Bumpkeys are specially cut down keys that will open almost any cylinder lock currently on the market. Sometimes they are temperamental, and other times they will open an otherwise very secure lock in a matter of seconds. Your uPVC door is probably at risk, along with your expensive Mul-T-Lock or Garrison cylinders at work. Lever locks are not affected – well, not good ones – as this attack has been known on them for over 100 years. Bumpkeys have been a better kept secret, until the internet let the cat out the bag.
There are literally hundreds of videos online about making bumpkeys, pages with tips for opening, and how to obtain blanks and even lists of which locks are easy to bump, and which aren’t. Perhaps most worryingly, there are websites selling bumpkeys to anyone who wants one. (We won’t be linking those)
How can you be more secure? Well, there are a few options. For example, about 85% of all keyways are based on the A1 blank, and just three different bumpkeys can let even an unskilled beginner walk through those doors. The best option is to change to a more secure lock. These range from a few tens of pounds, up to hundreds of pounds. However, a thief with the right bumpkey may still be able to get in by using a bumpkey for that lock. Cost is absolutely no way to tell if a bumpkey will work, and, due to the better tolerances in the more expensive locks, they are easier to bump!
A restricted or semi-restricted keyway is one only available to a certain locksmith or group of locksmiths. This cuts down the odds of a bumpkey being made commercially available to almost zero, but, again, it is no guarentee. Someone with determination could still buy the same type of lock, and use the provided keys to make a bumpkey. And they could even test it on their lock before opening yours…
Join us tomorrow for real answers!