Bump Keys: What Are They and How Do I Protect Myself Against Them?
- Upgrade to a High-Security Lock. Because bump keys work by knocking all the pins in a spring-loaded lock stack into...
- Avoid Popular Lock Brands. Bump keys have to be made from the exact size and shape key blank that matches the lock.
- Install a Security System. Another very effective deterrent against...
Do burglars use bump keys?
Bump keys make it easy for thieves to open many common locks, but you can protect yourself against them. Bump keys are a lock picking tool that have been gaining in popularity among burglars in recent years.
How do you protect yourself from lock picking?
PreventionClear Visibility. Keep the landscaping around your home and office as clean as possible. ... Neighborhood Watch. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. ... Security Camera. ... Anti-Lock Bumping Devices. ... Install Security Pins. ... High-Security Locks. ... Light Commercial Grade Locks. ... Keyless Deadbolt Locks.
Do bump keys break the lock?
The "bumper" needs to bump the key hard enough to jar the pins, but not so much that the lock or key is damaged. Bumping the key causes the pins to jump slightly. Even this slight amount of motion is enough to allow the bump key to turn the cylinder, unlocking the lock.
How effective is a bump key?
Bump keys work very well and are highly effective against 90% of pin tumbler locks. Most locks can be bumped in under 30 seconds and leave no noticeable evidence that the lock was compromised.
What is a 999 key?
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.
Can Bump keys open deadbolts?
A bump key can open any lock that it fits into. It's helpful to have in your pocket if you ever lose your keys, because it can open your door lock and your deadbolt, even if they normally require seperate keys.
How do you tell if your lock has been bumped?
Signs of bumpingFresh nicks around the edges of the keyhole from pounding the key a little too forcefully.Shiny metal edges that look like they've been recently hit.
How can you tell if a lock is bump proof?
You can identify a smart key product because it has an additional hole right on the side of the cylinder. So if the locks on your house today have that little hole next to the keyhole you have a bump resistant product on your home.
How do you tell if your door lock has been picked?
4 Common Signs Your Locks Have Been Tampered With and What to Do About ItHow Can I Tell If Someone Tampered With My Locks? ... Your Lock Doesn't Function Properly. ... Visible Bending or Warping of Your Lock, Door, or Frame. ... Tiny Scratch Marks Around the Keyhole. ... New Nicks or Shiny Metal Edges Around the Keyhole.More items...•
Are dimple keys more secure?
Contrary to popular belief, dimple locks are neither more secure or less secure than other conventional pin tumbler locks. This impression might arise from the fact that dimple keys have dimples cut into the grooves while standard keys do not.
What type of lock can not be picked?
Pick-resistant locks have an extra set of tumblers or locking apparatus so that, in effect, the key has to do two things at once. Because of their resistance to manipulation, these locks are also resistant to key bumping. One of the most popular pick-resistant locks is the Medeco.
How can you tell if someone tried to pick a lock?
4 Common Signs Your Locks Have Been Tampered With and What to Do About ItHow Can I Tell If Someone Tampered With My Locks? ... Your Lock Doesn't Function Properly. ... Visible Bending or Warping of Your Lock, Door, or Frame. ... Tiny Scratch Marks Around the Keyhole. ... New Nicks or Shiny Metal Edges Around the Keyhole.More items...•
Can a picked lock be relocked?
Yes, locks can be picked, or bump keys can be used. There's no difference in using these tools to unlock vs re-lock a lock. So someone can break into your home without there being any evidence of a break-in? Anything's possible.
How do you stop someone from opening a door with a knife?
0:532:24Open A Locked Door With A Knife? Door Security 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSet but mortise lock sets have the same thing except the pin is usually right below the latch. WhenMoreSet but mortise lock sets have the same thing except the pin is usually right below the latch. When that pin is lined up and working properly.
Why do locksmiths use bump keys?
Professional locksmiths often use this technique to gain access to locks whenever a key has been lost or stolen. The reason why it’s called lock “bu mping” is because a specially cut key (known as a “bump key” or a “999 key”) is inserted into a lock and then struck–or “bumped”–with a screwdriver or some other object in order to open the lock . Using a simple principle of physics, the energy created from striking the bump key is transferred to the pins within the lock. These pins jump up for a fraction of a second, creating a shear line that allows the cylinder inside the lock to turn, which then enables the lock to be opened.
How to protect your home from bumping?
So what can you do to protect your home against lock bumping? The answer is to get rid of your traditional pin-and-tumbler locks as soon as you can and replace them with bump-proof keyless locks. One of the most effective bump-proof keyless locks on the market is the Lockey M210 keyless deadbolt. Lock bumpers are no match for the M210; not only is it bump-proof, but its hardened steel deadbolt is hacksaw-proof as well! As far as convenience goes, you won’t have to worry about keeping up with keys; you simply need to enter your passcode into the push-button keypad, and you’re inside in a flash. The lock body of the M210 is made of a strong, heavy and durable zinc alloy, and it offers weatherproof performance as well. With the Lockey M210 installed on your exterior doors, you can sleep soundly at night, knowing that your home is protected from any would-be lock pickers or bumpers.
Can you trade in your keys for a code?
Trade in your keys for a personalized code you can’t lose. With a convenient thumb-turn for entry and exit this maximum security deadbolt makes your home bump proof, and Teflon coated stainless steel interior parts make the lock one of the most resilient. You’ve worked hard to have a beautiful home, but what good is it if you can’t get in it.
Is a bump proof lock worth it?
There’s a lot of truth to the statement that nothing is more valuable than your peace of mind. When you have a traditional pin-and-tumbler lockset on your door, it’s hard to have any peace of mind when you think about how easy it is for some random stranger to enter your home using nothing more than a $3 bump key. A bump-proof keyless lock will go a long way towards keeping those kinds of worries off your mind, and keeping would-be burglars out of your home.
How to protect yourself from bumping locks?
The ways to protect yourself against lock bumping like getting high end locks, like mortise locks and/or installing home surveillance or home alarm monitoring systems.
What is bump key?
The tool used in lock bumping is a so-called "bump key" - a special key that is created by filing down a regular key which would normally be used for that type of lock. If you hear a locksmith referring to a "999" key, they are talking about a bump key, as the maximum setting a locksmith uses to file a key down to would be a number "9" setting which files the key right down to the rim.
What Makes a Lock Vulnerable to Lock Bumping?
The same innate mechanism of what makes the lock secure is exactly the same thing that makes it vulnerable in the first place! See, the driver pins and key pins all keep contact with one another through a tension created by a spring. They are not designed to separate except for when the cylinder barrel is rotated. Normally one shouldn't be able to push the key pin without pushing against the driver pin, and also when you push the driver pin too far it blocks the shear line.
What is the driver pin on a key?
The driver pin is what directs the force against the key pins. And with enough sudden force (ie. the "bump"), all the pins will all follow in line down past the shear line, leaving the driver pins still hovering above the shear line. The reason that all the cuts on a bump key are filed to the maximum depth (remember, the number "9" setting?) – is because it is totally undesirable to push the driver pin down at all just in case it shifts past the shear line before the "Bump" has the chance to start the momentum.
What happens if you bump a lock?
There are no signs of forced entry: kicked in doors, no broken windows, etc. This will create hassles with insurance companies for sure, as most of them will do anything to avoid a claim.
How to trap key pins?
One has to apply a rotational pressure on the pins to trap the key pins below the shear line, but not that much pressure that would hold the pins in place.The key hits the rim of the lock, comes to a sudden stop, which transfers the force through the notches down through the driver pins, and then to the key pins. Voila!
Why do you need a key for a lock?
Having the right key for the lock, regulates the driver pins because of its multiple ridges, as they push the driver pins to the right height for the barrel to rotate and open the lock.
Why do people use bump keys?
Professional locksmithswere the first to invest and use bump keys for the purpose of helping people who lose their keys to gain entry into their homes. But, since the Internet came along people are now using bump keys for sinister purposes. There’s a huge amount of online content that’s dedicated to showing people how to pick and bump locks through YouTube videos, online blogs and forums. It’s scary to think that this type of information is out there waiting to be discovered by just about anyone. As a homeowner, the best way to protect yourself from the wave of key bumpers that are being created is to install a keyless lock systemthat’s immune to lock bumping.
What is a bump key?
Bump keys are designed to exploit a loophole that’s built into most pin and tumbler locks. You see, the pin stacks in a pin and tumbler lock are spring loaded to keep the cylinder in place so that it can only be turned with the right key. Most pin and tumbler locks come with a dual pin set, including key pins and driver pins.
How do bump keys work?
Using a combination of cunning ingenuity and creativity, criminals can “bump” any lock using a specially cut key that can fit into most cylinder locks.
Why are bump keys called 999 keys?
It’s interesting to note here that bump keys are often called “999 keys” because when they’re placed into the key-making machine the ridges are cut to their full depth. They’re easy to access and replicate time and again because most locksmiths can cut a bump key in less than five minutes.
What is the worst thing about bump locks?
The worst part about robberies that are committed using bump locks is that they can remain undetected for long periods of time. It’s not until you notice that you’re missing a few important items that you realize something’s out of place and that you’ve been robbed.
What tool can be used to force a lock open?
When used in combination with a screwdriver or mallet, thieves can use this tool to force the lock open. It’s an old trick reimagined really, and unfortunately, it’s super easy for thieves to implement.
Is it illegal to have a bump key?
Are Bump Key Sets Illegal? Anyone can legally make and possess a bump key. The only time it becomes illegal on both counts is if you use the key to facilitate a robbery. Regular civilians, licensed locksmiths and sworn peace officers may possess a bump key at any time without arousing suspicion of ill intent.
How Do I Protect Myself From Bump Keys?
The Lockey M210 keyless deadbolt is one of the most effective bump-proof keyless locks available.
What Are Bump Keys Used For?
A pin-tumbler lock is the most popular lock in the world, and it includes exterior door entry locks. bump key is a very effective way to gain entry into a business.
What Are The Bump Keys And Why Are They Important?
A bump key is a special-cut key that can bypass the security mechanisms that are built into traditional pin and tumbler locks. In a key-making machine, bump keys are cut to the maximum depth (999) of each ridge, which is why they are called “999 keys.”.
Does A Bump Key Ruin A Lock?
In order for the “bumper” to jar the pins, it must hit the key hard enough to cause damage to the lock or key. By bumping the key, the pins will move a little.
What States Is It Illegal To Carry Lockpicks?
In Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia, it is illegal to own a lock pick set. In these states, a lock pick set is considered to be “prima facie evidence” of ownership. Essentially, these states may be able to prove that you did not intend to use the lock pick set to commit a crime.
Will A Locksmith Make A Bump Key?
Due to the restrictions on keyway locks and key blanks, you will not find them at your local hardware store. In addition, you cannot purchase “Bump Keys” for them as well. Hardware stores sell standard locks for $12 on average. You can pay between $00 and $ 25 for a bottle of wine.
Are Bump Keys Illegal?
What is the legality of lock bumping?? It is not illegal to learn to pick locks. You cannot pick locks that you shouldn’t open, however. It is recommended that you stick to the ‘lock pickers code of conduct’ and only use bump locks as a hobby at home – not to commit a crime.
