Lock picking is the art and skill of opening locks without the use of keys originally designed for them. Obviously, there are a lot of ways on how to pick locks and a lot of these methods don’t require any expertise. After all, you just need to open the lock without the key that was designed for it. So in reality, even the dumbest thief can defeat locks. All he needs is a crowbar, car jack or a sledgehammer and he’s in.
But of course, the art of lock picking is not just about brute force. Of course, knowledge of these brute skills is also necessary for emergency situations. But in real life, you would usually need to pick the lock without damaging the inside components and everything around it. There are a lot of reasons why people train to be subtle with this art. It goes without saying that most people would want to save the locks. It can be pretty expensive if you’ll end up buying new locks. Also, thieves practice subtlety to escape detection.
Here are some common techniques that you have to be careful with because they can damage the locks if you’re not careful:
1. Bumping
Lock bumping is a popular method that requires the use of a bump key and a hammer. A hammer or something close to it is used to “bump” the handle of the key and obviously, this can damage the lock if you’re not careful. It’s important that you don’t bump too hard or you can damage the pins inside. It’s often advised that you use the handle of the hammer instead of the head itself.
2. Raking
This is also a very popular method. Avoid it as much as possible especially if you’re not trained in it. Raking through the delicate pins can damage them. But this is also a good technique to master so in the case that you need to do it, rake through gently. You should also develop the timing needed to turn the tension wrench so that you can open the lock in as few rakes as possible.
3. Picking
Yes, even the general technique of picking can be destructive if you’re not careful. The key here is to practice! Practice on cheap locks first until you develop the feel needed to become effective. It’s also important to note that you should use your wrist in manipulating the pick instead of your elbow. Using your elbow may put too much pressure and that can damage the pins.
You should also use the right tools. Avoid anything that can break or scratch the inside components. Also, avoid using tools that can easily break because it will be very hard to explain why there’s a thin piece of metal inside the lock.
It’s true that all of these techniques are very important and there will come a time when you’ll need to do them. Constant practice is the important thing because done correctly; these techniques can leave no traces. You’ll also be able to develop the patience needed so that you won’t hurry things and damage locks in the process.
