The Bump Key Menace

A large percentage of residential locks are susceptible to a technique known as "lock bumping." This is a trick that can quickly and easily unlock residential door locks. The mysterious disappearances of belongings from peoples’ homes is sometimes explained by this, since lock bumping gets a thief inside a home with no sign of a forced entry.

How it's Done

Lock bumping is done using a specially cut key called a “bump key”.

The technique of using bump keys to open pin-and-tumbler locks that have been in use for over 80 years, the criminal use of bump keys has become popular within the past two or three years.

Clicking the video on this page can show you how easily this trick can be accomplished.

Unfortunately, entire sets of bump keys that fit the majorioty of residences can be easily purchased from online sources, many of whom are willing to sell to people who are not locksmiths. Even how-to videos are becoming readily available.