Lock Bumping

The bump key and high security locks. The most popular high security kocks that are bump key resistant are Schlage Primus and Medeco. The Schlage Primus is one of the Schlage lock company’s newest high security lock system to help combat the bump key. Locks manufactured by Medeco Security Locks, Inc. are pehaps the most popular high security locks in America to help fight lock bumping and the use of a bump key.

Bump Key vs House Key

Lock Bumping.org

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

In Illinois legislation has been pass making it a felony to posses a bump key for lock bumping. A billed, sponsored by State Representative Michael McAuliffe, R-20th, was recently signed into law. “I originally sponsored the bill a few years ago after speaking to a police officer in my district who was concerned about a new burglary technique called lock bumping. After learning more about bump keys, I decided that it was equally as dangerous as other tools used to break into homes, vehicles and other private property,” McAuliffe said. House Bill 2859 makes it a Class 4 felony to possess a bump key used for lock bumping. A Class 4 felony carries one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The lock bumping device uses a bump key to open various kinds of locks including a pin tumbler lock. According to the National Crime Prevention Council nearly two thirds of all break-ins occur with no sign of forced entry. Current law states that a person commits the offense of possession of burglary tools when he possesses any bump key, tool, instrument, device or any explosive that could be used to break into a home, building, vehicle, etc. The person must also demonstrate the intent to commit a felony or theft.

In order for a High Security lock to earn the UL listing High Security to fight lock bumping , a lock or cylinder must meet strict construction guidelines and a sample model must pass rigorous performance and attack tests. Some of the requirements are as follows:

• All working parts of the mechanism must be constructed of brass, bronze, stainless steel, or equivalent corrosion-resistant materials or have a protective finish complying with UL’s Salt Spray Corrosion test.
• Have at least 1000 key changes
• Operate as intended during 10,000 complete cycles of operation at a rate not exceeding 50 cycles per minute.
• The lock must not open or be compromised as a result of attack tests using hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, jaw-gripping wrenches, pliers, hand-held electic drills, saws, puller mechanisms, key impressioning tools, and picking tools.

The attack test includes 10 minutes of picking, 10 minutes of key impressioning, 5 minutes of forcing, 5 minutes of drilling, 5 minutes of sawing, 5 minutes of prying, 5 minutes of pulling and 5 minutes of driving.

Another important factor in lock bumping security is key control. The most secure locks have patented key blanks that are available only from the lock manufacturer. At the next level of key control are key blanks that can be cut only on special key machines. This type of key control greatly reduces the number of places where an unauthorized person can have a key duplicated. The least secure locks use keys that can be copied at virtually any hardware or department store. To learn more about lock bumping and high security locks you can visit this link to Amazon and purchase The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing