We spend a lot of time talking about how to protect your home against break-ins by upgrading your locks. But have you ever wondered how criminals actually get through low-quality locks in the first place? You might be surprised, because there are a few different methods they use. If you know what these are, then not only can you understand what standards your locks need to meet, but how to spot the signs if someone has tried to break into your home. Today, we’re going to look at the 3 most common techniques intruders will use to open your lock and gain entry to your home.
Lockpicking
The first and most well-known technique is to pick the lock – which involves altering the lock components and making the mechanism think that a key has been inserted. This is done by inserting a special tool (a lockpick) into the keyhole, and moving it around to adjust the pins inside the locks cylinder until they line up. Then the intruder can use the pick to turn the cylinder and open the lock.
Of course, some locks are easier to pick than others, and this is usually determined by the number of pins inside the lock. The more pins there are, the more components the thief has to adjust and hold in place to unlock the lock. There is also the matter of getting the angle right. Each lock and its pins will have a slightly different angle thanks to the side locking pins – the more side locking pins, the harder it is to pick. So if you want to protect against lockpicking, you need to choose a lock with lots of side locking pins.
If you take a very close look at your lock and notice fine scratches and shining metal bits, then it’s a sign someone could have tried to pick your lock.
Bumping
Bumping is another fine art of lock breaking, and it can take a burglar some time to perfect it. Essentially, they first need to file down a key’s teeth to create multiple sharp points. They then put the key into the keyhole and pull it out in one click. The burglar then strikes the key with a blunt object (usually a small hammer) and pulls it out, one cylinder at a time. This gradually bounces all of the pins inside the cylinder into a straight line so that they can turn the key and unlock it.
If an experienced burglar is doing this, then it won’t leave too much of a visible sign. But inexperienced thieves will often leave markings. Scratches around the lock from pounding the key too hard, or bright metal edges on the handle plate and lock from the impact when they hit the key.
If this kind of technique worries you, then you can retrofit your locks with unique key profiles, blocking pins that identify illegitimate keys and anti-bump cylinder pins to prevent lock bumping.
Brute Force
Of course, they could also go the simple route and use brute force. This is definitely the clumsier method of entry and is more likely to gain attention, so it isn’t as popular. There are a few different ways an intruder can use physical force to enter your home:
Pounding: Literally pounding on and in the lock with blunt and sharp objects until it opens.
Drilling: This is by far the most common method of brute force lock picking, especially since the invention of cordless drills. And that’s really all you need – a drill applied to the right part of the lock will crack it right open.
Snapping: The thief uses improvised tools to snap the lock, exposing the mechanism and allowing them to unlock it with a screwdriver.
Kicking: What it says on the tin – they kick your door until it cracks and opens. Much harder than it looks in the movies.
Forceful entry is fairly obvious, and leaves glaring signs that your lock has been compromised. Sometimes it’s a cracked and broken door handle, other times it’s paint marks around the lock fixture where the burglar loosened and retightened the lock out of place. Deadbolts or latches might be bent or warped, and the doorframe might even be out of place.
You can do some things to protect against brute force attacks, like installing locks with toughened materials like hardened steel – which is much harder to drill through. You can also install ‘anti-snap’ locks to prevent snapping. If that all sounds a bit confusing, then it’s time to call a locksmith. We can help you upgrade your locks for extra security, or replace them after an attempted break-in. Just get in touch with the team at My Locks Locksmiths to find out more.