To bump a lock, a person inserts a bump key into the key way one notch (pin) short of full insertion, then bumps the key inward to push it deeper into the key way. The specially designed teeth of the bump key transmit a slight impact to all of the key pins in the lock.
Lock bumping is when a bump key is used to align the pins of a common cylinder lock. It's a picking technique used to unlock a door, usually for the purpose of burglarizing a residence. With a little practice, few tools, and the opportunity to commit a crime, burglars are able to easily enter homes with cylinder locks.
Pin-tumbler locks are the world's most popular lock, and these include exterior door entry locks for homes. The process of gaining entry using a bump key is called “bumping,” and it can be very effective. Above: a pin-tumbler lock.
Actually, yes. Lock picking requires specialty tools, precision, practice, and at least a few minutes standing bent over a lock with picking tools in hand. Some burglars may still use them if the door is well concealed, but otherwise lock picking takes too long.
Lock bumping is a similar practice to lock picking, except that it uses a “bump key,” which is a special key that can give access to almost any lock it is used on.
Most Effective: Get a Totally Keyless Lock
Some mechanical or electronic locks do not use a key at all. This makes them completely immune to key bumping. The most secure example would be the Kaba Mas CDX-09, which uses a dial outside like a safe lock.
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.
Lock bumping takes only an instant to open the lock. The lock is not visibly damaged, although the force of the bump can leave an indentation on the front of the cylinder. Certain clicking and vibrating tools designed for bumping can also be used.
Lock picking is to use special tools to open a deadbolt lock through the keyhole and requires some skill. That's why lock bumping – using a specially crafted bump key as a tool – has become so popular among burglars. It's quicker, requires no skill, makes very little noise, and leaves no trace.
The bump key pictured above would fit into most cylinder locks and deadbolts. After it's pushed all the way into the lock, pull the key out until you feel it click twice.
These smart lock features enhance your home security, giving you better control and peace of mind. A lock without a cylinder, like the completely keyless Schlage Touch lock, also eliminates the possibility of picking or bumping because there's no keyhole for intruders to manipulate.
What is Lock Snapping? The thief first has to gain access to the cylinder. Once this has been done the cylinder can be easily snapped at the weakest point by force, giving the thief access to the lock cams which enables them to open the door.
Homes in high-visibility places, like on corner lots, are far less likely to be broken into. There are simply too many potential ways to be seen. But townhomes, houses in the middle of the block, or houses in a cul-de-sac are much better targets.
Your attic is not likely to be visited by a burglar because they are usually hard to find and access. So, it is always a good idea to store valuables in attic storage containers.
It's not uncommon for locks to have just five or six security pins. Unfortunately, a motivated thief can easily and quickly bump these locks using a bumping key. Commando Locks, however, are designed with a total of 10 security pins, thereby offering maximum protection against bumping as well as picking.
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.
Due to the nature of the mechanism, a deadbolt will always be more secure than a doorknob. If you're reading this from home I encourage you to do a simple test: If you have a door with both a deadbolt and a doorknob, open it and then lock both locks while the door is open.
CR's take: The Medeco Maxum 11TR503-19 is the strongest deadbolt across all of our lock categories. It's top-notch for drilling, withstands kick-ins very well, and is designed in a way that makes it quite difficult to pick.
Deadbolts have fewer vulnerabilities than traditional doorknob latch locks, but they are still pretty easy to bypass with the right approach. In this guide, we will discuss several popular techniques for unlocking pin tumbler deadbolts, including lock picking, lock bumping, and drilling the lock.