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The Facts About Bump Keys Your Homeowners Insurance Needs You to Know

jnewell — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:55:58 +0000

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By: Cliff Berman
Did you know that your house key could be bought on the Internet, letting criminals of all shapes and sizes into your home anytime they wanted? No, probably not. That s the sort of thing that happens in crime novels, not real life. But the police (and your homeowners insurance) know that all today s criminals have to do is go out on the web and not only do they have access to one of the locksmith community s best secrets, they also have handy how to guides to show them how to get into your home without letting anyone know they ve even been there.

Have you ever heard of a bump key? Lock bumping is a technique that locksmiths have been using for the better part of a century to quickly disassemble a lock and allow them to either fix it or gain access to whatever it is that the lock was locking up. Unfortunately, bump keys aren t a well kept secret anymore.

Homeowners insurance providers and security providers are doing their best to educate today s homeowners on the potential dangers of bump keys. The principle is simple. In a standard pin tumbler lock, such as the type found on the doors of most homes and apartments, the lock is made up of a series of spring loaded stacks called pin stacks. When a key is slipped into the lock the pins line up along the edge, allowing the cylinder to turn and the door to open.

A bump key is a standard key that has been filed down. Criminals simply slip the bump key into the lock one notch short of full insertion, then bump the key with a hammer or other hard object. The impact causes the pins to jump, creating a small window in which the lock can be turned without damaging it. Even a criminal with little experience (and even less common sense) can enter your home without leaving any signs of breaking and entering behind.

There are things that you as a homeowner can do to protect your home against criminals using bump keys. First, recognize that well made pin tumbler locks are more vulnerable to lock bumping because the pins are designed to move smoothly, allowing the lock to open easily when a cheaper lock would jam. Electronic locks, magnetic locks and locks that use rotating discs aren t vulnerable to lock bumping, and because the bump key has to have the same blank profile as the lock it s made to open in order to work restricted or registered key profiles are safer. (As opposed to the keys you can go to WalMart and purchase for less than a dollar.)

The danger to homeowners comes in the ready availability of bump keys to today s criminals. Bump keys for many different types of locks are sold on the web for anywhere from $1 to $200, depending on the type of lock it s intended to open. There are a number of videos on YouTube that readily show criminals how to use this simple lock picking device, and even the recent features done on the process by today s news channels have opened the door to more information than the average criminal needs to get into your home.

Talk to your security company today about protecting yourself from the danger of bump keys. Everyone in your house will sleep better when you do.

Author Resource:-> Clifford F. Berman is the CEO of http://QuoteScout.com. For more information on how homeowners insurance can protect your home from theft, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Bump Keys – What They are and How to Protect Your Home (homesecuritysource.com)

Finally Some Progress in the Battle with Phoney Locksmiths

jnewell — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:47:02 +0000

Professional Safe & Lock is aware of, and is very concerned with, the ongoing mis-representation of legitimate locksmith services by certain groups of unscrupulous persons in and around many large cities in the US.

These groups have been posting a large number of phone numbers in both printed and online yellow page directories, many with incorrect addresses, these phony numbers are answered by “boiler room” style answering people who will quote a low price for emergency service, and then dispatch an unqualified person to take care of your locksmith emergency. Some after doing damage or even destroying your locking hardware will then charge you a very inflated price for this unsatisfactory service.

Finally Some Progress in the Battle with Phoney Locksmiths

Big news last week the U.S. Postal service and other law enforcement agencies raided the offices of “Dependable Lock” in Florida. “Dependable Lock” is allegedly one of the most nortorious “phoney locksmith” groups in operation, with rip off artists in several states.

Check this link for info http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/11/05/florida-based-locksmith-chain-raided-on-wednesday/.

These arrests, investgations and hopefully future convictions will not end the predatory practices of these “phoney locsmith” scammers, however it will make a huge dent in them. Now the authorities have a blueprint of how to go after them, we should see more action on this front.

Consumers still need to use due diligence when choosing a locksmith, whether for emergoecy service or any other security need. Remember when you choose a locksmith, you are giving them the authority to access your propety and valuables, you need to be sure you are dealing with a reputable, legitimate business. Do not depend on just the phone book, or internet for finding locksmith services.

Legitimate locksiths can be found at www.aloa.org as well as www.legallocksmiths.com . Once you locate a legitimate locksmith be sure their phone numbers are handy in the event of an emergency. When they arrive ask for identification, ask for references, and check them.

Locked Out: Watch This Video So You Don’t Get Taken by a Locksmith (walletpop.com)

Beware; this Locksmith Service scam is running wild!

jnewell — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:41:33 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Professional Safe & Lock is aware of, and is very concerned with, the ongoing mis-representation of legitimate locksmith services by certain groups of unscrupulous persons in and around many large cities in the US.

These groups have been posting a large number of phone numbers in both printed and online yellow page directories, many with incorrect addresses, these phony numbers are answered by “boiler room” style answering people who will quote a low price for emergency service, and then dispatch an unqualified person to take care of your locksmith emergency. Some after doing damage or even destroying your locking hardware will then charge you a very inflated price for this unsatisfactory service.

Beware; this Locksmith Service scam is running wild!

by: Jim Newell

A locksmith service scam has been running wild in major cities in the USA for a couple of years, and is now spreading to other areas. Authorities in many states are aware of the problem, however they have not had a lot of luck stamping this out.

There seem to be a few dispatch firms that are placing toll free phone numbers with multiple ads in area phone books and in on line phone books. Many of these ads have addresses that are for residences and even other businesses, but these are all not connected with the name of the locksmith in the ad. When you call the phone number the phone is being answered in a dispatch center in another city, they will quote a price covering your service need and dispatch a supposed locksmith they have contracted with.

Typically the “locksmiths” they send are poorly trained, if at all. They are usually not successful at getting you in or fixing your lock and will remove yours almost always destroying it in the process. They will then replace it with a very inferior lock and present you with a bill much higher than what you were quoted. For example you are quoted $25.00 to get you in, and present you with a bill for $600.00 or even higher.

Legitimate locksmiths have tried to get these scam artists out of business, however there do not seem to be laws on the books in most states that allow for arrest and prosecution of these individuals.

The phone book publishers are so disinterested when they receive a complaint that you might think they are complicit in the scams.

There have been a number of television sting type news stories across the country and people are slowly becoming aware, however there are new victims daily.

It is becoming much more important for the consumer to be sure they are dealing with a legitimate locksmith service before committing to service. Here are some suggested ways to verify that a locksmith business is legitimate, qualified and honest.

Check out and select a locksmith company that will provide emergency service, before you need one, load their number into your cell phone.

Check with your local Better Business Bureau for any complaints against your choice.

Check for membership in national of local locksmith associations, while not a guarantee that a business is legit, these associations do police their members. Some associations require locksmiths to work toward certification in various aspects of the craft, have an ongoing education requirement, and enforce a code of ethics.
Ask your friends, neighbors or other businesses for a recommendation.

When the locksmith arrives ask for identification and a written quote, if they can’t of will not produce them, don’t let them start working.

Check these websites www.aloa.org or www.legallocksmiths.com for a list of locksmiths, who have been checked out as being legitimate, this site is fairly new and the list will be growing, if your locksmith is not listed it does not mean they are not legitimaite, just that they may not yet be listed. This site also has links to many of the news stories that have been run across the counrty, as well as links to suggested authorities by state.

Locksmithing is a very old and honorable profession, the vast majority of locksmiths are qualified, and honest business people, and do a very good job of serving their customers. It is a shame that there are those who will take advantage of people who are in a stressful situation, if you come across one of them, call you local police.

Locked Out: Watch This Video So You Don’t Get Taken by a Locksmith (walletpop.com)

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The Facts About Bump Keys Your Homeowners Insurance Needs You to Know

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Finally Some Progress in the Battle with Phoney Locksmiths

Professional Safe & Lock is aware of, and is very concerned with, the ongoing mis-representation of legitimate locksmith services by certain groups of unscrupulous persons in and around many large cities in the US.

Finally Some Progress in the Battle with Phoney Locksmiths

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Beware; this Locksmith Service scam is running wild!

Professional Safe & Lock is aware of, and is very concerned with, the ongoing mis-representation of legitimate locksmith services by certain groups of unscrupulous persons in and around many large cities in the US.

Beware; this Locksmith Service scam is running wild!

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