Bad News: Bump keys can facilitate burglaries and break-ins

"Police are reporting five attempted burglaries in the township between Sunday and Wednesday. It is not yet determined whether the burglaries are related or not."

That's how a news story last week in my local weekly newspaper started a report on the recent rash of burglaries in the town.

Over the nine years I lived there, my town in the New Jersey suburbs has generally seen very little crime, though it's not immune to burglaries—in fact, my home was broken into in 2005, as we reported in "During the Holidays, Don't Give Crooks the Gift of Opportunity." Although that article focuses on the end-of-year holidays, its advice is applicable year-round. Also learn how to prevent home break-ins, and follow these tips to make any door more secure against break-ins.

It sure seems as if burglaries are on the rise nationwide during this recession. NBC's Today Show recently ran a "Today Investigates" segment in which consumer correspondent Janice Lieberman covers the phenomenon of bump keys and how they can facilitate home burglaries. (Lieberman didn't actually use that term because she didn't want to abet any wannabe criminals, but that's what the story was about.)

As we reported in "Unlocking the Truth Behind Bump Keys," a bump key is made by taking a key that already fits into a particular brand of lock and filing it down. The Web is filled with instructional videos on how to make a bump key (thanks, YouTube et al.).

Several manufacturers have introduced locks designed to thwart bump-key burglars, including the Kwikset SmartScan door lock and the Schlage LiNK system, which uses biometrics technology. We haven't tested these locks and don’t know how they will perform against a kick-in attack, a much more likely scenario than a burglar using a bump key.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Read our reports on door locks and entry doors. And don't get ripped off by an alarm company.

Comments

[Security Alarm Systems]

Good story. Thanks for posting.

[Erik Johsnon]

Thanks for the information. I really think that as this economy gets tougher and more people are out of work we will see more and more crime. People are having a tough time right now and some people result to theft for sure. I have surely increased the security at my home and business!