Importance of having a gun safe

If you have guns you need a gun safe; it’s that simple! Not only do they protect your loved ones, guests and yourself, they also protect your guns, too! Here in San Bernardino, CA many people have weapons at home, and a proper gun cabinet can not only secure your firearms from children and thieves, but it can also provide protection for your guns from fire, dust, floods and other disasters.

What is a gun safe?

Gun safes are also known as gun cabinets. Here at Locksmith in San Bernardino we don’t care what you call them; we just want you to use them if you have guns of any kind at home or at your business. Gun safes are usually made of wood or metal and protect your guns from improper use that can include theft, idle play, dangerous games, curiosity seekers and anyone not authorized to use or handle them. Every year we hear about children, neighbors and guests that accidentally shoot themselves by finding or fooling around with a gun that was loaded and just “lying around” waiting to be found. Having a proper gun safe on the premises helps control the unauthorized use of dangerous firearms that can injure, kill and cause havoc among loved ones and families alike.

Gun accidents can happen anywhere yet people often assume that a loaded gun tucked away in a corner, or under the bed is safe. Out of sight; out of mind doesn’t hold true here or there wouldn’t be so many tragic accidents involving firing a loaded weapon that was within easy reach.

Gun safe also protect your guns!

A well-built gun cabinet can secure your guns from children, nosy guests, neighbors and other household members. It can also protect your weapons from bad weather, fires, floods, dust, excess moisture, wind and even scratches! You can also use your gun safe to store other valuables in. These items can include cash, jewelry, flash drives, documents, stock certificates, licenses, credit cards, car titles and registrations, insurance papers and anything else that you deem valuable and worth securing.

But, what if I need my guns?

Sometimes people call our Locksmith in San Bernardino shop and ask about gun accessibility. They have a point; how can they quickly get to their guns if they need to? After all, aren’t the guns locked up and secure? With the rise in home invasions and burglaries, they seem to have a point! Picture the poor homeowner hearing the sound of a window breaking while lying in bed frozen with fear. With all this stress, they can’t remember where they put the keys to the gun safe or they can’t remember the combination code to the lock. Someone’s in the house and you have loaded guns, but they are locked away in the other room, and there’s no way you can get to them, unlock the cabinet, and defend yourself and your property.

Get some advice

Here’s where getting professional advice is essential. If you work with the right locksmith shops you can get free consultations, free price quotes and honest, affordable prices on dozens of types and models of gun safes that you can strategically place in your home or office so that fast and easy access for you is practically assured. Many San Bernardino, CA locksmiths offer biometric gun safes so that there is no tedious and time consuming locking and unlocking before you can access your guns. Biometric safes use fingerprint technology to better secure your safe and rule out unauthorized access by children, neighbors or crooks. If this sounds very “science fiction”-like, consider that this amazing technology is already being used in Apple iPhones and many other affordable and useful applications.

Don’t have a big budget?

Don’t worry; you don’t need one! Sure, if you want to spend lots of money on gun safes, you can, but why do that if you don’t need to? You don’t have to opt for second rate quality either! Many locksmith shops including Locksmith in San Bernardino offer affordable options and huge selections of gun safes from different brands and manufacturers. You don’t have to get your gun safe from a San Bernardino, CA locksmith shop, but if you do, you’ll most likely save money and time by having licensed, mobile professionals set you up and do the installation too.

You can also find gun safes at safe stores, home improvement stores, firearms shops, pawn dealers and at local retailers like Sears, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Best Buy and Bass Pro Shops. You can do research on gun safes, prices, and brands by going online at any of the above retailer’s websites or so a simple Google search for “gun safes” or “gun cabinets” and check there for prices, shipping charges, warranties, model types and other pertinent facts that might help you make a selection. Don’t forget Amazon! Here you can not only select a great gun safe for your needs, but you can also check reviews from other consumers. Bear in mind that there will always be complainers and a few negative reviews as opposed to a greater amount of positive ones shouldn’t worry you.

Gently use gun safes?

Yes, you can go “used” when buying a gun safe by checking pawn shops, Craigslist, local garage sales, second hand stores and police auctions. We highly encourage you NOT to buy damaged gun safes that offer little to no protection other than a place to lean your weapons inside. The old adage “you get what you pay for” holds true here.

Be creative

By this we mean think outside the box and consider unusual or diversion gun safes. These are creatively made gun safes that don’t look like what they really are. Most people that don’t know they are actually gun safes will not even recognize them as they can be quite stealthy in appearance. For instance, they might be hidden under the stairs or built into a bookcase or table. Many of them are actually part of the furniture, and since they don’t look like a gun safe, people don’t see them as such!

Aricle source here: Importance of having a gun safe

HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR HOME SECURITY

If you don’t pay attention to your home security, unfortunately, your property will be more attractive to a burglar. But there are plenty of things you can do to protect your home. A professional criminal will always find a way to get in, so no property is completely impervious. Still, you can take numerous reasonable and effective measures to prevent most circumstances in which a robbery might occur.

Reinforce your doors. Take a good look at all your outside entry points. A hollow door is of lower quality, which means it’s easier for an intruder to penetrate. It’s better to have a solid door made of wood or metal.

Check all your door locks. If any of your doors’ locks are vulnerable, you can reinforce them by replacing the strike plate (that is, the stationary piece where the bolt enters), and by mounting an extra solid metal plate for the sliding bolt on the doorjamb. If you have short mounting screws, you’ll add extra strength to the doorframe by replacing them with longer screws, which will reach the door’s studs.

You can better secure your sliding-glass door by placing a wooden dowel cut to size, or an adjustable safety bar, in the floor track. You can also add a floor bolt.

Keep your garage-door remotes and keys and in an inconspicuous location. Don’t keep your keys and remotes on display next to the door, where anyone could see them through the window! Instead, keep these important items well hidden, inside a drawer or cupboard.

In fact, keep all your valuables hidden.

• Store your emergency cash, your precious jewelry, and any of your other heirlooms and treasures in unusual locations.
• Buy a home safe, particularly one you can anchor to the floor.
• Rent out a safe-deposit box at your bank for any extraordinarily valuable items.

On the other hand, don’t keep a “hidden” key outside. The truth is, most robbers will find your extra key kept under the welcome mat, inside the mailbox, above the door, or beneath the flower pot. Even if you have a keyholder disguised as a false rock, professional crooks will likely already know what it looks like. Instead, give a spare key to a neighbor you trust.

Don’t leave any ladders outside. A prowler can pretend to be a contractor or handyman, and could try to use your ladder to gain easy entry through a second-floor window or your balcony.

Establish some basic household rules.

• Always make sure your garage door is in working order. Whenever you’re not around, keep your garage door shut and locked.
• Anytime you’re away, lock your doors and windows, and also do so before everyone goes to bed for the night.
• Make it a practice not to answer your door to strangers. (Install a peephole if you don’t have one.)

Secure your air conditioning unit. Since you don’t want a burglar to enter your home through an unsecured window, install an air-conditioner bracket, corner braces, or a sliding window lock.

Put up warning signs and insignias. Post a logo from a security company near each door, and add window stickers too ~ even if you don’t really have a security system. Neighborhood Watch signs work, too. Try being creative! Put up a “Beware of Dog” sign and loudly play a tape of a barking dog while you’re gone.

Eliminate potential hiding places. Trim your hedges, trees shrubs, and all other plants regularly. If they’re not well spaced, or too ungainly or tall, a potential thief can easily hide.

Use lights effectively. Of course, you should always leave some indoor lights on whenever you’re gone. But what about outdoor lighting? It’s a good idea to install outdoor lights with motion detectors near each door. They’ll discourage trespassers from daring to even enter the perimeter of your property. If you can spend a bit more, some motion-detector lights can be connected to your smart device, to alert you of any sign of foul play so you can respond instantly. Some outdoor lights also respond to changes in daylight, sound, or temperature.

Install timers. You can put your porch lights on timers, so that when you’re gone all day, or away for an extended vacation, you can make it look like someone’s still home the entire time. It’s relatively easy to attach timers to your lights, radios, TVs, and computers. If you can install a smart light timer, you’ll be able to monitor and control everything with a mobile app.

Install better locks. Any professional will tell you that deadbolts always provide extra security. Use a grade-2 deadbolt lock, which penetrates the doorframe. Heavy-duty will be stronger and superior.

Digital locks are electronic devices providing increased security at your front door. Some can even be synchronized with your smartphone, so you won’t have to carry a house key at all.

Install surveillance cameras. Surveillance cameras obviously cost more than what we’ve discussed so far, but if it’s within your means, a surveillance system is a great way to effectively keep you aware of everything that’s happening around your property’s perimeter. You’ll be able to contact the authorities right away if you see anything suspicious. If you want to buy a premium surveillance camera system, it could record 24/7 video footage.

Use high-tech home automation. If your budget is bigger, nowadays you’re able to monitor home activities with a smart app. You can manage your whole house with a smart alarm system, checking your property anytime you want while you’re away, and remotely simulate routine habits. Your properly almost takes care of itself! Should any unwanted activity be detected, you’ll be notified with an alert on your smartphone, giving you across-the-board security.

Explore the many ways you can augment security. There are so many things you can do to enhance your home’s security. Some take a bit more effort and investment. To learn more about all your options, bring your questions to a reputable expert. If you’re located anywhere in San Bernardino, California, consider scheduling a free consultation with a staff professional at Locksmith in San Bernardino.

Aricle source here: HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR HOME SECURITY