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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Dervacumen on August 17, 2007, 09:10:56 pm

Title: Lock picking
Post by: Dervacumen on August 17, 2007, 09:10:56 pm
I picked my first lock today.  Took all of about 3-4 minutes.
Geez, that's a scary thought.
Anyone else use this technique to get into machines you bought that are locked tight?
It's a heck of a lot easier than drilling a lock out, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: bsellers100 on August 17, 2007, 10:00:27 pm
How did you manage to do that?  I have an old parking meter that I plan to use as decoration and need to open up the top part in order to fix the arrow that shows the time remaining.  The top part of the meter uses a regular key and the coin box uses one of those coke machine keys, but it is the top part that I need to get into.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Rocky on August 18, 2007, 07:35:10 pm
I used that for a couple of gumball machines I have.  The lock is very unique and I didn't want to drill it.

I have a friend who did some locksmithing courses and had the tools.  We cracked them open in a few minutes. ;D
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Dervacumen on August 18, 2007, 08:34:29 pm
I just bought an inexpensive lockpicking kit off the 'net, read the "MIT guide to lockpicking" (google it) and went to town.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: jfarfenuge on August 19, 2007, 12:48:21 am
www.instructables.com has a couple different articles on how to pick locks.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: crashwg on August 19, 2007, 01:37:52 am
I can pick a desk lock with 1 large and 1 small paper clip in ~5 minutes.  It's not all that hard just takes a little practice.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: danny_galaga on August 19, 2007, 03:04:11 am

thats nothing! i can get into a desk lock in ten seconds using only a crowbar!
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Dervacumen on August 19, 2007, 10:09:59 pm
So I got home after taking a welcome break playing golf with a buddy.
And my wife shows me all the lock picking tools bent all to hell.

W T F !

I used those tools to show my daughter how to get into this "Magical Treasure Chest" I inherited.  Now they're %$&'ed.

Now I need a new set.  :badmood:
Y'know, ...nevermind.... :badmood:

Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: shardian on August 20, 2007, 08:44:39 am
There is a place online that shows you how to make lock picks out of a hacksaw blade. I made a few once upon a time and they worked very well. Also, use an allen wrench with a grinded down flat as a tensioner.

FYI, if you look into a lock and see that it uses flat pieces (I call it a wafer lock), then it is extremely easy to pick - you can just use paperclips. I personally suck at picking pin tumblers (normal locks). I've only successfully picked a regular lock a handful of times.

remember: Don't carry lockpicking equipment around with you, as it is considered a crime to even possess the equipment w/o a license in most states. Having said that, it is a handy skill/hobby and could come in very handy around the house.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: ChadTower on August 20, 2007, 09:46:50 am

I've never had it take more than about 45 seconds to drill a lock...?
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Jouster on August 20, 2007, 12:22:14 pm
Once you get the hang of picking...less than 30 seconds to pick most locks.

Then once you have it open...you can most likely get it keyed...no need to drill.

thats nothing! i can get into a desk lock in ten seconds using only a crowbar!

That may be...but its more fun to empty someone's desk drawer...then lock it back up.  The look their face is priceless...although you do get another good look when you use a crowbar.

Jouster
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Ed_McCarron on August 20, 2007, 01:08:46 pm
Once you get the hang of picking...less than 30 seconds to pick most locks.

Arcade locks, maybe.  Even a pro locksmith (with manual tools) averages 4-5 minutes for a simple 5 pin lock like on most houses.

30 seconds only works for James Bond with any regularity.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: shardian on August 20, 2007, 01:28:26 pm
Once you get the hang of picking...less than 30 seconds to pick most locks.

Arcade locks, maybe.  Even a pro locksmith (with manual tools) averages 4-5 minutes for a simple 5 pin lock like on most houses.

30 seconds only works for James Bond with any regularity.

I can get 4 pins pretty quick on a good lock, but almost never get all five. I had to quit messing with locks around the house because I was scratching them up. ;D
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Zebidee on August 20, 2007, 09:44:03 pm
I've always loved thieving skills, just I've never had the inclination to use them to be dishonest and steal.

when I was young and crazy uni student 1st year ("freshman"), I was "bored" one Sunday and killed about two hours by picking the combination locks for 75% of the bikes at my college.  It took on average under 30 seconds per lock, sometimes well under 10 seconds.  It was nearly 200 bikes in all.

I didn't steal or even move a single bike.  I just left the locks dangling as a clear message to their owners - "Get a better lock".

'twas a silly thing to do though, and haven't repeated the performance.

Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: shock_ on August 21, 2007, 12:57:34 am
Something that made my jaw drop when I first saw it was lock bumping (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr23tpWX8lM).  If you don't know about it, inform yourself :)
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: bfauska on August 21, 2007, 02:00:33 am
I've picked desk locks before and seen the vibration based picks from toothbrushes and the like, but that bumping thing is a trip.  I wanna try it, and I want to replace my locks.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: ChadTower on August 21, 2007, 09:09:09 am
It took on average under 30 seconds per lock, sometimes well under 10 seconds.  It was nearly 200 bikes in all.

Erm, where I went to school, if someone had seen you picking a bike lock they'd have cracked you in the back of the head with a bat.  People took their bikes VERY seriously there.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Zebidee on August 21, 2007, 11:38:20 am
Erm, where I went to school, if someone had seen you picking a bike lock they'd have cracked you in the back of the head with a bat.  People took their bikes VERY seriously there.

Well Chad, guess that you weren't at my school then :)

I always take bikes seriously too - people should buy a serious lock if they want to protect their valuable bikes.  That was my message for that Sunday, more than 20 years ago.



Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: shardian on August 21, 2007, 01:13:37 pm
Something that made my jaw drop when I first saw it was lock bumping (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr23tpWX8lM).  If you don't know about it, inform yourself :)

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! I've never seen that before, but I did all my research back in 2000-2001. I can't believe they showed that on the news! I don't care if they followed it up with a "protect yourself" line. They probably just educated several hundred possible thiefs who wouldn't have attempted a break-in before that story. :dizzy:

I am totally going to mess around at the house with this and see how susceptible my locks on the house are. It might just be time to upgrade.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Dervacumen on August 21, 2007, 03:34:18 pm
I've picked desk locks before and seen the vibration based picks from toothbrushes and the like, but that bumping thing is a trip.  I wanna try it, and I want to replace my locks.
More like 3-4 extra keys and a kubotan on your key ring.
Doesn't make nearly as much noise or mess.  Crap.  Just don't get caught with these things.  At least in CA having a lockpick set in my garage with a copy of the penal code can keep me reasonably safe.  Having one of these bump keys on your key ring would be hard to explain away.  But then again, criminals aren't necessarily deterred by legalities.
Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Dervacumen on August 21, 2007, 03:38:52 pm
I should have said I picked my first tembler lock today.  I used to pick combination locks and those really cheap padlocks that have a zigzag shaped keyway around the neighborhood all the time when I was 12 or so.  Those zigzg things opened easily with just about anything you stuck in there.  I still don't know what the point of having one was.

Title: Re: Lock picking
Post by: Zebidee on August 21, 2007, 11:49:00 pm
I should have said I picked my first tembler lock today. 

Yeah, cool skill.  I wouldn't mind picking that one up (no pun intended).  Would love to pick your brain about it (oh no, pls stop ....). Seriously  ;D