You’re locked out of your car, and what’s the first thing you do? Grab your smartphone and search for “emergency locksmith,” of course! In emergency situations, humans often tend to feel flustered, and that means we don’t always think as clearly as we normally would.

Unfortunately, emergency situations are the prime opportunity for scammers to strike. So what can you do to avoid being scammed when you’re in need of a locksmith? We’re breaking down everything you should know in today’s post, so keep reading to learn more, and if you’re looking for a local locksmith you can count on to do the job right, turn to Bill’s Lock and Key.

Types of Residential Locks Available Today

Locks are the backbone of your home security. A professionally installed, modern lock system is one of the primary deterrents against intrusion. If a thief has a choice between a home with a modern lock system and one that’s older and clearly easier to break, it’s an easy choice to make.

Moreover, a top-notch professionally installed lock system will give you peace of mind as you put your family to bed for the night. That alone is worth it.

Here are some of the most commonly available locks for residential homes. Talk to the Albuquerque locksmith pros at Bill’s Lock and Key to learn what system works best for your needs and budget.

When most people think of locksmiths, they think of getting someone to help because they’ve locked themselves out of their home or car.

No doubt that’s a vital role Bill’s locksmith team plays for Albuquerque residents. But it’s by no means all we do as locksmiths, and it’s not the only thing you should consider. Here are 5 things you need to know about locksmiths to get the best service in the Albuquerque area.

#1. It’s All Locks With Us

If there is a building or object that has a lock, a locksmith is a resource for you. We work on all types of electronic and portable locks and offer expertise in both residential and commercial building security. We’re experts in Grand Master Key Systems and carded access control. Our techs are up on all the latest technology as well as being knowledgeable about fire, life & safety codes and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

We can recommend and install a variety of display cases and other small lock systems that keep your stock safe from theft while allowing your staff to access it.

Bill’s Lock and Key retails American Security commercial and home safes. From large commercial safes to small home safes, we have the ideas and products you need to secure your valuables.

In an episode of the show Breaking Bad, the drama starring Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a teacher turned drug lord (that was set in Albuquerque) , White’s wife, Skylar, needs to get into his house. She’s locked out and decides to call an Albuquerque locksmith.

The locksmith arrives, but of course (since she’s actually breaking in) she has no ID – or any proof – that she actually lives in the house. She claims her purse was stolen.

The locksmith (quite realistically) states that he can’t just open the door for her without proof she lives there. She has her baby with her, and in a ruse (most of the characters in the show have a keen sense of deception) she goes into a panic, even handing her baby to the locksmith as she’s about to faint.

The locksmith, confused and feeling panic, finally just opens the door for her – gratis. He just gets out of there.

This scene brings up an interesting question. What are your options when you’re locked out of your house? What if you’ve lost all your IDs, so you don’t have any proof you actually live there?

What if it’s the middle of summer in Albuquerque and you’re about to pass out (for real) from the heat?

If you own a commercial business in Albuquerque, or anywhere for that matter, then you know the value of having a trusted locksmith just a phone call away. Let us give you five great reasons that Albuquerque’s most dependable commercial locksmith, Bill’s Lock & Key, can come in handy.

There’s a reason that 24-hour locksmiths exist. Many reasons, actually. At Bill’s Lock & Key, we’ve responded to a large number of 24-hour locksmith requests over the years, and we’d like to go over why this service is important as well as present five cases where you might need to make that call.

We use keys and lock doors every day, and we probably take these mechanisms for granted, but once upon a time, they didn’t even exist! In today’s blog, we want to highlight the value of locks and keys, celebrating how much they’ve evolved to protect us and our valuables, by sharing some fascinating facts with you.

Being locked out of your own car is never any fun. It always seems to happen at the worst time, too. Either you’re late for work, or you need to get your child to school on time for an important exam, or you’re in a rush for some other reason (such as running late for a dental appointment).

Whatever the case may be, it’s never a convenient time to discover that your car door won’t open from the outside! We’re not talking about locking your keys inside your vehicle. We’re also not talking about losing your keys. This is about the door mechanism not working, and you’re left outside of your car unable to get in, despite having car keys in hand.

It’s just as bad when you can’t get out of your car! Being unable to open your car door when you’re inside your vehicle is a panic-inducing moment as you wonder how you’re going to get out of your predicament. You feel trapped, your heart starts to race, and you break out into a cold sweat.

In such a situation, most people either call for help (if they have their cell phone with them and they’re in an in-service area), or they crawl over seats and the gear selector to reach another door and get out.

Hopefully you’ve never had to experience being unable to get into or out of your car because a door has stopped working. But if you ever do find yourself in such a situation, here are some things to consider.

Are you thinking of purchasing a safe to secure your valuables at home or at your business? If so, read on for some important considerations in evaluating the large selection of safes that are available in today’s market.

If you own or run a business here in Albuquerque or any of the surrounding communities, you want to protect your tangible assets, including any inventory you may carry. You need to keep everyone at your business safe and create an environment that helps people feel secure.

Take a moment to consider your locks. Are they working for you? Are they suitable enough for the magnitude of your enterprise and the sensitivity of your documents and proprietary information?

If there’s a break-in, you can lose a lot more than just a few office chairs and computer monitors. Your sensitive info can be lost in minutes, but recovering from your loss can take months. Needless to say, this can be devastating to your enterprise, setting you back to the point where it becomes difficult to recover.

To avoid losing valuable business assets or endangering your employees, invest in commercial locks that will keep everyone and everything safe. Let’s look at how getting the right commercial locks can help your business’s return on investment (ROI).

As locksmiths serving Albuquerque and the surrounding regions for over 40 years, we deal in the business of keeping our clients safe and their possessions secure.

We do much more than help people get back into their vehicle when they’ve been locked out, or replacing key fobs that have stopped working. From your home to your business, and your vehicle and other items that need to be locked, we work diligently to keep you, your loved ones, and your treasured belongings safe and secure.

In that vein, today we want to share with you several key-related tips that are designed to keep you safe around your car. These tips apply to everyone, so share them freely with your friends and family.

Many of us have experienced this scenario: we walk to our car, press the remote key to unlock the door, and nothing happens. Not only is this frustrating, it’s also potentially dangerous. What do you do when this happens?

The first thing you may have to do is call up an auto locksmith to help you get into your vehicle! Ultimately, you will need to replace or repair your key fob, because this situation is simply unacceptable.

Let’s take a moment to check possible reasons that your car remote may not be doing its job. What’s going on inside that weird little key fob, anyway?

Are you planning to rekey locks and replace a deadbolt? Rekeying all your locks is a good idea if you feel that someone has unauthorized access to one of your keys, or you feel there may have been a break-in recently. What about replacing your deadbolt — what types of things do you need to consider before you go ahead and replace a deadbolt in your business or home? Read on to find out.

If you own a business, you know how important it is to keep it safe. The last thing you want to find when you arrive at your business on Monday morning (or any morning, for that matter), is an obvious sign that someone has broken in. Walking into your business to find that you’ve been robbed and the place has been trashed is demoralizing, to say the least.

Protect your business against vandals and thieves through increased security. Here are simple measures you can take to dissuade criminals (whether they’re first-time or repeat offenders) from breaking into your place of business, stealing your cash and important stuff, and creating havoc.

In our last blog, we explored some of the ways that homeowners unknowingly make their houses into targets for thieves. As Albuquerque’s premier locksmiths, we are all about keeping you and your property safe, and we want to help you do your part, too. Check out the list below and see if you’re making any of the mistakes that can put you at risk!

Your home is supposed to be a safe retreat from the world, a place where you can enjoy quiet moments, relish the company of friends and family, and work through life's ups and downs. Anyone who has had their home burgled will tell you that having the perceived security of the home ruined can be pretty traumatizing and make it difficult to feel safe again. The good news is, there are ways can ensure that your home isn't worth a thief's time. At Bill's Lock & Key, we work hard to keep the homes and businesses of Albuquerque safe, and we want you to know if you're handling your security incorrectly. Check out common home security mistakes below.

A home is a refuge, and for a majority of us, it will remain an unbroken barrier between us and the rest of the world. However, when a home is broken into, more than just windows or doors get broken. The psychological impacts of a break-in can last far longer than any damage to the property. Anyone who has experienced a break-in, whether they were home or not, understands how daily life can change once you’ve realized your home can be broken into. At Bill’s Lock & Key, we are dedicated to being a source of security and confidence for Albuquerque homeowners, and we are here for you.

If you experience a break-in, chances are good you’ll feel frightened and unprepared. After all, nobody wants or expects to experience a break-in, which makes it a very unpleasant surprise. However, while shock is pretty much inevitable, you can be prepared! You can also rest in the knowledge that there are people like us in Albuquerque who are knowledgeable, familiar with this type of situation, and ready to help you put things back together and feel safe again.

Here at Bill’s Lock and Key, we are a locksmith company in Albuquerque. We are proud to do our part for the community, and enjoy keeping people in control of their personal property. That means we stand by the work we do. But every company says that, right? Well, we want to prove it. To help make sure that you make the right decision on your locksmith, here are some tips on choosing the right locksmith company.

Here at Bill’s Lock and Key, we are proud to provide locksmith services in Albuquerque. We offer one of the most comprehensive locksmith services around. Residential locksmith services require a different skill set than auto locksmith services, and motorcycle locksmith services are different from automobile locksmith services. If you are looking for motorcycle locksmith services in Albuquerque, we can help with key and lock replacement. In the meantime, here are some tips for keeping your motorcycle safe.

Here at Bill's Lock and Key, we offer auto locksmith services in Albuquerque, New Mexico to keep your day running smoothly. Your car is important for all kinds of things, from getting to work, to feeding the family, to hanging out with friends. That is why it is so important for you to take care of it. Of course, you should always lock it to prevent theft and vandalism, but there is actually a lot more you can do to keep your car secure. We go over some tips for keeping it safe here.

Heading out for a vacation? Good for you. Make sure your home stays safe and secure while you’re away. There’s a lot that a locksmith can help with on that front, like new and upgraded locks. But there’s a lot that you can do on your own to protect your home. Some of our tips are probably things you already do, but hopefully, there’s something new here for you.

The modern-day lock has a long history. And, the way the technology evolved to become what it is today is pretty amazing. We are locksmiths, and we know that the history of how that deadbolt came to be on your door, or the origin of the combination lock you use on your bicycle, isn’t going to help keep you any safer. We just love this stuff and think it is really cool. And, we thought there might be some other safety and security nerds out there among our readers. So, here you go.

A gun safe is one of the most important investments any firearms owner can make. When used properly, it will keep your family safe, keep your guns safe from theft and out of the hands of criminals, and ensure that you know where your guns are at all times.

If you are a first-time buyer or haven’t kept up on the latest technology, there is a lot that you should know. We’ve put together a list of things that are important to consider when you begin your search.

As home electronics and smart technology become more integrated, more available, and less expensive, we’re going to see a lot of growth in this area in the coming years. Our team has pulled together some of the latest trends and most-talked-about technology for you. Some of these include great home safety tips that go beyond better locks and security systems. Some are practical improvements. And, some, we’re just not sure about, but we got a kick out of them so we thought you might too.

We hope you enjoy reading about the latest home tech. Don’t forget, if you need help with anything from new locks and keys, home security systems, a new safe, or rekeying your car, give us a call. We’re a top-rated albuquerque locksmith because we’re experienced, trustworthy, professional, and dependable.

Our locks can help keep your family and valuables safe, but you can do a lot more on your own to make sure everyone stays safe and secure day or night. Our team has put together some of their favorite home safety tips for you. We hope you’ll find them useful. And, don’t forget to call Bill’s Lock and Key if you need a new lock, new keys, or a home safe. We’re here to help.

Home security systems are something that more and more homeowners are considering when they buy a new home or as their families grow. A reliable system can deter theft, keep you family safe, and help you keep track of the coming and going of family members.

If we attempted to cover every possible business security system, this article would be about 112 pages long. Instead, we’re going to focus on options for small and medium sized businesses from retail shops to office complexes.

Depending on your business, you’re probably just fine sticking with tried-and-true security methods like store-front gates, security cameras, and off-hours security staff. We’re firm believers in the old adage, “if it ain't broke, don’t fix it.”

For some businesses, it makes sense to take a look at more complex security systems. If you’ve got a large inventory of valuable merchandise, getting the best security you can afford is important. This holds true for businesses like jewelry stores and wholesalers or manufacturers who warehouse large amounts of high-demand materials like copper pipe and precious metals. The kind of security systems that are best suited for these types of businesses can be very different.

Lost or broken key? Our locksmiths can help with that. Our pros can even help you choose the best locking system for your motorcycle, scooter or ATV.

We all know that theft-prevention efforts are not foolproof. So our experts recommend that you double up or triple up on theft-prevention efforts to protect that bike you love.

Here are some tips from the bonded, certified locksmith experts at Bill’s who are here to help with all of your motorcycle security needs

Remotes and Key Fobs—Replace or Repair? Well, that’s a good question. Our answer is, it depends. Either way, you can consider us your key fob locksmith. We carry replacements, as well as all the parts you need to repair your key fob. Our experts are here to advise you on which option is best, and to answer all of your questions.

Ever wonder how your auto key fob works? Understanding it a little better may help with your decision about whether to repair or replace it.

If you find yourself locked out of your house or home, you probably don't feel like sitting down and spending half an hour researching and comparing locksmiths. There simply isn't a convenient time to be locked out of anything, and if you find yourself stuck on the wrong side of a door, you'll want a solution as quickly as possible.

It's important to realize that, in this moment, you are very vulnerable to scammers. Locksmith scams are all too common, because the perpetrators have realized they can take advantage of people in moments of desperation. If you find yourself needing a solution ASAP and you don't have time to do much research, you should watch for the following warning signs that you're dealing with scammers.

Low quotes in an ad or over the phone

A dishonest locksmith company offers low quotes in order to convince people to hire them. Once they show up, you'll find out that low price only covers the service call. Actually unlocking your door will be another $50 to $100. If you're getting pricing over the phone and you sense any evasiveness, find another locksmith. Don't try to convince yourself that it's going to be fine. A good locksmith will provide you with true quotes, and if you can get a written quote, that's even better.

All About Safes

Bill’s Lock & Key in Albuquerque is dedicated to keeping you safe. We offer locksmithing services to get you back into your home or auto if you find yourself locked out. We also can install, replace, or rekey locks on your home or car. We also provided commercial locksmithing services, so if your business has been broken into or you are no longer know exactly who has copies of your keys, you can call us, and we will make sure that your business is safe from theft. On top of all these invaluable services, we also sell commercial and residential security safes.

AMSEC Safes

The safes we carry are from AMSEC, which is the world's best-known maker of security safes for commercial and residential use. Having been in business since the 1940s we have stayed up-to-date and make strong, state-of-the-art safes to protect your valuables. Besides high-quality safes, MSEC provides outstanding customer service, providing a helpline that is open 24 /7, 365 days a year.

Commercial Safes

The reasons that a business needs a high-quality safe are as many as there are types of businesses. Hotels can use a large safe to keep guest’s valuables during their stay and use yet another safe to keep the day’s takings and receipts safe until a run to the bank can be made. A jewelry store will need a large safe to keep jewels in when the store is closed to limit the damage that could be caused by a break-in. Any store that uses a firearm(s) to safeguard their safety should keep it locked up after hours. To keep your valuables secure and the location of your safe a mystery, we also offer wall safes and floor safes that are easy to camouflage. Fireproof safes can also be important for businesses to have on the premises so keep important information protected, even from a fire. We also can manufacture custom sages to match your company’s individual needs. We do custom colors too!

Bill’s Lock & Key serves the entire Albuquerque area, and we have been to pretty much every neighborhood and know that there is a certain level of crime everywhere. The statistics on crime in our area are pretty grim. According to neighborhoodscout.com, you have a one in 108 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Albuquerque. You have a one in 18 chance of being the victim of property crimes. It is not our intention to scare you, but rather to make you aware so that you can take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your possessions against crime. In this effort, Bill’s Lock & Key is your ally. To learn how we can increase your security, keep reading!

Protect Yourself and Your Family with the Best Locks

Whether you have just bought a new home and want all new locks, or you are a long-time homeowner who has realized how many people have a copy of your key, you have the power to protect your home. Call Bill’s Lock & Key for upgraded home security. We can rekey your existing locks by going in and changing the internal mechanism known as tumblers or key pins. We can take your lock apart, make it so the old keys no longer work, and give you a new key that works on the new internal key configurations. You’ll know for sure that you have the only key and you can give copies to people you trust. Think of rekeying a lock as rebooting it. You’ll have a fresh start on home security.

In this blog series, we’ve been exploring the reasons why it makes sense to call Bill’s Lock & Key for all your locksmithing needs. We’ve looked at how we have a staff of well-trained, certified locksmithing professionals and how being in business for years gives us the edge of experience over our competition. Having experience and know-how are really important in locksmithing, but without the right tools, no locksmith can do the job. The third reason to call us is the tools we use.

Locksmithing Vans

We have five well-stocked locksmithing vans serving the Albuquerque area. The vans are official Bill’s Lock & Key vans with lettering on them, so you’ll know that when we show up, we will be easily identifiable. Our technicians all wear their official embroidered shirts so, again, you’ll be able to identify the person you are meeting. We service locks on homes, safes, and cars. For cars, we also carry fobs and remotes, and our prices include programming remotes and transponders.

Locksmithing Shop

In addition to our stocked vans, we have a complete locksmithing shop. As well as making copies of keys, we sell all manner of keys, locks, and fobs. We also carry a full line of safes for homes and offices. We carry smaller safes for valuables and large safes for weapons. Because we can’t stock our locksmithing vans with everything for motorcycles, we offer in shop locksmithing and security services for motorcycles.

In this blog series, we are exploring some reasons that picking a locksmith should be a conscious choice, not just picking the first thing that pops up in your search. In the previous blog, we covered how being in business since 1978 gives Bill’s Lock & Key the advantage of experience over fly-by-night, pop-up businesses that call themselves locksmiths. The locksmiths at Bill’s Lock & Key are trustworthy, highly trained, and ready to tackle any locksmithing task you have.

Trustworthy Locksmithing Technicians

When you call a locksmith, or any service technician, to your home or off-site location you never know who will show up and it puts you in a vulnerable position. With trustworthy locksmiths from Bill’s Lock & Key you know that we are service technicians who are invested in our craft and hold your security and privacy as priorities in our business.

Certified Locksmiths

We are proud that our staff is made of highly trained locksmiths. We have a Certified Master Locksmith, a Certified Professional Locksmith, three Certified Registered Locksmiths, and four Certified Automotive Locksmiths. What does this mean, you may well ask. Keep reading to learn what these levels of mastery mean! According to Wikipedia, The Associated Locksmiths of America train and certify locksmiths who have undergone official training with them. The ALOA represent over 10,000 locksmiths in North America and it works to improve professionalism, ethics, and education of locksmiths. Exams which test for knowledge and proficiency are required for these certifications. This tells you that Bill’s Lock & Key hires only knowledgeable, well-trained locksmiths.

When you need a locksmith, you may be tempted to just open your browser and search “locksmith” and just pick one because, well, they are all the same, aren’t they? We are here to say, “No! Not all locksmiths are the same!” There are too many people who call themselves locksmiths when they have only the most rudimentary knowledge of locks and locksmithing. They may be in business today, but when the wind changes, they are gone, and you have to go looking again for a locksmith you can trust. In this three part blog series, we’ll tell you some reasons that not all locksmiths are the same and why the experts at Bill’s Lock & Key are the locksmiths to call when you are locked out, need locks opened or replaced, or you need home safe sales or service. We’ll tell you why our experience, our people, and our tools make us the locksmiths to call in the Albuquerque area.

LOCKSMITHING EXPERIENCE

Bill’s Lock & Key of Albuquerque has been in business since 1978, and since then, the world has seen amazing changes. The town of Albuquerque has blossomed and technology has changed our lives from telecommunication down to locks. Sure, some simple door tumbler locks remain essentially the same, but there have been many electronic and remote technology developments that have come on the scene. Bill’s Lock & Key has had to adapt and grow, and as we have done so, we’ve gained experience with every type of development in locksmithing that has come along so you need never worry about if your old lock will be able to be serviced by us. We’ve likely seen anything you can throw at us! (Please don’t throw locks at us- they are heavy!)

Locks and their keys are designed to keep unwanted persons out of your home. But what do you do if someone you once allowed in but no longer want to have access to your home has a key? There are many circumstances that can create this situation, and if you find yourself in this situation, you can turn to Bill’s Lock & Key to help you regain your peace of mind.

The Breakup

• When you are facing the end of a relationship, emotions can run high, and people can do things that they will later regret. One of these things is to re-enter a home where they no longer officially live.
• Protect yourself and your valuables by rekeying the locks on your house. If you live in an apartment, you need to speak to your management.
• If you want to be extra careful, you can install an upgraded lock system to your home.

A Separation and a Divorce

• Changing the locks or getting your locked rekeyed can be a bit tricky when you are in the middle of the legal proceedings that accompany a legal separation ordivorce.
• If you feel your safety is in jeopardy, ask your lawyer to file a protection order and to include your residence in the off-limits areas.
• Also, ask for a temporary order granting you exclusive use of the house while proceedings are occurring. This may or may not be possible. If your spouse is not a proven danger and is a co-owner of the home, it is unlikely they will be barred from the home.

Bill’s Lock & Key knows the position you are put in when you arrange to let a stranger into your home or to meet you in the dark of night. We understand that when you depend on someone to help you protect your home, your car, or your valuables you need to be able to trust that person. We also know that there are people out there who will take advantage of you in your most vulnerable moments.

Bill’s Lock & Key is here to help you. You can rest assured that your security and your privacy are in good hands.

HIGHLY TRAINED

• We are staffed by highly trained, certified locksmiths.
• We have a Certified Master Locksmith, a Certified Professional Locksmith, and three Certified Automotive Locksmiths.
• The differences might not mean much to you, but you can trust us that these are people who see locksmithing as their career and take their craft seriously.
• All our employees are also bonded and insured.

IDENTIFIABLE

• When you call a locksmith, you should be contacting a professional who is identifiable upon their arrival.
• Our staff members will arrive in a Bill’s Lock & Key lettered van and will be in uniform with Bill’s Lock & Key embroidered on their shirt.

We are a full-service, 24-hour locksmith serving Albuquerque, and can respond to your emergency needs, whether they are from you locking yourself out of your house or car, or you need relatively routine rekeying.

RESIDENTIAL LOCKSMITH SERVICES

• We know that accidents happen, you leave your keys inside your secured home, making you regret your good habit of checking to make sure that all the windows are locked.
• People lose their keys, and if their house keys are lost with the set, they will need to get back into you home and then make sure that anyone who finds their keys can not use them to gain access.
• We can install new locks in your home as well. This will give you the peace of mind that you have the most secure locks available.
• If you are a new homeowner, have just gone through a breakup or divorce, or have a residential rental property, you will want to make sure that you are the one with the master key to a newly rekeyed lock.

SERVICES

• If you’ve lost your set of keys, your car key will be one you miss quickly. Never fear, we can get you back into your car and get you new keys.
• We carry keys for both vintage and current model cars.
• We can also replace, reprogram and repair key fobs. Oftentimes, we can repair a keyless entry fob for a fraction of the price of a replacement.
• Car keys get worn out over time and stop opening the lock or working in the ignition. We’ve got you covered! Making a replacement for an old worn out key is also something we can do.