You may think your home is safe and secure inside and out, but locksmiths can often tell you something different. Since they have expertise in getting into a locked and secure home and in working with items like home safes, they may know more about how to keep your home secure than anyone. Note a few secrets about home security that only a locksmith can tell you, so you know your home and family are both as secure as ever.

1. Deadbolts aren't always as secure as you think

Deadbolts that you've installed yourself are not always as secure as you think, especially if you haven't used longer screws to install the face plate on the door frame and have chosen a small deadbolt with a short strike. A locksmith can recommend the best deadbolt for your home, including the length and thickness of the strike or bolt, and can also ensure the plate is installed securely. Remember that when someone tries to kick in your door, it's usually the frame of the door that gives way or the door hardware and not actually the door itself, so the plate attached to the door and the thickness of the bolt are both very important for your home's security.

2. Keys can almost always be copied

A key can be stamped with the phrase "do not copy" but this doesn't mean they won't ever be copied. Unless a key cutter sees a stamp from the government or other such marking, he or she may very well duplicate a key brought to their shop. If you're really worried about someone with another key getting into your home, don't rely on that "do not copy" stamp alone. Add a coded keypad, deadbolt with a separate key, or other such security measures that a locksmith can install for you.

3. You may not have closed your safe like you think

When you close your home's safe, you may need to spin the dial, click a button, turn the handle, or otherwise take one more step to ensure it's closed tight and can't be opened. Different models of safes work in different ways, and how you close and secure one may not be how another actually gets locked; locksmiths know this probably more than anyone since they need to reopen or break into home safes all the time. Be sure you're familiar with your type of safe and know how to actually secure the lock on the door when you use it, so it's always closed tight.

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