Monday, October 4, 2010

Still Fighting the Good Fight

Baldino's Lock and Key, along with many members of the locksmith community are still fighting the war to get illegal locksmiths off the internet and out of the phone book. These locksmith companies are using false addresses to get top listings on many popular search engines. If you call them and ask for an address they will tel you they are only a mobile service. There are some legitimate mobile only locksmiths, so the next best question to ask is if they have a DCJS license (if you live in Virginia). If you choose to use the services of these illegal locksmiths, you run the chance of them over charging you by hundreds of dollars. Legal locksmiths are now taking a stand. We don't want our customers or community to have to worry about if they are hiring a trustworthy locksmith.

On 9/21/2010 locksmith Charles Eastwood of Arizona aka locksmith Charley, filed suit against 11 companies, several telephone companies, Google, Yahoo, and the Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. A hearing has been set for October 4th at 9:30AM. Judge Mangum has ordered the defendants to appear and show good cause why he should not issue a preliminary injunction to shut off 450 telephone numbers belonging to the 11 different companies.

This problem is nation wide. If you would like more information please visit www.TheLocksmithPolice.com.

To find a reliable, trust worthy locksmith please visit FindALocksmith.com the official locksmith referral website run by the 50+ year old trade association.
Associated Locksmiths of America. This website will refer consumers to ALOA members only.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Summer Vacation Safety Tips

It's officially summer! That means vacations, and lots of time away from the house. We don't want to ruin your fun - but most robberies happen during the summer months because families are out of town. Not to worry though, Baldino's wants to keep your home safe, so here are some vacation safety tips you can follow.

Cancel your mail and newspaper. Mail and newspapers piling up will be noticed. Filling out a simple form with the post office and calling the newspaper circulation department can put a hold on delivery until your return.

Postpone parcel deliveries. If you are expecting a package, contact the sender to postpone the delivery until you return. If there is a large box on your front steps for a few days, it is only inviting a potential burglar to investigate its contents and realize you are not at home

Imitate everyday habits. Use timers on your lights or leave some window shades down to give the impression that someone is at home. If you normally have a car parked in your driveway, ask a neighbor to park their car there.

Keep your lawn mowed. The lawn will grow while you are away and this can signal anyone driving by your home that you are not there to take care of it. Hire someone to mow it for you if you will be away for an extended period of time.

Don't advertise your absence. Don't leave an outgoing message on your home email account or phone voicemail that you will be away. You do not want the wrong person to have access to that information.

Use your alarm system. Be sure to set your home security system before you leave and let the company know how you can be reached in the event your alarm goes off. It is also a good idea to use a local trusted friend or neighbor as a contact who can respond to an alarm.

Contact your local police department. Many departments offer courtesy checks of your house while you are away. Their added presence in your neighborhood may help to deter anyone who does not belong there.

Secure valuables. Do not leave valuables or electronics within view from a window. Use a home safe or safety deposit box if you can.

Lock all doors and windows. The one door that many people do not lock regularly is the one leading to the house from the garage. If someone can access your garage, they will then have access to your house. Be sure to secure sliding glass doors as well.

Enlist the help of a neighbor. Having someone do a walk around the house and checking for anything that might be out of the ordinary is always a good idea. A lot of neighborhoods have a crime watch established. Having others willing to be your extra eyes when you are away is always beneficial.

Article from suite101.com

Friday, April 9, 2010

The Fight Continues

Attorney General Gansler Issues Cease and Desist Against Maryland Locksmith Company

Around the Clock Locksmith Allegedly Overcharged Consumers

BALTIMORE, MD (April 7, 2010) -- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a Cease and Desist Order against a Maryland locksmith, ATCL-MD, Inc., T/A Around the Clock Locksmith and its owner Joseph M. Horton. .... for full story click here

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

5 Layers of Security - #4

The next layer of security is ideal for commercial businesses or residential facilities that have a parking garage or large amount of space to secure. This layer of security would be a camera system.

Having 24 hour video surveillance will guard against theft, shoplifting, and vandalism. A home surveillance camera can monitor children, entry doors, hallways, and parking lots.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Layers of Security - #3

Purchase a safe. A safe will not only protect your valuables from intruders but can protect them from fire and other weather related disasters.

You can keep everything from jewelry, documents, guns, money, photos, and sentimental items in a safe. Anything dangerous you want to keep away from your children, or private information you need to keep locked away from strangers.

Visit http://www.libertysafe.com/ or stop by any Baldino's location to speak with one of our safe experts. They can help you find a safe that fits your needs.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

5 Layers of Security - #2

The second most important layer of security, for residential and commercial facilities is to get an alarm system installed.

Having an alarm system installed is important because it will not only alert you, and the police if there is an intruder but in most cases it will scare whoever is trying to get into an unauthorized area away.

Monday, February 22, 2010

5 Layers of Security - #1

Your first layer of security should be high security locks. This is your outer layer of defense. High security locks such as Medeco, are pick proof and resist battery powered drills. They come with key control signature cards so they can not be duplicated with out your permission.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Success!

The Nations Gun Show, held in Chantilly, Virginia was a great success for Baldino's Lock and Key. We had an amazing sales team at our booth and sold 17 safes with more orders to come. Our booth looked fantastic and we had an array of products including Liberty Safes, Gardall Safes, Amsec Safes, Mutual Safes and of course safe accessories.

If you missed the show, don't worry! You can stop by one of our 18 locations and check out our safe showroom. Each shop has an expert who can help you pick a safe that is perfect for you and your safety needs.