The thought of someone breaking into your home and stealing your belongings is violating and unnerving. Most homeowners would do anything in their power to deter theft and get some peace of mind.
Even still, countless homeowners struggle with how to prevent burglars from picking their locks.
The best way to prevent burglars from picking your lock is to install a thumb turn guard or smart lock. This will prevent burglars from lock bumping with a bump key. You can also deter burglars if you install motion-activated security lights near your entry doors and install security cameras that are in plain view.
Burglars use bump keys to lift the plug in locks and break into your home. That’s why it’s ideal to install “unpickable locks” and smart locks so that burglars won’t be able to use bump keys.
Follow along as we explore how to prevent burglars from picking your lock and how you can beef up security.
What Is Lock Bumping?
Lock bumping is a method that burglars use to pick locks to gain entry to a home. This method had innocent origins and was used by locksmiths until the criminal world caught on. It is referred to as lock bumping because the process requires a bump key.
Burglars use bump keys to manipulate the tumblers and plug inside locks to open doors. This was quite common for decades, but many modern locks make it much more difficult for burglars.
Modern smart locks are mostly pick-proof and are among the best ways to prevent burglars from breaking in.
How Do You Stop Someone From Picking Your Locks?
You can stop someone from picking your locks with everything from smart locks to security cameras. Even simply brightening the area around your entry doors can make burglars think twice about picking your lock.
Let’s take a lock at the best ways to prevent burglars from picking your lock.
Unpickable Lock
As the name suggests, unpickable locks stop would-be burglars from picking the lock. An unpickable lock features a unique mechanism that can prevent burglars from manipulating the tumblers. They start as low as $20, but high-end unpickable locks cost up to $200 or more.
However, it’s worth noting that there is no guarantee that an unpickable lock will thwart a burglar. They are simply designed to prevent burglars from picking your lock in the traditional methods that people typically use. Nonetheless, unpickable locks are a great option and they certainly make it difficult for a burglar to pick your lock.
Smart Lock
Many homeowners agree that smart locks offer more peace of mind than standard key locks. They typically work via a keypad and don’t require a key. Smart locks only require you to use a key if something is wrong with the keypad.
The key mechanism on a smart lock is more secure and often harder to pick than a traditional lock. However, you won’t need to use your spare key in most cases because the keypads are quite reliable. Some smart locks even include a feature to lock the spare keyhole when you don’t need it.
Another bonus is that smart locks often include additional safety features. For example, brands like Schlage offer smart locks bundled with video doorbells. This can help further deter burglars. You can also pair many smart locks with a mobile app and lock or unlock your door when away.
Turn Guard
Turn guards make it quite difficult for burglars to enter your home. They will hold the thumb-turn component of your deadbolt in place to keep it from turning. This will prevent a burglar from inserting a bump key into your lock.
The only downside to turn guards is that they can be inconvenient if you frequently enter through that door with a key. However, you can avoid headaches if you simply only use the turn guard at night or when you are away from home.
Improve Your Lighting
Is it pitch black at night around some of your home’s entry doors? If so, then there is a chance that burglars will see that as a perfect opportunity to pick your lock. Burglars are more likely to attempt to break into your home if they are hidden in the dark and don’t feel exposed.
Leave a light on near each door if possible. Use motion-activated lights if you want to conserve energy. Brands like Ring offer cameras with motion-activated lights that can be particularly effective in deterring burglars.
Advertise Your Alarm
Whether you have an alarm system or not, you should place a sign in your yard or on your porch. It’s worthwhile to install an alarm system, but even if you don’t, an ADT sign can keep many potential burglars away. They may not be aesthetically pleasing, but security system signs can also tell burglars that your home isn’t worth the trouble.
While you’re at it, you can always add a “beware of dog” sign even if you don’t have dogs. Dogs are like natural security alarms in many ways and smart burglars don’t want to take the risk.
What Is The Biggest Deterrent To Burglars?
Cameras and security alarm systems are the biggest deterrents to burglars. Lock-picking only accounts for less than 2% of burglary cases, making it a less common method than it once was. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t install smart, unpickable locks. However, it means that you need to focus on securing your home all around to deter burglars.
Keep your yard well-trimmed and open so that any burglar that attempts to break into your home will be exposed. This can make them more apprehensive to try anything for fear of getting caught. It’s also smart to leave several lights and even a TV on when you aren’t at home.
This can create the illusion that someone is home, which should discourage most burglars. Many homeowners adopt dogs specifically to prevent break-ins, which is a great option if you are an animal lover.
Summing It Up
You can prevent burglars from picking your lock if you install a smart lock. “Unpickable locks” feature unique mechanisms that make lock bumping nearly impossible. That is because bump keys won’t fit in the lock.
Install a turn guard if you have a lock with a deadbolt. One of the best ways to deter burglars is to install security cameras. Motion-activated lights near entry doors can also prevent burglars from picking your lock.
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