Last year, according to the New York City Police Department, there were approximately 20,000 burglaries throughout the city. It might come as a surprise to many people, but in most home invasions, the criminals enter right through a building or apartment’s front door; either the door was forced open or the intruders opened it with a stolen copy of the key or by picking the lock. At Paragon Security and Locksmith Inc., we are committed to being your security partner and using all of our expertise and resources to help keep you safe.  That’s why we’ve prepared a list of several important tips that can help protect your home or business:

• Thicker Is Better: Make sure your front door is made of solid hardwood, Iron, aluminum, or another metal. Doors should be at least 1.75” thick, and fireproofed according to FDNY regulations.
• Iron Grates are Great! Doors with window glass can be better secured with decorative custom-designed iron grates. They not only look great but will keep you and your loved ones safe in case the glass is broken or damaged.
• It’s Video Time: It’s time to upgrade your Intercom system or install a new one with video monitoring.  This way you will always know that your visitor is your visitor!
• Go Ahead, Take a Peep! Make sure to have a functioning door viewer, or “peephole” on your door.  Opening the door an inch or two can be very dangerous because intruders can force their way in easily.
• High-Security Locks: Locks have come a long way. It’s time to install high-security locks, both bottom and top locks, based on a pick-proof system and a restricted magnetic key card. For building or office doors, we recommend utilizing advanced one-motion locks.  Remember to keep the restricted magnetic key card in a safe place, as it must be presented to your locksmith to enable additional keys to be supplied.
• Consult with a Locksmith Professional: Every security situation is different.  At Paragon Security, our team of efficient, trained experts is ready to provide you with the personal customized service and consultation you need to make all the right choices for your security. Best of all, with our revolutionary 100% up-front pricing transparency, you will know exactly how much every job will cost — before we do the job.

In addition to front-door break-ins, many common invasions happen through windows– either because tenants don’t lock them properly or because the criminal breaks the glass. Here are a few tips on window security:

• Iron Is Essential: It’s very important to make sure you have properly installed iron gates on all windows and a New York Protection Grate (NYPG) at your fire escape windows.
• Sound the Alarm! Installing a Burglary Alarm System can greatly reduce the chance of break-ins.  Even if the alarm doesn’t prevent the actual break-in, in most cases it will scare the burglar away and allow you to notify your central station and police.
• Closed Circuit Monitoring: It’s always best to monitor sensitive areas in the building, or even in your apartment, with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) or properly installed surveillance cameras.