At first glance you may think the relatively modest storefront means a relatively small store. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Walk in those doors and you see a large expansive business designed to meet virtually every lock, safe and security system need in the area! They even have a huge warehouse!

That's why I say Cintron Safe and Lock is "more than a simple lockshop." The following is an interview I did with the vice-president. You'll quickly see what I mean.

Q: Joseph Smith, you're the vice president at Cintron Safe and Lock. What makes your company stand out from the others?
A: Several things, really. First of all, we are a full-time, full-service, lock, safe and security system company. Secondly, we've been around for a quarter-of-a century. People know us and trust us. And thirdly, the range of work we do... everything from installing an entire security system to making a key.

Q: But don't hardware stores make keys?
A: Yes, they do. But no one has the kind of selection that we have. We can cut or duplicate keys of all kinds. That includes car, mailbox, even antique keys - you name it. We really do have one of the largest selection of keys in the area. Much larger than you'll find at a hardware store. And again, we do this full time. We have an extensive background in locks and keys and generally know what kind of lock your key fits. We're not just inserting your key into a machine to find out about it.

Q: And how secure are these locks and keys?
A: We have high security Medeco and ASSA locks available. Not only are these virtually pick-proof, but they can't be duplicated without a signature card.

Q: Does this kind of specialized service take a long time?
A: No, we cut keys while customers wait in most cases. And we make house calls to change locks, re-key locks, install dead bolts and do other installations.

Q: But you do much more than keys and locks, don't you?
A: Absolutely. As you can see from our name, "Cintron Safe and Lock," that safes are a big part of the business. In fact we have an excellent supply of safes in our showroom.

Q: And these are all kinds of safes?
A: Everything you could imagine. We have the modest lower-end safe you can get for under $150 all the way up to the elaborate ones for specialized needs. That includes wall safes, fire safes, burglar resistant safes, even decorative ones. Our customers are finding it more cost effective and certainly more convenient to have a good quality safe in their homes than having a safe deposit box at the bank.

Q: I've heard that interest in safes has been going up.
A: It certainly has. Nowadays people put a safe into their home as it's being built. We do a lot of that kind of business. That way when the customer moves in there's already a place for their valuables. At Cintron we help people decideexactly what they need. Is it strictly for documents? For jewelry? We also do commercial safes and money chests. And when you buy a safe from Cintron we will deliver it and bolt it down for you if necessary.

Q: I've heard you are also into Security Systems.
A: Oh, yes. Homeowners are very security conscious. We offer alarm systems to fit every need. We can come to your home or business and give you a free survey to help meet your needs.
Again, it's all up to you. Each one of our systems is custom designed just for you. We talk to you about what you need, then incorporate it into a specialized system. Do you want basic security? The detection of intruders? Do you want a system to turn your lights off and on while you are away? We even have some futuristic-sounding capabilities that allow you to lock and unlock your home with a simple phone call.

Q: That doesn't sound like other alarm companies I've heard about.
A: Well, it isn't. Not only are our systems custom-designed, but we are different on another front.

Q: What's that?
A: Payment. We don't lock people into long-term contracts the way the other companies do. With Cintron you sign up for a year, not three or more. And we charge a simple $20 a month monitoring fee. Nothing expensive. Nothing complicated. And nothing long-term. And speaking of payment, we accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, debit cards, checks and of course cash.

Q: Its easy to see why Cintron has been around for so long. What about the future?
A: We believe in the future, and stay on top of all the changes. Right now the future is electronics, and our technicians are trained to handle things in that area. The days of an old fashioned metal key in a lock will eventually go away. We already see more and more keypads that you can re-code as often as you want. Right now these are mostly in hotels and businesses, but they are moving into homes quickly. The possibilities are practically endless.

Cintron Safe and Lock is located at 7325 Richmond Highway, in Alexandria. They're open 8:30 to 5 Monday thru Friday. Or you can call them at 703-768-2060. Call or stop by today, and you'll see "when a lockshop is more than a lockshop." Cintron is a full-service safe, lock and security company.

Call Today: 703-768-2060