Lock picking is the art of unlocking a
lockA lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object or secret information , or combination of more than one of these....
by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device, without the original key. Although lock picking can be associated with
criminal intentCriminal intent is the plan of a person to commit a crime. Criminal intent can be one of the requirements for convicting someone for a crime. Advocates for proving criminal intent believe that a person is only a criminal if they intended to do the crime....
, it is an essential skill for a
locksmithLocksmithing began as the science and art of making and defeating locks. A lock is a mechanism that secures buildings, rooms, cabinets, objects, or other storage facilities. A key is often used to open a lock...
. Lock picking is the ideal way of opening a lock without the correct key, while not damaging the lock, allowing it to be rekeyed for later use, which is especially important with antique locks that would be impossible to replace if destructive entry methods were used.
The move towards
combination locksA combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with...
for high security items such as safes was intended to remove the weakest part of the lock: its keyhole.
In normal situations it is almost always easier to gain access by some means other than lock picking; most common locks can be quickly and easily opened using a drill,
bolt cuttersA bolt cutter, sometimes called bolt cropper, is a tool used for cutting chains, padlocks, bolts and wire mesh. The original use for bolt cutters was as the name suggests to cut bolt seals from shipping containers at the delivery point. It typically has long handles and short blades, with compound...
, padlock shim, a
bump keyLock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.-History:A US patent first appears in 1928 by H.R. Simpson called a "rapping" or bump-key...
or a hydraulic jack. The hasp, door, or fixture they are attached to can be cut, broken, unscrewed or otherwise removed, windows can be broken etc. Therefore a lock that offers high resistance to picking does not necessarily make unauthorized access more difficult, but will make
surreptitious unauthorized access more difficult. Locks are often used in combination with
alarmsBurglar , alarms are systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of an array of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections...
to provide
layered securityLayered security, also known as layered defense, describes the practice of combining multiple mitigating security controls to protect resources and data....
.
Some people enjoy picking locks recreationally. This may also be referred to as
LocksportLocksport refers to the sport or recreation of studying and learning to defeat locking systems. Its enthusiasts learn a variety of skills including lock picking, lock bumping, and a variety of other skills traditionally known only to locksmiths and other security professionals...
.
Lock pick kits can be purchased openly via the Internet. Many different selections are present. Nine-piece sets and a 32-piece set equipped with a Pick Gun(an automated
bump keyLock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.-History:A US patent first appears in 1928 by H.R. Simpson called a "rapping" or bump-key...
) for example differ in value and price greatly. However, many lock pickers state that for most simple locks, a basic set of five picks (or even a single pick) is enough; therefore it is unnecessary to carry around a wide variety of professional lock picks. Lockpicks can also be improvised from common items, or machined at home with relative ease. This is also the case with
warded locksA warded lock is a type of lock that uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The correct key has notches or slots corresponding to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside the lock...
.
The process of picking pin/tumbler and
wafer locksA wafer tumbler lock is a type of lock that uses a set of flat wafers to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. This type of lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle. However, unlike the pin tumbler lock, the wafer is a single piece...
is concerned with causing the two sets of pins (upper or driver pins and bottom pins) to separate such that the cylinder will turn. The point at which the pins properly separate when the lock is unlocked is called the shearline.
This type represents the vast majority of American and European domestic locks, the UK being an exception where
lever locksA lever tumbler lock is a type of lock that uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock. In the simplest of these, lifting the tumbler above a certain height will allow the bolt to slide past. The number of levers may vary, but is usually an odd number for a lock that can be...
are generally a requirement for home insurance. A different tool set (such as the Hobbs pick) is required for more complex locks which are not easily fabricated.
Torsion wrench
The torsion wrench (often called a torque wrench or misleadingly a tension wrench) is used to apply torque to the plug of a lock, in order to hold any picked pins in place. Once all pins are picked, the torsion wrench is then used to turn the plug and open the lock. It is typically shaped like a letter "L" (although the vertical part of the letter is elongated in comparison to the horizontal part).
Some torsion wrenches (called "Feather Touch" wrenches) are coiled into a
springA spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
at the bend in the "L", which helps the user apply constant torque. Some users , however, maintain that such wrenches reduce torque control and the feedback available to the user.
Other torsion tools, especially those for use with cars resemble a pair of tweezers and allow the user to apply torque to both the top and the bottom of the lock. These would commonly be used with double sided wafer locks.
Also, high tech torsion tools exist which sit over the lock face allowing the user to see a display of the amount of torque applied. This aids with the process of feeling when a pin has set since the torsion level will drop suddenly then spike again as the next pin sets.
The torsion tool is just as important as other tools in the set, but is often neglected and is rarely represented in fiction.
It is not possible to pick a pin/tumbler or wafer lock without a torsion tool, even with the use of a pick gun.
Half-diamond pick
Perhaps the most basic and common pick, this versatile pick is included in all kits and is mainly used for picking individual pins, but can also be used for raking and for wafer and disk locks. The 'half diamond' is usually .5 to 1 inches long. Each of the ends of the triangular 'half diamond' of this pick can be either steep or shallow in angle, depending on the need for picking without neighboring pins, or raking as appropriate. A normal set would comprise around three half diamond picks and a double half diamond pick.
Hook pick
The hook pick is similar to the half diamond pick, but has a hook shaped tip rather than a half diamond shape. The hook pick is sometimes referred to as a 'feeler' or 'finger' and is not used for raking. This is the most basic lock picking tool and is all that a professional will usually need if the lock is to be picked in the traditional sense rather than opened by raking or using a pickgun. A variety of different sized and shaped hooks will be available in a normal set.
Ball pick
The ball pick is similar to the half-diamond pick, except the end of the pick has a circular shape. This pick is commonly used to open
wafer locksA wafer tumbler lock is a type of lock that uses a set of flat wafers to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. This type of lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle. However, unlike the pin tumbler lock, the wafer is a single piece...
.
Rake picks
These picks, such as the common snake rake, are designed to 'rake' pins by rapidly sliding the pick past all the pins, repeatedly, in order to bounce the pins until they reach the shear line. This method requires much less skill than picking pins individually, and generally works well on cheaper locks.
When the pins are excited they bounce all around the shear line and with the skillful application of a tension tool this is the easiest way to pick a lock. This is also how beginners start. Advanced rakes are available which are shaped to mimic various different pin height key positions and are considerably easier to use than traditional rakes. Such rakes are typically machined from a template of common key configurations (since not all permutations of pin heights for adjacent pins are possible given the process by which keys are manufactured).
Slagel pick
The rarely used Slagel pick is mainly used for opening
electronic lockAn electronic lock is a locking device which operates by means of electric current. Electric locks are sometimes stand-alone with an electronic control assembly mounted directly to the lock. More often electric locks are connected to an access control system...
s. It is often made with small magnetic regions. The Slagel pick is named after James Slagel, a leading security technician for IBM. The Slagel pick works by selectively pulling internal parts of the lock to the correct positions.
Decoder pick
The decoder pick is a key which has been adapted such that the height of its notches can be changed, either by screwing them into the blade base or by adjusting them from the handle while the key is in the lock. This will allow not only access to the lock but also a template for cutting a replacement key.
Bump keys
The simplest way to open the majority of pin locks is to insert a key (or variety of keys) which have been cut so that each peak of the key is equal and has been cut down to the lowest groove of the key. This key is then struck sharply with a hammer whilst applying torque. The force of the blow is carried down the length of the key and (operating as does a
Newton's CradleNewton's cradle, named after Sir Isaac Newton, is a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy via a series of swinging spheres. When one on the end is lifted and released, the resulting force travels through the line and pushes the last one upward...
) will force the top pins only to jump above the shearline leaving the bottom pins in place. Some modern high security locks include
bumpingLock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.-History:A US patent first appears in 1928 by H.R. Simpson called a "rapping" or bump-key...
protection such as false setting pins and impact absorbent foam.
Warded pick
The warded pick, also known as a
skeleton keySkeleton Key is a rock band based in New York City. The band is the brainchild of bassist and singer Erik Sanko, who is the only constant member of the band...
, is used for opening
warded lockA warded lock is a type of lock that uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The correct key has notches or slots corresponding to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside the lock...
s. It is generally made to conform to a generalized key shape relatively simpler than the actual key used to open the lock; this simpler shape allows for internal manipulations. This style of pick can also be used to 'rip' the lock. This is where the pick is placed at the back of the lock and then pulled out in one sharp fast 'ripping' action.
The keys for warded locks only require the end section which is the one which actually open the locks. The other parts are there to distinguish between different variation of their locks. I.e if you have a chest of drawers with a warded lock you can make a skeleton key for that type of warded lock by filing away all but the last one or two teeth or
bittingA bitting is the part of the key that actually engages the tumblers to activate the lock. Bittings are often represented as a code which instructs how a key is to be cut by a locksmith. The bitting is usually a series of integers that is usually translated from a key code chart or from a...
s on both sides of the blade. Additionally, a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock through the
keywayA keyway is the shaped channel in a lock cylinder into which the key slides to gain access to the lock tumblers. Lock keyway shapes vary widely with lock manufacturer, and many manufacturers have a number of unique profiles requiring a specifically milled key blank to engage the lock's...
, the wards align with the grooves in the key's profile to allow or deny entry into the lock cylinder.
Pick guns
Often seen in movies and in the tool box of locksmiths, manual and electronic pick guns are a popular method used today for quick and easy ways of opening doors. The higher-end electric pick guns are usually made of aircraft aluminum and hard steel. The pick is operated by simply pressing a button that vibrates while the normal torsion wrench is being used. A manual pick gun (or
Snap gunA snap gun, also known as lock pick gun, pick gun, or electric lock pick, is a tool that can be used to force open a mechanical pin tumbler lock without using the key...
) is used in a similar way but usually has a "trigger" that creates an upward movement which (like bumpkeys) operates on the same principle as
Newton's cradleNewton's cradle, named after Sir Isaac Newton, is a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy via a series of swinging spheres. When one on the end is lifted and released, the resulting force travels through the line and pushes the last one upward...
. They transfer sudden upwards energy to the bottom pins which communicate this to the top pins causing those pins only simultaneously to jump. A pick gun is used in conjunction with a torsion tool and the only skill required here is learning the timing.
Manual pick guns come in both 'up' and 'down' varieties and were patented in the 1920s making them a staple of the film noir and detective fiction generally.
Anti-picking methods
To prevent picking of locks, numerous methods have been employed throughout history, including the firing of spring-loaded knives and electrocution as well as locks which will need to be reset with a master key if they have been unsuccessfully picked.
Today, anti-picking methods include the use of side wards (which obstruct the key way) and security pins. These are pins which are shaped like a spool, mushroom, or barrel with the effect that they feel as though they have set when in fact they have not. Overcoming these pins involves reverse picking (the process of first setting all pins above the shear line and gradually reducing torsion.)
United States
In the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, laws concerning possession of lock picks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of a
crowbarA crowbar, a wrecking bar, pry bar, or prybar, or sometimes a prise bar or prisebar, and more informally a jimmy, jimmy bar, jemmy or gooseneck is a tool consisting of a metal bar with a single curved end and flattened points, often with a small fissure on one or both ends for removing nails...
or any other tool that may or may not be used in a burglary. Illegal possession of lock picks is generally prosecuted as a felony under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. In many states, simple possession is completely legal as their statutes require proof of intent.
In
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, locksmiths must be licensed by the state. However possession by laymen may be legal there and in most states, as illegal possession must be coupled with felonious or malicious intent. This is also the case in
UtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
,
MaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
,
New HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Washington, Washington D.C.,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and
ArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Japan
Japan's law prohibits possession of any lock picking tools and carries a penalty of one year imprisonment or a 500,000 yen fine.
Canada
In
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, possession of lock picking tools, with the exception of key duplication tools, is legal. Lock pick tools fit in the same category as crowbars or hammers, meaning they are legal to possess and use unless they are used to commit a crime or if it is shown there was "intention to commit a crime" in which case "Possession of tools with the intention of committing a crime" applies - which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail. See Part VIII - Section 351
Some provinces require a license to carry lockpicks.
European Union
Most countries of the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
do not regulate the possession of lock picks. All responsibility concerning criminal or legal acts using the picks is taken by the user of the lock picks, while the owner of the lock picks may be involved in the
jurisdictionJurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
or
legal processService of process is the procedure employed to give legal notice to a person of a court or administrative body's exercise of its jurisdiction over that person so as to enable that person to respond to the proceeding before the court, body or other tribunal...
as an
accompliceAt law, an accomplice is a person who actively participates in the commission of a crime, even though they take no part in the actual criminal offense. For example, in a bank robbery, the person who points the gun at the teller and asks for the money is guilty of armed robbery...
or
witnessA witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about an event, or in the criminal justice systems usually a crime, through his or her senses and can help certify important considerations about the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first hand is known as an eyewitness...
.
Netherlands
In the
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, owning lock picks is legal, but using them on someone else's locks without permission is not. There is a lock picking championship, the Dutch Open (organised by
TOOOLThe Open Organization Of Lockpickers or TOOOL is an organization of individuals who partake in the hobby of Locksport.It has two main chapters based in The Netherlands and several smaller chapters located in the United States.-Legal concerns:...
), which was reported on in the newspapers.
Poland
In
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
according to Article 129/1 of the Criminal Code:
- possessing, producing or obtaining a lockpick by a person whose profession and occupation does not require it;
- delivering a lockpick to a person whose profession and occupation does not require it;
is punishable with arrest, freedom limitation or fine. Paragraph 3 says that a lockpick is forfeited even if it was not the property of the principal.
United Kingdom
In the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a person who carries a lock pick set (even a home made one) with intent to commit a theft could potentially be prosecuted. The penalty for this can be up to 3 years' imprisonment. However lock picks may be held at home and can be carried if there is no intent to use in a "burglary, theft or cheat".
New Zealand
In
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
lock picking tools are not illegal, but possession with the intent to use them for
burglaryBurglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
carries a potential penalty of three years in prison.
Australia
In Australia possession of lock picking equipment is illegal in
New South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
,
QueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and
Western AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
without a valid Locksmith License. .
Media
When lockpicking is shown in films and television shows, the torsion wrench is almost always omitted. Picking a
pin and tumblerThe pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key...
lock without torsion is impossible unless the lock was nonfunctional to begin with, as the pins only prevent the tumbler from being rotated.
In some modern dramas (such as
Fox'sFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
2424 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
) in which realistic depiction of events is favored, the pick-and-wrench technique is fully shown (albeit often executed in a second or two, which does not accurately reflect the luck involved with raking an unfamiliar lock).
Harry Caul rakes a lock open in
The ConversationThe Conversation is a 1974 American psychological thriller film written, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gene Hackman...
(1974), and the used tools are clearly visible.
Although there do exist raking tools in which a single element may be used to open a lock (such as automobile "tryout" keys), these are rarely used in media depictions, and almost as rarely used in real life. The broad width of these picks allows for the necessary application of torque, just as an external source of torque is not required when using a standard key.
In the video game Splinter Cell: Double Agent the player is able to pick locks using a torsion wrench and a hook pick. This is a fairly realistic depiction of how actual lock picking is performed. Alternatively, in the game The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, players pick pin and tumbler locks with varying difficulties, but only the pick is shown. In the Fallout series, a pick is shown, and a screwdriver is utilized as a torsion tool.
Also, in the
ThiefThief is a series of stealth video games in which the player takes the role of Garrett, a thief in a fantasy/steampunk world resembling a cross between the Late Middle Ages and the Victorian era, with more advanced technologies interspersed...
videogame series, one of the main character's most important tools is a pair of lockpicks, which the player, as Garrett the master thief, uses extensively throughout the various missions to open locks. In the first 2 games, the mechanism is simple, with the player alternating between one lockpick and the other until the locks open, while in the third both lockpicks are used at the same time in rotating and alternating positions to progressively pick and open the lock mechanism.
See also
- Hotwiring
Hot-wiring is the process of bypassing an automobile's ignition interlock and thus starting it without the key. A vehicle owner or thief may implement this process.-Methods:...
- Physical security
Physical security describes measures that are designed to deny access to unauthorized personnel from physically accessing a building, facility, resource, or stored information; and guidance on how to design structures to resist potentially hostile acts...
- Safe-cracking
Safe-cracking is the process of opening a safe without either the combination or key. It may also refer to a computer hacker's attempts to break into a secured computer system, in which case it may be shortened to "cracking" or black hat hacking....
- Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
- Snap gun
A snap gun, also known as lock pick gun, pick gun, or electric lock pick, is a tool that can be used to force open a mechanical pin tumbler lock without using the key...
- Locksport
Locksport refers to the sport or recreation of studying and learning to defeat locking systems. Its enthusiasts learn a variety of skills including lock picking, lock bumping, and a variety of other skills traditionally known only to locksmiths and other security professionals...
- Lock bumping
Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.-History:A US patent first appears in 1928 by H.R. Simpson called a "rapping" or bump-key...
External links