Are you thinking of installing a mechanical “Shabbat” pushbutton lock? Think again.

Lately, we have received requests to install mechanical “Shabbat” locks on front doors. There are advantages and disadvantages and before you ask a locksmith to install one, read this article and watch the videos.

The number one reason people install these locks is convenience. No need to carry a key, relatives or service people can be let in without a key and with children coming in and out, there is no key to lose. Children are very independent in Israel and will walk to stores, schools and friends at a young age. Giving them a key can be problematic, because of the concern that a lost key might be found and used to gain silent access to your home. Some people use it on a case by case situation and ensure that the door is locked with a regular bolt lock at night or when away for long periods of time. Most of these locks let you change the combination when you want.

The mechanical locks seem like an ideal solution for parents who want to have some sort of security and not require a key. But are they really secure?

Many mechanical pushbutton locks are designed for convenience. They can be used for bathrooms in public buildings or internal rooms within an office where using a key is inconvenient or where the combination needs to change from time to time.

So what can be the problem of using them on the front door of your home?

Putting a mechanical pushbutton lock on a front door of a home is very different from installing it on a bathroom. A bathroom does not contain precious and sentimental objects that need the protection of a solid lock. The consequences of someone breaking in undetected to your home are different from a bathroom and the results are of course can be devastating.

There are tradespeople who will sell you the lock and do the installation, but before you make that decision, understand how easy it is to defeat these “locks”.

Ask your insurance company and they will likely tell you that unless your steel door is locked with a rav bariach type of lock mechanism, you do not qualify for insurance. And even if you do have a rav bariach type of lock mechanism on your door, and you choose to not use it and instead use a mechanical pushbutton lock you are likely not covered in case of theft, because there is not likely to be any evidence of a forced entry.

A locksmith or handyman might tell you that they are fine to use, but think again. If your home has ever been broken into, whether you were away, or asleep at night, you know that the feelings of vulnerability go on months afterwards and sometimes years. The damage done by thieves can take weeks to repair and the loss of precious, expensive and sentimental items is immeasurable.

Bypassing Mechanical Lock Without Using Tools

If you think it takes an experience safe cracker to open your door, you have to watch this video. Watch Roy Sammons defeat a mechanical pushbutton lock without any tools.

Bypassing Mechanical Lock With a Magnet

This video shows how easily some mechanical locks can be opened by using a magnet. Watch BosnianBill defeat a mechanical pushbutton lock with a magnet.

Bypassing Mechanical Lock Box

Some people think that if they use a mechanical lockbox, with a key inside, they are still protected. A thief will look for the weakest link in a security chain, and in this case, it is the lockbox. Watch the Lockpicking Lawyer quickly defeat a lockbox.

We Understand Your Need for Security

Once a mechanical lock goes on a door, even for occasional use, there is no control over when and how it is used. Someone might use it for minutes, while they run to pick up the kids at school or one afternoon to let a repairperson in. There is no way to control it. Break-ins do not always happen in the middle of the night or when you expect them. You can never tell when someone will test your home’s vulnerabilities. Make a smart decision.

Doctor-Lock does not install mechanical pushbutton locks.