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Lockout Tips

Lock Bumping

What is Lock Bumping?

Lock bumping is a growing problem in the U.S. Burglars can order an inexpensive item online that enables them to break-in to your home with no trace of that break-in. Conventional locks may no longer be enough to prevent a burglary of your home, especially as the use of this easy method of gaining entrance to your home continues to grow. 24 HR Lockouts has some tips for you to protect yourself, your family and your business from this.

Locksmiths sometimes need a way to enter your home without damaging the lock. This can happen if you have locked yourself out. The technique that is often used is called lock bumping. Unlike the specialized equipment and knowledge required by lock picking, bumping a lock is relatively easy. It is accomplished with a bump key that can be ordered online, purchased at a local home improvement store or anyplace that makes keys. A home is burglarized every 13 seconds in America. Almost 50% of those break-ins occur through a standard door during daylight hours.

How are Locks Bumped?

Conventional locks have a safety mechanism that lets them be bumped by inserting a bump key into the lock and then striking it with a mallet or other instrument. This causes the pins within the lock to move above the shear line long enough to allow the lock to be opened. The recent trend of increased lock bumping is likely due to the simplicity of the act. All it takes is the bump key, a quick tap with a sturdy object, and the ability to quickly turn the cylinder with the appropriate level of force to open the door.

Lock Bump Prevention

A locksmith can help better secure your home in several ways. One way is to modify your existing locks to increase the number of pins. This makes lock bumping more difficult, although not impossible. It will improve your home’s security. Perhaps the most effective option is to install a high-security lock, which includes a secondary “sidebar” making it more difficult to bump the lock open.

If you want to be certain that you’re doing everything possible to improve the security of your home or business, contact 24 HR Lockouts. We provide prompt, reliable, and affordable service including an assessment of your locks. If you are ready to update your locks, give us a call today.

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