by Robert Fox
The technique known as "lock bumping" has been gaining more attention in recent times, and that has presented home owners with a problem, because more and more unsavoury characters are learning about it and trying it out.
As a result, a truly 100% pick proof lock is becoming harder to find.Let's start….
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For those who have heard of the term "lock bumping", you may have heard a few rumours about how lock bumping can put your home's security at risk, since even a decent deadbolt lock from a top company can be compromised.
The video will show you exactly how it's done. Frankly, it's a bit scary how easy it is to use the bump key and defeat your home security locks.
That's why you need bump key resistant locks. Things like a deadbolt with the added security to completely prevent lock bumping.
The media has had a bit of a field day with lock bumping, portraying it as an epidemic and making your average home owner wonder if their home is actually secure.
The truth is that while lock bumping has become an overall home security issue, there are many excellent home security solutions in the form of special bump proof locks.
Here at this site, we specialize in home security solutions, and so we feel that we can't ignore this issue any longer. As you can see, lock bumping is a growing problem.
For that reason, we wanted to take a close look at locks which are designed to 100% confront and eliminate the issue of lock bumping, and so we present you with our…
Here are our top 3 bump-proof locks…
In order for a lock to be truly bump-proof, or pick resistant, it must have one of two things - no keyhole, or a locking mechanism that is designed to be specifically bump proof.
Here we have a high quality deadbolt lock that has abandoned keyed entry altogether, and that's the Schlage Touch Camelot model bump proof deadbolt, model BE375.
As some of you already know, Schlage is perhaps the leading manufacturer of deadbolt locks, with some of the most popular models on the market, including Schlage bump proof deadbolt locks like this one.
With the added convenience of an LED-downlit, fingerprint-resistant numeric touch pad, this great unbumpable deadbolt lock by Schlage is quite popular, but more importantly - it's completely 100% bump proof, so in that regard it has a clear advantage over some other locks.
So, instead of using a key, all you need to do is to enter your access code and your door gets unlocked almost instantly. The lock comes with 2 pre-programmed access codes. However, you can store up to 19 different access codes for your trusted friends and family members.
There's no such thing as a Schlage bump key for this since there's no key hole. It's truly a bump key proof deadbolt.
The lock is also very easy to install. You can install it by yourself in a matter of minutes. The best thing about the installation of this lock is the fact there is no wiring needed.
The lock comes with a battery that should last around 2 years, meaning the lock won't require any maintenance for some time.
To find out more about this amazing lock, please watch:
On to the next one…
As we said, if there's one thing an intruder needs to be able to lock bump their way into your home, it's a key and a keyhole. There can't be a deadbolt bump key because there's no keyhole here.
That's why we love this option in the Lockey USA M-210-BB mechanical bump proof deadbolt, because it is truly keyless and requires simply for you to input your personal code into the number pad, turn the knob, and you're in.
No batteries dying to worry about as with some smart keyless locks, and absolutely no key bumping possible here.
This is basically an old-school deadbolt lock, which is purely mechanical and totally secure. We find these locks to be perfect for a residence, and also quite stylish as well. They're truly bump proof deadbolt locks.
The installation of this lock is incredibly easy as the lock doesn't require wires, batteries or electricity. The lock fits most doors and is also weather resistant.
The M210 eliminates any additional drilling if you have an existing deadbolt hole in your door. If you don't already have an existing deadbolt lock, there is also a rubber trim plate included for traditional installation.
The lock also comes with a lifetime mechanical warranty, meaning you won't have to pay anything for repairs if something gets broken. Isn't that a good deal?
Lockey USA is a leading manufacturer of locks and it should be noted that fans of this great mechanical deadbolt agree this is a great buy.
Here is a cool demo video of this amazing deadbolt lock:
Moving on…
Master Lock Keyed Entry Door Lock, Nightwatch Single Cylinder Combination Deadbolt, Satin Nickel, Dsrn1015 |
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Master Lock has been around for ages, and not surprisingly locks are their specialty.
With their Nighwatch model of combination deadbolt, they've decided to take care of this issue of lock bumping protection once and for all using a revolutionary technology which uses a special pin inside the bump free lock which prevents the pins from jumping via a typical lock bump, and so the cylinder can't turn.
This particularly bump proof lock has a great reputation with its purchasers. Master Lock has designed this lock to exceed ANSI Grade 2 Standards, and yet the lock is reasonably priced. To find out more about ANSI Grade Standard and what it takes for a lock to be certified as heavy duty, you can read our article on heavy duty deadbolts.
This particular model of deadbolt lock is very easy to install, and has its patent-pending Nightwatch feature, which allows your door to be inaccessible from the outside by any key or key copy made.
So if you're inside sleeping, no one using a bump key or even a real key will be able to get in. The Nightwatch lock can be operated either by a key or a three number combination for keyless convenience.
This amazing lock is designed for heavy-duty residential application or medium duty commercial application. No matter where you decide to use it, it will provide maximum security.
The lock comes with concealed screws that enable enhanced appearance and easier installation while the the satin nickel finish provides a sleek design.
Here'a a quick video straight from Master Lock about their Nightwatch Deadbolt Combo Lock that will explain why its one of the best bump proof locks on the market:
The origins of lock bumping are not so sinister as one might expect. It's a way that locksmiths have used for years in order to unlock a door using what's called a specially made "bump key".
Bump keys were actually invented in the 1920's, but it wasn't until the early 2000's that lock bumping was deemed any type of home security threat, as popularity of this controversial technique grew due to the internet, drawing the attention of criminals worldwide.
It wasn't until lock bumping hit YouTube that people really started to freak out, when shadowy figures started offering tutorials for how to do this. Just go to YouTube and type in "lock bumping tutorial" and prepare yourself for a little surprise.
So what is all this fuss about? Well, the problem posed by lock bumping is that a door with a locked deadbolt can be unlocked with a bump key without any signs of force being evident on the door. In other words, no signs of forced entry.
Another big thing with lock bumping is that supposedly anyone, including children, can learn this little workaround.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with people learning workarounds for their locks in case of emergencies, but the problem is that in the wrong hands, lock bumping can pose a threat.
This is partly why people who own deadbolts are not exactly thrilled to hear this whole "lock bumping" thing is gaining traction.
Let's talk briefly now about how deadbolts work, and how they came about in the first place.
By understanding the basic mechanics of a deadbolt and some background info about them, we feel we can better explain how to solve this issue of lock bumping, so please bare with us.
For many decades, deadbolts have been our home's best defence against intruders, as they have provided us with a super-strong locking bolt that intruders can't get past without the correct key to rotate the locking cylinder to the open position, thus preventing all manner of unwanted guests from gaining access to our homes.
Basically, no key means no entry. Brute force attacks on doors don't work against deadbolts.
Deadbolt locks themselves have been around since 1918, when a patent was filed with the United States Patent Office by one Samuel Segal, who described in detail his new invention for what he referred to as a "compound dead-bolt mechanism".
Segal, a former private detective, based his Segal Lock and Hardware Company out of Manhattan, New York, where it became known as the first "Burglar Proof Lock Company".
The company is still around today, and you can view their website by clicking here.
Somewhere along the line, locksmiths, whose job it is make locks (but also to pick them) felt there was a need to access a residence without the use of a proper key, so they invented what are called "bump keys".
It was at this point that a small loophole opened up for those who wished to abuse this tactic, and hence the "burglar proof lock" known as deadbolts were no longer strictly burglar proof.
Luckily, for many years very few people aside from locksmiths had any idea there was such a thing as a bump key and that lock bumping was even possible.
The American National Standards Institute delivers grades to certain locks and keyless entry systems based on performance standards.
The locks have to meet certain benchmarks to be certified a certain grade level. One of those standards is whether they're a pick proof deadbolt.
Grade 1 is the highest grade a door lock can achieve. These are the locks used on commercial doors because they can withstand 6 door strikes and 360 pounds of weight.
ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt bump proof locks are superior locks for commercial applications, so they're more than adequate for your home needs.
Answering the question "Are Schlage locks bump proof?" ANSI Grade 1 locks cannot be bumped. Schlage bump proof locks are locks that can't be bumped. They also provide security against a burglar wielding a sledgehammer.
Grade 2 locks are also unpickable deadbolt locks. They're suitable for light commercial applications. They're great for apartment buildings as well as residential homes, too. Grade 2 locks are pick proof locks for your outer doors.
In fact, they're more than adequate for homes. They are bump key proof locks that will protect your home and your family from intruders with a bump key.
It's important for your family to have bump proof door locks that are tamper proof. An unpickable door lock will keep your family safe from intruders. Grade 2 locks can also stop 5 strikes of 75 pounds, too.
ANSI Grade 3 locks are not the best jimmy proof deadbolt you can purchase for your family. They are not as strong, and are usually used on doors that don't need as much security. Bedroom door locks that cannot be picked are usually grade 3 bolts.
Consider Grade 3 locks for secondary doors. They're good for apartments when there's a more secure front door. They can withstand 2 strikes of 75 pounds.
Fast forward to the present day. People are getting hold of these bump keys on a regular basis, which have the ability to essentially bump or jog the pins that keep the deadbolt locked into place, allowing the locking cylinder to be turned and hence unlocking any given door that was previously thought safe and secure.
One question you might ask is: Where are these bump keys made available?
- The answer to this is simple: everywhere.
Take a quick look online and you'll see that bump keys are readily available to anyone looking for them. It's not as though they're a black market product - they are very, very common and easy to obtain (and cheap).
Herein lies the whole problem with bump keys. Since anyone can get them, anyone can use them.
The whole point of a bump key is to give you access to a locking mechanism such as a deadbolt without having to have the actual key made to unlock that particular lock.
Here is one website called bumpkey.us who sells bump keys, and so one might wonder what their reasoning behind supplying/selling them is? Well, because they say that if you're in a pickle and lose all your house keys, you might need a bump key to help you out.
Bump key makers also say it's a legitimate tool for a locksmith to have in their toolbox. Now let's just think about that logic for a moment.
If you could make yourself a bump key to essentially break into your own house, or have a locksmith come to your rescue with their bump key, could you not just as easily make an extra copy of your actual house key?
In what emergency situation would a bump key be required where a spare key could not be used? We don't have the answer to that one, which is what worries us about bump keys.
You may think that bump keys simply must have their legitimate uses. This is true, in the sense that if a locksmith needs to get into a home but has no key, they can then use a bump key to gain access. What if all legitimate keys have been lost?
The problem here, of course, is that we're not talking about locksmiths misusing bump keys, we're talking about whoever else might be using them, including criminals, to gain access to your home with minimal effort.
Another question that gets asked a lot: How destructive is using a bump key on the lock itself?
The answer to this depends on many factors, including who is doing the bumping and how adept they are at doing it properly, what the quality of the lock is, and other metallurgical factors.
In some cases, the lock will get damaged no matter what the user of a bump key does, while some people like experienced locksmiths (or burglars) can do it and not leave much evidence of their bumping activities.
Here's a link to a forum which addresses this question in even more detail, if you are interested.
Something that seems to be rather unfortunate is that lock bumping actually works better with higher grade locks, as the metal isn't as soft and so the technique can potentially work better with these types of high caliber locks.
We sincerely hope that if you had any concerns about lock bumping prior to reading this articles, we were able to help you find some solutions to suit your needs.
Thanks for reading!
Schlage BE375 CAM 619 Touch Camelot Deadbolt Electronic Keyless Entry Lock, Pack of 1, - Walmart Link
Master Lock DSO0615 Single Cylinder Deadbolt, Satin Nickel - Walmart Link
Lockey Digital M210 Mechanical Keyless Entry Bump Proof Deadbolt Door Lock Satin Nickel - Walmart Link
Mul-T-Lock Cronus High Security Grade 2 Single Cylinder Dead-Bolt w/Thumb Turn 2-3/8 or - Walmart Link
The Lock Locker Bump Proof Deadbolt Door Locker, Clear - Walmart Link
Brinks 2718-119 Double Cylinder Deadbolt Keyed on Both Sides, Satin Nickel - Walmart Link
Deadbolt Lock Set Double Cylinder : Keyed Alike : Anti Bump & Pick Security Prevents - Walmart Link
Arlo VMS5240-100NAS Ultra - 4K UHD Wire-Free Security 2 Camera System - Walmart Link
Kwikset 985 Double Cylinder Deadbolt featuring SmartKey in Satin Nickel - Walmart Link
Digital Door Lock M210 Mechanical Keyless Deadbolt, Antique Brass - Walmart Link
Medeco 11TR50319 Maxum Residential Single Cylinder Deadbolt, Satin Nickel, High Security - Walmart Link
Schlage BE365 V CAM 619 Camelot Keypad Deadbolt Electronic Keyless Entry Lock, Satin - Walmart Link
Yale B1L Lock Keypad Deadbolt in Satin Nickel - Walmart Link
Kwikset SmartCode 914 Z-Wave Deadbolt with Home Connect, Venetian Bronze - Walmart Link
Yale Assure Lock with Z-Wave - Smart Keypad Deadbolt -Works with Ring Alarm, Samsung - Walmart Link
Master Lock DSNRN1003PBOX Nightwatch Combination Deadbolt with Bump Stop Cylinder, Bright - Walmart Link
Samsung SHS-2920 EX Smart Door Lock + 6 RF KeyTags, English Interface & Manual, - Walmart Link
Schlage BE375 CAM 619 Touch Camelot Deadbolt Electronic Keyless Entry Lock, Pack of 1, - eBay Link
Master Lock DSO0615 Single Cylinder Deadbolt, Satin Nickel - eBay Link
Lockey Digital M210 Mechanical Keyless Entry Bump Proof Deadbolt Door Lock Satin Nickel - eBay Link
Mul-T-Lock Cronus High Security Grade 2 Single Cylinder Dead-Bolt w/Thumb Turn 2-3/8 or - eBay Link
The Lock Locker Bump Proof Deadbolt Door Locker, Clear - eBay Link
Brinks 2718-119 Double Cylinder Deadbolt Keyed on Both Sides, Satin Nickel - eBay Link
Deadbolt Lock Set Double Cylinder : Keyed Alike : Anti Bump & Pick Security Prevents - eBay Link
Arlo VMS5240-100NAS Ultra - 4K UHD Wire-Free Security 2 Camera System - eBay Link
Kwikset 985 Double Cylinder Deadbolt featuring SmartKey in Satin Nickel - eBay Link
Digital Door Lock M210 Mechanical Keyless Deadbolt, Antique Brass - eBay Link
Medeco 11TR50319 Maxum Residential Single Cylinder Deadbolt, Satin Nickel, High Security - eBay Link
Schlage BE365 V CAM 619 Camelot Keypad Deadbolt Electronic Keyless Entry Lock, Satin - eBay Link
Yale B1L Lock Keypad Deadbolt in Satin Nickel - eBay Link
Kwikset SmartCode 914 Z-Wave Deadbolt with Home Connect, Venetian Bronze - eBay Link
Yale Assure Lock with Z-Wave - Smart Keypad Deadbolt -Works with Ring Alarm, Samsung - eBay Link
Master Lock DSNRN1003PBOX Nightwatch Combination Deadbolt with Bump Stop Cylinder, Bright - eBay Link
Samsung SHS-2920 EX Smart Door Lock + 6 RF KeyTags, English Interface & Manual, - eBay Link
About Robert Fox
Rob Fox is a former hydro worker who used to teach self defence in Miami for 10 years. He's currently enjoying his retirement, playing cribbage and golf with his buddies, locksmithing and home security in his spare time. Rob is an avid reader, and has even written a few books on the subject of self defence.
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