Easy & convenient way to get out of handcuffs

[Chrispy]

If you take a trip to your local newsagent, you'll find what are referred to as "Bulldog clips". The are essentially the black clips (with silver removable handles) that are used to hold together sheets of paper.

They come in many sizes and I believe the largest is just over an inch thick, meaning they can hold an inch stack of paper. Once you clip the black bit onto the stack of paper, you can flip the handles down to lay across the paper. Anyway, I'm sure you're aware of them.

The removable handle (which varies in size from clip to clip) can be taken off and used as a makeshift key for a set of handcuffs or thumbcuffs.

They work on the same principle as the bitted end of a genuine cuff key and can be inserted into the keyhole and turned to release the pawl, allowing the ratchet to move, opening the handcuffs.

The great thing about these clips is that the handle can be left on and the clip clipped onto the pocket or waist line of a pair of pants (basically anywhere) and if missed during the initial pat down after arrest, the handle can be removed and used to escape from the cuffs.

I have practised using this technique on both handcuffs and thumbcuffs and find it can open a set of cuffs in about 12 seconds (per cuff) when cuffed behind your back with thumbs up (as is standard position with all law enforcement and security).

If anyone has some further questions regarding this technique, please feel free to pm or post here.

NOTE: The author of this post is in no way condoning the unlawful escape from custody and reminds readers the information posted here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

[digital_blue]

That's neat Chrispy, but why not just clip a handcuff key to you in that case? They work pretty good too. Thumb cuffs are very very easy to escape from as well, so picking them is hardly worth the effort. Having said that, I do think your bulldog clip idea is a good one. I'm a sucker for the James Bond-ish stealthy stuff. I'm the product of too many movies I think.

db

[Jimmie]

and if you turn the tips of this "bulldog clips" 45° ... with the help of a vice grip ...

you can file down a small groove on these tips in the middle of them and then ...

you get a very very nice alternative double bitted tensioner to be used on car locks

[Dent]

Well just a thought, but isn't it a felony or at least a misdeamor if they find a handcuff key on your person during an arrest?

If so, they probably won't/can't do much if they find a bulldog clip, because they won't know what it is used for. And if you do end up using it, you shouldn't be sticking around long enough to tell them that you used the bulldog clip

[Chrispy]

digital_blue: not everyone has access to a handcuff key, anyone can purchase a bulldog clip. Thank you for your compliment

Dent: my point exactly, although if they find the clip they will probably take it anyway, but yes you won't get another charge against you for having a handcuff key without a reasonable excuse.

[vector40]

Actually, that's insightful; the shape of those clips seems almost perfect for this. Nice call, Chris.

[digital_blue]

I don't know about the laws in your area, but it is not illegal in Manitoba to posess either handcuffs or their appropriate keys. I did a little research on this because for a time I had a comedic escape bit in my routine and wanted to know for sure.

Cheers!

db

[Dent]

From what I was reading, it wasn't illegal to have handcuffs or keys, but if you were arrested and there were handcuff keys found on your person, THEN it was a crime.

So in other words, have them at your show, use them in your bedroom, but leave them in your case and don't have them on you should you get arrested.(you can probably explain your way out of this as a magician, I am constantly finding it a way to explain all sorts of odd behavior beacuse most laymen don't know what we actually do....)


So anyway, if you have a good excuse you are probably fine, but what I read was that having them on your person while being arrested could be an added charge.

[omelet]

what if you're already wearing handcuffs wehn you are arrested? Is it illegal to have the key then? Do they put an extra set of handcuffs on you or do they take the ones you have off and put their own ones on?

[Sabin37]

That's funny. I dought that they are going to rely on the ones that are already on you. They might take them off (if they feel like it) but there is a very good chance that they will use their own.

[master in training]

ok, let me get this straight....
do the handcuffs police and security services use, take keys like these?


if so, then i bought a set of handcuffs with keys just like this for under £5 on holiday years ago, they come with 2 keys and i could happily have a key on my keyring and just say it is in case they get secured to anything, i have a key to remove them in an emergency. how would that get an extra charge added to me if arrested?

[vector40]

Yes, I'd like to see the text of the statutes for anyone claiming that it's illegal to carry a handcuff key.

[digital_blue]

There are a number of makes of handcuffs. Some have quite high security locks on them. Having said that, it is my understanding that city police most commonly use Smith & Wesson cuffs that do in fact use this key. I know this is true of the Winnipeg Police Department. I have for some time carried a handcuff key on my key ring. An impromptu handcuff escape can be quite a crowd pleaser.

db

[Dent]

Hehe... check this out:




Anyway I looked through my state(illinois) code, and only found this:

"Penal institution" for the purposes of items of
24 contraband specified in clauses (i) through (xi) of
25 subsection (c)(2) means any penitentiary, State farm,
26 reformatory, prison, jail, house of correction, police
27 detention area, half-way house or other institution or
28 place for the incarceration or custody of persons under
29 sentence for offenses awaiting trial or sentence for
30 offenses, under arrest for an offense,

And also that handcuff keys or any device used to open up a lock without the key is determined to be "contraband" and that possesion of contraband in a penal institution was a crime.

So basically is says "Any possesion of a handcuff key in a place for the custody of people under arrest for an offense is illegal"

Which could mean the back of a cops car or perhaps even just the road outside your car after your under arrest.


So in other words, it isn't illegal until your under arrest and then it becomes contraband and possesion is another crime.

[omelet]

They should just make it illegal to think about breaking out of handcuffs, that would head the problem off at the source...