Another question for locksmiths: removing locks

[licehunter2]

I'm still trying to overcome my disbelief that locksmiths here will not attempt NDE other than when the door is closed but unlocked (i.e., when the plastic card method can be used).

So I asked my police officer friend what they do when they need to gain (non-immediate) entry to a residence. Her answer was, previsibly, that they call a locksmith. So I asked her what does the locksmith do once at the scene in order to give them access. She told me they "dismount" the lock--specifically, they take some or all of the locking mechanism out of the door and then manipulate the latch directly (if it hasn't been ripped off already). She adds that the procedure does involve "some damage" to the door (she did say "door", not "lock").

Does anyone have any idea what the operation she described really consists of? I mean, you can't remove the lock unless the door is open, can you? Also, what would be the advantage of such an operation as opposed to drilling the cylinder?

Once again, thank you for any replies.

[vector40]

Depends. Some KIKs (Kwikset, some Schlage) can have their cores removed from the exterior while it's still locked, given the right tools. And I suppose on most knobsets you could disassemble the entire thing from either side by depressing the tab, but that requires that you unlock it first.

Anyone?

[quicklocks]

a cylinder snapper will remove the lock as will the bell puller when the door is shut

[vector40]

Well, yeah, so will thermite...

[Chrispy]

Well, yeah, so will thermite...

I don't know about you guys, but I never get tired of thermite...

When in doubt..... USE THERMITE!!!!

[fixer]

The technique for entering any house/office depends upon the lock on the door.

There are so many methods of bypass or manipulation that it is difficult to say what would be done without being at the door and looking at it. Even two kwikset knob locks might be done differently depending on the state of the door, the latch and the frame.

I have used drilling, picking, shimming, 'carding', long reach tools, latch manipulation etc ... etc ...

[licehunter2]

I will post a piccie tomorrow of a "typical" lock or two that would be approached in the way I described. I can confirm that no cylinder snappers or t******* are involved.

[mupet]

Locks in europe are differant to any that i have seen in the sence that they do things like anti drill pins in the face and sides of the cylinder housing, Serated pins in all chambers, Paracentric key ways to make it harder to get your picks it the lock in the first place, cylinder gards that prevent you getting anything to grab the cylinder these are just the ones that i can remember of the top of my head

[licehunter2]

Locks in europe are differant to any that i have seen

This is what you will see on three out of four doors where I live.