The whole purpose of a locked front door is to keep yourself safe. It gives you a sense of security to have a door locked and supposedly unable to open. What if we told you that most people have a lock on their door that can easily and effortlessly be broken into? So easy in fact, that a child could do it. Unnerving right? Texan Lock and Key is here to talk about lock bumping and how you can avoid it happening to you.
What is a Lock Bumping Key?
When your front door is locked with a deadbolt lock, you may think that it is a pretty secure lock. Unfortunately, with the right tools, someone could most likely gain access into your home without much effort. In order to “bump” a lock, you will need a special key made exactly for that purpose. That key will be inserted into the lock and “bumped” with a screw driver or other tool to force the pins to jump to their shear line. As the key is then turned, the lock will open right away. This used to be trick used by locksmith professionals alone, but with the use of the internet, more and more are figuring it out.
Is Your Lock Bump Protected?
The first thing you want to do, is inspect your deadbolt lock on your front door. It will have a marking to let you know if the lock is bump protected or not. If it isn’t, there are modifications that can be made to increase the security of your front door. A locksmith can add special pins to the locks on your doors to make them almost impossible to bump.
Upgrade Your Locks
If you notice that the locks are looking old and worn on top of the fact that they are at risk of bumping, it may be time to replace and upgrade. You can replace your current locks with a light commercial grade lock to heighten security. They are less expensive than heavier grade locks but have withstood many tests to see how bump resistant they are.
Consider a Keyless Deadbolt
When buying a keyless deadbolt, make sure you are buying one that is bump proof. It may be more expensive upfront to get locks that are keyless and bump resistant, but they are much more secure that the traditional front door locks.
Install Security Cameras
When someone bumps a lock, there is no visible damage or sign of forced entry. For this reason, you may want to consider having a security camera installed. It will add an extra layer of security to your front door and when an intruder sees them, they are more likely to move on. This will also provide proof of a break-in when filing any claims with your insurance company.
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Unfortunately, criminals can easily learn how to bump locks via the internet. To add an extra layer of security to your locks or upgrade to more secure locks, Texan Lock and Key can help. Don’t hesitate to call for any of your locksmith needs today.
