New Zealand 2010 Importing Lock Picks

[freetoair2007]

Hey to all the Kiwi's on this very informative site - if you exist at all?

Wanting to purchase some lock picks from southord.com or lockpickshop.com but I'm a little worried though as I don't want customs seizing my packages!

Therefore, I am wondering if anyone from new zealand has done this before and manage to get their lock picks delivered to them without any form of problems from nz customs?

I know that it's not illegal in nz to own lock picks (http://www.mintechnz.info/legal-stuff.html) but can you get them delivered from overseas (since you can't purchase them here in little old nz) to here with out any problems?

cheers to anyone, from nz or abroad, that help this poor nz hobbyist out

[unlisted]

Hey to all the Kiwi's on this very informative site - if you exist at all?

lol wat?

I know that it's not illegal in nz to own lock picks (http://www.mintechnz.info/legal-stuff.html) but can you get them delivered from overseas (since you can't purchase them here in little old nz) to here with out any problems?

I love it when people answer their own question. Why would customs confiscate a package if it was not illegal? The most you would have to worry about would be taxes, import fees.

Try importing cocaine, and let me know what happens than..

[freetoair2007]

lol thanks for the reply mr moderator.

But i haven't really answered my own question.

it isn't illegal to own lock picks in new zealand but if you read the laws you can still get done for them. But the loophole is if your caught with the INTENT of using them for burglary. So if i don't intend to use them for criminal acts i'm fine, but I have to prove that in court and i don't really want to go to court to prove that or go to court in general!

I've read on the other posts about my neighbours, the Australians, getting their lock picks confiscated by customs even though it's not illegal to own lock picks in Australia. NZ laws regarding lock picks don't differ that much from Australia's (i think). So am concerned about wasting money and buying a set of lock picks online that i will never receive.

[globallockytoo]

Cocaine is not illegal to own. It is only illegal to traffic. Same as all the other "illegal" drugs.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Authority) have never stated categorically that drugs are illegal, but that some drugs are illegal to traffic.

If you get busted for posession, the usual charge (I'm lead to believe) is "possession of a trafficable amount"

Someone could please correct me if I'm wrong?

[Josh K]

Get them shipped via FedEx Express. I've never lost a package with them, even when shipping some of the more, er, interesting, items I posses.

Another idea would be to call / contact Customs and ask for a definitive ruling on the matter before you make the purchase.

@global: You can get charged with possession of a Schedule 3 drug. I believe it's schedule 3, I could be wrong. Either way, possession is a crime.

[globallockytoo]

But it's a misdemeanor if it is only a small amount as opposed to a felony that requires "intent to sell or distribute.

So do you consider a misdemeanor a crime or not?

[globallockytoo]

check out this list of people who "possessed" cocaine at one time or another...

http://www.nndb.com/crime/299/000043170/

[Josh K]

But it's a misdemeanor if it is only a small amount as opposed to a felony that requires "intent to sell or distribute.

So do you consider a misdemeanor a crime or not?

I dunno. Would going to jail or paying a fine constitute punishment for a crime?

[globallockytoo]

But it's a misdemeanor if it is only a small amount as opposed to a felony that requires "intent to sell or distribute.

So do you consider a misdemeanor a crime or not?

I dunno. Would going to jail or paying a fine constitute punishment for a crime?

would getting a suspended sentence or "a slap on the wrist" constitute a punishment for a crime?

(the law is an arse)

[Josh K]

But it's a misdemeanor if it is only a small amount as opposed to a felony that requires "intent to sell or distribute.

So do you consider a misdemeanor a crime or not?

I dunno. Would going to jail or paying a fine constitute punishment for a crime?

would getting a suspended sentence or "a slap on the wrist" constitute a punishment for a crime?

(the law is an arse)

The punishment you receive and the punishment I receive can be different because we are different people.

[unlisted]

If there is no law against simple possession of lockpicking tools, or no local restrictions (like licensed locksmith, etc) there is NO reason customs will confiscate your items. They may charge you customs/import fees-thats it. No easier way to say it.

Can you import a tool? say a screwdriver or a power saw? Think of it in the same context.

Now, with that said, if you have been investigated before in the past, arrested, underage, etc, than I would not have import them.

[freetoair2007]

If there is no law against simple possession of lockpicking tools, or no local restrictions (like licensed locksmith, etc) there is NO reason customs will confiscate your items.

Now, with that said, if you have been investigated before in the past, arrested, underage, etc, than I would not have import them.

Cheers Mr Moderator and everyone else that replied with a relevant answer to my question. Funny how the forum went off on a tangent to do with cocaine!

You are right, if there are "no law against simple possession of lockpicking tools, or no local restrictions (like licensed locksmith, etc) there is NO reason customs will confiscate your items" I shouldn't really be that concerned with customs.

And nope, I've never been investigated, or arrested before by the police and I'm definitely not underage! Just an average law abiding citizen with an interest in lock picking. Cheers for the advice. I'll be placing my order shortly and i'll see how things go...

[raimundo]

There are a number of us here who make our own picks, I believe that doing this is a superior way of getting picks, they can be customised to fit the particular job or to fit your personal style, and making them is very satisfactory in itself, you will learn new things, and if your first tries get broken from over heating metal on a grinder or whatever, you will be more careful to quench often the next time,
When you need a special type of pick you will not be dependent on a distant and perhaps expensive source, You will be self sufficient.

Materials to make picks of include
steel street sweeper bristles found where the curb brush rammed the curb at corners,
windshield wiper stiffeners/inserts, there are a lot of various widths and thicknesses, so get all you can find from the trash at a garage. stainless.
footlong feeler guages, that can be bought at a machinests supplier in the quantity you want and the exact thickness you require,

lesser quality metals that still make good picks
some hacksaw blades, thickness may vary by brand
flat steel drain snakes, some are better than others, some are cold rolled steel others show a blueing from heat treating. thickness definately varies.
some hanging file drawer folders, this metal is not the best but it works.
some electricians fish tapes are thicker metal still suitable for tensors and other lock uses, perhaps including auto opening tools
cheap chinese steak knifes, the thin bladed cheap ones, you can leave the wooden handles on them, and shape the wood a bit with grinder and sandpaper (design to avoid the stamped markings)
some report that they have used such things as allen wrenches, (usually a good one is too hard to work with easily)
auto oil dipsticks, (too thick, you'll have to thin it)

Look for tutorials on the lockpicks manual stickys or the pick fu stickies

[Eyes_Only]

From what I hear about other peoples experiences with their local customs is they will confiscate your pick tools if they feel like they have a reason.

Probably has to do with something like some other package containing serious contraband slipped through customs, whoever ordered it gets caught and squealed to the police and customs got in a little trouble by the local fed. So now they will be stepping up "vigilance" and the people working there will be kinda "trigger happy" so to speak in finding and taking away as many packages as possible to help make their superiors look good in the eyes of their government.

This is just my take on it so don't quote me on it but the last 6 places I worked at have had similar situations for various reasons and makes me feel that customs is really no different. But even if this was true it's very very rare that any of our pick tools ever get taken away by customs.

[VeNoMouS]

I've imported picks a number of times.

I personally haven't had any issues, from memory when i looked it up a couple years back the law basically states if you get caught with them on you in public without a decent excuse for having them on you, you can be done for burglary tools, ultimately its up to the police wither they charge you or not.