How can you tell if your lock has been picked? If you come home from a long day, or if you’re locking up shop after a hard day’s work, and you notice that something seems off about your lock, your lock may have been picked. Intruders may try many different methods to try and access your home or office. The most obvious signs your lock has been tampered with are visible dents or scuff marks around the keyhole.
If you think your lock has been picked, visit A1 Lock and Safe to see how we can help you protect your home. Notably, we sell safes where you can store firearms and your most prized possessions in the event that you are robbed. Thankfully, A1 Lock and Safe specializes in changing locks, making duplicate keys, and more for your safety. If you so much as suspect that someone could break into your home or office because your locks are faulty, let our Durham locksmiths know and we will replace your keys and locks for an affordable price. Contact us today to get started!
If you believe your lock has been tampered with, remain calm and assess the situation. Find specific evidence that supports your belief. Look at locks, windows, door frames, and other entries. There are three common ways that burglars attempt getting through locks:
- With brute force: if an intruder tries to gain entry into your home with brute force, you’ll know. Your locks may be bashed in, windows may be broken, or doors may be kicked down. Some other less obvious signs might also point to an attempted break in though, including bent deadbolts or latches or warped doors or door frames. If you notice that your key is harder to turn than usual, this could mean that someone has attempted to bump or pick your lock.
- By bumping: an intruder may file down the teeth of a key into several points like a saw. This is called a “bump key.” Intruders may insert the key all the way into the compatible keyhole and withdraw it with one click. Then, they hit it abruptly with a blunt object, withdraw one click again, and repeat. Once all the lock tumblers have all caught, the intruder can then turn the key and open the door. Unfortunately for home and business owners, this method of intrusion leaves little trace. However, if you see fresh nicks around the edges of the keyhole or shiny metal edges around your lock that look like they’ve been hit recently, you may be the victim of a bumping attempt.
- By picking: this is when a person uses small tools to turn the lock, plus a pick to rake the pin tumblers. Locks may be picked with something like a flat screwdriver or a dental pick. Once the tumblers catch, the lock turns easily. This type of break in takes more time and expertise than bumping, but it’s even gentler, therefore it is more unlikely that you’d notice a picking attempt on your lock. However, sometimes picks and shims wiggle around on the inside of your lock, and when they do so, they can cut into the edges and leave marks. If you notice tiny scratch marks around the keyhole – finer than from a key – this may be a sign of an attempted picking of your lock.
Of course, there are more situations when it might be smart to change your locks. If you have any doubts at all, we think it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your home, your office building, your loved ones, and/or your prized possessions. At A1 Lock and Safe of North Carolina, we want to make you feel as safe as possible. Contact us today to get started!