Cusworth Master Locksmiths Ltd

28/01/2026

07/01/2026

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A cautionary tale of home security

Home safes can be a very good thing and a useful part of any domestic home security plan. Someone brought a home safe to a local police station yesterday.

The key had stopped working and they were hoping that we could use some of our ‘methods of entry’ expertise to get into it, hoping the ‘big red key’ or the long ‘hooley bar’ would make short work of the little metal box.

At that point we had to explain that those pieces of equipment are designed to work on much bigger doors that are attached to buildings and that this steel box would just bounce around on the ground getting a bit dented and scuffed.

“Was this safe previously attached to something in your house?” we asked.
“Oh yes” came the response “I managed to prise it off”

FIRST PIECE OF CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE

If you can prise it off, so can a burglar. Does the quality of your fixings match the quality of your home safe? Even if a burglar steals your safe but is later thwarted by its strength, you are still left without the valuable contents. The use of masonry bolts on at least two different axis to anchor the safe in place is recommended.

And the tale continues

“Have you considered taking it to a professional locksmith?” We asked. “It might be costly and take a while, but it would cause the least damage”

It was at that point we learnt that the owner had booked a last-minute holiday and the family passports were inside, along with the holiday money and whole load of other essentials. Time was of the essence.🏖️🌞🌴

SECOND PIECE OF CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE

Needing a locksmith never happens at a convenient time. Before you need one, ask for recommendations from friends and family, check for accreditations with recognized bodies such as Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and consider emergency availability. So when the problem arises, the research is already done.

www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/choosing-a-locksmith/

But let’s get back to the tale....

Naturally we asked if there were any spare keys to the safe. Maybe a different key would work better in the lock.

“Yes, I put them in the safe”

THIRD PIECE OF CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE

Don’t store spare keys inside the thing that you have locked. Store them safety, securely and discretely in a memorable location.

Things were not looking good at this stage, but we are always keen to help and solve problems.

It’s at this point the sergeant became involved and began to work his magic on the home safe. An adept jiggle of the key here and a well-aimed tap of the door there - years of experience put to work, before the pièce de resistance, a kick with his boot.👞

And the door opened! Not all heroes wear capes, some wear size 10 boots.

It’s perhaps at this point we should point out that we were obviously able to verify the identity of the owner before embarking on this unusual task. Some of our followers may also wonder about use of a grinder - not available at every station. Thank you to the owner for letting us share this cautionary tale.

23/12/2025

Wilmslow’s Cusworth Master Locksmiths recently completed a discreet yet effective security upgrade for a local property, fitting an additional security nightlatch that perfectly matches the home’s existing polished chrome lever handles.

The brief was clear: improve door security without compromising the clean, modern look of the entrance. Cusworth’s experienced locksmiths selected a high-quality nightlatch with a polished chrome finish, ensuring it blended seamlessly with the current hardware. The result is an upgrade that looks original to the door, rather than an obvious add-on.

Installed with precision, the new nightlatch provides an extra layer of protection, giving the homeowner greater peace of mind—especially during the evening and overnight hours. As always, Cusworth Master Locksmiths focused on both function and finish, demonstrating their reputation in Wilmslow for thoughtful security solutions that respect a property’s style as much as its safety.

https://cusworth.net/contact-us/

23/12/2025

13/11/2025

Do you have visitors coming to stay for the festive period ?

Why not get a spare set of keys cut in good time and avoid any unecessary drama.

We expertly cut keys for all locks that we install and many others too. Plus Ultion or ABS from the code all done with the minimum of fuss.

Give us a call 07792 517113

17/04/2025

This kind of rogue trader wis widespread across most trades these days. Whatever the home emergency don’t trust the first sponsored advert on Google.

These paid adverts seen at the top of search engines are very expensive for companies, sometimes £40-50 per click. So only the most greedy companies appear.

Matt Allwright goes undercover in BBC Watchdog to secretly film a Rogue Locksmith, who is caught drilling a lock and overcharging a customer.The feature incl...

14/04/2025

We recently fitted these simple locks to student accommodation in Manchester.

Reasonable security with important keyless egress (internal thumbturn)

The deadbolt means that a key is always needed to lock from outside, so future lockouts should be a rare event.

12/04/2025

A customer and her 13yr old daughter came for a key recently. As it was a special occasion we offered to engrave her key. This is what she chose!

05/04/2025

We fitted four Keysafes this week to a multi use community hall in Cheshire. Contractors and users have access to different parts of the building

03/03/2025

🚨 Alert: We’ve received 25 reports of rogue locksmiths overcharging for emergency lockouts in February – and we suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg! Victims are not only facing significant financial losses but are also left feeling vulnerable and stressed after the ordeal. Stay aware!

We’ve noticed that vulnerable groups, like the elderly and families with young children, are often the most affected.

Here’s how you can protect yourself and others: 👇

🔑 Find an MLA Approved Locksmith in your area at www.locksmiths.co.uk and save their contact info for emergencies. If you’re a landlord, make sure to have locksmith contacts for your tenants, elderly parents, older kids left home alone, or children at university.

💡 Pro Tip: Save a few trusted locksmith numbers in case your first choice is unavailable.

🚫 Don’t fall for scams! 🔐 Find an MLA Approved locksmith and save their number for emergencies.

🔐 Find an MLA Approved locksmith in your area 🔐 Save their contact number in your phone for emergencies

👇 If you think you've been scammed, report it here👇 https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/public/complaints/

👇 Learn how to spot a rogue locksmith 👇
https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/how-to-spot-rogue-locksmith/

👇 Been overcharged by a locksmith? Here's what to do 👇
https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/complaining-about-a-locksmith/