Guide to lock picking

[rustybronco]

http://www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf

[Dogma]

Every once in a while, you just need to know these things.

[Badooka]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

[John Cross]

Thank you...

The keyless gas cap came off with a little tickling. Saved 1 tank.

[Kiwi Canuck]

Review of article

I have read the lock picking article and it is quite well written and is accurate, but is a bit outdated.
The information provided will allow someone with skill and determination to become proficient at lock picking, if they are willing to put in the time.

I loved this line from the article.

"People underestimate the analytic skills involved in lock picking. They think that the picking tool opens the lock."

Locking picking is more mental than physical, I have locksmiths who work for us that have trouble picking locks on a regular basis, if you let doubt get the better of you you're done.

It can be a real test when you have a crowd or there is a very urgent need to get a door open, like when water is flooding out from under the door, or you are opening the door for the police and they give you a bullet proof vest to wear while you are picking the lock.

Some people don't function well under pressure and they choke up. A person with the right mental game and skill can over come most of these challenges and pick locks under pressure.

I've had the opposite problem sometimes, quoted a fixed price to come out and pick open a lock, I would put the pick in the lock just getting a feel for the lock and it would open.
I would usually delay the opening of the door just so the person paying felt like they got a bit of value. "What a hundred bucks for 2 mins work" they would scream, I usually responded, I could've taken longer if it'd make you feel better.

I would then explain that they may be interested in a high security lock that couldn't be picked so easily, more than half of them went for it once they saw how easy it was to open their standard deadbolt.
(I have Medeco Locks on my house)

There are many other methods of opening locks including bumping, which was prominently covered on the news a few years back.
When my oldest son was about 16 he watched a few You tube videos and with the use of our shop key machines was able to make a set of bump keys and started bumping locks with less than an hour of practice.

http://www.lockbumping.org/videos/

[eil]

There's a whole culture around lock picking, it's called locksport. Couple years ago I picked up a cheap set of picks and was amazed at how easy it was to pick all of the locks in my house. Doorknob locks, deadbolts, padlocks, etc.

It requires some practice and a great deal of manual dexterity since in most cases you can't see the tiny tumblers, you literally have to feel them.

[argonsagas]

I have read the lock picking article and it is quite well written and is accurate, but is a bit outdated.
The information provided will allow someone with skill and determination to become proficient at lock picking, if they are willing to put in the time.

I loved this line from the article.

"People underestimate the analytic skills involved in lock picking. They think that the picking tool opens the lock."

Locking picking is more mental than physical, I have locksmiths who work for us that have trouble picking locks on a regular basis, if you let doubt get the better of you you're done.

It can be a real test when you have a crowd or there is a very urgent need to get a door open, like when water is flooding out from under the door, or you are opening the door for the police and they give you a bullet proof vest to wear while you are picking the lock.

Some people don't function well under pressure and they choke up. A person with the right mental game and skill can over come most of these challenges and pick locks under pressure.

I've had the opposite problem sometimes, quoted a fixed price to come out and pick open a lock, I would put the pick in the lock just getting a feel for the lock and it would open.
I would usually delay the opening of the door just so the person paying felt like they got a bit of value. "What a hundred bucks for 2 mins work" they would scream, I usually responded, I could've taken longer if it'd make you feel better.

I would then explain that they may be interested in a high security lock that couldn't be picked so easily, more than half of them went for it once they saw how easy it was to open their standard deadbolt.
(I have Medeco Locks on my house)

There are many other methods of opening locks including bumping, which was prominently covered on the news a few years back.
When my oldest son was about 16 he watched a few You tube videos and with the use of our shop key machines was able to make a set of bump keys and started bumping locks with less than an hour of practice.
http://www.lockbumping.org/videos/

I agree with the details appearing to be accurate, but I only got part-way through it, as the great many spelling errors and misused words were too annoying

[chuck hahn]

Kiwi...Will the lock bumping work on say the GS ignition should someone wish to steal a bike??? Or if someone got a bike for cheap and no keys??? The house doors looked amazingly useless in the videos..may as well just leave the doors unlocked!!!

[koolaid_kid]

Kiwi...Will the lock bumping work on say the GS ignition should someone wish to steal a bike??? Or if someone got a bike for cheap and no keys??? The house doors looked amazingly useless in the videos..may as well just leave the doors unlocked!!!

Well, I view it in my usual fatalistic way: If they want it, they are going to get it. Just like the locking gas cap I install on all my cars, it makes the casual thief look for an easier target. The determined thief, OTOH, will take what they want.

[chuck hahn]

I agree....if determined there is no deterant to them.

[Kiwi Canuck]

Kiwi...Will the lock bumping work on say the GS ignition should someone wish to steal a bike??? Or if someone got a bike for cheap and no keys??? The house doors looked amazingly useless in the videos..may as well just leave the doors unlocked!!!

Chuck, bumping will not work on motorcycle locks as they have wafers rather than pins, but are much easier to pick with conventional lock picks.
Some of the newer wafer locks have false gates, small serrations at the end of each wafer that get caught when trying to pick the lock, which helps against a less skilled lock picker.
That is why it's best to use the correct wafers when rekeying bike locks and not just file off the wafers sticking up, because it makes it so much easier to bypass the lock with either a lock pick or almost any key that has similar cuts.

The biggest threat to motorcycle ignition locks is the screw driver attack, it usually does a lot of damage and with enough force can start the bike. Some of the newer ignition locks are equipped with a beak away section, so when forced, the top section breaks and turns but doesn't allow the bike to be started.

If you are concerned, buy a big cable lock and lock your bike to something strong, make it too much work for the would be thief.

[Kiwi Canuck]

I agree with the details appearing to be accurate, but I only got part-way through it, as the great many spelling errors and misused words were too annoying

Then you would have trouble reading many of the posts on here, including mine.

I meant it was well written from a technical standpoint, and yes it's sometimes difficult to get past all the misteaks.

I've become a lot less critical when reading blogs and forums lately, some of the more entertaining posts are full of typo's and errors, but I've learnt to put my judgements aside and just enjoy the story or article.

I've re-read some of my own posts, and found all sorts of mangled sentences and speeling errors.

[Pchitti]

To funny, I originally joined this site when I was working for a lock pick reseller. lol A trip to Vegas for a convention is what paid for the bike. If any one is interested in a set or practice locks I have some things I would love to trade for.