TOPIC: Bump Keys Did Not Work On My House

Almost exactly a year ago, I posted a blog about Bump Keys.  It was very popular and I thought a useful public service.

Burglary is a sensitive thing for us this time of year.  In the early 80's we were burglarized on Christmas Eve.  Even though nobody was home, it was traumatic.

However, last night was the Christmas Chorale Concert at school.  We piled into the car, and left for the concert, all of us except my wife.  She is still in bed and unable to do that sort of thing.

Within 20 minutes of our leaving, our two-year-old dog went nuts and could not be settled.  She screamed and ran upstairs to the bedroom landing.  The dog continued to run up and down stairs, screaming fearfully the whole time, and never leaving Wanda for more than a couple of seconds.  Wanda heard tapping at the rear doors.  Someone was attempting to bump the locks.

We have two French doors on the back deck.  The lower locks can be bumped.

The Medeco locks I installed last year cannot be bumped.

Now, a couple of comments - obviously:

1.  Our house was watched.  Either the burglar(s) thought it was empty or they knew Wanda was alone.

2.  The dog's screaming did not frighten or deter them.

3.  They could see the Medeco logo on the outside of the lock set.  They probably know Medeco locks cannot be bumped, but apparently hoped they had not been set.

Well, the Medeco locks were set.  I locked them before we left.

All Wanda did was stand at the bedroom door and call the police.  Around the corner they were in our yard in less than two minutes!  She stayed on the phone with the police, as instructed, until they rang the doorbell.

Had the burglars entered the house and come to the bedroom, ours would have been the last house they would have ever tried to enter.  She was just waiting for them, if you know what I mean...

BUT, especially this time of year, don't hope or assume burglars will never come to your house!  Make it as hard for them as you can.  Call a locksmith and have locks installed that cannot be bumped.

My recommendation:   Protect your house with really good locks.  They aren't cheap, but worth it.  Who knows, just like our case, perhaps your new locks will save the life of a burglar or two...

Yup, I tested our front door as soon as I heard about bump locks last year. I bought a set online so my friends could test their houses as well.

Test what Dom?  Bumping is an acquired skill.  Almost all locks can be bumped.  Medecos are double lock sets and cannot be bumped.

Test the bump keys. You use special keys that are filed down to bump a door. I have a set that work on many doors and I was able to get into quite a few (took watching online videos quite a few times to get it down). I even have one for a masterlock for lockers (was helping test at the High School I worked at) and we were able to bump those as well. I now have a front door and screen door that can't be bumped (bump proof locks I bought at HD).

OH!  I know what bump keys are - I have used them for years.  It's just that they are out into the general illegal population now and widely used around here.  And yes, you can learn it online!  What can't you learn online...?  Good that you have the bump-proof locks.

Ahh, I misunderstood what you were saying. Yeah it's crazy that the whole thing works in the first place. I actually learned about it from a german news show a few years back, seems like they don't want people knowing here in the U.S.