VARIOUS KINDS OF LOCKS

Locks come in many forms, sizes and materials. They’ve been used throughout history to protect valuables from harm, theft and misuse. Ancient cultures used locks and locking mechanisms to safeguard prized belongings, tribute, treasure, and temple goods. We use locks today for much the same purpose; to secure our belongings and property and to attain privacy and protection for ourselves and our loved ones and close associates.

We are fortunate to live in an age that still uses the simple lock tumbler and key but also can implement fingerprint technology as well as chip encoded identity badges that can allow us access and track our whereabouts.

PADLOCKS

If you’ve ever secured a bicycle or locked a storage room you’ve used a padlock. These popular locks are portable and removable so that they can be used in a variety of functions. They are very inexpensive and can be opened with keys or by using a combination.

Generally the larger the padlock body, the stronger and more durable the lock will be. Using a key to open your padlock is simpler as you don’t have to remember a combination. Tiny padlocks are often sold to secure jewelry boxes or small lock boxes but flimsy construction is one drawback of these cheaper locks and it is very easy to hammer them open.

DEADBOLTS

Many homes today use a deadbolt for added security. Depending on the quality and installation of the deadbolt, a certain measure of added protection is given. These are not expensive to buy or to install and they do give peace of mind as well as provide a second layer of security. Most burglars want easy access to your belongings and once they get the door lock picked open they don’t want to have to deal with a deadbolt too. Most often they will give up and move on to easier pickings giving the resident time to arm themselves and/or call for help. Residential and commercial deadbolts can be secured in single and double cylinder models so be sure to ask your Des Plaines IL locksmith shop for the advantages of using either one of these.

MORTISE LOCKS

A mortise lock is often used in residential applications and is perfect for front doors. A mortise is a recess. These locks are recessed inside the door as opposed to mounted on the surface of it. Ideally the door needs to be at least 2 inches thick. You can open a mortise lock from the inside by turning a handle and from the outside by first using your key and then pulling down on the latch. These locks are tricky to install so we recommend you use a local residential locksmith. Mortise locks are generally stronger and more secure than typical cylinder locks and are harder to pick open by burglars. Studies show that most intruders tend to give up if the lock is not picked in the first 20 seconds of the crime.

KEYLESS LOCKS

These locks don’t use keys and are becoming more popular in both residential and commercial uses. Lost, forgotten or damaged keys are no longer a problem as none are used. A keypad where a number sequence is entered is used instead of a key. Fingerprint lock technology also can be used in place of physical keys.

A big advantage of keypad devices is that the key code can be changed at will. If you suspect that someone has your code combination, just change it. To keep crooks from standing outside your door and entering one code after another to possibly gain entrance, an alarm is sounded after one or more incorrect entries.

CAM LOCKS

Cam locks are commonly found on low-level security items like file cabinets, lock boxes and mailboxes. These locks use a small metal tailpiece that can move into and out of a slot by turning a key. The tailpiece or “cam” can rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise to lock the device.

KNOB LOCKS

These are commonly found in homes and can be either interior or exterior door locks (or both). They have a rotatable knob on one side and a key cylinder located on the other. When using these knob locks on exterior doors, they should always be accompanied by a deadbolt as it is relatively easy to knock off the knob with a hammer and use pliers to disengage the interior locking mechanism. These knob locks are also easy to pick open and bump open.

JIMMY PROOF DEADBOLT

These locks are typically found in older residential units especially apartment rentals. The locks are surface mounted on the door interior and are very easy to install either yourself or with the help of a local Des Plaines, IL locksmith. The idea behind these Jimmy Proof locks is to prevent a crook from prying apart your door frame with a crowbar. This action is prevented by using two vertical interlocking bolts that fall into a strike plate when the lock is engaged. These deadbolts work with a single cylinder that uses a key on one side and a knob that can be turned on the other. These locks are much harder to pick open hence the name “Jimmy Proof.”

HIGH SECURITY LOCKS

These excellent locks are well worth investigating if you are serious about lock protection and security. They are available for both home and business use and are usually made of solid brass as opposed to hollow tin like your standard, commonly used lock. These locks use an interlocking bolt that is near impossible to pry open even with a crow bar. There are also strategically placed steel inserts to prevent drilling the lock open.

The entire lock is also shielded with a metal cover to prevent objects from being slipped between the lock and the door in order to manipulate it open. High security locks cannot be bumped open, drilled open or even shot open.