Home Security News

Bump Keys a Threat to Locks and Deadbolts

Bump keys aren't new, but new YouTube videos are providing how-to guides to the masses, showing people how to use them to get past deadbolts.  If it's been a while since you replaced the locks on your doors, maybe it's time to consider it.  You'll want something that is "bump proof."  This means getting a high security lock with a has a secondary locking mechanism as added insurance.  If you're not sure whether your current locks fall into that category, they probably don't:

"For starters, don’t get anything with a “conventional pin tumbler lock”. This is what most of us already have on our front doors, the type of lock that can typically be bumped. Not every last one, but most of them, statistically speaking."

More at "Deadbolts Not Secure From ‘Bump keys’"

Security Mailboxes That Aren't Ugly!

I've written about secure mailboxes before (the kind where the mailman can put the mail in the slot, but it takes a key to get the mail out, so nobody else can mess with your letters), and it's a pretty smart idea from a home security standpoint.  The downside is that secure mailboxes tend to be utilitarian (read: cold and ugly).  If you want something a little homier, you can get a custom mailbox that fits the style of your house.  Though it will cost you more than an off-the-shelf model, a mailbox is something that lasts for a long time (especially if you get a quality one designed and custom-built for you). 

For information, here's a blog post on where to find a locking mailbox.