Have you ever felt uneasy when you arrived home and glanced at your front door? If you believe your locks have been tampered with while you were away, learn what to look for so you can respond appropriately userteamnames.
Your lock doesn’t function properly
If your key no longer turns as easily as it once did, that should raise red flags even if you don’t see any obvious signs of tampering right away. When you discover that your lock isn’t working as it usually does, check for any obvious indications of damage. In the best-case scenario, you’re just being cautious and the broken lock is the result of some other altercation.
Signs of forced entry
If you notice any indications of unusual damage, it is probable that someone attempted to break into your house using only physical force. You might observe one or more of the following if someone had attempted to kick down your door, smash in your lock, or drill through your deadbolt:
- Metal deadbolts or latches that are bent or twisted
- Distorted wood in door frames or doors
- Broken wood on the floor at the entrance
- Circles around the lock fixture
- Tiny scratch marks around keyhole
Lock-picking is a technique that you’ve probably seen in heist movies. This conventional approach to lock tampering is nondestructive and gentle. A burglar typically takes out the pin tumblers in your lock with a flat screwdriver or tiny pick until they all catch and the lock turns. These little instruments may leave marks and cut into edges as they move around inside your lock. Check around the keyhole for tiny scratches or newly polished metal marks that are finer than the scratches your key left behind. Also check if you find that turning it is harder than usual. Although they are subtle, these may indicate that an attempt has been made to pick your lock.
New shiny knicks or metal edges around the keyhole
Burglars utilize a method called bumping, which is similar to picking but may leave very faint or no signs at all. Bumping is a technique invented by locksmiths in the early 1900s that uses a regular key whose teeth have been filed to resemble saw points. This “dummy key” is carefully hammered to capture all pin tumblers after being fully inserted into a lock that is compatible. When used properly, just like picking, this technique can leave no trace. If bumping is done with excessive force, though, it may cause shiny metal edges and new nicks around the keyhole that give the impression that they were just hit.
Conclusion
Whitechapel locksmiths in your neighborhood can come to your house and examine your lock. If necessary, they will make the necessary repairs or confirm if it had been tampered with. They can also guide you on how to improve the security of your locks.
