Why would homeowners want to stop bump keys? Often homeowners think that locking their entryway during the night before hitting the hay is enough to protect their home. However, Locksmith in Civic Center, FL, would like to tell you to think again. Indeed, even with your entryway bolted, you may not be as protected as you think. Burglars with the know-how of lock bumping can get into your home without even scratching the lock.
Bump keys are a lock-picking device that has gained fame among burglars lately. Essentially, a bump key is a kind of skeleton key that, when inserted halfway into a lock and afterward abruptly “bumped” or pushed, could open the lock as effectively as the original passkey would. As a result, bump-keys represent a substantial risk to the security of numerous homes and businesses with conventional locks.
Luckily, we have written down some steps that you can take to secure yourself against bump-keys.
Do burglars use bump-keys?
Burglars are using bump-keys to gain entry into homes and businesses. Truthfully, it makes it quick to break into houses without requiring a lot of special tools or leaving any hints of forced entry. It works as well as having a genuine owner’s key, and a lot of these devices could open about 90% of regular tumbler locks.
Usually, offenders would keep away from lock bumping when stealth is required due to the uproar of the procedure. Practically all tumbler locks are defenseless against bumping.
Some High-quality locks Won’t Stop Bump Keys!
Standard, high-quality locks are also defenseless against bumping except if they use “specific” countermeasures.
More precise manufacturers tolerance inside the cylinder makes lock bumping possible since the mechanical tolerance of the lock is smaller. Also, there is less loss of power in different directions, and the pins move all the more freely.
Locks made of hardened steel are more vulnerable since they won’t get damaged amid the bumping procedure.
Move up to Quality Bump-Resistant Locks
Bump-keys work by knocking all of the pins in a spring-loaded lock stack into alignment for a fraction of a second to unlock the lock. Usually, pin tumbler locks are powerless against these assaults.
Different locks don’t have pins; for example, disc tumbler locks, magnetic locks, and electronic locks cannot get opened using bump-keys. Locks with trap pins are likewise resistant to bump keys since they will jam if someone inserts the wrong key.
You can likewise buy a bump-resistant lock. By purchasing a high-security bump-proof lock, you could make it increasingly difficult for a burglar to break into your home.
Stay away from Common Lock Brands
Bump keys must come with the precise size and shape key blank that matches the lock. Since there are many brands and models of locks, it means a criminal would have to make many types of bump-keys to try to enter homes at random.
Now, the more uncommon your lock, the more uncertain a burglar will have the correct bump-key. It would help if you did not utilize the same lock everyone uses, mainly in apartment buildings. It makes life simple for burglars to target your apartment or home so, stay away from familiar lock brands.
Different Countermeasures to Stop Bump Keys
Some types of locks are invulnerable to bump-key assaults, for instance, time locks, combination locks, electronic locks, magnetic locks, and locks that use a rotating disc since their mechanism does not bring springs. If you want to read more about stopping lock bumping, read this blog post below.