Have you noticed signs of intruders or attempted forced entry into your office or place of business? Then, naturally, you want to find a solution quickly. You can do that with the help of a commercial locksmith who can help you to secure your business against intruders. But one important step you need to take initially is to work out if your locks have been compromised.

If your locks have been tampered with, they might be damaged. This could cause them to fail in the future, locking you out of the building. But worse than that, the would-be intruders could return with better equipment.

Look for the following signs when examining your business's locks for tampering.

Look for signs of brute force

Many burglars lack the skill to pick or bump a lock. These burglars usually try to use brute force to open a door. This requires heavy tools like hammers, chisels and drills, objects that can make a lot of mess. Fortunately, this kind of forced entry can leave a lot of evidence behind. Look for the following signs of brute force when examining your lock.

  • Splintered wood
  • Flecks of paint on the floor
  • Warped and damaged door frame
  • Signs that the lock might have changed position

If you see no signs of brute force, it's time to check for more subtle signs.

Look for subtle signs of lock manipulation

Skilled burglars, with some experience and knowledge of how locks work may pick or bump a lock. To bump a lock, burglars file the teeth of a key down to small points. They can then use this key, along with a hammer or other blunt object, to force the tumblers of a lock open. But because they need to strike the key with a heavy object, the signs of lock bumping are easy to spot. Look for:

  • Shiny metal edges around the lock that suggests force was used.
  • Tiny dents and nicks in the edges of the lock.

If a burglar has tried to pick your lock, which is less forceful than bumping, the signs will be more difficult to spot. But tiny scratch marks around the lock could indicate that a screwdriver and pick have been used.  

Look at how the lock functions

If you don't see visible signs of tampering with your lock, then check how the lock functions. If the lock no longer functions as it should, then it has likely been tampered with. In this case, if you do nothing, your lock could eventually stop working altogether.

If you believe that your business is under threat from burglars, and you have seen signs of lock tampering, you need the expertise of a commercial locksmith. Not only can a commercial locksmith fix and change your locks, but they can also help to improve the security of your property in other ways. Contact a commercial locksmith for more information. 

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