Lock picking

[Dervacumen]

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.

[bsellers100]

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.

[Rocky]

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.

[Dervacumen]

I just bought an inexpensive lockpicking kit off the 'net, read the "MIT guide to lockpicking" (google it) and went to town.

[jfarfenuge]

www.instructables.com has a couple different articles on how to pick locks.

[crashwg]

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.

[danny_galaga]

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

[Dervacumen]

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. 
Y'know, ...nevermind....

[shardian]

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.

[ChadTower]

I've never had it take more than about 45 seconds to drill a lock...?

[Jouster]

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

[Ed_McCarron]

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.

[shardian]

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.

[Zebidee]

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.

[shock_]

Something that made my jaw drop when I first saw it was .  If you don't know about it, inform yourself

[bfauska]

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.

[ChadTower]

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.

[Zebidee]

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.

[shardian]

Something that made my jaw drop when I first saw it was .  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.

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.

[Dervacumen]

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.

[Dervacumen]

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.

[Zebidee]

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