Do you have a home safe or gun safe with a mechanical lock? You know it’s time to upgrade to a digital lock when:

• You need to find your glasses before you can run the combo.
• A flashlight must be found and used to dial the combo.
• You lose count while dialing and have to run the combo 3 times before getting it right.
• You have to pay a locksmith the big bucks to change the combination because you gave it to a friend or family member and now wish you hadn’t.
• Your spouse closes the safe but doesn’t lock it because it’s too much of a hassle to open it.
• $350,000 worth of valuables are stolen out of your safe because it wasn’t locked.

Yes, it’s true. We have a customer who was so frustrated with the mechanical lock on their home safe that they closed, but didn’t lock their safe and recently had $350,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables stolen. Ouch!

Terminology can be confusing; digital lock, electronic lock, high-security electronic lock. These terms are often used interchangeably. The keypad is simply a communication device that allows the user to input the combination and transfer that information to the lock on the other side of the door, inside the safe. The reference to high security indicates that the lock has been tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratory for reliability and security. These locks are easy to use and allow you to set and change your own combination. They have been around for many years and are recognized by most, including Underwriters Laboratory, as highly reliable and secure.

High-security digital or electronic locks are different from the electronic locks frequently found on wall safes and small inexpensive home safes. These types of safes often have lower quality electronic locks that have not been through the rigorous testing at Underwriters Laboratories. Lower quality locks may be attractive in price but they are a clear example of, you get what you pay for. They are not appropriate for use with a high-quality home safe or gun safe.

Is it time to upgrade your safe to a high-security electronic lock? If so, give us a call and we will discuss this with you further or get you scheduled for the work to be done.