Real Estate Investor · North Carolina · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 483 votes
So after hefting my tired old carcass in through a high kitchen window after my last RE purchase on the courthouse steps (keys were not included with the deed), I researched so-called Bump Keys.
After viewing a helpful little video on youtube and purchasing a cheap file, my girlfriend carved me a nifty little bump key that pops open all of my Kwikset locks almost as eaily as the original keys! And this is worrisome since all my rentals use Kwikset. And it's additionally worrisome because even though I use Schlage on my own residence my locksmith says they're easy to bump, too.
So are you other LLs concerned about this? Are you changing out your locks? What are you changing them to? Oh, and does anyone know the actual legality of possessing bump keys? I think it's kinda sort of maybe OK, if you have a good reason for having one, but I can't find a definitive answer on that.
Bump keys... one more thing to put on my worry tree.......
I read about these bump keys while I was researching locks. I'm not that concerned about it. On the one REO I looked at where they stole the AC handler from inside, the thief just busted right through the back door, they didn't bother bumping the lock.
I use bump keys to get into rentals and properties after we buy them. I have bump keys for kwikset and schlage... they're both pretty easy. i hear that the kwikset smart keys cannot be bumped, but i've never tried it.
Like everyone else said though, a criminal is still going to kick open the door or break a window, they don't care if they do damage or not.
As for the legality... i doubt most police would see the significance of it if it was on your key chain. if you are breaking in and get caught they might treat it as a locksmith tool... and the laws on those vary state to state
I don't feel threatened by the bump keys at all. There's very little to steal out of my vacant rentals anyway. If they're lucky they might get a stove or fridge. Big deal.
I don't even buy KwikSet or Shlage. I get the Defiant cheapies from Home Depot.