Tools That Defeat Your Locks
🚪 Tools That Defeat Your Locks — and How to Stop Them
🎯 If you’re a Targeted Individual, traditional locks aren’t enough.
Why? Because there are tools — cheap and legal to buy — that can open many doors in seconds without picking or damaging anything.
This post exposes the top tools used to silently defeat locked doors and gives you real-world countermeasures to stay one step ahead.
🔓 Common Tools Used to Bypass Doors
1. 🛠️ Shove-It Tool (Latch Slip Tool)
- Thin metal shim slides between the door and frame to push back the spring latch.
- Works on most doors with sloped latches or where the strike plate isn’t tight.
🧪 Can be made from:
- Coat hanger
- Cut soda can
- Plastic shim
- Store-bought “shove knife”
🚪 Common Targets:
- Residential doors
- Motel locks
- Office doors with cheap deadlatches
2. 🔩 Under-Door Tools
- Long rod with a hook or loop that slides under a door and pulls the handle from the inside.
- Can open lever-handle doors in under 10 seconds.
🚪 Common Targets:
- Office buildings
- Apartments with lever handles
- Airbnb-type internal doors
3. 🔐 Bump Keys / Jiggle Keys
- Specially cut keys that “bump” open traditional locks by transferring energy into the pin stack.
- Works on many pin tumbler locks (Kwikset, Schlage, etc).
⚠️ These can be bought on Amazon or eBay disguised as “lock training tools.”
4. 🪛 Credit Card / Shim Entry
- Old-school trick using a card or thin plastic to push the latch back.
- Still works on older doors, especially interior or garage access points.
5. 🧷 Latch Bypass Tools / Traveler Hooks
- Picks or flat bypass blades that attack the internal latch mechanism without picking the lock.
- Some target electric strikes or cabinet locks directly.
🚨 Countermeasures: How to Secure Your Doors Like a Fortress
✅ 1. Use Latches With Deadlatch Protection
Deadlatches are spring latches with an anti-shim pin. They stop shove tools cold — but only if the strike plate is installed correctly.
Tip: Push your door inward when closed — if it moves more than 1/8″, a shove-it tool can get in.
🛠 Fix:
- Add a door reinforcer or replace the latch with a true deadlatch mechanism (Schlage B60 or better).
- Use reinforced strike plates with 3″ screws into the studs.
✅ 2. Install Door Jamb Armor or Frame Reinforcements
Shims and pry tools rely on door flex and poor gaps. Install:
- Door armor kits (e.g., Door Devil, Door Jamb Armor)
- Latch shields to block access to the latch gap
- Security hinges with locking pins
✅ 3. Convert to a Double-Locking Deadbolt
- Add a double-cylinder deadbolt that requires a key from both sides.
- Prevents under-door tools from turning the knob.
⚠️ Only use on doors with glass panels if you don’t need fast exit in an emergency.
✅ 4. Install a Secondary Interior Lock
Use any of these as an internal barrier that can’t be reached from the outside:
- Night latch / swing bar locks (like hotels)
- Portable door barricades (e.g., DoorJammer, Nightlock)
- Drop bar systems for internal doors
✅ 5. Use a Door Gap Shield or Trim Seal
Block visibility and access to the latch using:
- Rubber weatherstripping
- Latch protectors
- Privacy seals to hide light gaps and reduce pry access
✅ 6. Install a Vibration Sensor or Door Alarm
If they try to shim or jiggle your door, you’ll know immediately.
- Use sensors like YoLink, Ring, Aqara, or even cheap eBay models.
- Pair with push notifications or sirens.
🧠 Final Advice for TIs
| Threat | Best Countermeasure |
|---|---|
| Shove-it tools | Deadlatch + tight strike plate |
| Under-door tools | Lever-guard plate + internal deadbolt |
| Bump keys | Bump-proof deadbolt (Medeco, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock) |
| Traveler hooks | Latch guard + magnetic lock overlay |
Every lock is vulnerable. Your defense is in the layers.
🔒 Combine physical armor with smart alerts and hidden cameras for complete control.