Los Angeles Locksmith: Protecting Your Home From Lock Bumping Break-Ins

One of the most common service calls  Fidelity Locksmith
receives in Los Angeles  invoves a lock bumping burglary.

Experts report that 90% of  homes in the United States are vulnerable to break-ins through lock bumping. What makes this statistic even more troubling is that YouTube hosts more than 1,600 videos which demonstrate the technique in great detail. With step-by-step videos showing criminals how to open most any home lock in a matter of seconds, it’s no wonder lock bumping is fast becoming a major problem throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and Orange Counties. Making matters worse is the fact that a bump burglary leaves no marks or scratches. Since there is no evidence of forced entry, insurance companies are reluctant to cover the victim’s losses.

First discovered by European locksmiths in the 1970s, lock bumping is the primary reason the majority of locks in use today are obselete. Renowned security expert Marc Tobias describes the process in his online column The Lockdown.

“A ‘bump’ key works by tricking the tumblers in a pin lock to fall into the correct place for just an instant, but long enough for someone to turn the key and unlock the door. A basic key, a sturdy file, a little pressure, and a gentle ‘bump’ against the key is enough to knock the pin tumblers into place and pop a lock open.

“Any pin tumbler lock that utilizes two or more moving pins within each chamber is at risk. Door locks, post office locks, file cabinet locks, access-control override locks, and padlocks. All of them can be bumped if you have the key that will fit the keyway and has been properly cut . . . Are there exceptions? Yes. Can every conventional lock be bumped open? No, but statistically, a very high percentage can.”

How can you protect yourself from lock bumping? If your home’s locks are pre-2005 vintage, you should have a professional locksmith replace them with one of the more secure “bump resistant” models manufactured by Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and Schlage. For greater peace of mind, consider installing electronic locks, magnetic locks, or locks using rotating disks. These advanced models, all carried by Fidelity Locksmith, are not vulnerable to bump attacks.

Visit Fidelity’s blog for more tips on keeping your home safe. Better yet, contact Fidelity Locksmith Services today for a FREE estimate on a complete home security upgrade.