Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gift Giving with a Twist

The holidays have arrived and in the spirit of gift giving Baldino’s has made a list of a few of our favorite stocking stuffers and gifts.


1) Baldino’s Lock and Key Free Lockout Sticker

Everyone hopes to wake up on a snowy Christmas Day to a new car with a big red bow. Well, if you are surprising somebody on your list with this show stopping gift why not keep it safe? Put our Free Lockout Program sticker in their stocking for a little hint of what is to come.


2) A Liberty Safe

Did you buy your special someone a stunning new diamond necklace? Do you just want something pretty to keep all that necessary paperwork in? A Liberty safe is a beautiful way to keep your belongings safe and sound.


3) Stat Keys

Designer keys make a great stocking stuffer and your key set fashionable and unique.


1) A Puppy (a guard dog of course!)


The Arrow DC500 Iron Door Closer


Baldino's Lock and Key works closely with Medeco Lock and the brands that they sell. We wanted to share with you an article introducing the new Arrow DC500 Iron Door Closer.


Arrow Lock™ has introduced a new way to save cost without compromising security with the DC500 Cast Iron Closer. The DC500 is one of the latest offerings from the manufacturer's door closer line.


For end users looking for an economical alternative to retrofitting existing cast iron closers, the DC500 is designed to fit the most popular retrofit hole patterns in the field today while making installation simple and affordable.

"We understand the pressure end users are under to cut cost without sacrificing quality and are proud to provide a cost effective door closer solution to help meet that need," says Tom Harris, General Manager of Arrow Lock. "The DC500 is ideal for end users looking for value and versatility in a rugged design."

The adjustable spring sizes and ADA barrier free accessibility make this series suitable for a wide variety of applications.


For all the features this product offers you can visit -

http://www.arrowlock.com/content/view/140



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Upcoming Events

The Nations Gun Show:

Dates: Friday, November 18th hours of 3:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, November 19th hours of 9:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday, November 20th hours of 10:00am - 5:00pm

Address: Dulles Expo Center

4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20153

Ticket Info: $18 for a three day pass, $12 for adults, and $6 for teenagers

Website: http://thenationsgunshow.com/


The Capitol Building and Facility Maintenance Show:

Dates: Tuesday, November 15th hours of 10:00am - 3:00pm

Wednesday, November 16th hours of 10:00am - 2:00pm

Address: Dulles Expo Center

4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20153

Website: http://www.cb-fm.com/index.html


Operation Paperback!

Baldino’s Lock and Key is proud to announce their co-sponsorship with Rapid Refill Ink and the non-profit organization Operation Paperback. Through the fall months Baldino’s Lock and Key will be collecting gently used books to send to our troops over seas.


If you would like to help with our collection efforts please bring in your books to any of our 18 shop locations and drop them off with our shop employee. Anything helps!


  • Adult books for our soldiers to read
  • Children’s books for our soldiers to read out loud to their kids over Skype
  • Language phrase books for units on the ground
  • Activity books so our soldiers can have some puzzle fun


Follow us on Facebook for updates and more information.

http://www.facebook.com/baldinoslockandkey


To learn more about operation paperback visit their website at

http://www.operationpaperback.org/


Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Nations Gun Show Information

Show Information
Dates: Friday, October 7th hours of 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, October 8th hours of 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, October 9st hour of 10:00am - 5:00pm
Address: Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20153
Ticket Info: $18 for a three day pass, $12 for adults, and $6 for teenagers
Website: http://thenationsgunshow.com/

Baldino's Lock and Key will be attending this months gun show at Dulles Expo Center. Stop by the booth to pick up a goodie bag and place a bid to win a new Liberty Safe in our safe auction.

This show holds bragging rights to being the largest gun show in the Metro D.C area. You will be able to find 1000 tables with vendors selling and showing guns, knives, accessories, and our favorite .... SAFES.

If you own a gun you know how important it is to have a safe place to store it. Baldino's Lock and Key will have a selection of Liberty Gun Safes as well as other brands of smaller safes you can check out. If you are just browsing, or just bought a gun at the show make sure to ask our safe experts what type of safe is best for your new or upcoming purchase.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Arrow Management Control: Preventing Unauthorized Removal of Deadbolts

Preventing Unauthorized Removal of Deadbolts by Tenants


Have you ever arrived to a tenants location and realized your key wouldn't open the lock because they had changed it? If this has happened to you, Arrow has a new management control deadbolt that uses concealed mounting screws preventing tenants from "accidentally" removing the deadbolt. The deadbolt works by requiring a control key to remove the SFIC core giving you access to the concealed screws.

The Arrow Management Control Deadbolt is available in either the Grade 1 D Series or the Grade 2 E Series deadbolt, in either single or double cylinder versions. If you are interested in upgrading, give Baldino’s a call today.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Keyless Door Entry

Keyless locks are not just for commercial businesses anymore, they can be a compliment to any home. Pushbutton locks provide security, connivence, and peace of mind to any homeowner. You can control who has access to your home by never having to wonder who has a key. Temporary codes can be assigned to guests, contractors, house cleaning services, and pet sitters. Pushbutton locks are easy to install and fit on most doors. Put them on your front entry, garage door, wine cellar or shed for quick easy access.


Going keyless will ensure you will never be stuck at the door with two handfuls or groceries having to fumble through your purse for your set of keys. Never worry about getting locked out, or having to hide a key somewhere outside of your house.


Baldino’s Lock and Key carries the two basic types of pushbutton locks, electronic and mechanical. An electronic lock usually has more features, run on batteries, and are a little more difficult to install. Compared to an electronic lock a mechanical lock only has mechanical parts and last longer.


If you are interested in learning more about keyless entry call to make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable technicians at 800-865-6257 or stop by one of our 18 locations to see displays and pick your new lock in person. Visit our website www.baldinos.com to find a location near you.


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

NPR Article - Con Man Locksmith

When You Call A Locksmith, Will A Con Man Answer?

July 20, 2011 from WVTF

Hard economic times often give rise to swindlers — people hoping to make a quick buck by misleading hapless consumers. It's not easy to catch these con men, who often go door to door. But there's one scam out there that has mobilized an army of angry people. The scam has locksmiths up in arms.

Bill Roberts has been a locksmith serving small cities in central Virginia for seven years.

Out on a recent service call, he said he has a good, steady business — "if you don't mind working long hours and being on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day."

"It makes it a little hard on family life at times," he says, "but, yes, it's not a bad business to get into."

But 100 miles to the north, in a suburb of Washington, D.C., locksmith Mark Baldino is worried. From his office, he does a computer search for locksmiths in Reston, Va.

Pointing to the results, he says, " 'B' is our red dot, but within a half-mile, you see one, two, three, four, five other locksmiths. And if you scan out on the map a little bit further, you'll see about 10 locations, maybe 20."

The problem is that few of those listings are legitimate locksmiths. Most ring to an out-of-state call bank that quotes a low rate — then dispatches a con man who is not trained to pick locks.

Joanne Grimes, a retired teacher who owns rental property in Alexandria, Va., says her tenants were told a service call would cost $185, but the bill came to $586.

"You know, I can go to Home Depot and buy a lock and a door for $600," she says.

Grimes contacted the Better Business Bureau, where president Edward Johnson has been trying for five years to get something done about phony locksmiths.

"One of the larger ones that the BBB has identified is a company that poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country. And indeed, they advertise in the Yellow Pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses," Johnson says. "A consumer might think they're dealing with a local locksmith, but the phone call is actually routed to a call center located in the Bronx of New York City."

But stopping these scammers has been difficult. In Richmond, Va., locksmith Jeff Musser, who founded a company called 1-800-UNLOCKS, says consumers rarely dispute the bill.

"They've got a kid to pick up from school. Their husband is at work. They've got to get that key made," he says. "When they give a credit card, sky's the limit with the credit card."

And his partner, Barry Wilson, says some victims are afraid to complain. He recently got a call from a woman who said she was overcharged and left with a broken lock.

"Her door lock was drilled open, and she was pretty petrified," Wilson says. "I tried to get her to talk to the investigator with the department of criminal justice, and she just wouldn't. She just said, 'Please come and fix it, and I'll pay you whatever.' "

Asked if the scammers got any money from the woman, Wilson says, "Oh, yeah. He made her get it out of the debit machine that night."

In response to this situation, locksmiths have been joining a Texas-based trade group — theAssociated Locksmiths of America. Their dues help pay for a series of public service announcements — something attorneys general have also tried.

In one such spot, Macie Pridgen of the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney's Office warns the public "to beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies who are ripping off consumers across the country."

The message urges customers to be cautious, noting that most of the locksmiths use an unmarked vehicle and only accept cash.

The locksmiths' group has also hired a lobbyist to promote stricter laws. Fifteen states now regulate locksmiths, and a few have taken con artists to court. The locksmith scam has even caught the attention of the FBI — but so far, the bureau says it's not dangerous or costly enough to warrant a national investigation.

Monday, July 18, 2011

July Safe Show Savings

Show Information
Dates: Friday, July 29th hours of 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, July 30th hours of 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, July 31st hour of 10:00am - 5:00pm
Address: Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20153
Ticket Info: $18 for a three day pass, $12 for adults, and $6 for teenagers
Website: http://thenationsgunshow.com/

Baldino's Lock and Key will be attending this months gun show at Dulles Expo Center.

The Nations Gun Show will be rolling through Northern Virginia July 29th, 30th, and 31st. This show holds bragging rights to being the largest gun show in the Metro D.C area. You will be able to find 1000 tables with vendors selling and showing guns, knives, accessories, and our favorite .... SAFES.

If you own a gun you know how important it is to have a safe place to store it. Baldino's Lock and Key will have a selection of Liberty Gun Safes as well as other brands of smaller safes you can check out. If you are just browsing, or just bought a gun at the show make sure to ask our safe experts what type of safe is best for your new or upcoming purchase.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Let there be Light!

If an alarm system is not in your budget, investing in good lighting outside your home is an easy way to add security.

The first step you can take is to purchase and install motion sensor lights. You can set these lights up outside of your house to turn on at certain times during the day or night. You can also set them up to turn on when they sense any type of motion walking near your house or across your lawn.

Anybody taking a stroll through your yard that isn't supposed to be there will most likely be scared when flood lights revile who they are. You can even set the detectors so they won't go off when an animal crosses by them.


Thursday, June 2, 2011

Protecting Your Home Against Lock Picking

We wanted to share this article we found on securityworldnews.com how to protect your home against lock picking.
Check out the full article by Ron McBride by clicking here.

When your local locksmiths advises you to purchase high security locks, they aren't just trying to upsell you a more expensive product.

Look around YouTube or Google "lock picking" and more than a few videos will appear with lessons and tips on how to pick a lock. Any novice lock picker would not be able to pick a high security lock; and although there are those who have become masters of their craft, it would still take them more time than they would like to spend trying to get into your home.

Intruders want to get in and out as fast as they can. If they have to sit outside picking or drilling a lock they will most likely move onto the next, less secure house. There are many high security locks on the market. Baldino's sells many brands such as Medeco, Schlage, MUL-T Lock and Assa-abloy. You can stop by one of our locations and one of our trained technicians will be able to help you pick out the best lock for your home.


Monday, May 2, 2011

Relax! Your home will be safe if you follow these tips...

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 15, 2011

Baldino's Safe Moving

Check out our video on safes here and on our Facebook page.



Monday, March 14, 2011

Don't Get Locked Out

While Baldino’s Lock and Key should be the first place you go when you are locked out of your home, car, or business, we also want to help you prevent getting locked out in the first place.


One of the best ways to prevent getting locked out is to get a duplicate key. You should have a duplicate for your car key, and your house key. Loosing your last car key can cost you up to $300 to replace. If you have the code to your auto keys somewhere easily attainable it will be easier and cheaper for Baldino’s to make a new key.


You can hide your extra set of keys in your purse or wallet, keep one on the underside of your car, use a hide a key outside of your house, or give the copy to a good friend or family member.


Always using your key fob to lock your car is another sure way you won’t lock your keys in. You can also do a pocket or hand check to make sure the keys are where you need them to be.


Our favorite way not to loose your keys is to not have any at all. Use a pushbutton code lock for your home.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Alarm Systems

Having an alarm system in your house is a great way to add one more layer of security. An alarm system is a high tech babysitter for your house. They can watch over your valuables and detour and prevent intruders from coming in. Most burglars want to be able to get in, take what they want, and get out with out being noticed or a hassle. If they have to deal with an alarm system they will think twice about breaking into your home or office.

Alarm systems have advanced features to fit any life style or living situation. You can connect them to a cell phone instead of a home phone. They can also come with wireless motion detectors. These detectors are so advanced they can tell the difference between a cat walking by and a human.


Alarm systems do not only protect against intruders. Most come with smoke detectors that can sense a fire better than the one that came to your home. Baldino's Lock and Key will have an alarm system to fit your life style.


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Covered for a Year

Baldino’s Lock and Key’s one year parts and labor guarantee is our promise to you that our parts and service are top notch.


The one year warranty covers everyone in the locksmith industry along with our other residential and commercial customers.


If Baldino’s provides a lock, safe, or installs any other product we fully guarantee it will work for a year. If your product has any problems with in the year it’s installed we will replace or repair it for free. Your warranty includes labor also. If Baldino’s needs to come out and repair a product we won’t charge you a service call or labor.


Very rarely do we need to come out to fix any problems, but we want our customers to know they are covered and taken care of. At Baldino’s Lock and Key we like to say “here there is never any problem with customer relations, we stand behind our work”.

Friday, February 18, 2011

We LOVE Our Real Estate Agents

Baldino's Lock and Key has a soft spot for our local real estate agents. We've made a special coupon program just for them. All of the members of our real estate coupon mailing program get a $25.00 off a service call coupon to give to their clients.

Most new homeowners are so excited about moving in, and have so much on their mind they overlook the possibility that a former resident, handyman, cleaning company, or neighbor may still have a key to their home. By being part of our program you have the chance to provide your clients with this coupon and the first step in keeping their new home safe.

The benefit of joining our program is that you can be confident you are referring a reliable locksmith and helping your client keep their new investment safe. Baldino’s Lock and Key has 18 locations and has been serving the community since 1961.

Most new homeowners are so excited about moving in, and have so much on their mind they overlook the possibility that a former resident, handyman, cleaning company, or neighbor may still have a key to their home. By being part of our program you have the chance to provide your clients with this coupon and the first step in keeping their new home safe.