Week 22 - Lock Bumping

Lock bumping is a new lock picking technique for opening a lock using a specially-crafted bump key. In the last two years the bumping problem has become more widespread. Lock bumping guides are all over the Internet, and you can now get bump keys on line for around $15.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Department of Justice, nearly 2/3 of all break-ins occur with no sign of forced entry. While some of these crimes may be a result of an unlocked door, most experts agree that lock bumping, picking or use of an unauthorized duplicate key are often the case.
-90+% of American doors use an old style cylinder lock which is vulnerable to bumping.
-Anyone can make some lock bumping keys in 5 minutes or less.
-There is no sign of forced entry or damage to the lock when a lock bumping key is used to break into your house. This makes the insurance companies very weary in paying for the claim. Thieves can return days later to get the stuff they were unable to carry out the first time.
-With the digital underworld abuzz about this new lock bumping threat, safety experts say it's time to protect yourself against lock bumping. (It is all over the internet and many young thugs are learning about the lucrative world of ‘bumping’.)
Did you know?
-Every 13 seconds a home is burglarized. Smaller towns are seeing an increase in crime, too, due to the growing drug problem.
-Entry is gained through a door in more than 50% of all residential burglaries.
-50% of break-ins occur during the day (when nobody is home)
-More than 85% of break-ins are committed by non-professional burglars, who are usually desperate and dangerous individuals.
-2 out of 3 residential burglaries occur through a first floor door, yet the majority of homeowners invest more in their tennis shoes than on quality locks for their doors.
-The average alarm response time is over 10 minutes after the burglary has occurred, yet many homeowners trust an alarm for their security.
-30% of assault cases and 60% of rapes occur in conjunction with a burglary/robbery, yet many homeowners claim they have nothing to protect.
-10% of the time, police don’t even respond to the call in person.

What can you do? Experts agree high-security locks are the best protection against lock bumping, and you may be able to get a discount on your home-owner's insurance policy if you install them. Many websites advertise high-security, effectively bump-proof locks. Locks made by ABLOY, Kaba, Medeco, Schlage, Kwikset[8] and other manufacturers such as BiLock[9] are advertised to be bump-proof.