Commercial Locksmith: 3 Things You Need to Do After the Store Keys Break While Still in the Lock
Posted on: 8 November 2016
Businesses are prime targets for burglaries, as they store many products that can be easily sold for a profit later on. Small businesses located in low-income urban areas are particularly vulnerable, and businesses that have been burglarized once will be more likely to get burglarized again. There are many different ways and security options you can choose from to protect your business. At the very least, you should install locks on all entrances. Still, the locks aren't foolproof. In fact, they might even keep you out. Depending on the quality and age of the lock, the key might break while it's still in the lock. In the event that something like that happens, here are three things you should do before the commercial locksmith arrives.
Push the Broken Key Into the Lock and Turn
You are losing money every minute and hour that your business is closed, so your primary concern should be getting into your store as soon as possible in order to get it up and running for business. It might take some time for the commercial locksmith to arrive. If you don't want to waste your time sitting around, take matters into your own hands and try to open the lock yourself. You don't need to have any professional equipment or tools to do so.
Since the broken part of the key is already inside the lock and securing the pins in place, all you have to do is enter the rest of the key into the lock and exert some pressure on the broken part of the key in an attempt to get it to turn. You might want to even push the door slightly with your body in order to get the door to open more easily. You can even try to use a pin or a flat screwdriver if you're not having much luck with the part of the key that didn't break in the lock. Unlocking the door will allow you to get into your store and open it for business while you wait for the commercial locksmith to arrive.
Remove the Broken Key with a Magnet
There's no sense in leaving the broken part of the key in the lock. It might prevent you from being able to access the door freely at a later time. If your store isn't too busy yet, consider spending some time removing the broken key with a magnet. Simply place a strong magnet by the keyhole to try to draw the broken piece out. You can even use a tweezer or a bobby pin to help pull the broken part of the key out once part of it pokes out of the keyhole.
By doing this yourself instead of relying on a commercial locksmith, you'll be able to save some money on labor costs.
Look at Replacement Options for the Lock and Key
Once you have gotten into the store and removed the broken part of the key, it's important to look at your options. If the key broke while still in the lock, there's a good chance that the lock is nearing the end of its life. You technically have two options to choose from. You can either take the broken part of the key to cut a new key, or you can replace the lock and the key with a new model. The latter is a much better option, as the fact that the key broke while still in the lock is a good indicator that the lock is too old.
Don't let a commercial locksmith hard-sell you on a replacement that you don't want. Stay informed by researching the replacement options available. Consider whether you want another commercial lock model or design to be installed instead. This might also be a good time to upgrade your security by going electronic.
Conclusion
Don't pretend that nothing happened and go about your day. It's important that you at the very least get the lock and key inspected by a commercial locksmith to determine where the vulnerability lies and what you have to do to improve the security system of your business.
Visit sites such as http://scscincus.com to find a commercial locksmith near you.
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