17
Jan
2014
By Calvin at 10:48 GMT, 12 years ago
I’ve recently been in touch with locksmith and safe designer, Joe Silver, about his excellent invention – the LifeLock.
LifeLock is a pocket-sized portable door lock that prevents unauthorised access when you are inside a room. I’ve been carrying one of these around in my suitcase for several years and use it on hotel bedroom doors. Let me explain:
Sometimes when you wind up in a hotel either in the UK or some foreign country you might notice that the bedroom door or the doorframe (or both) is showing signs of damage; evidence that the room door has been forced open in the past. I don’t know how you’ve felt about this, but it makes me feel very uneasy, especially if my bedroom is near to an emergency exit staircase, a location that generally increases the risk of a hotel bedroom burglary (This last point is based on a study I made of hotel bedroom burglary in London’s West End).
Now although it is rare that someone might come bursting in through the door while you’re in the room or creep in using a pass key to steal your stuff while you’re asleep, for some the knowledge that they can hugely increase the security of the door by popping on Joe’s LifeLock and prevent these possibilities helps many people rest much easier at night, especially when they’re on their own. And for certain people visiting countries that have particular security risks the use of LifeLock has become part of their security routine. What’s more, the device requires no keys, codes, fixings, tools or door alterations and you can pop it on in seconds.
LifeLock simply fits between the door and the doorframe utilising the existing catch plate. The door is easily closed with the device in place and then the body of the lock is pressed up tight against the door. It has a soft rubber stop on the body so that it doesn't damage or leave marks on the door. It can be used on left- and right-hanging inward-opening doors fitted with mortice or night latches and of course by the very nature of the design it foils over-riding master keys, cards or picks. Its all-metal construction provides great strength and durability and it can resist forces in excess of 650 kgf; factors that have been independently verified by testing at a university. Usefully the device also incorporates a clock and a torch so you can fit it in the dark.
Having personally used the device on many occasions I think it is especially suitable for apartment tenants, backpackers, business travellers, children on school trips, college, university and gap year students, flat-sharers, holidaymakers, homeowners, hotel guests, lone travellers and tourists.
Such has been the success of this device that it’s been sold into more than 50 countries and recently a 1,000-unit order was shipped to India and I might add that LifeLock is in use worldwide by government, military, police and security professionals and, significantly, has HM Ministry of Defence clearance status.
Joe tells me that everyone at LifeLock is really proud about their contribution to making the world a safer place. And I agree with that claim, because this clever device does make a huge difference to one’s personal security and feeling of safety when away from home.
If you’d like one, do please visit the LifeLock website, where you’ll find a great deal more detail and a video showing you how it’s used.
Tech Specs
- Weight: 195g
- All-metal construction
- High-strength steel locking bar
- Polished corrosion-resistant coating
- Dimensions: 90mm x 20mm (folded)
- “Resists forces well in excess of 650kgf” – Faculty of Engineering SSU UK
LifeLock Website: http://www.lifelock.co.uk/
