Installing locks is perhaps the most common way to secure a door and ensure safety of people and other valuables inside a property. The moment you hear the lock’s click sound, you breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that no one will be able to trespass into the property. But that is not the case anymore because locks can be dismantled easily. Most thieves and burglars are way experienced in breaking or picking locks and gaining access inside a property.
The two most common and assured methods are lock snapping and bumping. With the advancements in locking technology, these people also know that gaining access inside any property won’t be a walk in the park. So, they resort to newer methods where they disable the inner locking mechanism. As a result, gaining access inside becomes easier and hassle-free. If you want to protect your valuables and ensure maximum safety of your loved ones, you should know more about lock snapping and bumping. That being said, we have described both these events in this below section, along with explaining the preventive steps to take.
What is lock snapping and bumping?
Lock snapping and bumping are two major ways in which a person can break your door and gain entry to the inside. In snapping of a lock, the inside cylinder maintaining the lock pressure on the spring is snapped into half. This immediately disengages the locking mechanism. Also, the outer part is removed, exposing the lock gears that can be manipulated further to open the doors without any key. It is impossible to maintain security with a snapped lock because the pressure on the lock spring cannot be generated further as per expectations.
On the contrary to this, lock bumping is a lock picking technique where a person uses a 999 or bump key to open the door. Once it is inserted into the lock, a small blow is given using a mallet or hammer. This immediately aligns the pin with the locking mechanism, allowing the person to open the lock through a small twisting of a key. Ideally bump or 999 keys are used in locksmith work when they have to open a lock whose key is lost. However, these can be used with malicious intent also.
How to prevent lock snapping?
The lock snapping technique is a guaranteed way of breaking the security and gaining access inside. Since it’s hard to prevent the event from occurring, you can take some cautions from beforehand. Following are some of the ways through which you can prevent the lock from being snapped and ensure maximum security in all senses.
- First, you should hire a trained and professional locksmith who is well aware of how snapping of locks works. This way they can guide you to secure your property through a workaround and ensure all the valuables are kept safe from any harm.
- Also, you should get an anti-snapping lock for the door. These are special locks whose cylinder cannot be snapped into two pieces, regardless of how much force is being applied. While the initial cost is a bit high, the investment is worthy of every penny because you won’t have to replace the lock every now and then.
- Instead of using a manual lock to protect the entrance door or any other area, you can install an automatic or smart lock. These do contain an anti-snapping lock, which is why breaking the locking cylinder will be next to impossible for any intruder. Furthermore, if someone meddles with the lock by any means, you will get a notification, thereby giving you enough time to ask for help.
What ways can ensure safety against lock bumping?
Bumping of locks is a serious issue that needs to be addressed at the earliest. Without it, you won’t be able to guarantee maximum security. So, here are some of the ways in which you can prevent intruders from bumping the lock and gaining access to the insides.
- There are numerous anti-bumping locks available on the market. Ideally, a lock rated as UL 437 is a bump-proof lock as it won’t have the pin tumbler mechanism. Instead, you will find a ball bearing extension that immediately jams into the door frame, preventing anyone from opening the door without the actual key.
- Another great way to prevent others from bumping the lock without spending too much money is through lock guards. For instance, you can install the deadbolt which will prevent anyone from picking the door lock and gaining entrance. However, you should remember that once the deadbolt is locked, it cannot be opened from the outside.
- Many advanced lock systems do not use the pin locking mechanism anymore. For instance, a keypad lock completely relies on an electronic circuit, which is why it offers a higher degree of protection.
Connect with our professionals at VIP Locksmith to eliminate the fear of snapping and bumping of locks
At VIP Locksmith, our professionals use the best lock snapping tool to detect if the cylinder inside can be snapped or not before proceeding with the installation. Furthermore, we always recommend our clients to use the anti-snap or bump-free locks at their properties for assuring maximum safety and security.