not. This may be an important thing to have included in your policy so that you know you will be covered in the event of needing a locksmith. 

Many times the auto insurance policies that include roadside assistance coverage are the ones that are going to include calling an auto locksmith in with the policy. This is because getting locked out of the car, losing your key, or not being able to get inside for any other reason is considered roadside care and something that a professional will have to come to provide aid in while you’re on the side of the road. 

Not all policies with roadside assistance coverage will include locksmith services, but most likely they will. 

Getting locked out without roadside assistance

If you were to get locked out of the car and you don’t have roadside assistance, hiring a locksmith may still be needed. Be sure to look for a professional in your area that has a great reputation and great prices. 

The quality of work is important when you are talking about something you use every day and keeps you safe in your daily routine. Service prices will vary depending on your car’s make and model, and typically older cars with no electric locking systems will be less expensive to work on than the newer ones with high-tech gadgetry. 

Arming yourself with a great insurance policy to cover these situations could save you time and money in the event that you lose your keys or can’t get in your car. 

Why roadside assistance is great 

The easiest way to regain access to your locked car is to use your roadside assistance through your insurance policy. This means you’ll have help from a professional locksmith technician quickly and easily. 

This type of program also covers you for other inconveniences, such as a flat tire or a battery jumpstart. It’s an affordable way to keep yourself safe on the road and usually can just be added to your insurance policy but otherwise is affordable to buy separately. When you use it with your insurance company, they will reimburse you for the cost of the locksmith service. If you are to lose your keys, you may even be able to get re-keyed with your roadside coverage, which is great to have access to in an emergency.  

Talk to your insurance provider about what’s included in your policy because sometimes you’ll have roadside included even though your insurance didn’t discuss this with you. 

You may be trying to go on about your day and find out you get locked out of the car because you lost your keys, your lock is jammed, or your keys were locked in the car. You may find your key fob is acting faulty, its battery is dead, or someone tried to break into the car which affected the lock. 

For whatever reason you need an auto locksmith, call a professional and make sure you get auto locksmith coverage on your insurance policy.