Real Estate Innovation

Lock bumping - is the threat of home invasion even greater now?

Lock bumping became big news at 2005’s Defcon when 11-year-old Jennalynn showed an exceptional talent for being able to bump almost any lock set in front of her. This year she again shows her talent by bumping the Medeco M3 high security lock, a lock that is supposedly un-bumpable!

Lock bumping, also known as “key bumping” and “bump keying” involves a technique in which an ordinary key can be modified with a file so that when it is inserted into a common door lock and tapped, the internal cylinder pins will bump up and the door lock can open. Most common household locks are vulnerable to this manner of picking.

In the 1970’s the process of lock bumping was started by Danish locksmiths so that they could open locks faster. The trick was exposed in 2005 when a news report by Nova was shown in Europe just how easy the method of using a bump key was.

The method of bumping a lock has spread all over the Internet and on many local news stations, showing everyone how easy it is to bypass certain types of locks. These videos and reports are causing great concern for everyone from stay-at-home moms to business owners. Homemade bump keys are a new threat to the security of conventional mechanical locks because they are so quick and easy to make.

The basic premise of lock bumping exploits a flaw with modern pin tumbler lock designs. It enough force is applied to the lower pins in a lock, some of it will get transferred to the upper pin deck which pushes the spring up and makes a small gap between the pins for a fraction of a second.

Key Bumping is a real thing but you’ll often hear people say that you just need to install a Medeco lock or one other specific type of Schlage lock in order to be protected. But as Jennalynn showed us, that’s not entirely true.

So what can you do to protect your home and family from being a victim of lock bumping? Easy options are installing the very best new locks you can afford. They might be hard enough to bump that they will scare away an amateur. Other options include installing motion sensitive outdoor lighting and a home security alarm. Professional thieves look for easy targets and if you do all of that, there is a good chance they will go elsewhere.