Bump Keying

[Roger]

This is the real deal. I can't find my links at the moment. But Google for it and you'll find it. There is a hobby club in Germany that picks locks for fun. They have put out an information sheet on it, and somewhere out there is a great video on it. You can also buy the key blanks off of eBay.

I'll see if I can dig up the stuff I had on this. It sparked quite the discussion at work, since it basically means, once you know how to do it, you can break into a house and leave no trace.

[mr_dove]

Possession of burglary tools (or lockpicks) is not actually illegal. The statute has an element of intent, meaning that they must prove that you intended to use the tools illegally.

Just about anything can be a burglary tool if you have the intent to use it to break into a home.

A person commits possession of burglary tools if he possesses any explosive, tool, instrument, or other article adapted, designed, or commonly used for committing or facilitating the commission of an offense involving forcible entry into the premises or theft by a physical taking, and intends to use the thing possessed, or knows that some person intends to use the thing possessed, in the commission of such an offense. § 18-4-205(1), 8B C.R.S. (1986).

[Wulf202]

unless you are a licensed locksmith, you will have a hard time explaining to a cop why you have a lockpick set.

I use them at work, i've made bump keys and they are far faster than any picking usually.

I know a locksmith that can duplicate those keys, we use them at work.

If someone wants in they'll get in, however bump keying a lock leaves no trace of forced entry, and since it looks like you left your front door unlocked, the insurance company will probly not cover the theft because you did not take reasonable measures to secure your property. If someone breaks your window, they will probably cover you.