How to Tell if Your Lock Has Been Tampered With

While doors and locks do go through normal wear and tear, there is nothing worse than feeling as if your lock has been tampered with. While you may not be 100 percent sure, there are a few signs to look for that can give you some insight. Take a look at the following clues that let know if your lock and door have indeed been tampered with, and if you need to call for doors and door repair.

Bumping

Bumping has been a technique used by locksmiths since the early 1900’s, but burglars have learned to use it as well. Bumping is done by filing down the teeth of a key at several places, making it into a tiny saw. They then place the bump key, as it is called, inside the lock and withdraw it in one click. If you think this has been done to your lock, look around for little traces, such as shavings from the key that were left in haste or fresh nicks in the keyhole.

Picking
Another popular method for thieves is to try and pick the lock. They will use a small tool such as a screwdriver to turn the lock and manipulate the tumblers. While it takes some time, it is actually a lot gentler than bumping. However, you can still tell if someone has picked your lock by looking for tiny scratch marks that are finer than a key.

Force
Some people might forgo the grace of picking the lock and instead go for brute force in order to break through a door. Basically they will pound on the door until the lock breaks. This is very common to doors without deadbolts. You can easily tell if someone has used force because the door will normally be broken with some pieces scattered around.