Bent deadbolts and/or door frames may indicate tampering. Scratch marks around the keyhole or small dents on hardware could also be signs of entry attempts. If something seems out of place, you may want to consider contacting a locksmith as soon as possible.
Leave no Trace? Lock Picking leaves marks, period. No matter how good thieves are at picking locks, what kind of entry tool they use or even what method employed, marks are left.
Damaged locks
The most obvious sign of lock tampering is physical damage to the lock itself. If you notice scratches, dents, or other visible signs of damage on your locks, it's likely someone has attempted to force them open.
Yes, you can lock a door by picking the lock. The “lock” itself is the operation of the lock core, the deadbolt or latch is a mechanical device that the lock is intended to operate.
Lock picking is a combination of skill, training, practice, specialist tools and patience. However, trust us, that is not the profile of the typical UK burglar. UK burglars are not highly skilled, trained lock pickers. They are thugs who try and batter their way through your door and lock.
Less than 2% of burglaries involve shimming or picking a lock. It's important to remember that burglary and robbery are different.
Look for locks that have a contoured shape for the internal pins or a side bar to help thwart any traditional lock-picking attempts on your home. You can also switch to one of the less common locks on the market, such as that of a dimple lock, tubular lock or rotating disc.
Picking a Lock
In order to pick a pin and tumbler lock, all a burglar must do is use special tools to align the pins until the lock can be turned and the door can be opened. The pick, which is a long, thin piece of metal, is used in conjunction with a tension wrench to align all the pins.
Buying and owning lock picking tools is legal in the majority of states and most jurisdictions around the world. However, some US states, such as Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, and Virgin, have specific laws directly restricting lock-picking tools or their use in some capacity.
It can take anywhere from 7 seconds to 45 minutes for a locksmith to pick open a lock. Generally a locksmith should be able to unlock most doors in about 10 minutes. Of course this is effected by the type of lock.
Bump keys are specially cut keys that can bypass the security mechanisms built into traditional pin and tumbler locks. Bump keys are also referred to as “999 keys” because all of their ridges are cut to the maximum depth (999) in a key-making machine.
Scratches
Say, for example, if your deadbolt lock appears to be slightly out-of-place or there are scratches along the keyhole, then you may be dealing with a case of lock picking. The purpose of lock picking is to manipulate the tumblers of the lock device to get to open the door without the original key.
Burglars love to see unlocked doors and windows, making it easier (and safer) to commit a crime. So, the best way to protect your home from being burglarized is also the simplest: keep your windows and doors locked.
Some bring tools specifically with the intention of bypassing locks and bolts. “Burglars will often use tools like crowbars or credit cards to slip through locks or pry open entryways,” Hall says.
These are the most common points of entry for home break-ins: Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in. First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home. Back door: 22% come in through the back door.
Burglars often “mark” their target. Homeowners might see unusual markings, such as a streak of spray paint on the wall, a glob of ordinary paint on the fence, or a rope tied around a fence post or lamppost.
Lock picking is easy to learn and apply, and in a short amount of time, you can learn all the basic lock picking concepts and techniques. While some locks are more difficult to pick than others, a fundamental understanding of lockpicking can help you pick the majority of the locks used today.
Lock picking is the first and best method to unlock a deadbolt without a key. It is a popular choice for those who want to avoid damaging their door or lock. Lock picking is an easy skill to learn—the basics required to pick a standard pin tumbler deadbolt can be cultivated within 10 minutes.
Instead of hunting around looking for keys, keys inside locks will provide a readily available solution to simply unlock the door and evacuate the premises. While this may be a good strategy to be used in emergencies, it also encourages burglars to easily break-in.