Blogs and Keys

For many of you the term “lock bumping” is something you’ve never heard of, you’ll be blissfully unaware of the potential jeopardy your home and possessions are in due to this phenomenon.

Let me explain. ” Many locks throughout the world use what is known as a pin tumbler mechanism, inside the lock there are a number of cylinders know as pins, when a key with the corresponding cuts is placed in the lock the pins are pushed back and the lock is opened. This is essentially how locks have been made for thousands of years.

The “Bump Key” exploits this weakness using simple physics. The key has been filed to give it a profile that will fit any lock of a corresponding size. It is inserted into the lock and then tapped with a blunt object (hammer, screw driver handle etc.) the kinetic energy from the strike travels up the key causing the pins to move,(Imagine hitting a cue ball on a snooker break, you hit the balls at the front but all the balls move) if the key is turned at the correct moment the lock will become free and the door will open.

This is a painfully easy technique to master and a small child can pick it up within a minute. This is why it is becoming the burglars favourite tool. It allows them to gain access to your home without having to break any glass, climb any drain pipes or carry any suspicious tools. He simply opens your front door and walks in.

This can cause problems when you try to claim on your insurance as there is no evidence of a break in. It appears as though the forgetful home owner has left his or her property unsecured.

To protect yourself you should consider changing your locks, there are many anti bump locks available and a little research on the internet will yield some positive results.

Obviously lock bumping isn’t the only way a persistent house breaker can gain entry into your home and you should always bare this in mind when buying conservatories windows and doors. Web sites like Conservatory TV provide extensive coverage on security for your glazing products and are well worth a look when considering this kind of purchase.

How did the fascinating technique of lock bumping get its start? When did this lock bypass system begin to come to the attention of the public? What’s that, anyway? Let’s explore the interesting history of lock bumping and look at a few important details pertaining to it.

Lock bumping has been around for a long time. Some estimates place the beginnings of lock bumping to about 50 years ago. This special technique allows a special type of key to be used in any lock of the same type. Most of the locks that are currently being manufactured are susceptible to the skilled use of a bump key.

Tumbler locks are the most widespread style of lock in use today. The system of pins is quite simple. A series of pins are spring-stacked to hold the rotating bolt of the lock mechanism in place. Because the pins are all different lengths, one usually uses a custom cut key to open the lock. The grooves on the key “tickle” the pins and lift them out of the way enough to let the bolt slide away, resulting in an unlocked door. However, a bump key can do the same job even though all its grooves are the same depth.

Public knowledge of lock bumping really began in the 1970′s, when Danish locksmiths distributed a method for bypassing the tumbler lock mechanism. They would tap on the side of the cylinder and simultaneously press the lock plug (in our case, one would press the back of the bump key). The vibration would cause the pins to become loose; once this happened, the lock plug could be removed easily.

The advent of bump keys came much later. Surprisingly, they were not even considered a security problem until 2002 or 2003. The German media was the first to pick up on the possible hazards of lock bumping keys. Other organizations published carefully considered reports on the uses, techniques, and hazards of lock bumping. Papers have also been written about the possible legal problems connected with bump key usage. Although in many States a bump key is considered by law to be a “burglary tool”, this is no reason to avoid them. This law is not going to harm you as long as you use the bump key for legitimate purposes. Currently, there must be proof that there was intent to use the bump key in a burglary before you can be charged with anything.

Lock bumping can be a beneficial skill. It is an easy way to get back in if you are locked out of your home or office. You can make a bump key for free with a simple file, and it takes minimal training to learn how to use it. Don’t ever go through the frustration of being locked out of your own home (or your own personal safe) again. Learn how to use a bump key and practice until you know you can get past the tumbler locks in your home. One day, you’ll be glad you did.

During the summer of 2007, a rash of mysterious burglaries occurred in the Dallas, Texas area.

Lock bumping might be referred to as lock picking’s lesser known cousin.

The term lock bumping conjures up images of people in stripy jumpers with eye masks on bumping against a locked door on the off chance that it will open and they can fill their bags full of ‘swag’. The reality is a lot less glamorous and a lot more worrying.

Lock bumping refers to a method of picking a lock that is effective against pin-tumbler locks. These types of lock are prevalent throughout the world and are used on most North American doors. It involves the procurement of a key blank for the type of lock that you want to open and an amount of work dependant on the type of lock that you have.

It has been shown on popular television that an average person can effect entry into your home using this technique with very little training. It is not a new practice by any means. Lock bumping was first documented over 50 years ago in Germany when Dutch and German locksmiths were experimenting with this technique for legitimate reasons.

The dangers have been brought home to the public by the power of information technology. Lock bumping was picked up by the media in 2003 and a report was commissioned by the lock pickers association in 2004. The information was picked up by the TV companies and then spread through the internet. It has now become a much debated topic.

The reality is that you are far more likely to be burgled because you left the front door or a window open or someone simply broke down your door. The main reason for this is that lock bumping requires the procurement of a blank key that fits your lock and an amount of tapping around the lock on your door with a hammer, something that would not go un-noticed in the most unfriendly neighborhood.

The message has to be don’t panic. Most modern locks have some degree of protection against bumping and Schlage and Medeco locks cannot be bumped. Many locks and keys are patented and this means that the availability of the key blanks is strictly controlled through authorized dealers. Only a rogue employee or a disaffected dealer could cause problems in this area, someone who can easily be traced.

Although statistics show that a large percentage of break-ins have no sign of forced entry the reality is that these probably occurred because a window or door was left open or the homeowner misplaced their keys and could not admit to it for insurance purposes.

If you are concerned that your lock could be susceptible to lock bumping the best thing to do is to ask a professional locksmith for a survey of the locks used at your property. They will be able to tell you if you are at risk from lock bumping techniques and will also be able to recommend new locks that cannot be bumped.

The main thing is not to worry unduly about this supposedly new technique. It has been around for many years and you are not likely to arrive home and find your house full of uninvited teenagers, unless you’ve got one of your own and they’ve invited their friends around for a party.

Through inexpensive tools and a little practice, lock bumping can be done by anyone

Deadbolts. Chains. Security systems. It seems people will go to any length to keep their home and their belongings safe. But even when the homeowners get smart, so do the crooks. For every lock out there, someone has figured out a way to open it. In some cases, getting in involves lock bumping.

On many locks found on residences, a pin tumbler lock mechanism is in use. Inside the lock there are a series of cylinders known as pins. When a key with cuts corresponding to these pins’ shapes and positions is inserted into the lock’s keyway, the pins are pushed back by a series of small springs and the lock is opened. From inexpensive to very pricey locks, pin tumbler locks all work on this same principle and have been in use since the ancient Egyptians developed the concept in 2000 BC.

Several thousand years younger than the lock itself, lock bumping is a type of lock picking which involves what’s known as a lock bumping key. Much like a skeleton key, a bump key can fit into any pin tumbler lock. Bump keys are created by filing down a key blank to about one millimeter. The “bump” is then done by inserting the bump key into the lock and tapping the key with something such as a screwdriver until the lock’s pin stacks have been jolted enough to free the lock. The technique requires far less skill than traditional lock picking and can be mastered with some practice.

Scary as it may seem, lock bumping can be employed by practically anyone. A relatively new phenomenon, bumping has been seen in use by criminals in the US and Europe since 2002. Documents and several videos available on the Internet detail specifically how to bump a lock and can be instantly accessed by anyone with a computer. Bump keys first appeared in the early 1920′s when the idea was patented as a new method of lock picking. Currently, bump keys can be purchased online for a variety of lock types for as little as $3.00.

Because of the recent surge in the popularity of lock bumping, manufacturers are making strides to make their locks “bump proof”. Locks such as the Schlage Primus have sidebars that, when not aligned properly, keep bump keys from moving the lock’s mechanism. The Primus also involves pins filed to a specific angle that allow only their accompanying keys to open. Similarly, Medeco also makes a deadbolt for residences that is considered to be bump proof. Electronic locks or those that open using a key pad or don’t require a key are also bump proof just by their very nature.

More low-tech methods of preventing lock bumping include spraying the lock with WD-40. In theory, the lubricant, normally used on squeaky door hinges, make the pins inside the lock slippery. The pins then move more freely and may not make the lock entirely bump proof, but will take longer to open with a bump key. The thought is then that the criminal becomes impatient or tired of trying the lock and moves on.

Security expert Marc Weber Tobias is worried about your front door . . . and your back door, your side door, your windows, and your garage door. His expertise focuses on securing doors and windows, and he knows about the most common threats to that security. One common security threat that has been on the rise since its discovery by locksmiths in Denmark in the 1970s is “lock bumping.” As Tobias can tell you, securing doors and windows – and ultimately, your loved ones and valuables – takes more than the basic lock these days.

What is a “Bump” Key?

A “bump” key works by tricking the tumblers in a pin lock to fall into the correct place for just an instant, but long enough for someone to turn the key and unlock the door. A basic key, a sturdy file, a little pressure, and a gentle “bump” against the key is enough to knock the pin tumblers into place and pop a lock open.

”Any pin tumbler lock that utilizes two or more moving pins within each chamber is at risk. Door locks, post office locks, file cabinet locks, access control override locks, and padlocks. All of them can be bumped if you have the key that will fit the keyway and has been properly cut . . . Are there exceptions? Yes. Can every conventional lock be bumped open? No, but statistically, a very high percentage can,” says Tobias in his online column “The Lockdown.”

Not only can a criminal easily get inside, but you may run into insurance troubles if there is no sign of forced entry. A “bump key” leaves no marks or scratches. It looks as though someone had a key to unlock the door. They did, technically, have a key – a “universal” key.

What can you do to ensure that you are properly securing doors and windows? You can install advanced, contemporary lock technology that has addressed the “bump” key threat and made it irrelevant.

Securing Doors and Windows Against Bump Keys and Other Tricks

Fortunately, since the “bump” trick was developed over 30 years ago, security companies have had time to come up with answers to the threat. If you have locks built before 2005, you might want to consider having them replaced with these more secure models: