Of all the worries we have in life, someone breaking into our homes ranks pretty high, right? Nobody wants to deal with a break-in. In fact, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics, there were nearly a quarter of a million burglaries recorded in England and Wales in just one year. The physical, emotional, and financial impact it can have on you is devastating. That’s why you must invest in proper home security. If you want the best-in-class solutions today, it’s best to pair high-security, British Standards-approved door locks with a digital lock.
Why go for a digital lock in the modern era? According to Lock & Key Bradford, a team of locksmiths with decades of experience, a smart door lock is the sensible choice for UK homeowners looking for a bit of added protection. There are many ways to improve the quality of your home protection, from installing alarms and CCTV systems to investing in a digital lock. Let’s look a little closer so you can understand the benefits of getting smarter about home security.
Digital Locks: The Next Step In Home Protection
One of the main reasons the security industry continues to change is the need to keep up with criminal advancements. If criminals weren’t capable of finding ways to overcome new security tools, we would still be using the same locks our parents did!
Sadly, criminals do not stand still – that means security companies need to come up with new ways to keep the bad guys out. For example, high-security locks in the UK need to meet British Standards regulations. That means these locks are resistant to typical break-in methods like lock snapping and lockpicking. However, even the best mechanical locks can be outdone by a crafty criminal with intent and the right tools. That’s why it’s increasingly useful to pair mechanical locks with a digital lock.
Digital locks eschew the need for keys, instead operating the door with a PIN code, a biometric scan, or even a third-party mobile app. These are much harder to manipulate than if there is a keyhole to work with. They are far more difficult to confuse and also tend to have robust protection against blunt force trauma. As such, a smart door lock is the next step in home security.
The Benefits Of Upgrading To High-Security Smart Door Locks
There are quite a few benefits to installing high-security digital locks in your household. Some of the main benefits include:
Standard Break-in Resistance
Most smart locks today come paired with high-security locks that meet British Standards. That means they have built-in resistance to typical break-in methodologies such as lockpicking, lock snapping, and lock drilling. Having that extra layer of security means that it is far less likely that any break-in attempts on your property will pay off.
Tamper Protections
Other locks can be more easily manipulated if there is no digital lock interface on top. With a keyed lock, a truly skilled criminal armed with the right tools can still find a way to bypass your locks. With a digital lock, though, there is another layer of security that they would need to turn off before they can get the locks to disengage. High-security locks paired with a digital lock mean you have durable lock cylinders in place but also digital controls that need to be disengaged even if the lock is damaged.
Remote Access & Control
A digital lock also allows you to manage the door remotely. That makes it easier to avoid having things like spare keys lying around the place. If someone is coming to watch your dog, for example, they just need to let you know when they are at the door, and you can provide remote access. Or you can give them access via a keyless entry method, such as a one-time PIN code, so they can get inside.
Keyless Entry
As we mentioned above, a digital lock eliminates the need for a key to access your property. Instead, you can use something like an access code, a biometric scan, and/or a key fob/card/app to enter and exit the building. That also means that you can remotely lock your doors, too; halfway to work and worried you didn’t lock the back door? Now you can double-check without turning back.
Paired With Smart Security
Another benefit is that you can easily combine your digital lock with any other smart security systems you have. For example, alarms and CCTV systems could be paired; when one system detects something out of the ordinary, it will ‘talk’ to the others and trigger a notification. If you have cameras or doorbells, for example, you can review the footage to see what has happened.
Insurance Reductions
Some insurance providers today want to see that you are doing your utmost to fulfil your end of the bargain. As such, showing that you have installed a digital lock gives your home insurance provider peace of mind that you are taking every step you can to protect your building. Therefore, you might find a small – but still noticeable – reduction in your insurance premiums annually.
Take Action Today: Protect Your Home & Mitigate The Risk
As you can see, then, the digital lock is more than just a fad. It’s one of the most useful ways you can secure your home and reduce the risk of a break-in. They are highly effective at making criminals think twice, ensuring they are far less likely to even attempt a break-in!
Unsure what kind of smart door lock would work best for your home? Contact a locksmith. They can provide a security review of your home and give you a clear breakdown of which type of digital lock would be best suited to your door type, location, and, of course, budget. At the same time, do not ignore any signs that your doors have been tampered with or that someone has attempted to break in.
As soon as you spot any issues with your doors, contact an emergency locksmith service in your local area. Do not delay: you never know who has already spotted these vulnerabilities in your door locks!
