Is "lock bumping" prevalent in your area?

[jmowreader]

I just learned about this newly-popular break-in technique from a newsletter on Home Depot's employee intranet.

A German guy found out, many years ago, that many cylinder locks (the lock on your house is of this variety) can be opened with a key that's had all of its pin positions filed down to their lowest settings. You put the key in the lock, turn it a little, hit it with a hammer and the lock comes open.

It would never catch on in Fayetteville--people just kick the door in here. But is it a huge problem in your area?

[Ian David]

1. So can the locks in The White House

See prior thread:

White House High-Security Locks Broken: Bumped and Picked at DefCon
Topic started by IanDB1 on Aug-05-07 11:29 PM (0 replies)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=15899


See also:

Lockpicking for Geekkids
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jul-31-07 10:04 AM (1 replies)
Last modified by moggie on Jul-31-07 10:08 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=228&topic_id=32474

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. no

but then a lot of folks around here don't lock their doors.

[napi21]

3. I never heard of that. I'm also not sure if it was being used a lot,

I'd ever find out. That doesn't sound like something anyone except the criminals would want publicized.

[Richard Steele]

4. It's not nearly as easy as it sounds. Takes skill, and practice most crooks won't invest.

And I don't think it's a big problem; I don't hear
about many burglaries where the crooks opened locked
doors without damaging them. Our burglars are generally
the door-kicking and window-prying types.

[sandnsea]

5. whose marketing card locks

My guess is that Home Depot is going to launch a security promotion to play on the fear induce by 6 years of terra terra terra. Most burglars check for unlocked doors and windows, or pilfer things left outside or in unlocked garages. That's what the tweakers do around here.

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. That scenario is highly unlikely to open a modern cylinder lock

Simply sticking an almost straight piece of metal into a cylinder lock mechanism and smacking it with a hammer is not they way to open a cylinder lock. The small pins inside are each in their own seperate cylinder. They are spring tensioned to stay deployed until moved to an exact position by a key at which time the cylinder can be turned and the bolt retracted. Without a key holding the pins in place, the cylinder will not turn.

Locksmiths actually use two tools to open a cylinder lock. One is a "rake" and the other is a tension bar. The rake pushes up the pins while at the same time the tension bar keep sthem up while turning the cylinder. Opening a modern cylinder lock for most locksmiths takes quite a few tries even after years of experience. I have known a few guys that could open a lock in less than 20 seconds though.

[DaveJ]

7. Never heard of it.

I wonder if a locksmith would use that technique, if I ever got locked out?

[LiberalFighter]

9. A couple of years ago had an experience with a locksmith

He was attempting to open the person's door with a lock pick. He tried both front and back door. I don't recall how long he attempted but we were getting cold waiting for him to pick the lock. Ended up drilling the keyhole.

I would think after 10 minutes a locksmith should be able to do the job.

[librechik]

8. there is a tutorial on YouTube (from Germany)

just so your kids can learn how to do it!

on edit--correction

there are DOZENS of tutorials on Youtube.

[Buzz Clik]

10. Doors?

:shrug:

[cobalt1999]

11. well down where I live

It's not the lock that is the issue. It's the dog and the armed owner inside the house you need to worry about. In some cases, I consider the lock as additional protection for those of us OUTSIDE the house.