RandR Security

Master Locksmiths Association

2009-07-20T01:14:00.000-07:00

The MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) is warning members of the public and businesses to be on their guard when using the services on unlicensed Locksmiths and security suppliers.
The MLA is the only locksmiths association able to carry out standard Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.
MLA company members as well as receiving the best training possible, regular CPDs (continual personal development) now have to have regular CRB checks.
It’s now official, the only security companies you can trust with confidence is one that belongs to the MLA.
R & R Security have been members of the MLA for almost 20 years, so you can purchase products & services with absolute confidence.

Mercedes Keys

2009-04-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Keys

Mercedes have had a long tradition of having high security locks
& keys which have proved not only difficult to gain entry to the
vehicle without the use of the correct key, but also to duplicate.
Specialist key cutters, usually members of the Master Locksmith
Association with there tradition of skill & integrity have been
able to not only cut them, but provide a key in the event of a lost
key situation. The same is true today for vehicles up to about
1994/5. After this date things have changed, in order to combat
the ever increasing number of vehicles stolen in the UK,
transponder micro chip technology was introduced, making the
number of outlets able to provide a duplicate key decline.
Transponder chip technology has increased dramatically,
Mercedes vehicles have from day one used one of the most
sophisticated chips available. Which means that a spare key can
only be purchased from a Mercedes dealer. The dealers are
generally very efficient and can obtain the key for you within
24-48 hours.

Chubb 4L67E

2009-04-14T01:58:00.000-07:00

It is recommended that this product is installed by a competent person.The heavy spring that operates the rim dead bolt, is exposed when removed from the mounting plate on the door. This has a tendancy to come flying out of the housing when operating the dead bolt, in your hand.Although we are not aware of any reported incidents of damage to property or persons, R & R Security Services feel that there are sufficient grounds to issue this statement.

ERA Price Increase

2009-03-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

ERA to increase all products in there range by 9% on
Monday the 9th March. According to the MD Mr D.A.Hill
they had hoped the currency would strengthen, and
that increasing costs would be short term. This has
not happened, forcing them to pass on the costs.
However the increase will be reduced as the rates
strengthen.
Naturally R & R Security will reduce prices as they
happen.

Mad Not To

2008-12-19T06:28:00.000-08:00

Don’t be silly, be a smarty, come and join the R & R party. Thousands have and saved time and money on all there security requirements. By far the most comprehensive security and hardware site on the web. We haven’t found a site with more products anywhere on the world wide web. That’s why our clients come back to us time after time. If you know of a better site, we would like to hear from you.

New licensing requirements

2008-12-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

Police authorities are now not renewing alcohol licences for retail premises unless they have a deposit safe with a time lock, with a minimum of 3 minutes delay. This is all part of there raid control policy to help protect staff. Digital time locked deposit safes used to be very expensive, and generally only installed in premises like post offices. An extra cost, which is unwelcome in the current economic climate. Burton Safes have just introduced a new safe that meets all the requirements, is low in cost and will be a valuable asset to any establishment that handles money, no matter how small.

Digital (Standard Mechanical)

2008-12-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

How good are Standard Mechanical Digitallocks?

For internal low use application they are the perfect choice
for low cost access control.

How long do they last?
This obviously again depends on usage, but if used as per manufacturers instructions they can & do last for years.

When do they go wrong?
Generally when not used in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Over use, which can cause individual buttons to stick or stop working. However the most common cause is when changing the code, although this is a simple process, people tend not to read the instructions properly, especially if they have already carried out the task before. Remember the C button must be depressed when removing & inserting the code discs. The discs must be in the correct way round. A jammed unit nearly always indicates the process has not been carried out correctly.
The other part that can go wrong is the latch (the part that engages into the frame) this can be caused by incorrect fitting or the door has dropped causing damage to the latch.

Why are so many fitted for the wrong application?
Simply down to price, it can be argued that you can replace it 2 or more times and still be cheaper than the correct unit, which is fine if the unit fails with the door open & you have a new unit to hand. But what are you going to do if it fails & you are locked out? Or don’t have one to hand. Call a locksmith and incur extra expense

There are many different digital locks available from manufacturers like Codelock, Zone, Lockey, Lockwood, Simplex & more. Mechanical or Electronic. Choosing the right product for the right application can save time & money in the long term.

Locksmith (Whats Involved)

2008-12-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Locksmith (Interview for Jobs4u)

Ray Preedy is a locksmith and co-owner of R & R Security Services, an established locksmith company. He is a member of the Master Locksmith Association and the Auto Locksmiths Association. He is based in Ealing, West London.

How would you outline your role?
As a company we supply, repair and carry out the fitting of locks, keys, vehicle security, safes, and access control systems for domestic, government agencies and commercial uses. My role, as a partner, is in all aspects of the running of the company.

What are your main responsibilities?
I am involved in running the company on a very hands-on basis. There is no typical day! After opening the shop premises I organise the work schedule for the day, depending on what is booked in. After that I could be doing anything from taking orders, cutting keys and assembling locks, to calling on customers and fitting locks.
I am also responsible for organising staff training and rotas.

What hours do you work?
The shop is open from 8.30am to 5pm. I have worked up to 60 hours in a week but I try to average 40 hours a week at the moment. We operate an emergency call out system, 24 hours a day, so we are all generally on call one week in every four.

What is your working environment like?
I work in a retail premises. We have a workshop at the rear for working on old locks, which may be dirty and need stripping down, and a ‘pinning room’ for assembling clean, new locks to people’s requirements, such as master key systems and cylinders.

Who do you work with?
I work with a variety of customers, from businesses and the general public, to professionals such as architects who may be looking for a particular product. I also work with my business partner and colleagues including four qualified locksmiths, two trainees and two salespeople.

What skills or qualities do you need?
Integrity and honesty are the most important qualities. Obviously you also need to have practical skills and to be good with your hands. You also need IT skills to use computers.

Why did you choose this type of work?
I left school at 16 and got an apprenticeship with an engineering company. The company went bust so I got a job selling motor spares. I got to strip down car locks and found this interesting, so I then got a job as a trainee locksmith. I joined the Master Locksmith Association (MLA), undertook the training and sat their exams to become a master locksmith. Not long after this I set up R&R Security Services with my business partner.

What training do you have/have you done?
I am involved, together with the other locksmiths, in training our trainees on the job. We also send them on training courses leading to the exam to become a master locksmith. I attend regular training sessions myself to keep up to date, as there are always new developments in terms of products and technology.

Do you use any special tools or equipment?
There are multitudes of special tools! In the workshop we have to constantly upgrade and renew equipment, for example machinery or pieces of software, as it is very specialised. We have many types of manual machines, the two basic ones are used to cut mortice keys and standard cylinder type keys. We also have different types of computerised cutting machines for cutting keys to code number or for the more sophisticated specialised keys.

What do you like/dislike about your job?
I get immense satisfaction from my job, for example when I’ve assembled a key system that is working well and the client is happy, or when someone comes in with an obsolete key and we can replace it like for like. I also really enjoy the variety, in terms of the different jobs we do for different clients. The only downside is being a small company it can be hard to arrange cover when someone is off sick or on holiday.

What are the main challenges?
My main challenge is to provide a quality service that keeps our customers happy. As a member of the MLA, which is a professional body, I find it frustration that there isn’t more regulations on ‘cowboy’ locksmiths who can set up without the proper training. Every time they do a bad job it reflects on the industry as a whole.

How do you see your future?
I’d like to develop our website, which is a relatively new buy-on-line site offering a huge range of products, and make it more profitable. Generally I’m very happy the way our business is. By staying small we can offer a much more personal service which is really satisfying to me.

Ray’s route
· Left school at 16 years and got an engineering apprenticeship
· Got a job in a shop selling motor spares
· Trained as a locksmith and qualified as a master locksmith
· Set up and developed R&R Security Services

Ray’s tips
· Approach locksmiths directly and try to get a Saturday job before leaving school
· Contact the MLA to enquire about training. Don’t be fooled by any ‘get rich quick’ schemes.

Transponder Keys

2008-11-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

What is a transponder key?
From around about 1995 most manufacturers introduced immobilizers to there vehicles in an effort to combat the increasing amount of car thefts. Transponder micro chips were inserted into the keys, these chips are individually programmed to the vehicle. If a key does not have a chip or it has not been programmed to that vehicle then it will not start. These chips are in every key. However it is sometimes not immediately obvious that your key has one.
Some people think that if the key has not got remote central locking buttons then it has no immobilizer chip, not true, if your vehicle was manufactured after 1995, the likely hood is that it WILL have a chip inserted.

Will it start my vehicle straight away?
The straight answer is no. With the exception of a few vehicles, your key will have to be programmed to your vehicle using diagnostic equipment in order for the key to start the engine. Others can be programmed by the owner,The procedure can normally be found in the Owners manual.