| Many of us use padlocks to secure our possessions, | | | | steel, bolted through the door with tamper proof |
| particularly those kept outside the home. In many | | | | bolts and large washers on the inside before the nuts. |
| cases these things may be miles from home, boats | | | | Lever Lock padlocks can be picked open by |
| at a marina, items stored at work or a club, the list | | | | someone with a knowledge of lock picking, however |
| could go on and on. We go to the trouble of | | | | the difficulty increases exponentially with increasing |
| padlocking these things because they are of value, in | | | | numbers of levers. Lever lock padlocks with five or |
| some cases great value, but how many of us know | | | | more levers can be considered secure, as they |
| if the padlocks we're using are up to the job we ask | | | | require special tools to pick them open,and often this |
| of them? In my experience as a Locksmith very few | | | | takes quite a while. Clearly as well as five or more |
| members of the general public have any idea of the | | | | levers the other criteria shown above must also be |
| strengths and weaknesses of the padlocks they | | | | satisfied. |
| purchase, merely equating larger with stronger, and | | | | Cylinder lock padlocks account for the majority of |
| purchasing a bigger lock where they feel there is a | | | | padlocks sold globally, most well known |
| greater need for security. Up until recent times this | | | | manufacturers produce a range of qualities, in order |
| strategy will have worked fairly well, but the rules | | | | for the lock to be considered secure we need to be |
| are changing. Sadly, due to irresponsible publishing on | | | | looking toward the top end of the quality spectrum. |
| inter net web sites, the criminal fraternity has been | | | | In addition to the general weaknesses described |
| able to learn how to defeat poor quality padlocks, | | | | above, cylinder lock padlocks can be susceptible to a |
| also whatever type of padlock used, it is only as | | | | number of lock picking techniques. The inter net |
| good as the item it's attached to,( ie a chain, or | | | | crime school have latched on to a couple of these |
| hasp,or deadbolt.) I have written this article to point | | | | methods, their preferred method seems to be lock |
| out common padlock weaknesses, and enable the | | | | bumping. The reason for this is that lock bumping |
| reader to select padlocks that will give the protection | | | | requires little or no skill at all. It does however require |
| required. | | | | a specially cut 'bump key' for each and every |
| Padlocks fall into 3 broad categories, those with | | | | different model of cylinder lock. |
| cylinder lock mechanisms, those with lever lock | | | | The purveyors of this information to the inter net |
| mechanisms, and those with combination lock | | | | crime school are of course only too willing to supply |
| mechanisms. Firstly some weaknesses common to all | | | | these keys -at a price. The good news is that lock |
| three types of padlock. Many poorer quality padlocks | | | | bumping does not work on high quality modern |
| can be opened without even picking the lock, this is | | | | cylinder locks, these locks usually have more than |
| known as bypassing and 'no' I am not going to | | | | one set of pins and an additional 'side bar' mechanism. |
| describe how it is done, just be aware that as | | | | Not only are these locks resistant to bumping they |
| someone who knows how, I can bypass a poor | | | | are also very difficult to pick using other methods, |
| quality padlock quicker than opening it with the | | | | and provided they meet the other criteria set out |
| key!.The 'shackle' is the part of the padlock that is | | | | above they can be considered secure. One final point |
| released when the lock is opened, it's often 'u' | | | | on cylinder locks ensure that locks contain hardened |
| shaped and is passed through the links of a chain or | | | | steel 'anti drill' balls these will prevent the lock being |
| the eye of a hasp. It is this part of the padlock that | | | | defeated by an attempt at drilling it open. |
| comes under attack from a thief who knows nothing | | | | Combination locks are in my humble opinion not really |
| of lock picking. The shackle of an inferior padlock can | | | | suited to the protection of personal possessions and |
| be sawn off or even cut off easily. | | | | private places, many of them can be 'read' fairly |
| Better quality locks have specially hardened steel | | | | easily by someone with a knowledge of locks, they |
| shackles,this steel will blunt the teeth of a saw blade, | | | | are best suited to access control situations of non |
| and will resist all but the largest of cutters. Nearly all | | | | secure locations,for example outdoor sports facilities, |
| the better quality padlocks have further protection | | | | where a range of club members can gain access, |
| for the shackle usually in the form of raised shoulders | | | | without needing a whole box full of keys. As there |
| to make access difficult. The last common weakness | | | | are no keys, someone can't loose one, and the |
| is not in the locks themselves but in the items the | | | | combination can be changed on changes of |
| locks get attached to. If chaining up a trailer or a | | | | membership. |
| boat, the chain and whatever the item is being | | | | Think about the value of whatever it is you need to |
| chained to need to be just as strong as the lock,(ie | | | | secure and weigh that against the cost of a good |
| welded link hardened steel chain thick enough to | | | | quality padlock and fittings I am sure you will see the |
| withstand attempts with cutters.) If using a hasp,say | | | | logic in upgrading to high quality padlocks. |
| for a shed or garage,this too should be of hardened | | | | |