Need help - picks too big?

[YelseW]

Ok man thanks

[YelseW]

Hey srry but I just came back and noticed that Mr.Ules lives in Canada. Where do you obtain picks? Is it not illegal to even possess them in Canada?

[Mr Ules]

I Canada were not even allowed to think of lockpicks with some kind of criminal charge. But picks are obtained in Canada as they are anywhere else, which is through locksmiths supply shops, the internet, or from a fellow locksmith. ( if you are also a locksmith ) but if you're not a locksmith you'd have to make your own.

[YelseW]

oh I see. So if I'm only a hobbyist and not a real locksmith I cannot get picks... Land of freedom my @55. lol srry, but I can order them online right?

[Romstar]

I Canada were not even allowed to think of lockpicks with some kind of criminal charge. But picks are obtained in Canada as they are anywhere else, which is through locksmiths supply shops, the internet, or from a fellow locksmith. ( if you are also a locksmith ) but if you're not a locksmith you'd have to make your own.

What the HELL is this?

Holy crap, go read the Criminal code, and stop asking police officers for advice. Beter ye, go talk to a lawyer.

CCC section 351, 352 and 353 are the pertinent sections.

Essentially it says that you mut be in posession of the tools in a circumstance which give rise to a reasonable belief that you are then, or about to commit a criminal act.

Further, the Canada Criminal Code passes the buck so to speak for licensing purposes onto the provinces. In essence, if the province has not instituted legislation, you can't be guilty of posession of burglery tools UNLESS you are commiting a crime. In which case, ANY tool in your pocket is a buglery tool. A screw driver, a hammer, even vice grips.

Of all the provinces, only 3 have provincial legislation. Those are, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Everywhere else depends on the Canada Criminal Code.

http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/e ... _0914.html

This is a Supreme Cout case which in essence explains this situation.

Romstar

[Mr Ules]

Well romstar, you're pretty close as to who I'm getting this information from. It is a corrections officer who is a friend of the family.

[Romstar]

Well romstar, you're pretty close as to who I'm getting this information from. It is a corrections officer who is a friend of the family.

I honest to god am NOT trying to be rude.

I have answered this question more times than I can think of, and the worst people are law enforcement. In their minds ANYONE with a lock pick is some sort of criminal. Terrible really, but that's the way it is really.

There is something in the minds of a lot of people that makes them ask why any normal person would want to pick locks. For FUN yet of all things.

The real issue is that most police officers really don't want to add to their burdens, and as I said, they just often times don't know.

Now, possession of burgerly tools is often what is called an ancillary offence. In other words, it is something they charge you with in addition to something bigger such as B&E or auto theft.

The crown will often try to stick on lesser charges so that they have something to bargin away later on. You see it on TV all the time. You help us here, and we'll know this off your charges. The problem is, that unless you are committing a criminal act, possession by itself isn't criminal either.

Anyway, I think I have typed about enough on this topic tonight.

Take care, and happy legal picking
Romstar

[hung82000]

We have a fairly comprehensive Law Enforcement education system in Minnesota, and the topic of burglary tools was covered well. But of course there are always people who have been out of school for a number of years and have long since purged the info from their heads. My favorite piece of advice is not to give the police a reason to search you, and they'll never have to know about your lockpicks. If you're carrying them around openly telling everyone you know that you can pick locks, and you're not a locksmith, chances are you'll be hearing from someone in Law Enforcement when something happens in your neighborhood. If you pick and handle them responsibly, and only open locks you're authorized to access, you shouldn't have to worry.

[Mr Ules]

well thanks for all the help.

[Romstar]

You are most welcome.

Romstar