Secure Your Home the Smart Way

Burglaries can happen to anyone, but you can certainly take steps to minimize the risk. For Nashville residents, we've broken down the essentials of lock security. Read on to learn about pick-proof locks, the methods burglars use, and how you can fortify your home with the right lock.

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Intruder Entry Methods

While there are countless ways for intruders to breach your home – from open windows to simply walking in through an unlocked door – two primary techniques have grown in popularity due to their efficacy in bypassing door locks: lock picking and lock bumping.

1. Lock Picking:

   • What is it? This method involves using tools to manipulate a lock in such a way that it mimics the key's position, allowing it to turn and unlock.

   • Who uses it? Surprisingly, it’s not just burglars! Locksmiths use this technique to help residents regain access to their homes.

   • Lock Vulnerability: Any lock with a key cylinder can potentially be picked, especially common ones like mortice and Yale locks for wooden doors or euro cylinder locks for uPVC doors.

2. Lock Bumping:

   • What is it? This involves inserting a 'bump key' into a lock and using an external force to rapidly bump the key, manipulating the pins inside the lock to open it.

   • Lock Vulnerability: Mostly pin tumbler locks or euro cylinder locks, commonly found in uPVC doors, are susceptible.

Fortify Your Locks: How to Deter Intruders

No lock is 100% pick-proof unless it's keyless. However, several locks are designed to resist these techniques, making it much harder for burglars to gain entry.

1. Medeco Lock:

   • Unique in design, the key needs to be raised to a specific level and turned a particular way.

   • Highly resistant to bumping due to the myriad of angle variations needed.

   • Suitable for both wooden and uPVC doors.

2. Mul-T-Lock:

   • Features a pin-within-a-pin design, making bump key creation extremely challenging.

   • Contains a bearing that prevents the lock from separating from the door frame, a rarity among high-security locks.

   • Primarily designed for uPVC doors, providing resistance to common break-in techniques.

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