Lock Bumping History & Pickbuster

Lock bumping is a method of entry using an adapted key that is placed in a cylinder lock, pulled back 1 notch or click, then struck firmly
with a reasonably heavy object such as a small hammer or screw driver or even a purpose made hammer that can be purchased from many
sites on the internet.

Lock bumping has been around for about 70 years within the locksmithing  world. It first came over from the US and then spread into Europe. There
are some lock enthusiast clubs where bumping is a sport and members spend their evenings timing each other at lock bumping, but that is not
where it stops. If you go onto the internet and type in ‘lock bumping’, all information is available and the opportunist thief is fully equipped after a
little training. Whilst doing a survey, I discovered that throughout the world there were over 2,000,000 sites at that time on lock bumping.

It is possible to purchase bump keys from many sites as well as learning how to make the keys. Most countries have a pin tumbler lock of some
shape and these are all bumpable, for example, garage locks, bullet locks (shutters), front doors, backdoors, some padlocks, rim latches (night
latches), conservatories, and even some sheds.

It is very hard to determine if your house has been broken into via this method because of the lack of forensics. No damage, no prints and your
goods are still gone. Then of course you get the problems with the insurance companies refusing to pay out because there is no forensic evidence.

The Police Service have only recently been able to state that maybe the break-in could have been due to bumping and the door not left open.
Again the forensics problem.

We know that the Police Services in the US, Australia, Canada & Europe acknowledge this method of entry and there have been a number of TV programmes making the public aware of this potential threat. However not in the UK.

It is up to you to protect your property with the help of Pickbuster.