Lock bumping

[1] A bump key must correspond to the target lock in order to function correctly.

When the pins would jump inside of the cylinder, the plug would be able to slide out freely, thus enabling the locksmith to disassemble the lock quickly.

[4] The use of a bump key was not introduced until some time later and was first recognized as a potential security problem around 2002–2003 by Klaus Noch, who brought it to the attention of the German media.

[5] After further examination of the procedure, a white paper was drafted in 2005 by Barry Wels & Rop Gonggrijp of The Open Organization Of Lockpickers (TOOOL) detailing the method and its applicability.

The lock is not visibly damaged, although the force of the bump can leave an indentation on the front of the cylinder.

[3] Lock bumping is a trend in burglaries,[10][11] as the technique can make it easy and fast to break into homes without needing too much special equipment or leaving any trace of forced entry.

[citation needed] High-quality locks may be more vulnerable to bumping unless they employ specific countermeasures.

More precise manufacturing tolerances within the cylinder make bumping easier because the mechanical tolerances of the lock are smaller, which means there is less loss of force in other directions and mostly pins move more freely and smoothly.

A few sources inside the industry offer stronger top springs for conventional pinned locks.