In Illinois legislation has been pass making it a felony to posses a lock bumping key for lock bumping. A billed, sponsored by State Representative Michael McAuliffe, R-20th, was recently signed into law. "I originally sponsored the bill a few years ago after speaking to a police officer in my district who wasconcerned about a new burglary technique called lock bumping. After learning more about bump keys, I decided that it was equally as dangerous as other tools used to break into homes, vehicles and other private property," McAuliffe said. House Bill 2859 makes it a Class 4 felony to possess a bump key used for lock bumping and breaching a home's security system. A Class 4 felony carries one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The lock bumping key is used to open various kinds of locks including a pin tumbler lock. According to the National Crime Prevention Council nearly two thirds of all break-ins occur with no sign of forced entry. Current law states that a person commits the offense of possession of burglary tools when he possesses any lock bumping keys, tool, instrument, device or any explosive that could be used to break into a home, building, vehicle, etc. The person must also demonstrate the intent to commit a felony or theft.
