Mid-Afternoon Break-in (Long)

[Prophet]

I learned (by necessity) to pick a tumbler lock with a paper clip and screwdriver a couple of months ago. It was difficult, but once I got the concept down it was easy. Had I had a conventional lockpicking set instead of a crappy paperclip and a screwdriver, it would have taken me much less time to accomplish it.

Knowing what I learned after the incident, I find it very difficult to trust standard locks of any sort. Two of my CLOSE neighbors have had their homes burglarized in recent months. No signs of forced entry in either cases. This is why.

And it's only gonna get worse as time goes on. Get prepared, guys.

 

[Funderb]

new deadbolt. schlage or baldwin, both are good. either that or shim the door so there is lateral pressure on the deadbolt. makes it really hard to pick. If your apt complex demands spare keys then you are screwed. The best you can do is have the locks replaced by the land lord, and shim the door with rubber bumpers.

 

[countertop]

All of the "master key" theories sound good but in today's world there's not a property left that has them. The related liability has made them a thing of the past and they won't be coming back. The only "master key" left is the "construction master" used during new construction and then disabled by the new incoming management as they accept the unit.

I don't know what "world" your in, but in the DC area (and for that matter most urban areas) the master key is alive and well. Maybe not in new construction, but then most people (especially in anything approaching an urban environment) don't live in new construction apartment buildings.

 

[heron]

If you can, get a dog -- a noisy one.

I saw a '60 Minutes' or somesuch once where they had a career burglar tell how it's done. He said alarm systems don't worry him at all, locks can be picked in seconds. They finally asked, "What does work?" He didn't hesitate at all: "A dog. If I go to a door and a dog starts barking, I leave. There are lots of easier targets around."