Can Minor Damage to a Door Lock Really Let Burglars Break in

usined on 22/01/2025 - 23:55
Last edited 23/01/2025 - 09:26 by 1 other user

Here’s the picture of the damaged lock

Is it possible for a burglar to gain access to a house after damaging a door lock to the extent shown in the picture? My tenant was robbed a few days ago, and I immediately asked the property manager to replace the lock with a deadlock. Today, I finally saw the damaged keylock, and the picture shows only slight dents on the doorknob. This makes me wonder if the tenant might have forgotten to lock the door.

For those with relevant experience, could this level of damage cause the lock to malfunction? I should have asked the property manager to check if the lock could still function properly at the time.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 22/01/2025 - 23:59
    +8

    Seems unlikely to affect the actual barrel, but none of us can determine that conclusively based on that one picture alone.

    • usined on 22/01/2025 - 23:59
      -1

      That's the only picture I received from the real estate agent (sigh….)

  • holdenmg on 23/01/2025 - 00:48
    +3

    Ask for a Copy of the Police Report.

    It looks like it was hit by the peen end of a Ball-peen hammer.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-peen_hammer

    • Sammy2000 on 23/01/2025 - 11:11

      So specific. Are you a police officer who has seen this before or did you do it?

      • altomic on 23/01/2025 - 11:40
        +1

        Locksmiths hate this one simple hack

  • El cheepo on 23/01/2025 - 01:33
    +4

    One can only speculate without seeing the whole lock assembly.
    Seems like a job for a locksmith to have a look at.

    But to be honest, Junkies and kids don’t carry lock pick kits - its far easier and faster to just break a window so i wouldn’t worry about a dented door knob.
    YMMV

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 23/01/2025 - 01:57
    +11

    Is that the door-knob to the front door of a house/flat? It looks more like a flimsy door-knob to a room.

    • apsilon on 23/01/2025 - 05:28
      +4

      Was going to say the same thing, looks like an interior passage lock, not an exterior entry lock. If it is they're very flimsy, smacking the handle off could allow access to the latch mechanism and even a knock like this could crack the cast mechanism stopping it from working.

    • barge-in hunter on 23/01/2025 - 09:57
      +4

      Yeah - that looks like the one I used to have on my front door. The cheapest one available at bunnings.

      A decent hit probably sheered off the internal locking mechanism from the handle. It's a flimsy piece of thin brass

      • bargaino on 23/01/2025 - 15:09

        Those cheap locks are OK as long as you also have a cheap deadlock to go with it. Depending where you live.

  • pegaxs on 23/01/2025 - 07:48
    +5

    If it is only that tiny little dent in the door knob, then no, it will have no real affect on how hard/easy it is to get into that door. It all depends on how the dent was caused and what physical action the door knob now has.

    If it was struck with a hammer in an attempt to break in, yes, I would replace it. If it is a shit quality door knob and it dented when someone tried to open it, then I would replace it with something that wasnt so cheap. Other than that, the only reason t replace it is because of aesthetics.

    • mapax on 23/01/2025 - 08:16
      +3

      You forgot to include

      Sauce Source - I’m a locksmith

      • pegaxs on 23/01/2025 - 14:00

        Only part time though and I am not there to physically test the door knob. The damage to it may have damaged something inside, but generally, if it still the same action, I would just leave it.

      • Caped Baldy on 23/01/2025 - 15:53

        Who are you and how did you get in here?

        • mapax on 23/01/2025 - 16:33

          ADAGCHS

  • 0ranges on 23/01/2025 - 07:48
    +2

    Our lock was a different style the handle bar rather then ball and we were recently broken in and everything stolen from our rental. Only thing noticeable at first was the handle was on more of a downward angle but if you held It back up it looked fine. However the actual locking mechanism inside was broken and would no longer lock with key or by twisting the button. So yeah it can look normal or slightly off and still be broken! These locks are so easy unfortunately.

    • usined on 23/01/2025 - 08:22

      Sorry to hear that your rental was broken into as well … Yes have learnt a lesson always having dead locks for our property from now on …

  • Seraphin7 on 23/01/2025 - 08:55
    +5

    A door lock with no damage can allow burglars to break in.

    Locks will really only defeat the opportunist, not someone who actually wants to break in. That particular style of lock is a classic in this respect.

  • AndyC1 on 23/01/2025 - 09:23
    +4

    The lock is not one I would trust for the main lock to secure the door as these are flimsy locks. Deadlocks are way way better.

  • godofpizza on 23/01/2025 - 09:57
    +5

    minimal standards for rentals (in Vic):
    https://motionproperty.com.au/minimum-standards-in-rental-pr….

    External entry doors must have functioning deadlocks or be fitted with locks that can be unlocked with a key from the outside but can be unlocked without one from the inside.

    there should have been one in the first place if that's the external facing door.

    • lunchbox99 on 23/01/2025 - 11:36
      +4

      This. Put a deadlock on and stop trying to be a cheapskate.

      • bargaino on 23/01/2025 - 15:11

        Even an $18 Bunnings deadlock is a lot harder to force than the one pictured.

  • Gros21 on 23/01/2025 - 10:09
    +4

    Its a cheap crap lock by the looks of it. Spend $100 put a dead bolt in.

    Bump keys or simply yanking on it may of been enough.

    Any set of locksmith tools may of been enough to get in. $10 from china

  • The Wololo Wombat on 23/01/2025 - 10:36
    +5

    Just replace the lock, so the tenants are not reminded of the attempt every time they open the door.

    I think that's pretty reasonable.

    I'd also invest in some security lights (can get some cheap ones from bunnings) and consider a dead-lock.

    In my experience, as a LLord, ask the tenants to do it themselves and then give them ~$50 for the time on top of the material cost. Way cheaper for you.

    • pharkurnell on 23/01/2025 - 11:11

      Sounds fair to me. If they are good tenants keep them happy.

  • jv on 23/01/2025 - 12:04

    Can Minor Damage to a Door Lock Really Let Burglars Break in

    Yes

  • AFOS on 23/01/2025 - 12:38

    Google "lock pick". Such lock can be opened in less than a minute without any damage to it. Saw it myself when I got locked out. Deadbolt + alarm would be the best deterrent.

  • Transient on 23/01/2025 - 13:03
    +2

    When I was living in a different apartment block years ago, all the unit doors had similar passage way entry locks. One day someone had broken into the ground floor apartments by using vise grip pliers or similar to twist the knob until the lock broke. Ground floor units were targeted presumably to make their escape quicker and in case they needed to carry away heavy items.

    In your photo, there seem to be parallel striations on the dent which could be from such pliers.

    I usually install deadlocks on entry doors. However, I believe there are rules if you live in a NSW apartment block which affect the type of deadlock that can be installed (for fire safety reasons).

    • gomertose on 23/01/2025 - 15:58

      Well spotted on the striations. There would a be a corresponding indentation and striations on the other side of knob if pliers were used.

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