Lock Bumping has arrived to the general population.  It's in the news and on the web.  
Let's take a look at bumping.

What is lock bumping?
It is a method used to open pin tumbler locks with minimal damage.  Locksmiths use it, as
well as picking, to open your house or business with the least amount of damage to the lock.
 It uses a key blank that is normally used to make a copy key for your lock, that is cut in a
certain way that allows the physics of motion (bumping) to be used to open the lock.

Why is it prevalent now?
Bumping has been around, my sources say, for about 70 years.  Just like so many things
plaguing us now because of the Internet, it has surfaced in the main stream.

What can be done to mitigate the problem in existing locks?
Locksmiths from around the world have been attempting to come up with ways to defeat
bumping in existing locks.  I'm sure the manufacturers have also been trying to make some
progress in the effort (they just won't talk about it until they are ready to patent something).  
The sad truth is that, at most, it can only be made a little more difficult to do.  It is not
enough of a gain to pay someone for something that may not work very well in your existing
lock.

Restricted Keys:
Bumping requires access to a key that physically "fits" in the lock.  This key is then modified
into a bump key.  Most homes and businesses use one or more of four key blanks that can
be purchased at any store that has a key machine and cuts keys.  Any one can and does
have access to these keys.  The number one way to mitigate the problem is to change to a
restricted key.

(I will have to correct my terminology on the following, but you can follow the meaning.)

Restricted keys are copyright protected for a period of time (years) that no company except
the copyright holder may produce the keys.  The manufacturer will only sell the keys to
dealers that sign contracts that prohibit the open sale of the keys and blanks except to
registered end users (you the customer).   This will not eliminate the problem, because
when the restricted keys are available in the main stream (at discount and home
improvement stores) the problem can again become prevalent.  This is the lowest cost
immediate mitigation.

High security locks:
High security locks usually provide several methods of locking a cylinder (primary and
secondary) or some very unique method as the only mechanism.  They also use restricted
keys.

Probably the most prevalent method of secondary locking is the side-bar.  The side-bar
usually uses a key with a slot or second set of teeth down the side.   The secondary
mechanism makes the bumping effort harder to accomplish, but may not eliminate it entirely.
 SCHLAGE EVEREST and  SCORPION are examples of locks in this category.  There are
many more of these.

One very unique combination of primary and secondary methods is a lock with a sidebar
that uses rotating pins controlled by a key with angled slots to allow the sidebar to operate.  
This is probably one of the best known hardest to bump locks available.  It is the MEDECO
Biaxial lock.

The new MEDECO M3 lock has three locking methods (rotating pins, sidebar and a
slide-bar).

The act of bumping a lock requires that it has bottom pins and top pins to bump.  Some
locks use other methods that do not contain top pins, such as BILOCK and ABLOY.

Then there are the electronic locks and pushbutton locks.

Cost to the consumer:
The cost of a grade two deadbolt with a high security cylinder and one key is about
$150.00-$175.00.  Most current dead bolts cannot, or should not, have a high security lock
cylinder placed in it, so the deadbolt would need to be replaced.  Keys for High Security
locks are about $10-15 each.

The grade one MEDECO deadbolt ranges from $160-$270.

Loss Prevention:
The major issue with lock bumping may be the cost of loss.  When a normal break-in occurs.
 There is a broken door, lock or window.  A police report is filed and insurance covers the
claim up to the limits of the policy in-effect.

When lock bumping or lock picking occurs, the only visible or discernible indication is that
your door is unlocked when you get home.  It's natural that you think someone left the door
unlocked.  In days or weeks you notice pieces of jewelry or a hidden coin collection missing.  
There has been no police report and no visible break-in, so the insurance MAY NOT cover
the loss.


Thoughts on the problem:
Most homes are protected with a deadbolt and knob lock on each door.  Many only have a
knob lock and no deadbolt.  Usually these are bottom of the line $10-$30 locks.  Most
people have felt secure with these not because they keep thieves out but because they are
a sign that says "This is my property, do not enter".

We have felt that the criminal element will break in a door or window no matter what we do.  
We can only do so much to protect ourselves and our property.  Locks themselves have
always been open to defeat, but it was by the friendly locksmith letting you in when you
loose your keys or lock yourself out.  Picks, bump keys and other locksmith tools were not
available to the general public.  That has changed with Internet commerce.

The knowledge to defeat locks is now available to everyone just a click or two away.  
Children 5-10 can learn to do anything an adult can do that does not require brute force.  
As an example, do you want to compete with an eight year old on a video game.  Bumping is
one of those task that they can learn from the Internet and practice on the neighbors home
while they are away at work.

The knowledge has been referred to as "Security by Obscurity".  But now the obscurity has
passed.

See more about lock bumping:
See more about Lock Bumping here.
Lock Bumping