If you have sturdy doors that are fitted with good quality locks, then you probably think your home is fairly secure against burglars or intruders. Unfortunately, a recent trend for breaking through standard locks, known as lock bumping, may mean that you may as well leave your doors unlocked for all the safety and burglar deterrence they'll provide.

While increasingly common, lock bumping may be a concept that you haven't yet heard of. Here are four commonly asked questions about the subject that it's important to know the answer to.

1. What is lock bumping?

Lock bumping is the act of using a specially made bump key to bypass the key pins inside a standard cylindrical door lock. The bump key is inserted into the lock and then hit gently with a hammer or other hard object while simultaneously twisting it. This will guide the bump key through the pins in the lock and open it.

2. Will I know if my lock has been bumped?

Unlike other methods for breaking through locked doors, bumping won't cause any damage to your lock. This means a burglar can enter your home, steal your belongings and exit your home, locking the door as they leave and you won't know they've been there until you realise your jewellery or electrical goods are missing. This can be a double whammy because you might be unable to claim your stolen goods on insurance without evidence of a break in.

3. Should I be worried that my lock can be bumped?

The short answer to this is yes. Lock bumping is growing in frequency and numbers around the country and most door locks are vulnerable to the practice. Bump keys are readily available on the internet and there are thousands of online videos documenting how to use them. If you value the safety and security of your home and family, then you should be worried about your home's vulnerability in this regard.

4. What can I do to prevent it?

The only way to prevent your home from falling victim to a burglar armed with a bump key is to have anti bump locks fitted to your doors. These locks feature side trap pins or pins which resist the force of the bump key so that they can't be unlocked without the correct key. If your door locks are relatively new, your mobile locksmith can replace the barrel of your locks with a bump proof barrel instead of replacing the entire lock.