Craftsman Club card to the rescue!

[atgcpaul]

Last week a single coworker asked me what the worst part of being newly
single was. My wife is visiting family out of the country for 3 weeks so I told
him forgetting my house keys.

So today I was in a rush and grabbed the wrong car keys, and sure enough
I locked myself out! Since it's been hot, the AC is on and all the windows are
shut AND locked so there was no way for me to break in. I was about to
suck it up and call a locksmith.

But then back to the conversation a week ago, another coworker had done
the same thing after going out. Her friend took out a credit card and popped
the door open--no dead bolt. I figured this can't be that easy so I rummage
through my wallet for my most UNUSED card and out comes the Craftsman
Club card. I push the door in a little, slide the card between the door and
the jamb and slide it down towards the lock. Less than 5 seconds and pop,
I'm in!

I was really amazed at how easy this was to do. This door does have a
deadbolt but I think of all the times I leave the house and only shut the door
but not the deadbolt. Yikes! Other than securing the deadbolt everytime,
what else can I do to prevent this from happening? Is the lock bad? Now I
need to go test my other doors.

Paul

[tpd586]

Something to check

You may have a interior lockset on a exterior door. Check to see if there is a half moon pin alongside the plunger of the lock set. If there is push it in with your thumb leaving the plunger extended, while holding the pin in try to push the plunger in. If it is working properly it should not push in. If it is working, then check to make sure that it is making contact with the plate on the door frame, and there is not to much play side to side between the door and the frame.
I spent thirty years as a cop and spent a lot of time helping people figure out how to keep the bad guys out of their houses.

[thrytis]

Yikes! That is scary. I just tested two of my doors that i rarely have the deadbolt set on, and i could open both with a credit card! One pushed in with the pin extended, and the second one could be closed such that the pin would be out when the door was closed.

Thanks for posting this Paul and thanks tpd586 for the list of what to check!

[atgcpaul]

Well, I'm glad I asked because there's a spot for the half-moon pin but no
half moon pin there. I guess it's broken. Time to get that fixed.

[cork58]

Mine

We have a little horse ranch here and I always have a spare key in the barn in a hidden place I made just for the key. We also have a securtiy company that will deploy personal if an alarm goes off. When they get here usually the Alaska State Troopers are waiting for them. Then I show up and reset the alarm. Never had a real problem since the siren is loud enought to be heard for 1/4 mile away.

If you hide a key it will not be close to the house, make it hard to get to. That will keep you honest, at least it has me since I don't want to have to go to all the work to get that darn spare key.

Just my thoughts

[Hellrazor]

A properly working exterior door should not fall to the CC trick. That is the whole reason the security pin is on the latch.

[kirkroy]

Don't google "bump key"...

[atgcpaul]

Yeah, I know about the "bump keys".

I do have a security system for the house but as far as I know, noone has
come up with an OnStar system for a house. My plan was to keep a spare
in the detached garage and use a keyless entry pad into the garage.
However, I can't find a compatible keypad for my openers.

Oh well, plan 2 is to have some hard to find hidden location like cork58
suggested.

Time to get on that. Probably after I fix this door lock and before I lock
myself out of the house again.

[just started]

Just get a biometric lock for the front door, then no key worries.

[jhart]

LOML has locked herself out a few times and so I finally had another key made and placed it in a spot in the garage. Youngest son is now back home and other day we were discussing where it was and wife admits it is no longer there as she used it, lost it and hasn't replaced it. She will after she locks herself out again.

[atgcpaul]

LOML has locked herself out a few times and so I finally had another key made and placed it in a spot in the garage. Youngest son is now back home and other day we were discussing where it was and wife admits it is no longer there as she used it, lost it and hasn't replaced it. She will after she locks herself out again.

Maybe next time you can etch your address on it so whoever finds it can
return it to you.

[goslin23]

At least you got some use out of your CC card.

[newbie2wood]

http://www.kwikset.com/Products/SmartScan/Default.aspx

A little pricey but a small price for convenience and peace of mind. Besides it a one time expense.
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