You feel fairly safe when you lock your door at night or when you put the lock on your shed. But how much more secure do those measures actually make you? Read more to find out.
Everyone has seen a spy movie where the hero (or villain) who picks a lock and breaks into somewhere. Sometimes these characters don't have the right equipment, so in a panic, they quickly bend a paperclip and use that to pick the lock. How close to reality is this?
Well, it's surprisingly not that far off.
In real life, locksmiths, and sometimes criminals, use a variety of methods to open locks. For example, if you lock yourself out of your house and call a locksmith, they might show up at your door with a key and a small hammer, insert the key into the lock and start hammering away on the key. Then, like magic, the lock pops open. This method is known as "bumping."
Bumping is the use of a blank key of a certain shape and size, along with a hammer, to open a lock. When you bump a lock, the key pins hit the driver pins up into the body of the lock and allowing the key pins to fall back down into the tumbler. This divide between the key pins and driver pins allows the lock to open.
The way the standard lock works, i.e. the deadbolt on your door or a padlock, is with a tumbler and two sets of pins. The tumbler, or where you insert your key, is a drum that houses the key pins. The key pins are small pins that press against the key that are filed to a certain length. Above the key pins are the driver pins. These driver pins are the same size and are pushed down on by small springs. When the key is inserted, the key pins all line up with the driver pins along the top of the tumbler, allowing it to rotate smoothly. This type of lock is known as a "pin and tumbler" lock. While there are many more secure types of locks, the pin and tumbler is the most common type of lock, as well as the most vulnerable to picking.
There are other methods to opening locks without the key, such as the iconic "picking" and "raking."
Picking is the method used in most television shows, movies, and video games. While not being the easiest or quickest way to open a lock, it is what professionals rely on most often. Picking a lock is not usually as simple as jamming a paperclip into a lock, wiggling it around a little, then the lock popping open. Instead, the locksmith will place the tension wrench, a small metal L shaped piece of metal, into the lock and apply light to moderate pressure. The person will then insert the pick most suited to the lock and push each pin up firmly. Upon forcing the pin upwards, the smith will feel a click as the key pin reaches the body of the lock. They will then move on to the next pin that offers resistance. However, this is often impeded by serrated or security pins. These pins are shaped differently than the other pins and provide extreme resistance when being forced upward.
Another common method of picking pin and tumbler locks is known as raking. Raking is when the locksmith uses a special kind of pick. After inserting the tension wrench and applying light to moderate pressure, the smith will then insert a kind of wavy pick, known as a rake pick, into the lock and running it back and forth quickly. This motion bounces the pins upward and catches the driver pins, while allowing the key pins to fall back down. This is often the easiest method of picking.
Now that you know how simple it is to open a lock without the proper key, what can you do to prevent someone from breaking in?
Well, a good first step is to have good quality high security locks. When buying a lock, ask how many pins are in it. 4? 5? 6? More? The more pins the lock has the more secure it will be. See if you can get a lock with several security pins, as these will make picking more of a challenge. You could also get a lock that is not pin and tumbler, such as a wafer lock. Other types are more or less secure, depending on the type. If you are looking to buy a pad lock, avoid low quality brands such as Master lock. Master lock is regarded by civilians as a good, trustworthy name brand. However, professionals will say otherwise. This brand often has wide margins and slack in the construction, which makes picking the locks much more simple.While the lock may look large and rugged, Master locks are known to be very low in quality. Another good step to take is to check your local laws involving burglary tools. In most states in the U.S. lock picks are legal to have as long as there is not intent to use them for criminal purposes. While this may not help your security, it is always good to know the local laws.
So what do you think? Do you feel safe behind your locks? Let me know in the comments below and remember to use this knowledge responsibly.
Legal disclaimer: I am not a professional nor do I know what I'm talking about. I am an amateur and do not have the experience or training of a professional. None of the articles on this blog are to be used or applied. If you want to try things that I say, then do your own research first. I am not a professional and all posts I write should be taken as that from someone who does not know anything. Read everything with a grain of salt and do not believe everything I say. Always check your local laws and use the information given responsibly. I do not in any way, shape, or form permit or endorse criminal activities or any actions that may or may not violate any laws. I, the author, take no responsibility for any of the actions or consequences that may or may not have resulted from information given in this or any other post I have made or will ever make. The reader is responsible for any and all results that may or may not have anything to do with any of the content.
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