Lockpicking in Motion Pictures?

[Satan130]

I remember in a few episodes of burn notice they did some lock picking. I couldn't tell if they were picking legit(doubtful), but they a bit about what they were talking about.

[Major Boothroyd]

The Unit S4E6 had picking in it, they were opening a padlock with what looked like a SouthOrd hook. No wrench, makes you think about what else is being left out.

[vryez2xlr8]

Just came across this thread today. I had to add my two cents.

m4m750 wrote

I saw the movie called Hodini in which the main character played by Tony Curtis picked a prison cell lock with one of his feet. I wonder if this is possible given that he can't use pick and wrench at the same time.

I came across a book about Ehrich Weiss aka Harry Houdini years ago when I was in school. Having been a huge fan of his work I bought it and read it. It gave details about his life and how he was able do do some of the things he did like being double jointed and such. In the book it says he taught himself to pick locks with both his hands and both of his feet. It said that this was one of the ways he was able to reach the locking device on some of the prison doors he broke out of. Although I've got to say it would be a funny sight to see Houdini with both of his legs hanging out of the cell picking the locks! I also wonder how hard it would be to teach yourself to pick locks with your feet?!?

Slim-pickins wrote:

If you're really serious about the hobby and keep lock picks on you, then maybe it wouold be a good idea to get some sort of certification as a lock-smith and keep a few business cards on you. Maybe that would be enough to prove that you're intent is not criminal.

I often thought about this problem when I first got into picking locks years ago. My first set was a 32 piece which I kept at my house instead of my truck because I was afraid of being thought a theif. I am now no longer worried seeing how I am a firefighter and have proper I.D. to prove this. As an emergency worker I am able by law to carry such items on me and in my vehicle in the state where I live. Perhaps you could become a volunteer firefighter and you too could no longer worry about this problem. Just a thought. Anywho that's my two cents on this conversation.

[bldiener]

I wish I was a movie star then I could pick locks in seconds I guess its time to go practice.

[SUBJUGATOR]

Who couldn't use the Doctor's ultrasonic screwdriver in Dr Who?

[luckylockpecker]

I saw Sherlock Holmes picking locks in 2 very old movies (archive.org). Unfortunately you don't get to see his special toolz

[femurat]

In 007 Quantum of Solace, 007 is in Panama. He opens an hotel room door in 2 seconds with just one hand. You can't see what he uses but I guess it's a high-tech device...

[Mitchell!]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake: Jessica Biel (yum) uses a jack-knife to open an old, crusty padlock.

[Verhasst]

I'd say the most common error is lack of a tension wrench.

However, in movies, it mostly seems that if you have the temerity to jam something into a lock that's not a key, and then wiggle in briefly with intent, the lock will open.

[apb]

"Munich" had the scene where they jiggled some sort of metal piece in the keyway to get door a open, right before they put a bomb in the telephone.

[weerwolf]

Gone in sixty seconds: Car ignition picked with a pick gun attached to a led screen

Yeah , I noticed that too. Don't know what that was supposted to be.
The original Gone in Sixty Seconds is much better. They actually show how the locks are opened. But I don't know how realistic it is.
The plot is much better in the original too.

[hillbilly21]

you know that pretty mucb all hand cuff keys are the exact same and you can pick them up at any spy store, or gun show. i couldnt believe it but they all use the same cut of key.

[squelchtone]

i couldnt believe it but they all use the same cut of key.

yeah it wouldnt be very useful if a police agency transferred a prisoner to another police agency and wooops! cant uncuff the guy in cuffs we dont have those keys!

or even in house when a beat cop brings someone in, leaves them in booking, and nobody there has the same key to unlock the guy and process him.

Squelchtone

[cool-arrow]

I remember in a few episodes of burn notice they did some lock picking. I couldn't tell if they were picking legit(doubtful), but they a bit about what they were talking about.

I saw that episode and he was using a Peterson DCAP snake. It was also a Peterson pick case. It looked like he really did pick it because he used a tension wrench. Probably the only real lock picking I have ever seen on TV ever. He was pretty accurate in his statement where he said something like the only things most locks do is keep good people honest.

[SsBloodY]

I watched one movie when a guy in jail picked his handcuffs with a diamond tool it was perfect made diamond tool and he picked them using only it in like 3-4 sec.