Lock Bumping Facts

How to Prevent Lock Bumping

It's hard to believe, but almost every door to every home in every neighborhood can be unlocked or opened in a matter of seconds with virtually no noise using the lock bumping method.

There are preventative steps you can take to prevent your locks from being bumped. But first, it is important to understand exactly what the term "Lock Bumping" means.

What is Lock Bumping?

Lock bumping, also called key bumping or bump keying is a lock picking technique used to open a pin tumbler lock using a bump key. A single bump key will work for all locks of the same type.

Should I be Concerned about Lock Bumping?

News stations have made lock bumping a very credible threat. Prior to 2005 most households had never heard the term "lock bumping" or even knew that it existed. Locksmiths have been legitimately using this technique since the early 1900's.

In 2005 a Dutch television show broadcast a story about the lock bumping method. These news stories showed every viewer videos of how easy it is to bump a lock. Go to Google and put in the term "bump key". You will see there are over 8 million articles explaining how to bump a lock, and where to buy a bump key.

Can I tell if my Lock has been Bumped?

You might, but probably not. A bump key is a leaves little or no evidence of entry. After all, it is a key. There will be no indication that your home was forcibly broken in to which could quite possibly effect your insurance claims.

How Can I Prevent my Locks from being Bumped?

The very best and effective solutions to prevent lock bumping is to upgrade your locks to a high security lock, or an electronic lock that does not have a conventional lock cylinder.