Will you become a victim of lock bumping this year?

When even eleven year old children have the skills to break into your home, you should sit up and take notice. In 2005, a young girl named Jennalynn showed everyone how skilled she was a bumping open just about any lock she could find. The youngster used a technique called lock bumping to open the locks ranging from ordinary to the M3 high security lock from Medeco.

Lock bumping, also known as "key bumping" and "bump keying" involves a technique in which an ordinary key can be modified with a file so that when it is inserted into a common door lock and tapped, the internal cylinder pins will bump up and the door lock can open. Most common household locks are vulnerable to this manner of picking.

In the 1970's the process of lock bumping was started by Danish locksmiths so that they could open locks faster. The trick was exposed in 2005 when a news report by Nova was shown in Europe just how easy the method of using a bump key was.

Bumping a lock has really spread thanks in part to the Internet and the many local news programs showing how easily the method works. The reporters and online videos are helping spread a mild panic throughout our society. Everyone from businesses to stay at home moms to the elderly are concerned. And since home made bump keys are quickly and easily made with a regular key and a file, the threat is actually quite real in some areas.

The basic premise of lock bumping exploits a flaw with modern pin tumbler lock designs. It enough force is applied to the lower pins in a lock, some of it will get transferred to the upper pin deck which pushes the spring up and makes a small gap between the pins for a fraction of a second.

So, because of this, lock bumping is a serious problem. But many critics just say all you need to do is replace your existing locks with a new Medeco or Schlage type lock that has a better design. Well, young Jennalynn shows that this too is creating a false sense of security because she can open these new locks.

So what can you do to protect your home and family from being a victim of lock bumping? Easy options are installing the very best new locks you can afford. They might be hard enough to bump that they will scare away an amateur. Other options include installing motion sensitive outdoor lighting and a home security alarm. Professional thieves look for easy targets and if you do all of that, there is a good chance they will go elsewhere.