| “BUMP KEYS”: RISK MANAGEMENT 101 Because of some recent media
hype, we’ve been getting requests for “bump-proof” locks. We take it as a
very serious responsibility to educate our customers, even when it doesn’t
necessarily serve our bottom line. If we were greedy, we would just happily
sell the most expensive locks possible to as many people as possible and
laugh all the way to the bank. But that is not the Busse way. So here’s
the scoop on “bump keys” and “bump-proof” locks.
Bumping locks is nothing new. It is really only a particular technique
of picking locks that uses a key blank for that particular type of lock in
lieu of regular pick tools. Pick tools are widely available and take a
great deal of skill and practice to use with any consistent success. The
same goes for bump keys. Bump keys are reportedly somewhat popular among
certain teens in some European countries. However, if you give it a
moment’s thought or take the time to check with your local law enforcement
agency or your insurance provider, you’ll find that lock bumping simply is
not how burglaries take place in the US. Nor are other means of lock
picking, with very few exceptions. The overwhelming majority of burglaries
take place through forced entry. Construction techniques in this country
are such that it is SO much easier to just kick the door in or break a
window! It is especially silly to invest in expensive high-security locks
(which are still only pick resistant and bump resistant) when
the entire frame can be kicked in instantly and there’s a vulnerable window
2 feet away! Many people requesting this even have all-glass doors! If you
really want to improve your security, pay a carpenter to replace your
sliding glass doors and other glass doors with solid hinged ones; have your
door frames reinforced so that the deadbolts lock into the studs rather than
just the decorative molding. Finally, secure your windows. You don’t need
to make your home impossible to get into (where there’s a will, there’s a
way). You only need to make it more trouble than it’s worth. If you feel
that you need additional security, consider a monitored alarm system.
If you still think that high-security pick-resistant locks are for you,
we have them and can provide estimates for you. Let us know the application
and we can recommend the right product. We will still explain to you that
the strike (door frame) is the other half of the lock. We will also remind
you that the lock, no matter how fancy and expensive, is only as strong as
the door and frame on which it’s installed.
So to sum it up, putting high-security locks on typical residential
construction is like wearing a helmet to bed, then not wearing one when you
ride your motorcycle! It’s just poor risk management. Keep in mind, we’ve
probably just advised against buying really expensive locks from us; we’ve
advised instead that you spend your money with someone else such as a
carpenter or an alarm company. Then you could call us to upgrade your locks
if you like. Perhaps we’re better technicians than businessmen, but at
least we sleep at night. Even though the bad guys could, theoretically, get
in...
Laura J. Busse CRL |
