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Recent blog posts:

Mark Makowski, a rouge locksmith, has been ordered to pay back £7000,000 after a investigation lasting five years into his criminal operation in London and surrounding counties. Mark Makowski, the

Fake bomb stunt asks questions of Olympic Security

Just over a week ago, the team behind the London Olympics held their first official event, the opening of the Olympic stadium. On the surface, the event seemed to be

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Rogue Locksmith To Pay Back £700,000

Mark Makowski, a rouge locksmith, has been ordered to pay back £7000,000 after a investigation lasting five years into his criminal operation in London and surrounding counties. Mark Makowski, the former director of Pronto Locksmiths and Phoenix Locksmiths which had a locksmith shop in Potters Bar, was convicted at the Old Bailey last year of unnecessarily drilling and damaging beyond repair locks of people who were locked out and in need of help, when a professional locksmith would of gained entry without any damage to the lock or door and the keys, which were often inside, would still work the lock, then charged and ‘exorbitant’ price to fit a new lock.

The five year investigation conducted jointly by Westminister trading standards and scambusters started in 2007 after receiving complaints from customers of Mark Makowski, who had been ‘duped’ when employing Pronto Locksmiths to gain entry to their homes.

After a dawn raid by police on Mark Makowski’s home, fraudulently obtained mobile chip and pin machines from Barclays Bak were found, which he used to obtain payment from his customers who were unable to settle the extortionate bill for his services.

Mark Makowski was convicted of 15 fraud offences in 2010 and was given a four-year prison sentence, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, was ordered to pay £703,349.82.

Westminster Council head of trading standards Sue Jones said: “I am delighted with the outcome of this confiscation hearing and that Mr Makowski has been deprived of the wealth he amassed through his criminal conduct. “Trading standards will always consider using the Proceeds of Crime Act in appropriate criminal cases in order to confiscate criminally-derived assets.”

Alexandra Locksmiths fit locks, grilles, intercom systems, safes and all other security devices and we cover North London, East London, West London and Central London.

Alexandra Locksmiths proud to be serving London for two decades. An approved company of The Master Locksmith Association.

Click on the link below to contact us for a free quote or advice on your locks http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/contac-form/

Click on the link below to find out why to use a Locksmith who is a member of The Master Locksmiths Association http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/master-locksmiths-association/

Click on the link below for more security advice and to see what your insurance company require you to have to comply with your contents insurance http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/security-advice/

Click on the link below to read some testimonials about Alexandra Locksmiths http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/happy-clients/

Click on the link below for more information on door and window locks and other security devices http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/locks/

Click on the link below for more info on pvcu locking mechanisms http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/pvc-locks/

Click on the link below for more information about safes http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/safes/

Click on the link below for more information about access control devices and intercom systems http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/access-control/

Click on the link below for more information about are EVVA registered keys system http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/door-entry-systems/

Click on the link below for more information on security door gates and collapsible grilles http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/grilles/

Click on the link below to read more of are blogs http://www.alexandralocksmiths.co.uk/blog/

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Fake bomb stunt asks questions of Olympic Security

Just over a week ago, the team behind the London Olympics held their first official event, the opening of the Olympic stadium.

On the surface, the event seemed to be a huge success and went according to plan. But the next day the Sun on Sunday newspaper published a story about how a worker at the Games had smuggled a fake bomb device in and out of the stadium park to highlight a loophole in the tight security.

The man, who has been working for Locog (the Olympic Games organisers) for a number of years, was able to carry an artificial bomb in his digger through two checkpoints without being searched.
The worker told the Sun newspaper that he had concerns over security when he realised he was only being searched in the morning when entering the site. He could quite easily leave the site and come back without being searched.

Since the incident, the Government has ordered an inquiry into the London Olympic Park’s security.

Tags: London Olympics, London Security
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Lost your keys?

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve lost your keys

Check out this video on YouTube:

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Daughter of millionaire, Laura Johnson is found guilty of riots burglary

A millionaire’s daughter who was caught driving looters around during the summer riots in London has been convicted of burglary.

20 year old, Laura Johnson, of south east London, denies charges and is claiming the she acted under duress. The university of Exeter student said that she was “ordered to drive” and was too “frightened to flee”.

The jury heard that Johnson had chauffeured looters around London on 8th August 2011 after she set out earlier in the day to deliver a phone charger to Emmanuel Okubote also known as T-Man, her friend who was a convicted crack dealer and thief.

Laura Johnson will be sentenced on 3 May and the judge has told her to expect to spend some time in jail.

Tags: Burglary in London, Home Security, London Riots
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British Gas breaks into home and changes the locks!

One of the most bizarre home break ins we’ve heard about recently goes to Carol Driver, after her home was broken into by British Gas!

In what seems to be a new low for customer service, British Gas broke into Carol’s home, replaced her gas meter with a pay as you go machine and then changed the locks.

Carol and her husband were in total shock because they weren’t known to have fallen behind with any payments but the confusion arose because the gas company hadn’t changed over the gas and electricity account details at the home in Leytonstone.

Being the victim of a break in is distressing for anyone, but to have it by your gas company is really quite worrying.

If you are the victim of a break in, or if you are worried about your home security, contact Alexandra Locksmith. We provide a full locksmith service and can fit your home with Banham locks as well as security grilles.

Tags: banham locks, Home Security, security grilles, security grilles london
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Cambodian Locksmith Receives An Unusual Call Out

A father is being hunted by Cambodian police after he chained his teenage son by the neck to an electricity pole.

The crazed father decided to enforce this extreme punishment after his 13 year old son had skipped school to play online computer games.

After a two hour ordeal of awkwardness and embarrassment the boy was released when the police and a locksmith were called by neighbours who had spotted him chained to the pole.

The police say that the father is still on the run and they have also publicly said that this act is a form of torture and not acceptable by anyone.

Fortunately Alexandra Locksmith doesn’t get calls like this.

If you are in need of a locksmith in North London, contact Alexandra Locksmith.

Tags: Locksmith, Locksmith North London
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Simon Cowell to increase home security

Max Clifford has told the press that Simon Cowell is so shaken by a break in that occurred on Saturday night that he has decided to strengthen the security at his home in Holland Park, London.

Cowell, who already has a security team looking after his London property that has high walls and security gates, feels he needs to be even more cautious and has taken steps to increase security measures after a crazed fan managed to break into his home the same night that the new Britain’s Got Talent series opener aired.

The Daily Mirror reported that the fan, Leanne Zaloumis broke into the house by throwing a brick through one of the windows and once she was inside the house she was able to make her way in to the bedroom and lie on Simon Cowell’s bed, before being discovered.

Are you concerned about your home security? Do you want advice on what security measures you should take? Contact Alexandra Locksmith. Alexandra Locksmith specialise in all things home security, from Banham Locks to window security gates and everything in between.

Tags: banham locks, Security Gates, Window Security Gates
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Bogus ADT salesmen causing a spate of burglaries in Bush Hill Park

Bogus ADT salesmen causing a spate of burglaries in Bush Hill Park

Please be aware that there have been a spate of burglaries in the Bush Hill Park area this weekend 23rd March.

Two men posing as ADT salesmen have been knocking at doors in the Bush Hill Park area and asking if residents have an alarm installed and asking what the residents feel are the security weak spots in their homes. Unfortunately some home owners have let the men in and shown them the weak spots and have been very open to their security questions.

The men have called back later that evening the broken in to many of the properties particularly on Crawley Road EN1.

The men have been targeting Crawley Road EN1, Amberley Road EN1, Wellington Road EN1, Countisbury Road EN1 and Delhi Road EN1.

So be extra vigilant. If you need any free security advice please do not hesitate to contact us at Alexandra Locksmiths. 020 8364 2000

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Londoners should not only be safe, they should also feel safe

Londoners should not only be safe, they should also feel safe. That is why Mayor Boris Johnson has invested in the Met and put more police on Enfield streets deterring would-be criminals.

There are now 33 more police officers, 20 more PCSO’s and 89 more Special Constables in Enfield Than in May 2008. The Metropolitan Police Service’s own figures show crime is down. Comparing the last three years of Ken Livingstone’s mayoralty with the first three years of Boris Johnson’s mayoralty, crime in Enfield is down almost 9%. Boris Johnson has now promised to keep police numbers high, recently saying: ‘police numbers are up across London by 1000 when I was elected. And I pledged to you that I am going to keep it that way.

Boris has also invested an extra £42million in policing this year to ensure London continues to feel safer.

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Window Security Bar Grille

We just fitted this 20mm round bar grille to a business in Islington, North London. It is secured with four 20mm pins which are hammered in to the reveal of the window in the four corners of the grille.

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