Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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KSL Newsradio, Marc Giauque Reporting For the bad guys, it's a time of giving and receiving.
It's the time of year when most people have a lot of new items laying around, either in their homes, under holiday trees or in cars.
It's a fact not ignored by would be grinches out to steal some or all of somebody's Christmas and it may surprise you to learn of some of the tools they try to use.
Ah yes, ‘tis the season.
Jerry Silva of South Salt Lake Police Department: "These criminals know that this stuff's new, and that they can get a couple of more bucks for it, or give it to their own family, unfortunately and how bad that sounds."
Nothing like giving a "hot" gift for the holidays.
But when you turn that deadbolt closed at home, you're relatively safe, right? That depends.
Even the lock that you have on your front door is vulnerable to this technique.
There are numerous videos easily found on the web that teach people how to "bump" locks, all kinds of locks, including dead-bolts.
Filing the key takes about a half an hour.
The theory is you can cut a key in a certain way, and as long as you find the same brand of lock, you can basically bump the key, tricking the tumblers inside into turning.
Lest you think we're teaching would-be-crooks a secret, the lock-smith industry says it's something that's been out there for decades--one of many simple ways pin-tumbler locks can be manipulated. South Salt Lake police officer Jerry Silva says police often encounter burglars, with their own tools.
Jerry Silva of South Salt Lake Police Department: "We know what they're doing with those keys. We see tons of vehicle keys as well as house keys and they do try to make entry without using forcible entry."
There's at least one good reason why; the less damage, the less likely you may be to notice something's gone.
They're starting to go for your bank statements, your credit card statements, they try to find your checks, and once they get that information, they're off and running.
On the Web, anyone can find and buy bump keys, so-called snap picks, lock picking tools and instructions for opening 95 percent of locks in valley.
Locksmith Justin Pester uses his own tools rather than a bump key. But, "yeah, I've had a few people try and come in and get bump keys." His answer: "Not here."
He does admit with or without bump keys, people with the right tools, a bit of practice, and the wrong motives, can succeed.
Locksmith Justin Pester: "A lock would keep honest people honest, if somebody's gonna try and get in, there's ways to get into it, you know."
The question comes to mind: what do you do then with your locks, and if someone can get in so easy, what's your next step?
Homeowner Carrie Williams was taken aback after seeing how easily the bump keys can work. She for one says she'd consider more expensive locks on her home--locks you can buy for about 200 bucks!
