I'm about to share something that scared the hell out of me.

• the locks that I rely on to protect my family and business can be opened in seconds. Without damage.
• By just about anyone - using easily found information
• You don't need special tools - or locksmith training
• All you need is a normal key, and a triangular file you can get from your local hardware shop.

What's the Problem.

There is a fundamental flaw in the design of the pin and tumbler mechanisms that are used on commonly sold latches and deadlocks. Even those rated as "high security".

This flaw makes it possible for anyone to open most most of these locks - even deadlocks - very quickly using a technique known as "bumping"

This technique does not damage the lock. All you need is a few minutes practice in a certain technique, and filed a down key.

In a bizarre twist, the more expensive locks are actually easier to open, because of their tighter tolerances, and better quality. A Dutch consumer organisation tested over 60 locks that has been approved by the police as providing High Security, and found that most of them could be bumped open. See http://www.toool.nl/consumer-reports-nl.pdf

I realise that locksmiths and criminals have always been able to open locks without keys. But this technique allows anyone to do it.

Bump Keys - I thought This MUST be a JOKE!

So I spent most of a weekend researching it - and proved to myself that key bumping really worked.

Imagine This

You arrive home (or at your business), unlock the door, and discover that everything of value is missing. Your new Home Entertainment system, Computers, Camera Equipment, etc. etc. All gone.

You are devastated. But that's nothing to what happens next.

You call the police and your insurance company, and make a claim.

The insurance company refuses to pay.

What's worse - they think you did it - because there is no sign of illegal entry, and your premises are protected by high quality locks. They might even charge you with attempted fraud.

Not a nice situation for a completely innocent, recently burgled person to find themselves in.

The above situation is becoming common in many countries because of a fundamental flaw in the design of the majority of locks we trust to protect our property.

Here in Australia some companies will pay out on a theft claim where there is no forced entry, as long as the theft has been reported to the police. Some won't. (Check your situation with your insurer.)

And even if your premises are not burgled, are you comfortable with the fact that someone can open your locks, come in and snoop around your house, and then leave without a trace?

Bump Keys make this possible.

Here's a news report from ABC7 News in San Francisco

I Visit A Locksmith - (You're REALLY not going to believe this.)

I don't know about you, but I'm not thrilled knowing that the locks protecting my family and possessions have this problem. So I went down to a locksmith to get some locks that are immune to bumping.

What I discovered really made my jaw drop!

I asked him about key bumping, and if he could recommend locks that were bump proof. He was clearly unaware of the term, and I had to explain exactly what I meant.

His scarcastic comment was that as he had only been in the industry for over 20 years, he knew nothing about it.

Anyway, he was gracious enough to humor me and made me a copy of his standard 999 key and modified it slightly as I requested.

The fact that he did this indicates that he really was unaware of the problem.

To his credit, he turned out to be very helpful and explained to me in great detail about how locks worked - and why bump keys would take lots of practice to master if what I had told him about was true.

He said that learning how to use one to open locks consistently would probably take years of training to master all the intricacies - quote "I think you'd have to be in the Tiger Woods class of locksmiths for it to work ".

He dismissed the notion of a child picking up the technique in a few minutes as probably being a media stunt that had been specially set up.

Eric Tries A Bump Key - Without Success

He let me try to open a few sample locks using the bump technique - and I was totally unsuccessful.

He had no concerns about the bump technique being a danger to anyone's security, and probably thought that I was a bit of a nutter. (and maybe I am - but not for this reason)

Eric Tries Again - With Better Results

I came home with the bump key, and re-read my information. The technique I had been using at the locksmiths was all wrong.

I practiced on the deadlock on my back door for about 5 minutes. using various ways to hit and turn the key. After about 15 tries, I got it right and the lock opened.

Another 10 tries - did it again. another 5 minutes, and I could do it pretty well every time.

I tried another lock at home - and it opened.

Eric "Breaks In" to his Sisters Deadlocked Home

I then went over to my sisters house, and she was stunned when I opened her security deadlock at the second attempt. (total time taken for both attempts: - 4 seconds)

Not every lock can be bumped. I've tried 2 others without success. But experts estimate that the technique will work on around 80% of commonly used house locks.

And given that the majoriy of house locks have an identical key profile, It would be reasonable to estimate that over 50% of houses in Australia ( and maybe other countries) could be entered with this method. Yikes!

Industry Knowledge of Key Bumping in Australia

It would appear that there is little knowledge of the bumping in the Locksmithing Industry.

The Master Locksmiths Association are aware of the technique, but don't regard it as a problem. They don't have a list of locks that are immune to bumping.

Another locksmith I contacted knew about the technique, but was unaware of the information and publicity about the technique.

I went to 4 locksmiths with my bump key and asked them to copy it. All of them did so - without asking a single question about the unusual appearance of the key.

I've also made contact with the Police and Security organisations - they don't know about this either. (And from their lack of response to my questions, it seems that they don't want to know about it)

Insurance Companies

I contacted the insurance companies I deal with (QBE and AAMI).

If they were aware of bumping, they didn't tell me. But they were very keen to receive the information that you are reading now.

They did say that if their clients were burgled without any forced entry, they would normally pay the claim.

I've been told that other companies will not pay out in the event of a burglary where there is no forced entry. Check your company's terms & conditions.

How Many People Know about Bump Keys?

Many Millions.

There are lots of Internet sites and fully documented reports about the technique readily available on the internet. I won't provide them here, but they are easy to find.

Bumping has been widely reported in Europe, and covered on several TV programs.

The US magazine Newsweek also did a story on it recently, and it's all over the social contact sites that young people use.

What To Do About Bump Keying

1. Visit your locksmith and buy bump proof lock cylinders. I understand that Abloy disk tumbler locks, and BiLock locks cannot be opened by bumping.

2. Do some research regarding the topics discussed here.

3. Visit www.toool.nl for lots more information about bump keys.

How To Make a Bump Key

I'm not going to provide any links. But information is not hard to find.

Why Publicise Bump Keys on Hub Pages?

Some people here may think I'm just contributing to the problem of burglary by posting this hub. Especially since this is the first mention of the term anywhere on hub Pages.

I disagree.

I don't believe in "Security by Obscurity" - where severe problems with the things that are supposed to protect us are covered up and kept secret.

The technique of key bumping (also known as rapping) has been known for over 50 years.

Lock manufacturers and criminals know all about it. While all of us poor suckers are still sold crappy locks that we falsely believe will protect our families and possessions.

If you don't think this is a problem for you - that's fine. Do nothing. But at least you've made a conscious decision.

If you DO think it's a problem - then take appropriate action to the extent that you see fit. Get better locks, Install an alarm, or search You Tube for ways to prevent the use of Bump Keys.