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.

5 Chicago Winter Security Tips to Use in Your Home

You might think the cold winter temperatures in Chicago scare off criminals and keep you safe. This isn't true and you still need to make sure your home is fully protected. 

When the winter rolls around, criminals have new opportunities to try to break into your home. It gets darker sooner in the day and stays darker for a longer amount of time. If your home isn't completely secure, you could be at risk.

It's actually common for more home burglaries to happen during the winter season. Before you let the Chicago winter provide the cover a criminal needs, use these Chicago winter security types for your home.

1. Keep Doors and Windows Locked

It's amazing how careless homeowners can be. The fastest way for a criminal to get into your home is through an unlocked door or window. It's rather common this is exactly how a home robbery will happen, too.

Make sure you keep your doors locked and at least lock the ground floor windows. You will likely leave the windows shut throughout the winter, anyway, so lock them and make sure they stay locked.

2. Motion Sensor/Time-switch Lights

Lights that come on at a specific time of day are a great security feature for your Chicago home. You can also choose motion sensor lights that will come on when they sense any type of motion.

These types of lights can help to keep burglars from finding dark places to enter your home. Time-switch lights can be used inside your home to come on when you're not home, as well. They can provide the appearance someone is home even when you're gone.

3. Install a Security System

A home security system complete with security cameras is a great idea for your Chicago home. You will have far better protection and most burglars won't even try to break in when they find out you have a home security system.

Your security system can include video monitoring, sensors for doors and windows, motion sensors, smoke detectors, and more. Make sure you get a full system with 24/7 monitoring to keep your Chicago home safe during the winter and throughout the year.

4. Don't Hide Keys

Hidden keys make it easy for burglars to get in. It's not a good idea to use the fake rock trick or hide a spare key under the mat. Instead, leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbor as your backup option.

5. Keep the Outside of Your Home Maintained

A sloppy looking outside area to your home is an invitation for criminals. By keeping your driveway and walkways clear and bringing in all your mail, you can deter criminals. They won't see your home as an easy target or assume nobody is home right now.

These Chicago winter security tips will help to ensure you keep your home safe this year. The winter might be brutal in Chicago, but it won't keep burglars from trying to get in.

The Most Common Type of Iron Gate Repairs

An iron gate needs to be taken care of to last a long time. Even with proper care, repairs may become necessary. Even though these gates are very strong, the welds can break, hinges come loose, and rust becomes a part of the look.

When it's time to deal with iron gate repairs, you need an expert to help. The Professional Locksmith handles all the common types of iron gate repairs found below, along with plenty of other repairs. If you're gate needs repair, we're here to help.

Rust

Probably the most common reason for an iron gate to need to be repaired is rust. Over time, the moisture may cause your iron gate to rust. This is a pretty easy fix, as a professional will be able to sand down the rust and repaint your iron gate restoring it to its' former beauty.

Broken Welds

Another common repair you may need to address with an iron gate is a broken weld. Sometimes, iron gate welds break and they will need to be repaired. If you don't address this type of issue, you could be leaving your property open for thieves to get in.

It's common to use an epoxy weld to repair a broken weld on an iron gate. This isn't something most people can't do on their own.

If you notice a broken weld, you will need a professional iron gate repair service in Chicago. The Professional Locksmith provides full iron gate welding services and will help get your gate back to normal quickly. You don't need to leave your property open for thieves.

Stuck in Open or Closed Position

If you have an iron gate that opens and closes automatically, you may end up with this common iron gate repair. Gates get stuck in an open or closed position for a number of reasons. A professional iron gate repair service will diagnose and fix the issues for you.

Broken or Bent Pickets

The pickets of an iron gate may become broken or bent over time. When this happens, it's best to have them replaced by a professional. The process includes cutting the damaged pickets out with a cutting torch, creating new pickets to fit the space, and installing them.

If the pickets are just bent, they may be able to be straightened. This requires a specialized tool and isn't an easy thing to do if you don't have experience with iron gate repairs.

A few other common iron gate repairs include:

• Broken Gate Openers

• Gates Opening on their Own

• Broken Hinges

• Sagging Gates

• Repairing Screens

Iron gates are very strong and provide an excellent security feature for any property. Even though they are strong, damage is still possible, especially around the welds. These common iron gate repairs should all be addressed as soon as possible, once they have been noticed.

If you need an iron gate repair service in Chicago, The Professional Locksmith is your go-to choice. We provide excellent service with the ability to repair just about any iron gate.

What kind of padlock is most secure

There is nothing more important in a lock than knowing it’s going to do its job and it will be secure. If you were to be a victim of a crime when a padlock went missing overnight, you’d feel very angry that this measure you took to protect your property did not do its job.

That is why it’s important to learn about the different options on the market for padlocks and know what to look for in one that is going to be the most secure when replacing your locks. From knowing the right brands to looking for the right materials and sizes, here is a look at the types of padlocks and what will be the most secure.

What to look for in a padlock

There are many features that you can look for in a padlock that will allow you to make a wiser purchase and a more sound investment. You’ll be able to determine if a padlock is a cheap, unreliable option, or a secure and sturdy one.

Start with considering the materials and size of the lock and the key. You’ll want to make sure the lock size is big and the key has as many pins as possible to increase the security. Choose a padlock that features either carbide or alloy steel for the best security. The better the metal you have the more secure your padlock will be. Make sure you choose a thick metal like alloy but don’t worry about its weight as this isn’t always a sign of its strength.

Next, look at the shoulder shroud because the thicker and larger it is, the better. This is also known as the shackle cover and any metal that shrouds the shackle will add an additional layer of metal that has to be cut or removed to access the lock for opening it. 

Keeping that shackle more protected happens with less access and a shackle cover.  Also, if you have a hardened plate called an anti-drill plate, you’ll find that a drill won’t be able to break through which will mean better security.

A common bypass for locks is shimming the shackle and this can happen when there are no ball bearings. The shackle can release in different ways affecting the security too, which means if you have a shackle that needs to be released on both ends rather than just one end, a criminal would have to spend more time cutting which can buy you time and slow them down.

Lastly, the core of a padlock where you would put the key in is a major part of whether or not a padlock is going to remain secure. The key is inserted into the cylinder and from there the lock’s variety of pins will play a huge role. You’ll want to ask questions about how many pins there are, what type of pins are they, and if there are other features like side bars or counter milling.

Brands on the market

Now that you know what to look for, it will be easy to spot a great product from a poor quality option. Look for brands on the market such as Sargent & Greenleaf, Ingersoll, ABUS, Master Lock, Hi-Shear, and Stanley Hardware. Depending on your budget, you can find a great variety of price points to suit your current needs. For a budget-friendly option, check out the Stanley Hardened Steel Padlock at a price around $50. For the absolute top-of-the-line type of products, you can find a $2,600 padlock called the Sargent & Greenleaf 951C which features military-level security.

Other popular options include the Ingersoll 10 at around $260, the Hi-Shear Padlock for just a little bit more, or the very simple ABUS  80TI/50 for just $15. Some of these options are going to offer more of those features above while others will allow you to save money while still offering some level of protection on your property.

While it’s important to save money, it’s worth the investment to get the security that comes with the higher-end padlocks. These are the things to look for that will tell you a padlock is most secure.