Yes!----it is the all new “forever card." Just like Forever Stamps----once you get this card it works “forever” whether you go bankrupt or get And while it may not be worth a damn if you want to buy something---it will get you in the house when you loose your key----or your “X” locks you out. IF-----(There is always an “if” isn’t there?) If, your lockset is not installed properly, the credit card can get you in the door in a jiffy. IF-----(Yup----there is yet another “if.”) If, the door does not have a dead-bolt, or the dead-bolt has not been locked, the credit card can get you in the door in a jiffy. The picture on the right is what a normal latch bolt looks like that has a “security pin.” The security pin is that little half cylinder shaped thingy on In the “locked” position this pin should stay “inside” the edge of the door. If it enters the strike plate on the door jamb----the door can often be credit-carded to open the door. Essentially what this means is that the door is NOT ACTAULLY LOCKED if the security pin enters the strike plate. The picture to the right is of a normal strike plate. The security pin should not enter the rectangular opening made for the latch bolt. The above scenario is for “in-swinging” doors. The same condition on an “out-swinging” door (without a security latch cover) makes entry even easier----only this time one would use a pocket knife instead of a credit card. The solution is to move the strike plate toward the weather-stripping enough to prevent the pin from entering the hole----usually 1/8” or less. Because there can be lots of other variables and because this is a personal safety issue, this repair should only be done by someone that knows what they are doing. Doors that have metal interlocking types of weather-stripping are much less vulnerable to this defect. I find this condition on nearly 80% of all doors with this type of a lockset----so go check yours now----and report back here what you discover. Charles Buell
divorced----even if the bank itself goes belly up.
the latch bolt.
In this next picture to the left you can see the security pin depressed into the edge of the door. Under normal operation, the latch bolt enters the hole in the jamb but the pin stays recessed in the edge of the door. You see, if the security pin stays in the edge of the door the latch bolt should not be able to be pushed into the edge of the door when the door is locked. In the unlocked position both latch bolt and security pin easily push into the edge of the door.
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Hi Charles ,
Another good post and one that people should pay some serious attention to. Many times the entry doors have inexpensive lock handle systems that are easily penetrated. Often times I have seen them installed backwards rendering basically useless as a deterrent to entry.
Charles - As a former home builder I carried an old credit card just for opening locks. I also kept a thin putty knife for opening windows. I used to "brag" that I could remove a latched window screen without damaging it and unlock a locked window in under a minute. Traditional window and door locks are worthless as security measures.
Charles, thanks for this informative post. My doors have a 3 lock system, except the front...so I am going to check that one.
Charles,
Great post. I've used this key system for new construction when the builder's "forgot" the key location. Needless to say when my buyers bought the house we had the builder correct the problem
Great post-- Charles! Thanks so much for this information, it is so helpful.
Charles - I'm gonna have to stop reading your blog, my to do list just keep getting longer....
I still haven't checked my faucet Aerators from last week, now I need to check some locks :-) Great info, as always.
So, instead of getting bumped the door gets poked!
I have gotten into many a door with a knife, either by pushing the striker or sliding it back with the sharp point of the knife.
Great info, as always, my friend.
I'm happy to report that all my locks are fully operational as they should be.
I had them all checked when I heard you were coming to town!!!!
I passed this test. :) Of course I do have a window that's not locked and if some one were to go into my dog kennel and climb on top of the dog house, they could almost reach it. But my Great Dane would more likely than not deter this behavior. :)
William---like you say----locksets are often useless
John, there are some good locksets out there but too many are easily manipulated
Rebecca, always good to check
Diane, do you think I can patent this key?
Lizette, thanks
Amy, just trying to keep everyone busy:)
Jay, I have done inspections for several cops----and they almost always seem surprised at how easy this is:)
Craig---smart man. People always ask me how I know about this. I just tell them "from a previous incarnation":)
Tammy, good job---the Dane would probably eat the card and the card carrier:)
Charlie,
Written like a true former cat burglar I would say.
We worked well together didn't we:) Some times it is better to leave the past the past:)
I have never been able to get into a house with this method but I have lots of associates who are successful at it. Guess I'm not a burglar at heart.
Barbara, you should contact Nutsy---he is still "in the business" from what I hear on the news and saw in the paper.
Sounds like Tammy's Great Dane would LOVE to meet a cat burglar...
And Barbara, gosh, I am so proud!
Charlie, I agree with how surprised police seem at things sometimes. I inspected a house once sold by a retired DEA/FBI guy who was moving out of the country to take on some counter-terrorist job. There was a gun velcroed onto the wall above the door of every closet and the kitchen pantry. That's what I found! Who knows what was in there that I did not see! And this guy had really, really good door locks! I don't think you could have poked your way through those...
Everyone who reads this is going to check their door. They need to. This method works as quick as a key.
Have you ever heard the saying; locks are for honest people. :)
Great info, great explanation of the little pin. I remember my dad having to remove the door stop on my brother's bedroom door when he would accidentally lock himself out of his room. Same method after the stop was removed.
Jay, he would probably lick the guy to death:)
Diane---quicker sometimes (thanks for the re-blog by the way)
James, ain't that true
Reuben----at least he wasn't locking himself IN his room:)
Charlie,
I checked and te lock works fine except we never lock our doors. Small town, very friendly.
I actually ask sellers if they want their door locked when I leave. Didn't ask one couple about 5 years back, locked the door.
They hadn't seen the key for 20 years. Oops. Went in through a second story window to unlock the door.
Paul, I used to live in a place like that in Connecticut-----would not try it out here in the big city:)
Two words: dead bolt!
;-)
Two words: yes yes!
;)
I once lived in a house where my credit card came in very handy. I was young and naive and it was long before security ever seemed to be a concern for me. And, remember thinking how cool it was to discover a new way of getting in when I lost my keys. Oh, yeah I was also probably young and irresponsible at the time too.