Lock Bumping
What homeowners need to know about a new crime technique that officials say leaves no sign of a forced entry.
By Juan Carlos Fanjul, Reporter
May 8, 2007
Any key, a few taps, and a jiggle here. Some say that's all it takes to break into someone's home.
We are uncovering what's behind a new crime trend. It's called lock-bumping.
Security experts tell us lock bumping is the newest and most effective way to burglarize a home.
Instead of breaking in thru a window, some thieves are walking right in by compromising your door locks.
We find out if this new technique is as effective as portrayed where else on the internet.
"Most of your light duty low end locks will do that."
It's a new technique used by burglars to break-in, that most homeowners like Dana Castellano knew little about.
"it's frightening when you feel your security is being threatened in your own home," Dana says.
It's called lock-bumping and according to Chicago Police Sgt. Philip Capitelli, it's portrayed as frightingly effective.
" You can open 90 percent of the locks on the market now," Capitelli says.
Capitelli has been investigating this new crime which leaves no sign of forced entry.
"You go in you turn it, the door unlocks," Capitelli says.
Locksmith Otilio Arzola with Southport Security says, "It's pretty simple."
And has already heard of at least one case himself.
"It's just a common door, guy walked up to it, bumped it, went in, broke into some units, stole some stuff and then when he saw it on surveillance tape how he got in, he was just shocked," Arzola says.
How does it work?
A key with a special cut we won't tell you about.
Juan Carlos: "This key does not belong to this lock, right?
Arzola: "No."
But that's not a problem for lock bumping, as Otilio's shop manager Chris demonstrates just minutes after learning about the technique himself.
The only tools he needed: a bump key and the handle of a hammer.
"You get a key that fits in the lock. You put a little pressure on the key and you tap it. The key turns and unlocks your door," Chris says.
Juan Carlos: "What do you think about that as you see that?"
OtiIio: "I wouldn't want that on my house."
You may be wondering why we are doing a story about an easier way to break in to people's homes. The reason is all of this stuff is all over the internet. Hundreds of Google entries and dozens of how-to videos on You Tube. Police feel if the bad guys have access to this so should the good guys.
"It's out there and if I know about it and the criminals know about it, everybody should know about it," Capitelli says.
This guy in a ski mask certainly up to no good…
One of countless how-to video's Sgt. Capitelli has easily found on the internet.
"On the video I was researching they had a 6-year-old opening a padlock with a bumpkey," Capitelli says.
"I'm not as sure it's as easy as they portray it on the internet cause if it was I think I would have run into more," Otilio says.
There are things you can do:
Get yourself an alarm.
Pets and better lighting help too.
But perhaps the easiest thing to do is to upgrade to bump-proof locks.
Medeco and Schlage primus are the best, according to experts, although more expensive for homeowners.
"Thieves when they see a door that's well secured they know they're just gonna go to the next place," Otilio says.
Sgt. Capitelli is working with a state legislator to pass a law to make the possession of a bump key a crime, but then again criminals have to be caught with it.
He also thinks online sellers should be targeted as well, but that can be hard to do.
The bottom line: it may be hard to bump many locks, but you can be prepared by getting yourself bump proof locks.
Southport Security
773-404-2311
Copyright © 2008, WGN-TV
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