Ryan Says…

My latest hair-brained idea was to learn how to pick locks :) Let me tell you, it’s a lot easier than you think! Here you can see my tools and my practice lock:

Want to try it out yourself? Here’s how to do it in 4 easy steps!

1. Read the MIT Guide to Lock Picking

2. Purchase a lock picking tool. I purchased the SouthOrd Jacknife Pick Set from LockPicks.com. About $38 plus tax and shipping.

3. Purchase a lock to practice on. I went to the local Office Depot and purchased a Kwikset deadbolt (I got the one with a double cylinder so I got two locks for the price of one - in case I bust one of them). About $15.

4. Pick away!

I was planning to remove some of the pins from the Kwikset bolt to make practicing easier, but it turns out its incredibly easy to pick with the full 5 pins so I didn’t bother.

So how easy is it? Put it this way - my lock picking tool arrived yesterday, I purchased my lock today. Within about 5 mins I picked the lock, and now I have it down to a fine art (for this particular lock anyway). My record is about 5 seconds, with an average of 20-30 seconds!

Of course, this kwikset lock is an ‘easy’ lock (despite the claim on the packaging that it is a PICK RESISTANT 5-pin system). I tried unsuccessfullly to pick the lock on the door to my apartment, which I discovered is a 7 pin system and I suspect has some odd shaped pins, making it more difficult. I will keep trying.

Anyway, if you have the urge to try it out for yourself then let me know how you go! It goes without saying that this type of skill carries with it a certain code of ethics - don’t use it for anything illegal!

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