![]() ![]() This is usually what you see in TV shows where they magically break into houses in seconds. ![]() When trying to compromise a standard deadbolt, there are usually 5 different ways to do it:ġ) Picking it – Although it’s not the most common, it’s definitely the most classic way of breaking in. ![]() Throughout the article I will be using the terms ‘lock’ and ‘deadbolt’ interchangeably. For that reason, all the locks I tested for this article are deadbolts. Since a doorknob and a deadbolt from the same brand go through the same manufacturing line, it’s safe to assume that their flaws will be roughly the same as well. That’s one of the reasons why a doorknob can sometimes be unlocked with a credit card whereas a deadbolt can’t. As you probably saw, once the bolt is locked, it cannot be pushed in, whereas the latch can. Now, try to push the bolt back into the door, and then do the same to the latch of the doorknob. If you’re reading this from home I encourage you to do a simple test: If you have a door with both a deadbolt and a doorknob, open it and then lock both locks while the door is open. Due to the nature of the mechanism, a deadbolt will always be more secure than a doorknob. If you want to jump straight to the conclusion – click here.Įvery lockset usually comes in a package of 2: a deadbolt and a matching doorknob. Defiant locks are not nearly as common as the Kwikset or Schlage locks, but it seems that they’re becoming more widespread in recent years. The last (but certainly not least) on the list is the Defiant deadbolt. The third lock on the list is the standard Schlage lock which, as I already mentioned, is probably the second most common lock in the US. Naturally, Kwikset SmartKey was the second lock I tested. Even though it was released with some serious security flaws, it grew to be one of the most purchased locks on the market today for residential use. These locks allowed the owner to easily change the lock’s matching key to a new one, in case of a lost key for example, without calling a locksmith. 4 out of every 5 locks that I see on doors today is a standard Kwikset lock and therefore it was the first lock that I tested.Īround 2008 Kwikset launched a new series of locks called “Kwikset SmartKey”. Although Kwikset is a newer and smaller company than Schlage, it seems that it holds a much bigger share in the residential lock market, possibly because of a significantly cheaper price tag. Surprisingly, just a handful of locks dominate the US market and over 90 percent of all residential locks belong to one of two companies: Kwikset or Schlage. Working in different cities and states in the US for the past 6 years, I’ve seen tens of thousands of locks installed in customers’ homes. When it came to choosing which locks to test, there wasn’t too much thinking needed. I accept no liability for any consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. In this article I’m presenting my opinions only, based on the research that I’ve done. The information you’re about to read is a result of independent testing that I’ve done using my own tools. No one has paid me to write this article. Want to know how your lock performed on the tests? Keep reading.ĭISCLAIMER: I’m not affiliated with any company. Each lock was tested against 5 different attacks to check how hard it is to compromise it in a non-destructive as well as a destructive way. I’ll be covering each lock in detail, its specs, and most importantly – how secure it really is. These locks are installed on over 90% of the doors in the US and I can almost guarantee your lock is one of them. In today’s article, I break down the four most popular residential locks in America today. My name is Itay, I’m the owner of Front Range Locksmith, Co-founder of the Locksmith Academy and a professional locksmith with over 10 years of experience. In fact, in this post I’m going to show you how most house locks can be broken into fairly easily, even by an inexperienced burglar. In most cases, it doesn’t take James Bond lock-picking skills to break into a house. This alarming statistic that was recently published by the FBI is a cause for concern, as people increasingly overlook what is essentially the most important line of defense for their home – the lock on their door. By the time you finish reading this post, about 64 houses will have been broken into in the US alone. ![]()
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