Posted on 02/13/2007 10:15:50 AM PST by Ben Mugged
Dutch television program demonstrating the technique ~snip~ were posted on various web sites. The issue has naturally concerned a good many people who have learned about it, since it seemingly shows that many of the kinds of locks typically used on residences are seemingly vulnerable to being bypassed through a fairly simple, effective technique.A "999" or bump key can be any key that fits a particular pin tumbler lock and that has been modified so that all of its cuts (or grooves) are made to the deepest allowable position as defined by each manufacturer. The term "fit" means that the key will enter the keyway (the front of the lock) but will not unlock it. The term "bumping" refers to the process of forcing the key to interact with the pin tumblers by "bumping" or rapping it with a plastic mallet while it is inserted into the lock. This process entails hitting the head of the key, causing it to rapidly move forward. When the key is struck correctly, each of the bottom pins is "bumped" upward for a brief instant, thus allowing the lock to be opened.
(Excerpt) Read more at snopes.com ...
This is of major concern to everyone.
As opposed to someone kicking your door in????
Or breaking the window?
I work in the lock business. If you've ever tried using one of these devices or a key gun, you will find them very time consuming and difficult to use.
If someone is kneeling down, messing with my neighbors front door lock, I'm asking him why.
We also cut glass. If anyone wants into your home, a glass cutter is simple, neat, effective and quiet.
Did you watch the video? The time spent in front of the lock was less than 5 seconds.
Speaking as one who has worked in the lock business, I concur. This kind of device only works marginally on well worn and/or poorly designed locks, and is pretty much useless for higher quality locks.
I saw this last week. It's amazing how effective and simple this method is. Apparently it's been around for a long time. One wonders why the lock companies have not improved their product.
Some locks are immune to this. I have Schalage locks. They cannot be "bumped".
There's also the old favorite, the Kwickout tool.
Note to everyone else - don't have Kwikset locks on your doors or anything else guarding your valuables. They're known as "Kwik-pick" locks for a reason.
A weapon is only effective if you are home.
Wrong. Some Schlage locks can't be bumped, but most of them can.
Just checked - unless you have a Schlage Primus, your Schlage can be bumped open.
I'm glad to hear that, I have those locks too. :)
Maybe I spoke too soon...I guess if someone wants in, they'll find a way. :(
Schlage bump keys: http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=696
Of the Schlages, only the Primus can't be bumped open.
Electric toothbrush (slightly modified) and a nailfile.
Thanks for the info. I have one about 4 years old, so I probably don't have the Primus. :(
It isn't that hard to cut a hole in the vinyl siding then through the sheathing and drywall to get in.
Good point. In fact several years ago an inmate at our county jail escaped by cutting a hole through the sheetrock and stucco with a butter knife.
I heard that Kwickset recently merged with Baldwin. Baldwin has been touted as a company that makes bump-proof locks.
I wonder if this is a marketing ploy.
People, you CAN purchase good quality bump-proof locks right now. They are expensive and that is the reason you have cheap locks on your house, because YOU don't want to spend the money to secure it.
Quit blaming the lock manufactures. They are only supplying the public with what they want....cheap, effective theft deterrant. Not failsafe, by any means, but cheap and effective.
Baldwin is not known to make any bump-proof locks.
[It isn't that hard to cut a hole in the vinyl siding then through the sheathing and drywall to get in.]
What do you mean it isn't that hard?
Cut vinyl siding.
Cut sheathing (dense glass or plywood)
Remove insulation and possibly utilities
Cut and punch in another 16" section of drywall
Then I suppose you could just walk right in, assuming there is no furniture on the wall and no one has noticed your little construction project in the middle of the night.
I'm a firefighter, there isn't a door made that cannot be forced or opened quickly with the proper tools! :)
It's all about practice. Any method of gimmicking a lock is tough the first few times, but put some hours into it and it's easy. I used to mess around with lockpicks and padlocks as a "busy hands" hobby, at first it would take me as much as 5 minutes, but after a couple months of practice I could open all my locks faster with the picks than the keys.
"Of the Schlages, only the Primus can't be bumped open."
Anyone know if Medecos can be bumped?
The sheathing is often just fiberboard, easy to go through. It certainly isn't hard to pull insulation out. Vinyl and drywall cut easily with a utility-knife. What's the matter, it got you nervous?
Some Medecos can. Some can't.
The Medeco M3 can't.
Yep, the most common way of burglars getting access is for the door to be kicked in. This happened to my house and it really p'd me off, because the lock was a high quality dead bolt. It just tore the edge of the door frame off, bolt still deployed.
Unlock Your Car With a Tennis Ball
[The sheathing is often just fiberboard,]
If you are talking about the brittle flaky black fiber board, your a little behind the times. I appreciate your enthusiasm and tenacity. In fact, I have little doubt that a firefighter and his ax could make short work of it. But as has been said, there are much more efficient and effective ways for even a 3-stooges caliber criminal to invade a home. If the noise doesn't wake the home owner, the cold draft in the house before he gets in will.
;o)
I just clicked on a bump key video on you tube and it crashed my main computer. Can’t restore. Please warn the forum. Thanks.
I have ‘bump protection’ at my house.
Four rather large, alert, and enthusiastic dogs.
Here, burglar burglar burglar....Badeye’s puppies want to play....(chuckle)
They play rough, btw.
Most front doors either have a glass window on them. or are placed within 18 inches of a window, makeing the lock moot.
When you are home, a gun works best. When not home, there really is nothing a determined crook cannot overcome. A safe is cool for the valuables. But even they have been known to have been pulled right through the wall and taken away whole.
Guess no one else has had that trouble. I finally got it up and running again, but email program opens up multiple copies when I click on it. My son says it was a coincidence and it wasn’t the youtube video. Something else made it crash. An email, prolly.
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