I must have missed this when it was first on the news, but apparently there is something that used to only be known to locksmiths, called a bump key. Go look at the brand name of the lock on your front door. Any thief can look at that lock, find a key that fits that brand, file it down a special way, and then insert it into your door lock. By giving the key a “bump” while turning it, the tumblers inside the lock will pop up and out of the way, allowing the key to turn all the way and unlock the door. How scary is THAT?? Watch this Bump-Key-Video to see a demonstration. Please read this post all the way through, I want to know what you think about this!
Wow. I’m not really sure how to feel after watching that. We have deadbolt locks on all our doors, but apparently these bump keys can get through those anyway. I can’t imagine anything more terrifying than having someone break into my house. When I was little, maybe four or five, someone got into our house through our unlocked sliding door in the living room, walked right into my parents’ bedroom while they were sleeping and stole my Dad’s wallet off his dresser, as well as our TV. Ever since then, I have been terrified of being robbed that way, especially now that the house we live in has a sliding door in the family room.
So, what is the solution to this? How do you keep your family and your house safe? You can purchase a bump key proof lock, for starters. They might seem expensive, but can you really put a price on safety? I’d love to know your opinion on this. Leave me a comment and let me know, do you worry about thieves having bump keys? Do you think you would buy a bump key proof lock? Let me know.
I’m *somewhat* of a fan of the show “It Takes a Thief” – the show itself is corny, the host obviously goading people into rev’ed up emotions – but the reason I like the show is the tips you learn. The biggest thing I’ve learned about home security? If a thief wants to get into your house, they will. The best thing to do is make it so they don’t even want to get into your house in the first place. Place motion detector lights by doors and in the corners that a burglar could use to his advantage, just PLACE a home security flag in your yard or sticker on your front door in plain sight (you don’t even have to have a home security system) and place a “beware of dog” sign on your property somewhere as well. A burglar’s first target is going to be a home that’s poorly lit and has no signs of trouble being alerted once they’re inside. Also, if there’s not a neighborhood watch program set up in your neighborhood, set one up. Get to know your neighbors VERY well so that they’d be familiar with the people who would be coming into your house and who looks like a stranger. I mean bump keys have been around forever. I remember Tover telling me about key padlock bump keys when I was a pre-teen. He and his friends would play jokes on their friends by switching the locks on their bikes with bump keys. But what’s to stop a burglar from using a $3.00 glass cutter to get into your home?
My thoughts on this are “don’t get caught up in the fear driven hype” and don’t put home security on the list of LAST things to do. Another tip is to put your valuables including blank checks and identity papers (social security cards, birth certificates, etc.) in a home safe that’s bolted to your floor somewhere. The biggest theft right now is identity theft and believe it or not it takes much less than it should to get a driver’s license. You don’t even need a picture I.D. at all, just something in your name with your current address (like a piece of mail) and either a social security card or a birth certificate. That’s it.
Huh! I never knew there was such a thing. Maybe it’s time to start using the chain on the front door again? I think I don’t worry so much about stuff like this because I have an enormous dog whose bark is enough to ward off any stranger. If it weren’t for him, I might be looking into alternative lockdown measures.
So frightening. But then again, they could always break a window even without a bump key. We’re never really safe anywhere.
They’re new to me.
Oh great, one more thing to worry about
! I didn’t know about these. Guess I need to get the security system in working order again.
Thanks for the tip.