What can a locksmith do?

Most people think about locksmiths when they’re locked out of their property!

This is just one of the services that a professional locksmith can offer but there are plenty of others too.
For example, if you’ve just moved into a new house then the first thing you should do is change the locks. After all, you don’t know who’s had copies of the keys in the past so why risk it? Rather than purchasing the locks yourselves from the local DIY store (as research has shown that the level of advice available at these stores is dangerously low) then you should contact your local MLA licensed locksmith to come and supply and fit appropriate locks for you. They will know the locks you’ll need so as not to invalidate your insurance. Of course it’s not only doors that need locks but windows too – so make sure your MLA licensed locksmith fits your window locks too.
Cutting keys is another area of experience for locksmiths. Why get your keys cut anywhere other than by an experienced, professional locksmiths? But have they been vetted? Make sure who you use has been independently accredited as vetted, inspected and competent for the job at hand.
But there are plenty of other services that locksmiths can provide

• Security upgrades (additional security such as door bolts, lock upgrades, anti snap cylinders etc.)
• Safes – make sure you get a safe that has been professionally specified for your needs and is fitted properly. If this is not done then a thief could walk out with your safe!
• Auto work – some locksmiths offer an auto locksmithing service whereby they can get you into your vehicle if you’ve locked the keys in there or cut (and where necessary programme) a new key for your vehicle.
• Access control – some professional locksmiths will be able to specify, supply and install electronic access control systems

Don’t forget that locksmiths can work on domestic and commercial properties so if you have a security requirement for your business then make sure you contact your local MLA licensed locksmith.


Local Locksmith Wilmslow provides locksmith services in Wilmslow and in surrounding areas. We provide all kinds of locksmith services to individuals, small and medium business and big Housing associations. We have in business for many years, and we believe in providing quality services .Our experience over the year has enabled us to come up with customised solutions for you. We understand that customers have various needs. Consequently, we strive to meet you expectations. At Cusworth Local Locksmiths in Wilmslow, we believe that yours security is very important. We seek to uphold your security at all times .Consequently, as we area locksmith company based in Handforth if you require a emegency locksmith in Wilmslow, we have a quick response policy.

You are bound to receive a return call within minutes of contacting us. Whatever the emergency  locksmith situation we will come to your aid. We have vans which enable our team of experts to get to you in Wilmslow quickly. It so follows that we are able to reach you irrespective of your location in Cheshire and other surrounding areas. We believe in delivering a quality service. It is worth noting that our locksmiths are highly qualified by the Master Locksmiths Associaon. In addition, our locksmiths also undertake regular continual profesional development courses to ensure that they are aware of current trends in locksmith services ,access control and safe engineeing. 

Euro cylinder attacks

Whilst there is a lot of scaremongering on various websites out there about specific types of vulnerabilities that euro cylinders (the most common form of locking device used in UPVC and composite doors) are liable to, the important thing is not to panic, as a professionally specified and fitted cylinder will help protect you.The MLA recommends the use of SS312 Diamond approved cylinders as these have been tested fully against all known MO’s for burglars.

Details of cylinders approved to this high level of testing can be found on the Sold Secure website by clicking here.
For more information about cylinder snapping, one particular type of MO that’s being used a lot currently then click here.
In a “belt and braces” type approach, you may want to talk to your local MLA licensed locksmith about upgrading your door furniture (for example fitting high strength security handles) for your added peace of mind. for a free survey on your vulnerability on your uPVC locks on Stockport, Bramhall, Cheadle, Macclesfield or Knutsford please contact us

Mila Evolution solid stainless handles upvc

We have recently found a beautiful new product for upgrading PVC doors against attack from burglaries in Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield and Wilmslow
Evolution High Security Door Handle

Mila PAS24 polished stainless lever handles

The Evolution high security door handle, manufactured from cast stainless steel, features an integrated cylinder guard and innovative anti-plug & anti-drill disc.
Reversible for left or right hand doors, the stylish Evolution high security door handle is available in stainless steel and gold stainless steel. The lever has been ergonomically designed for optimum comfort and ease of operation, including for the elderly and infirm, when in use.
The Evolution high security door handle has been independently tested at the UKAS accredited Mila Test Centre and meets the performance requirements of PAS 024 and Secured By Design. An SBD logo engraved onto the backplate gives peace-of-mind whilst serving as a deterrent to would be intruders.
Protects against 4 common types of attack:
Handle Snapping
Cast steel design, and enhanced screw fixings, make it practically impossible to jemmy the handle backplate from the door leaf

Cylinder Snapping
An integrated cylinder guard forms a formidable barrier around the cylinder, protecting it from attack

Cylinder De-plugging
An integral anti-plug disc secures directly over the cylinder face, shielding it from attack

Cylinder Drilling
The innovative anti-drill disc spins if attacked with a drill, preventing the drill bit from penetrating the cylinder.
Evolution High Security Door Handle : PAS 024 Test Conditions
The Evolution high security door handle has been tested at the UKAS accredited Mila Test Centre to exceed the enhanced security requirements of PAS 024.
Anti-Drill & Anti-Disc & Integrated Cylinder Guard
An innovative anti-drill and anti-plug disc, captive within the handle backplate, shields the cylinder face from attack. A cylinder guard, integrated into the handle backplate, protects the cylinder from the threat of ‘snapping’.
Cusworth Master Locksmiths can survey your home and business and give independent free advice on any security in Manchester Stockport and Macclesfield

A dwarf burglar has defended his life of crime claiming that it is the only career open to a man his size.

Dwarf burglar- "crime is my only career option"

A dwarf burglar has defended his life of crime claiming that it is the only career open to a man his size.

Photo: NORTH NEWS & PICTURES

By Richard Alleyne

Lee Kildare, 22, who is 3ft 11in tall, confessed this week to burgling an empty house for scrap metal but said it was his only option because he struggled to get a normal job in a "tall man's world".

manchester locksmith

Kildare, 22, said: "I've been burgling houses for years. I choose to do it – no one forces me.

"In fact, it's what I have to do for money because I couldn't get a normal job. It's a tall man's world.

"I have shoplifted in the past and it is easy as no one would ever suspect me. I normally get away with it because of my height.

"Now I burgle derelict houses for metal so I can sell it on as scrap. I do it for extra money, to go with my incapacity benefit."

Kildare, who lives with his mother, was used by a gang to plunder empty houses for copper and other metal to sell to scrap yards.
He was arrested after a security guard saw his head poking out of a small hole in the front door of a house in Newcastle.
Magistrates heard Kildare was very drunk and his accomplice fled leaving him to take the rap.
"People come to me for help with burglaries because I'm small and can get through small holes.," he said.
"But they are not taking advantage of me. I'm well-known and well-liked and no one picks on me."
Kildare was born with an incurable condition called achondroplasia, caused by an abnormal gene, which affects about one in 20,000 children.
He was given a 12-month community order with supervision, and put on a three-month curfew between 8pm and 7am.
to protect yourself from this problem find a Manchester locksmith
 

Choosing a locksmith in Manchester

The choice of a locksmith in Manchester is an important step because you want to make sure that you choose a reputable company, which is also a genuine Manchester locksmith, and not a national call centre or agency. Although we trust Locksmiths to let us in and out of our homes, cars and businesses, as we have become locked out, it is for them to do so in order not to compromise the integrity of our property. At the same time, to choose a company with experience and good reputation is the best way to protect your safety and property in the future, so make sure you do your homework so you can choose the best locksmith service in Manchester.

Cusworth Master Locksmiths are a Manchester Locksmith Service who are licensed and screened By the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) when they are shown they can perform various tasks necessary to do the job. But not everyone who operates a locksmiths business in Manchester has this, so it is important to ask for and check references before hiring them.  There are many other associations which sound official, but merely require a subscription and no checks are carried out. There are no legal requirements for running an advertising a locksmiths business in the UK and there are a growing number of people who do a 3 day course in locksmithing by a “get rich quick” training academy – giving the would be locksmith a certificate and an over inflated idea that they have the skills and the knowledge to go into someone’s home and make decisions regarding the safety and security of a family. 

It is quite possible many Locksmiths could have criminal records, unless the correct checks are made, again the best way to protect yourself is on the MLA website, listing all licensed locksmiths in Manchester and Cheshire

In many cases, you may already know someone who has used the services of a Locksmith, and may be the best source of information and recommendations, but it is still important to check the information online.

Online sites and reviews are a great way to determine the level of service you would expect from Manchester locksmiths. In addition, more a company is operating may be a testament to their success and confidence that people have with them. You cannot trust anyone with the keys to your house, and other customers feel the same way that a company with a bad reputation will not be able to stay in business for very long, and will regularly change their name. Check that the company you are considering is insured is another very important thing you should ask before choosing someone.

If you find the best locksmith service Manchester, all these issues are very important and can make a huge difference between great service and a bad transaction. For much of the research undertaken to work with, you may end up choosing a company that you can work with for many years to come without having to worry about the safety of your home or car. Don’t Forget to put you preferred Manchester Locksmith’s phone number in your mobile phone, and recommend them to friends and family.

Bait & hook scam

Beware of this increasing scam.
In the UK the best way to choose a genuine locksmith in the UK is the Master Locksmiths Association www.locksmiths.co.uk 



For a genuine Locksmith in Stockport, Manchester or Macclesfield

"I locked my keys in my car Monday afternoon. It was in the parking lot of a bank/grocery store. i waited a couple hours for my boyfriend to bring me an extra key. when he couldn't find it, my dad came to try to break into my car. No go. My 2005 Focus cannot be slim-jimmed. So, after almost 4 hours, I decide to call a locksmith. I used google 411, and picked a locksmith that was supposedly on a road nearby, because i thought it would be quick. The two I called before I got this one didn't answer their phones. A1 24 hr Locksmith answers and tells me $39.99 + about a $19 service charge. I tell him the kind of car, the address, etc. They say 25-30 mins.
I start to think things might be weird when I get two calls from two different people to confirm the address, my name, etc. The "locksmith" shows up over an hour later, in an unmarked car, with no uniform. I show him my car and he decides that my 2005 ford focus is VERY hard to break into, and that the labor charge is gonna go up to $125, for a total of $177 after tax. About $19 does not = $125. I'm sure he saw 20 year old female college student and thought $$$$$. He is very intimidating. He tells me he's charged people $260 to get into their cars, and that he is giving me a deal, it is late at night, what am I gonna do. He insists that I have to pay him for the service charge anyways. It's almost 9, I've been locked out of my car for almost 5 hours with only a sweatshirt, and I'm cold (live in the seattle area). We argue awhile. I, on the verge of tears, agree to pay him. It takes him all of 2 minutes to unlock my car. I give him my credit card, and ask him if he has a business card, invoice, etc as I was planning on reporting them to the BBB. He could not give me anything that linked him to a business of any sort. This all seems way too suspicious. I drive home, seething.
When I woke up and won't to work the next morning, I noticed that the door of my car was all bent up. I didn't see it in the dark the night before. I decided to call the company back and ask for a partial refund, due to the bait and switch, the late locksmith, and especially the damage to my car. The manager lies, saying that he didn't even have an appt with me. I said "well, I have the license plate number of the car. I will just call the cops to report it, and cancel my credit card." He suddenly "remembers" me. Refuses to discuss the damage to my car or a partial refund. He just kept repeating that it wasn't a scam since the driver told me the price before he did the work. I told him if he wouldn't help me, that I would file a charge-back and report him to the bbb, etc.
I called my bank and they were very helpful. They canceled the card so it could not be used again, and began the charge-back process. When I researched online, there were all kinds of stories about a couple companies back east who have local numbers with made up addresses and ads all over the country. People have lost $300 and more. They dispatch the calls in their main offices, and send out local contractors. They do this all the time- there are hundreds of horror stories, and some of them are about A1 24 hr locksmith. Hopefully the charge-back works. These people lie, and kick you when you are down. Its really hard to google the business name or check out it's reputation when you're locked out of your car in a parking lot. I shudder t think what the charge (and intimidation) would have been like if my dad hadn't been there with me.
Is there anyone else I can file complaints with? I want to get them in trouble and I want to keep this from happening to other people. Businesses should not be able to get away with this. From reading the stories, I doubt they were even licensed, etc. Out of curiosity, I contacted more locksmiths and got the same sort of response. Finally, I got one who seemed reputable. He told me it would be $60 flat no possibility for change, etc, and said he had helped an old woman who was charged $200 to be let into her car”

Handforth Burglaries

Following a number of recent Burglaries a number of valuable electrical items and jewellery have been stolen from a home in Handforth.
Between 9.30am on Friday, 26th August, and 2.30pm on Monday, 29th August, thieves broke into an unoccupied property on Derwent Drive. They gained entry by using a rock to smash the window and then used the door keys to unlock the door.
Once inside they made an untidy search of the property and stole 3 laptops, a Rolex Shockmaster and Pangrai Pam 72 watch.
They also took a diamond engagement ring and several other items of jewellery before stealing the car from the premises in which they made their escape.
A secluded semi detached house on Greaves Road in Wilmslow was also broken into this week. Between 10pm on Thursday, 25th August, and 6am on Friday, 26th August, offenders approached the property and moved the CCTV camera above the front door.
They then removed a window pane from the side of the building, using a sharp bladed instrument, and climbed through into the lounge. The property was occupied at the time, although the victim wasn't woken, and the offenders stole small electrical items and cash before using keys to unlock the back door and make their escape.
During the same evening offenders entered a detached house on Racecourse Road via the backdoor, causing no damage. They were disturbed by the occupant though and left without stealing any items.

For a free security survey in the Stockport / Wilmslow & Macclesfield area please call us on 01625 250275

check your cylinder projection

Whilst repairing a uPVC door lock in Heald Green, near Stockport the other day, I noticed the recently fitted conservatory doors had a common security flaw....

Cylinders which project more than 4-5mm can be attacked quickly and quietly!


for more information see here

Master locksmiths Association video

stockport upvc locksmiths weak points of upvc doors

uPVC door weak points

As Locksmiths in Stockport and Manchester we see a lot of ways uPVC doors are bypassed.

The first weakness on a uPVC door is the cylinder which can be:-

• low quality - giving rise to picking and raking
• wrong size - projecting on attack side more than 5mm - giving rise to snapping

the second weakness are the handles:-

• these can be upgraded to enhance the protection of the lock and cylinder

The next is the locking mechanism -

• there should be hookbolts fitted. some old doors are fitted with rollers which can by bypassed quite easily. also check the frame where each hook and roller fits, to ensure they are locking correctly 

 lastly the infill panels-

 these can be badly fitted and externally beaded, and badly fitted we can supply enhanced repacments

Chosing a Master Locksmith in Wilmslow

Contact experienced and qualified locksmiths Wilmslow for your security requirements

Look For the MLA Logo

It is a fact that sooner or later you may need locksmiths in Wilmslow at  to help you out in times of emergencies. Many people in Wilmslow and Macclesfield in the Cheshire East area need locksmiths for various purposes. But you have to be very sure about his credentials before you contact a Wilmslow locksmith. You need to be very sure that the Wilmslow locksmith is the right man for the job because you will be handling over the security of your house and car to the locksmith. You will be placing your entire house and car at the disposal of the company if you contact a fraudulent company by mistake. You may end up being robbed of all your possessions.
Make sure that you enquire about his experience and also ask for membership of the Master Locksmiths Association when you contact any locksmith. The company will certainly be able to provide testimonials from people who have already opted for their services and have been satisfied , if they have been based in Wilmslow for a long time. You can contact these people yourself and be satisfied that you are dealing with good locksmiths after you get these references. If they reach you in a short time and if they use the right kind of locks, you will also be able to know a lot of things about these locksmiths like how much they charge.
Even if you have called up a local locksmith in a hurry and you are in a real emergency situation, always make it a point to ask for their ID cards. Insist on their returning to their office and getting the cards, if they have forgotten to bring their ID cards. It may take some more time before you can get out of the locking problem, but you will not be robbed of your things. Most locksmiths carry their ID cards at all times and so you will be able to verify without any problem.
It is advisable to contact locksmiths who have a proper brick and mortar address in the Wilmslow area. Just a local sounding 01625 number is not enough. It is important that don’t trust people who operate from mobile vans only. This means that you may not be able to contact if anything goes wrong. Locksmiths in Wilmslow who have proper offices are more credible and trustworthy. You can contact them when you need them most, if you keep their contact numbers with you.