Lock Picking
How secure is your lock?
Lock picking involves releasing a lock without a key or combination. While there are a variety of different locks and each one is a little different from the next, there are some basic principles to getting through them.
The basic key lock works with a number of pins that hold the bolt or latch that secures the door. When the correct key is inserted the pins fall into a certain pattern and the bolt or latch is able to move. If the incorrect key is inserted the pins won’t be pushed into the proper place and the bolt release.
To pick a key lock all you have to do is move each pin into its proper position. This is done one by one using tools called picks and tension wrenches. The tension wrench is inserted into the lock and turned in the same direction you would turn the key to unlock the door. This operation exposes the pins.
As you keep pressure on the lock with the tension wrench you insert the pick and work on manipulating each pin. You’ll hear a click when the pin has been inserted into its proper position. This type of lock picking is easy to do, but requires a lot of practice to do well. Locksmiths perfect this type of lock picking and are familiar with the feel of the proper tension and the sound of the pins. They can usually pick a key lock in a few seconds.
It’s more difficult to pick a keyless lock than it is to get through a key model. If it’s a combination lock, a lock picker could spend hours trying to figure out the correct code. However, if the lock picker is a professional they’ll be able to get through it a little quicker by spinning the lock and listening for specific clicks--different sounds relate to different numbers in the combination.
Some lock manufacturers also have a known system for developing combinations, but you’ll probably need to know at least one or two of the numbers in advance to figure out the combination this way.
There are volumes of books on combinations that list the serial number of every lock a certain manufacturer has made. These books are expensive, but it’s probably the easiest way to get your hands on a combination!
More advanced keyless systems, such as those that require access cards or fingerprint scans, are very difficult to access. However, it’s possible to override these locks if you have the right equipment. No lock is completely pick proof – as any locksmith will attest to - but there are some that are more resistant to picking than others.
