What lock bumping is
Bumping is a technique that opens low-security cylinders in seconds, without forcing the door and without leaving visible marks. That last part causes the most trouble: with no signs of force, plenty of insurers dispute the cover. An anti-bump cylinder carries counter-pins that stop it working.
Why the absence of marks matters
Most home policies cover theft involving force. When there is no sign of force at all, the insurer can argue the door was opened with a key and make the claim difficult.
It is not that bumping is more dangerous than a crowbar: it is that it leaves the policyholder in a worse position to prove what happened.
Which cylinders are exposed
The basic ones fitted as standard in most new-build developments, and practically anything that has been in place for more than fifteen years without replacement.
If you have never changed the cylinder since moving in, it is very likely one of these.
How it is prevented
By replacing the cylinder with an anti-bump one. The lock and the door do not need changing: bumping attacks the cylinder, so only that part gets swapped.
It is worth making sure it is also anti-pick and anti-snap, because those are different attacks and a cylinder can resist one without resisting the others.
And if the cylinder sticks out more than two or three millimetres past the escutcheon, adding a protective escutcheon usually buys more security than moving up a cylinder grade.
Would you rather someone looked at it?
Esto entra dentro de anti-bump locks.Call and I will tell you the cost before I set off.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my cylinder is anti-bump?
The manufacturer or the paperwork you were given should say. If it is the original from the property and has never been changed, almost certainly it is not. One look is enough to tell.
Is protecting against it expensive?
Changing the cylinder is one of the cheapest locksmith jobs there is, and it is precisely the one that buys the most security for what it costs.
Does fitting two locks help?
It helps, but if both carry basic cylinders you have only doubled the same problem. One good cylinder beats two weak ones.