A Birmingham locksmith expert has shared his top advice on why you should leave your keys in your front door at night to prevent break – ins.
According to Co – op Insurance , nearly one in three homeowners has been the victim of a home theft .
To help prevent this, a Birmingham-based locksmith has created a TikTok video with a practical demonstration of why leaving your key in your front door can actually save you from a break-in.
On social media, he’s known as Brummie Lock Picker . In a video , he held a lock in front of the camera , with the key slightly turned. He demonstrated how this helps prevent break-ins, as turning the key immobilizes the bolt inside the lock and makes it impossible to pick.
If the key is inserted straight, without turning, then it is easier for an intruder to open the lock by simply pushing the key out with another key that fits the keyhole .
” If someone wants to pick your lock, they first have to push the key out,” he explained . ” If the key is straight and someone has a matching key— it doesn’t have to be exactly the same, as long as it fits — then all they have to do is insert that key and push the first one out . “
” Watch it pop out the other side. Then you take out the key. And if you ‘ve broken the lock, you can turn the bolt.”
Once this is done, the intruder can then proceed to pick the lock and open the door.
While the expert provided helpful advice, some commenters noted that this does not guarantee protection against hacking.
” What if a thief breaks the glass and takes the key from the inside to open the door from the outside?” one user wrote .
” How many thieves actually break into a door with a lock? They’re probably more likely to be noticed than if they just break a window,” another added .
Some also noted the fire safety benefits of having the key already in the door :
” People tell me to take the key out of the door, but after surviving a gas explosion and a fire, those critical seconds saved by having the key in the lock are vital and can save lives .”