A TIKTOK video has sparked fears that strangers could be walking through your front door, using their own key.
A home inspector claimed certain locks sold at major retailers might be putting thousands of homeowners at risk.
A TikToker claimed that door locks from Home Depot and Lowe’s may share key patterns (stock image)[/caption]
The video sparked fears that neighbors could unlock each other’s homes (stock image)[/caption]
The viral warning came from Scott Lubik, a self-described safety sleuth based in the US.
“If you bought your locks from Home Depot or Lowe’s, your keys to your place will open your neighbor’s door,” Lubik alleged in his trending clip.
The video has racked up more than 73,000 views on TikTok since it was posted and now has over 2,400 likes and more than 260 comments.
“There are only five different locking configurations,” he claimed.
“Meaning that every fifth set that they sell has the same exact key.”
Lubik called it a “well-kept secret,” saying he knew about it through his work flipping homes and from working in real estate.
“My key set would probably get me into your house, or anybody’s house that went to Lowe’s or Home Depot,” Lubik added.
The post left many viewers bewildered and concerned.
“Welp, thanks for telling everyone. I feel much safer now,” one commenter wrote.
“Five keys per brand is absolutely crazy,” another said.
“This is why I use a locksmith. I learned the hard way,” a user said.
“I clean houses, was shocked to realize a few weeks ago that I put in the key for the wrong person’s house and the door still opened!” another wrote.
“First thing I ever do when moving in is change all the locks,” another user added.
“Homeowners, this is good to know & not common knowledge to everyone. Thanks for sharing.”
How to Protect Your Home
Upgrade Your Locks
Choose high-security deadbolts like the Schlage B60N – affordable, tough, and hard to tamper with.
Use Restricted Keys
Ask for locks with restricted or patented keyways. These can’t be copied without proof and special authorization.
Re-key After Moving In
If your home came with locks already installed, have them re-keyed or replaced. You never know who else has a copy.
Keep a Key Log
Limit who gets a copy, and keep track. Don’t leave spares under doormats or flowerpots.
Add a Layer
Reinforce your entry with doorbell cameras, sensors, or alarms. Even the best key can’t stop a break-in alone.
“This is true, I worked in a lock warehouse, and the way we distributed them is the same,” one user warned.
But experts say the claim doesn’t hold up.
In reality, lock brands like Kwikset and Schlage have thousands of key combinations.
Kwikset’s KW1 keyway offers more than 10,000 unique options, while Schlage’s SC1 has 72,000, according to Marketplace.
“If you really want to unlock a random home, you’re better off learning how to use a pick set,” Erik Glassen of Kwikset told the New York Post.
Burglars aren’t usually walking in with a key anyway – they’re smashing windows or forcing doors open.
“Locks only keep an honest man out,” one user commented.
Still, those unsettled by the video can upgrade their protection.
Wirecutter recommends the Schlage B60N deadbolt, which costs around $30 and is designed to stand up to both silent break-ins and brute-force entry.
Even apartment dwellers in luxury buildings can find themselves at risk.
For New York City influencer Kate Bartlett, a stranger broke into her apartment while she was still at home.
She lived in a high-rise with 24-hour doormen and keycard access, but she had left the deadbolt unlocked.
“I was kind of halfway asleep,” Bartlett recalled in a TikTok video.
“Eventually, I’m just like, ‘Hello, hello?’… and I hear a man’s voice say, ‘No, this is housekeeping.’”
She said the intruder ran when she grabbed a tripod.
The building didn’t believe her at first, until another woman had a similar experience.
“I moved out,” Bartlett said. “Lock your doors, even in a luxury building.”
