# Any lockpicking hobbyists here? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172 "2015-01-29T01:10:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maeganspop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Maeganspop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeganspop)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/21 "2015-01-29T19:44:09Z")
Okay, I’m pushing 45. I’ve only picked a dozen lock’s, but I have only used a paper clip. Worked every time so far. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/22 "2015-01-29T19:50:34Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > **DCnDC** , in your experience, are older locks easier, due to being more worn out and the pin easier to get to rest on the cylinder? There are many factors other than age that would determine the ease of picking a lock, so I can’t really make any sort of blanket generalization in regards to that. Problems could be rust and debris locking up pins, wear on the pins could creating false sets, failed or even missing springs, there’s a ton of things that can go wrong with even such a simple device. The “easiest” locks to pick, IMO, are brand new ones. Brand new locks are (theoretically) all machined consistently and with new pins and springs will all have the same down pressure. If it’s something you’re going to practice, I’d suggest you practice on a lock actually installed on a door, or at least put into something upright so it’s in a realistic position. Picking a lock _is_ easier to do with the cylinder loose in your hand, but of course you’re never going to need to pick a lock that’s loose in your hand (there are much easier ways to open a lock that’s loose in your hand). Safecracking is a whole other game. Yes, it can be done without damaging the safe, but it’s generally a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/23 "2015-01-29T20:50:21Z")
Shows you what little I know, I had assumed old locks best. That clip of the guy that did it with the stethoscope, I think I recall them saying it was his first attempt at doing one that way. I’m sure he could have got a lot faster with more practice. Did some more searching around on youtube, and came across this [clip.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw_4HQMS-pk) Here is one of Jeff Sitar, seven time champion at the Lockmasters International Manipulation Contest. He gets in faster than any, about 15-17 minutes average, but also gets in under five minutes too. Does it by just feel, and no other instruments, not even a stethoscope. They say it’s just his extreme finger sensitivity and many years practice that enable him to do this. Gosh, to be honest with you, I admire him for just being one of the good guys, and not breaking bad on us. I bet his dreams are not him being the good guy though. 🙂 They also give him a challenge to break into a bank vault. Okay, after seeing that, there is no way I could have that kind of skill and still stay straight. This is on the Discovery channel, not sure how legit it is, but he appears to be the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/24 "2015-01-29T20:52:49Z")
You don’t happen to live in Dearborn Heights, do you? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/25 "2015-01-29T21:08:07Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Shows you what little I know, I had assumed old locks best. Don’t get me wrong, I encountered plenty of old, worn locks that gave little to no resistance, but I came across at least as many that were simply unpickable for various reasons, or in such bad shape they may not have even opened with the proper key. What I meant was the brand new locks are easier to pick with a reliable degree of success, while with old locks you never really know what’s going on in there. For recreational lockpicking, I’d definitely prefer brand new locks. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/26 "2015-01-29T22:09:04Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > You don’t happen to live in Dearborn Heights, do you? The OP is in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/27 "2015-01-30T00:37:50Z")
> [@LightWithoutHeattttttttttttttt](#): > > I had almost the exact same problem when I bought my “fixer-upper”. I found the fastest way in was a sledgehammer to the door knob. 2 seconds … in. Then a little money to replace the lock and the splintered door jamb. Pick the lock and you still have to replace the lock unless you want to pick it again. As soon as it’s picked you can re-pin the lock to match a key, or measure the pins to cut a key to match. But a new lock will most likely cost less than the labour to have a locksmith do either of those things, so unless you plan to do it yourself the new lock is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/28 "2015-01-30T17:34:20Z")
I used to be a maintenance guy for a largish finance/banking company. People would call all the time when they locked a desk drawer and forgot our lost their key. I had a “master” key that would open them 95% of the time and I started practicing picking locks for the 5%. These were cheap wafer-tumblers locks that are ridiculously easy to pick, but I acquired a reputation for being able to open locks. I made a set of picks out of hacksaw blades and started practicing with those. It was a little terrifying when I was able to pick both of the locks on my apartment door in less than 5 minutes on my first attempt. One day the CEO called me about opening an office in the executive area. I actually dithered for a while to make it seem harder than it was. When I was done he said “It seems you’re both a valuable and worrying person to have around.” So, yes. I enjoy(ed) picking locks as a hobby, but haven’t done it in probably 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/29 "2015-01-31T01:56:59Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Safecracking is a whole other game. Yes, it can be done without damaging the safe, but it’s generally a waste of time. I worked for a stamp and coin shop. Most home safes can be “drilled and cracked” pretty easy and the strongboxes and files are a sledge and chisel or even a good throw-down onto concrete. And no – for what you find it usually isn’t worth much more effort than that. (And “antique safes” don’t have the resale value you would think even when they come complete with the combination) ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172/30 "2015-01-31T04:08:07Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > We just bought a house\*, and the previous owner (a bank) didn’t do a great job keeping track of all the keys. When we closed, we were handed a fistful of keys, several of which don’t go to any of the doors, and none of which open the detached garage. The garage has a large window and everything looks fine in there. We assume the opener is broken, but if we find it isn’t, that’s gravy. > > We’re doing a major renovation on the house, so we don’t need the garage right now, but we’re going to want to get in there eventually. If the window has a latch, you might find it easier to override it to get in through the window. Then you’d access the opener or human door from the inside. Also, for what it’s worth, some DIY homeowners don’t seem to know to put the screws on the inside when they replace a doorknob. The locking mechanism is in the knob, so if you can unscrew the knobs and expose the latching mechanism… If the vehicle door has a padlock\*, you might look on YouTube again. I stumbled across a video about opening padlocks with a piece of aluminum from a soda can. It had me astounded by its simplicity. Also, the same guy does a video on escaping from zip-ties used in place of handcuffs and, as part of that episode, he shows how a zip-tie can be used to open some latched doors. [I’ll add a caveat that the door would have to have enough of a gap on the latch side for the trick to work, but materials other than a zip-tie could get in thinner gaps.] Also, a couple years back, there was quite a lot of noise and panic about a (new?) technique of “bumping” door locks that some guy had exposed in Wired magazine. It’s a disgustingly simple technique if you have the right tool – which is disgustingly easy to make. –G! \*But that would tend to defeat or obviate an electric opener. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-lockpicking-hobbyists-here/711172.md?page=1)