Latest News

Homes at risk with advice on internet - 27/06/2008

Thousands of Birmingham homeowners are at risk of being burgled because videos giving blow-by-blow accounts of how to defy door locks are being posted on the internet, it was claimed today.

David Bown, Director of Kings Norton-based Finesse Windows, claims the videos teach fledging criminals how to make keys that can pick the locks of one of the UK’s most common type of PVCu doors, leaving thousands vulnerable.

A Birmingham Mail investigation found more than 30 videos posted on social networking site YouTube explaining how to make so called “bump” keys to break into doors fitted with a cylinder lock.

Mr Bown said: “The ‘bumping’ method uses a skeleton key, widely available and bought cheaply over the internet, to gain access to the cylinder lock mechanism”.

He said a “bump” key can easily open a locked door without leaving a trace of damage.

“This means there’s a risk that a householder’s insurance won’t cover the break-in as there will be no evidence that the householder hadn’t simply left the door unlocked,” he added.

He said another new method targeting the same kind of door uses a device to snap off the cylinder lock. The new trends in burglary were “concerning” and beginning to rival the number of burglaries in which thieves prey on homes and sneak in when doors have been left unlocked, he added.

“What’s worrying is that this is all being fuelled by social networking sites, featuring worrying and detailed footage of these methods, which make it easy for a new generation of burglars to learn the tricks of the trade,” he said.

Russell Bridge managing director of Finesse said, advances are being made in technology in a bid to defy the burglars.

“We understand that experiencing a break-in is an unpleasant and distressing experience and we search for innovative and practical solutions that offer the latest security devices, ensuring homeowners don’t have to deal with any unwanted visitors,” he said.

“while this latest trend is concerning, householders can defend their properties from becoming easy targets by fitting cylinder guard handles and anti-bump cylinders, which added to their overall security system, put yet more deterrents in a burglar’s way.

“In time we also hope insurers will stipulate the inclusion of an anti-bump cylinder on contents insurance, in the same way as they now do with five-lever mortise deadlocks, to cover householders even further.”