Patlock face down the Dragons
Secured by Design (SBD) member company Patlock had its innovative French door and conservatory door lock seen by millions of viewers on the BBC2 programme Dragons’ Den on Sunday, 5 February.
Craig Knott, Owner, Managing Director and inventor of Patlock, presented the device in front of five Dragons, informing them that he came up with the idea following an attempted burglary at his home, after which he was told by the police how easy it was to gain entry through lock snapping.
Mr Knott explained that there are around 1,000 burglaries in the UK every day, with most break-ins occurring at the rear of the property at the weakest point, usually French doors, when present.
He explained that Patlock provides extra security as both a visual deterrent and secondary locking device. It fixes on to the internal door handles and holds them securely in place, ensuring that the locking mechanism and shoot bolts cannot be operated even if the cylinder locks are snapped or removed. Patlock is quick and easy to use and can be attached and released in a few seconds.
The Dragons heard how the company, which is based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, has sold over 20,000 units in just over two years of trading. Sales have been achieved via the company’s website, wholesale distributors and through online retailers.
However, none of the Dragons chose to invest after suggesting Patlock might be a ‘one-hit wonder’ and was likely to be overtaken as manufacturers come up with new solutions to tackle lock snapping in the next few years.
On return to his office on Monday, 6 February, Mr Knott told us: "To feature on Dragons’ Den was great exposure for Patlock, as the programme reaches between 2.5 - 3 million viewers. We have new products in the pipeline and we are really excited about our future."
The company worked with SBD to attain Police Preferred Specification – a benchmark that goes beyond minimum Building Regulation security standards. It means that the product has not only undergone rigorous physical testing by independent laboratories but also is audited routinely or re-certified every year to ensure continued compliance to the standards.
SBD Development Officer, Michael Brooke, commented: "It was great to see our innovative member company Patlock on Dragons’ Den but a great shame the panel of entrepreneurs decided not to invest. The Patlock product is a very effective security device that provides confidence to thousands of home owners by helping to keep burglars out. I suspect it will be in high demand for many years to come."
Visit the Patlock page for more details.
