Home Depot, Lowe’s lock claim sparks security scare
Share this @internewscast.com

A home inspector’s viral warning has homeowners rattling their doorknobs — and their nerves.

TikTok user and self-described safety expert Scott Lubik (@scottlubik) alleged that purchasing door locks from stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s could mean that “your keys might also open your neighbor’s doors.”

Say what now?

In the trending video, which has racked up over 59,000 views, Lubik dropped what he called a “well-kept secret.”

“There are only five different locking configurations, meaning that every fifth set that they sell has the same exact key,” Lubik alleged.

“This is a well-kept secret, but I’m a home inspector and a realtor, so I know this just from buying and flipping houses.”

So, if your block went on a Home Depot run the day you moved in, there’s a chance your key might be the neighborhood skeleton?

Lubik added, “My key set would probably get me into your house, or anybody’s house that went to Lowe’s or Home Depot.”

The clip sparked panic — and eye rolls.

“Welp, thanks for telling everyone. I feel much safer now,” one TikTok commenter snarked.

“Five keys per brand is absolutely crazy,” another said.

“It may get you in but it will be the last door you open,” a third warned.

However, popular lock brands such as Kwikset and Schlage, often found in major retail outlets, actually provide far more than just a handful of key options. In fact, they offer tens of thousands of variations.

The Kwikset Keyway (KW1) has more than 10,000 key combinations and the Schlage keyway (SC1) has 72,000, according to Marketplace. 

So the odds of your neighbor having a matching key? Slimmer than a paperclip.

“If your goal is to unlock random homes, you’re better off learning to use a lockpick set,” said Erik Glassen, the senior brand marketing manager for Kwikset, in an interview with the site. 

Experts say burglars aren’t usually finessing keyways anyway — they’re smashing windows or kicking down doors. 

As one commenter put it: “Locks only keep an honest man out.”

Still paranoid? 

Wirecutter recommends the Schlage B60N deadbolt — just $30 and built to stand up to both stealth and brute-force break-ins.

And while your key probably won’t open the neighbor’s place — someone else might still open yours.

Just ask New York City influencer Kate Bartlett, who shared her own terrifying experience in a viral video, warning followers to always lock — and deadbolt — their doors.

“Two years ago, a random man broke into my New York City apartment in the middle of the night while I was there,” said Bartlett, 25, who lived alone in a luxury high-rise downtown with 24-hour doormen and an electronic keycard system.

“So the doors to all of the apartments in the building were a key card system… but they also had a deadbolt for an extra layer of protection,” she said.

As The Post previously reported, Bartlett admitted she sometimes skipped the deadbolt because her then-boyfriend had a keycard — a decision she later regretted.

“One very, very random weeknight… I was kind of halfway asleep,” she recalled, when she heard the door open and assumed it was her boyfriend. But minutes later, a strange man was fumbling with her lights.

“Eventually, I’m just like, ‘Hello, hello?’… and I hear a man’s voice say, ‘No, this is housekeeping,’” she recounted.

Her “heart sunk,” she said, before grabbing a tripod for protection. The intruder bolted — and building staff initially didn’t believe her.

“The same thing happens to another girl in the same building,” she said. “Everybody finally believes me now.”

Although police eventually caught the man, they couldn’t arrest him immediately — because the building lacked “No trespassing” signs.

“Months later, finally they were able to arrest him or do something,” Bartlett added. “I moved out.”

Her takeaway? “Lock your doors, even in a luxury building.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Emotional Ryanair Passenger Upset Over Hand Luggage Size Restriction at Boarding

THIS is the shocking moment a female Ryanair passenger was left sobbing…
Victims show 'encouraging signs' after Michigan Walmart stabbing rampage, hospital says

Hospital Reports ‘Promising Signs’ for Victims After Michigan Walmart Stabbing Spree

The 11 individuals injured in a random stabbing incident at a Walmart…
Surgeons performing surgery in an operating room.

China’s Disturbing Plan to Establish a Network of ‘Organ Harvesting Centers’ within Five Years… with ‘Donors’ Already Prepared

CHINA’S regime is significantly expanding its empire of organ harvesting centres in…
Georgia boy, 5, accidentally gunned down by twin brother after mother allegedly left weapon lying around

Georgia Tragedy: 5-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot by Twin in Mother’s Careless Weapon Mishap

An unfortunate incident occurred in Georgia where a 5-year-old boy was accidentally…
Police officer arresting Chuck E. Cheese mascot at a Florida Chuck E. Cheese restaurant.

Chuck E. Cheese Detained in Front of Kids Following Suspicious Credit Card Charges

A CHILDREN’S party at a Chuck E. Cheese came to an abrupt…
Iran's Africa activities pose 'significant threats to US national security'

Iran’s Engagement in Africa: A Major Concern for US National Security

The State Department and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee…
3.6 million HydroTech hoses recalled in US over burst risk

Recall Alert: 3.6 Million HydroTech Hoses in the US Due to Burst Hazard

These hoses have caused at least 29 injuries, including temporarily impaired hearing,…
Collage of a woman relaxing on a beach lounger in North Korea.

Tourists Explore North Korea’s Eerie ‘Benidorm’ Resort Under Close Supervision

NORTH Korea has welcomed its first tourists to its ghostly new “Benidorm”…
poison ivy

Unsure if You’re Allergic to Poison Ivy? Think Again

(NEXSTAR) – You might have avoided the infamous rashes linked to poison…
Brutal downtown brawl leaves victims bloodied as Cincinnati police launch investigation

Violent Fight in Downtown Cincinnati Results in Injuries; Police Begin Investigation

Police in Cincinnati are investigating a viral video that shows what appears…
Most charges dropped in viral Jacksonville traffic stop, court records show

Court Records Reveal Majority of Charges Dropped in Widely Publicized Jacksonville Traffic Stop

According to a police report, JSO pulled over William McNeil for not…
More than 100 aid groups warn of starvation in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill 29, officials say

Israel’s Military Announces Aid Airdrops in Gaza Amid Hunger Crisis; At Least 53 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes and Gunfire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Saturday night, Israel’s military declared plans…