A Birmingham locksmith has shared some important tips on the importance of leaving your keys in the lock at night to deter burglars. According to Co-op Insurance, nearly one in three homeowners has been the victim of a burglary. To combat these crimes, this locksmith, known on TikTok as Brummie Lock Picker , posted a video showing how leaving a key in the lock can make it harder for intruders to break in.
At the beginning of the video, he holds a lock in front of the camera, the key slightly turned in the cylinder. He shows viewers that in this position, the internal mechanism is blocked and it is practically impossible to open.
However, if the key is inserted directly, without being turned, it will be easier for the thief to unlock: he will simply have to insert your key with another one that fits in the same lock.
“If someone wants to pick a lock, they first have to pop the key out,” he explains.
“When the key is straight and the thief has another key—not necessarily the same one, just one that fits the hole—they just insert it and push yours in. See how it pops out the other side? Then you pull the key out. If you pop it out, you can turn the tab and continue unlocking.”
The break-in can then be completed and the door opened. While the master’s advice is valuable, some commentators point out that it is not enough to prevent every attempted break-in.
“What if the thief breaks the window and takes the key from the inside to open it from the outside?” asks one internet user.
