What is the point of installing a security lock on a van or truck when they are already fitted with standard locks? They are needed because standard locks have two great drawbacks: they are readily vulnerable to attack from a potential thief and they have to be opened with keys in possession of the driver.
For these reasons there are at least 3 occupational categories for which installing a security lock is a very smart choice. Continue reading
There are special cases where it may be better to choose something else, like a marine padlock or one with a long shackle. There are cases where the level of security required cannot justify the cost. But if there are special needs and you can afford the price of a one-piece hardened, case-hardened and anti-corrosion treated steel padlock, this is definitely the most technologically advanced product in the field of mechanical padlocks.
One-piece steel padlocks, such as the Viro Monolith, represent an development of the armoured padlocks. In this case we are not dealing with steel armour which protects a brass body, but the entire body made of special high-strength steel. Continue reading
This is a question that many people ask. The U-lock appears to be stronger and more resistant than a chain. So is it more secure? Actually, a padlock and chain is an altogether better solution. Let’s see why. Continue reading
They have a long and massive dead-bolt. As many as 6 throws may be needed to close and open them. When you use them they make a noise very similar to that of bank vaults in action films. Yet, in spite of all this, they don’t provide high security. We are talking about certain types of rim door locks, which are known in Italian as “ferroglietti”. Let’s have a look at them. Continue reading
We are in Marcellina, a town in the province of Rome, during the night between the 17th and 18th September. 3 people with their faces hidden by balaclavas quickly get out of a car. Within seconds they manage to force the shutter of a jeweller’s, entering and stealing jewels worth 50 thousand euros.
The peculiar aspect of this theft is that surveillance cameras filmed all the action and the video was put on the Internet, but such actions are repeated every night throughout Italy. Shutters are in fact the most commonly used system to close shops, warehouses and garages. These are all places particularly attractive for thieves, as they contain valuable items and are typically unattended for long periods of time, particularly at night.
Can something be done to prevent it? Continue reading
Door closers are very practical, because they close the access to our home, but they are also a useful security tool because, if chosen and installed correctly, they provide the guarantee of not leaving the door/gate open. How must a door closer be made to work well and not create problems? Continue reading
Twisted cables are widely used, especially to tie up bicycles because they are cheap, light and easy to use. They have several advantages, but also some aspects that you need to be aware of. Continue reading
We have always been taught that certain compromises are impossible. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Apparently you can’t have both. Yet sometimes it is possible to achieve compromises which can successfully bring together opposing needs. This is the case with armoured padlocks. Continue reading
Opening a lock without breaking it is possible, and many videos on the Internet demonstrate this. And it would appear to be very simple. But, to avoid getting the wrong impression, one should bear in mind that in reality things are much more complicated. Continue reading
The daily newspapers are always writing about how thieves are increasingly skilled in opening the doors to apartments, basements and garages. Faced with these increased skills, the defence strategy must be twofold. On the one hand, it is worth keeping one’s defence systems updated with the latest technological solutions, such as replacing the old double bit lock with new European security cylinders. On the other hand, however, it is also important to combine different technologies and solutions, such as mechanical and electronic, without entrusting the entire system to a single type of defence. Different solutions and technologies require different tools and skills in order to be attacked, and it is much more unlikely that a burglar possesses them all. A burglar who specialises in opening doors by brute force (still the most commonly used method) is unlikely to be equipped to overcome an electronic alarm. Conversely, a burglar who specialises in overcoming alarm systems may not be able to open a good security lock, which requires specific expertise and tools. Continue reading