Locksmiths and Bumping – What you Need To Know
Have you ever locked yourself outside of your house? If you had to get a locksmith to let you in, there is a chance that they used the bumping technique to get the door open. This is where a pin and tumbler lock, which is what your external door locks most likely are, is picked with a specially crafted bump key. A bump key is a little bit like a master key, it can open the majority of pin and tumbler locks.
Many petty criminals have learnt about the bumping technique via the internet. In recent months there has been a massive increase in burglaries using the bumping method of picking locks. While there are other, easier and less damaging ways to get inside a home many petty thieves use this technique as they aren’t able to use any others.
A bump key works by knocking the lock cylinder while applying slight pressure to the back of the lock plug. Under these conditions the pin falters and the lock opens, as it would with a normal key.
The best way to protect yourself from bumping is by having all of your locks installed by a good quality locksmith. Make sure they have professional insurance and the right accreditations. You may wish to have a chain lock installed of the inside of your door for when you are at home. Make sure your front and back door have two locks, and that you lock both of these while you are out. It takes a lot longer to bump two locks, rather than just one. Not only may this discourage a thief, but there is a much greater chance that someone will notice what they are doing.
Make sure you have six pinned locks. Many older homes have only five pinned locks, which are very easy to bump. Have a locksmith look at your current security and recommend what would improve it. Ask them to check that you have six pinned locks, these are almost impossible to bump.
Sensor lights are an excellent deterrent. A locksmith can help you with this as well, as many modern locksmiths will offer all round home security. No one is going to want to burgle you home if it is lit up like a Christmas tree.
An alarm system is also a great idea, especially if you go on holidays a lot. It’s a good idea to leave a relative with a set of keys and the alarm code; your neighbors won’t appreciate a false alarm at three am that goes on for several hours.
If you are unsure about any of these ideas, have a local locksmith perform a security report on your home. They’ll be able to spot any weaknesses and make recommendations. Once you have all of these excellent security measures in place don’t forget to use them. It’s easy to get lazy and not set the alarm or lock the deadbolt, but what takes only a few seconds could save you a lot of heart break in the long run.
