Security Compromised | 3 Signs Signifying Home Lock Tampering

11 July 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Have you ever returned home to the feeling that your home's locks have been tampered with, but you're not quite sure? You're not the only one! Reading the signs of potential home lock tampering can be difficult when you don't know what you're looking for. Luckily, this guide aims to help you identify the signs of home lock tampering. If you notice any of them, get your locksmith to upgrade your locking systems in order to prevent future break-ins.

Bent Latches Or Deadbolts

If you come home one day to notice bent latches or deadbolts on your doors, then this is a clear sign that brute force may have been used to enter your home. You may also notice paint scratches because of tampering, loosening and retightening of the lock fixture. This is a hasty and messy attempt to break into your home because criminals may try to bash in locks or break through deadbolts –– leaving behind obvious trails. Bent latches, deadbolts and scratches are fairly obvious, so you shouldn't have much trouble identifying this sign of forced break-ins. You may want to get your locksmith to install more robust locking systems after reporting the attempted break-in to your police authorities.

Fresh Incisions Around Keyhole Edges

If you notice fresh incisions around keyhole edges, this could be because of forced entry. Fresh incisions are typically caused because the burglar ends up hammering the key forcefully into the hole. To create an entryway, a burglar will file down the teeth key at different points and will insert this key into a receptive hole. The burglar then strikes this key forcefully with a blunt object and may repeat this until the key fits into all the lock tumblers. Eventually, this will lead to the door opening. This method can leave distinguishable marks, so you should report the break-in to your local authorities before getting your locks changed by a professional locksmith.

Tiny Scratches Around Keyhole

Tiny scratches are slightly less obvious than the larger fresh incisions of the previous point, but they are detectable when you look for them. These tiny scratches are much finer than the scratches that may be attained from a key, indicating that a pin may have been used to pick the lock. A burglar can use a variety of small tools to pick the lock, but it takes more expertise and time. Because of the gentleness and precision used to pick locks, tiny scratches may be invisible to the naked eye unless you explicitly look for them. If you do notice them, your best option is to get a locksmith to change your locks to prevent any burglaries in the future.

These warning signs are indicative of lock tampering. Talk to your locksmith about getting more fortified security to prevent burglaries in the future.


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