Hi all

Returned home yesrterday after an afternoon on the lash to discover my front door key would not go into the lock. As it was dark and I could not get in to turn on the lights I decided to climb over my back wall. Naturally as I was intoxicated I thought I was Superman but came crashing down on top of the bins, banging my head against the wall and crazing several other limbs!
Managed to pick myself up, unlock the back gate to let the misses in and go through the back door.

After close inspection of the lock this morning it appears that the barrel had been a quarter-turned!
Now this is the 3rd time I have had this happen. I find it hard to believe that someone could attempt to pick my door lock when the house is overlooked by 2 others opposite, plus with passing traffic and the odd pedestrian...
But on the other hand is it possible to lock the door and whilst withdrawing the key, turn the lock?
I will heave a play later and see if I can get it to.



Nick

 

Hello

Depending on the type of lock you have, if someone wanted to pick it they would. Most 'Yale' type locks can be opened in under 20 seconds with either a pickgun or hand-picking.

If you want to break into someones else, you generally just break a window and lock picking is visible and looks suspicious.

Steve

 

The front door is like an old-fashioned back door, pre-upvc days complete with mortice lock. It's on the big list of changes we are making to the house for next year.

Nick

 

bump key?

YouTube - Bump Key HOWTO

 

As above...has it been bumped?

 

never seen this before :Eek:

 

Im gonna try to make one tomorrow!!!

 

searching about the net, i have found a video of somebody removing a "defend lock" gear stick lock in the same way

 

ahhh, turns out the apartment has "EVVA bump proof" locks fitted as standard

 

you live in the USA or do you mean the flat?

 

Sure you didn't snap the key off in the lock?

 

havent you lot ever heard of a bump key?

80 percent of door locks in under 10 seconds, i actually made one one day at work and tried it on my own front door and the workshop door, once i got the knack of it i could do the locks in a v easy 5 seconds, for obv reasons not going to say how but its exptremely worrying, with a bump key the more expensive the lock believe it or not the easier it is to open

 

You cant bump mortice locks, that only works on 'Euro locks' (the keyhole shaped lock seen in UPVC doors and roller shutter blinds etc).

 

It will work with Yale-type rim locks too, but thats not the point.....

 

quite alarming isnt it

the sad thing is padlocks are just as easy all you need is a beer can and something to cut it with

 

It is. The reason that better locks are easier is because theyre built to closer tolerances and the internal parts have a better finish. This all makes it easier for the bump key method to work. The most secure lock is a cheap Chinese replacement from a local wholesaler (apart from one of the type that Mick has mentioned above)!

Simon

 

'Secure' is a relative term, obviously.

 

or bolt croppers

 

You cant cut a properly hardened shackle Andy. Flat land-type (spring pin) locks can be picked like a Yale lock (as can a Euro Lock). Rubbish padlocks can be defeated with a bent piece of metal its true: and some far better quality locks can be defeated with a punch or a can of freezing spray. The ERA laminated padlocks are very secure, so long as you weld a zig-zag over the ends of the laminated sections. All that happens when you up the strength of the actual lock, is that you direct attention to the next, weaker, part in the chain, which is usually the hasp and staple. Bolt croppers that cant even mark the lock will usually cut through the hasp without too much trouble. You can make a shield of course and you can harden it all yourself, but you cant ever stop a man with a Portapack.

Simon

 

I take it mine wasn't bumped then
If it was then a dumb amateur tried it, thank God!

Nick

 

No: you can only bump key flat land locks. It doesnt mean that someone hasnt tried to force the mortice lock though. Why I dont know, because you cant do that ona proper lock, even with a lump hammer, a coach bolt and a big f*ck-off spanner!

 

Our front door lock started to fail and seemed to exhibit the problem you talk about. It was possible to get the out, but not be able to put it back in. The mechanism had become tired and things were loose. New lock sorted the problem.

 

Your lock is obviously just knackered.

 

I only fitted the lock last year as the old one seized and ended up nearly breaking the key to get in!

As mentioned, a new door next year will solve all... A bit concerned about this bumping malarky though

Nick

 

I've got a Chubb 4L67E The Lockshop-Warehouse Chubb

Don't think they could bump that

 

No, but Id wager that I could open it in a couple of seconds with a large spanner and a lump hammer!

 

At least there would be damage for the insurance company to see, with a bump key there is no damage what so ever and insurance may dispute your claim or something, you know what they are like for trying to get out of paying up.

Oh and if I was in bed I'd hear you doing that, I probably wouldn't hear it getting bumped.

 

That was a big issue in Germany: particularly for the people who used better quality insurance approved Euro Locks (as theyre easier to open). Apparently there were many cases where peopel were burgled and then left high and dry by their insurers.

 

If I came home and found I'd been burgled, with no visible evidence of a break in, I would be sorely tempted to create some evidence.

 

You are not alone...