Seguritec, sistemas de cierre

The bumping method, a double-edged sword

Used for many years by professional locksmiths to open pin tumbler locks in emergency or key loss situations, nowadays the bumping method or technique is quite a habitual practice in home invasion and shop robberies. The Bumping method is an easy technique to learn, freely available to anybody in hundreds of web pages where it is explained in detail. Moreover, it is relatively easy to apply, in order to do so only two things are needed: a properly modified key and any object to hit with, such as a simple screwdriver. It is estimated that more than 90 % of all locks available on the market nowadays are vulnerable to bumping. So, the threat is real and this is the moment to analyze the problem and find out right solutions to it.

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The use of the bumping method for opening a pin tumbler lock is hardly new, but nowadays we are seeing its relevance grow, unfortunately in its most dangerous version. Eastern Europe organized crime groups have given a new life to this technique expanding it and their criminal activities throughout the continent. But, what exactly is the Bumping method?

Bumping: a dangerous technique due to its simplicity

Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock in a clean way and without breaking it through tapping its pins with specially modified keys called bump keys. By tapping a bump key end with any available tool such as a hammer or just the head of a screwdriver, the key or bottom pins are separated from the driver or top pins then, just in a split second, the plug can turn and the lock is open.

Bumping: a double threat, robbery without signs

When bumping technique is used to break into your house there are no signs of forced entry or damage to the cylinder. As for the signals in pins, only a microscope can make them visible, so one of the biggest problems is that there is no sign of forced entry. The reason for this is quite logical: inserting a bumping key is not very different from inserting a normal key. Apart from minimum scratches or dents caused by tapping, no other signs are to be found when this bumping technique is correctly applied.

This makes the insurance companies very weary in paying for the claim and in some European Countries they are refusing the payment due to lack of signs of forced entry or damage to the cylinder. It is also true that in many cases, the insurance policy coverage - where safety measures are listed - states that not having a safe lock is an excluded risk and therefore does not cover the home robbery.

Soluciones antibumping

Fortunately, as every problem has its own solution, bumping also has its. As manufacturers of security systems and devises with the maximum range of coverage, and being aware that bumping is a high-risk robbery technique, all our cylinders are protected against this attack. It is worth mentioning that not all so called high security locks have bumping protection security features such as bump proof cylinders.

At Seguritec, we offer a full range of guaranteed systems against this kind of manipulation, safe keys by Kaba quattroS, Kaba experT, Kaba elolegic and electronic security systems. Please, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be glad to assist you in anyway possible.