Are North American locks less secure?

[lockedin]

Are North American locks (or locks commonly found in the United States) weaker than he rest of the world's locks? I've been to South America and over 90% of the locks on the doors are very difficult to pick. In fact a local locksmith in Peru told me my tools were obsolete (after showing him my southord set) and that he has to drill all the locks in case of lost keys or a lockout. This is in comparison with locks in the United States such as the ubiquitous Kwiksets and Master Locks without security pins, that can be picked in less than a minute with a little practice. I can take into consideration the fact that security might be tighter in more impoverished third-world countries, but it seems like most of the countries in Europe and other more industrialized nations (with the exception of Japan) have higher security locks than the United States also.

[lockedin]

Just to clarify, by "weaker" I mean less secure.

[n2oah]

In fact a local locksmith in Peru told me my tools were obsolete (after showing him my southord set) and that he has to drill all the locks in case of lost keys or a lockout.

He sounds like a driller killer

[Shrub]

Hes justifying lack of skill and knowledge by saying they arent pickable.

Ignore him and stick around here.

[Eyes_Only]

The U.S. isnt the only one. For a long time (and maybe even now) Japan employed mostly disk tumbler locks for things like their front doors from what I hear and also saw on one of thier tv programs. But theres been a few break in crimes over there where skilled criminals used lockpicks and lock bypass methods so now they're starting to use more secure locks.

[Lock Jockey]

I've been wondering what the major differences between common American locks and common European locks is. I've heard that the keyways are usally smaller and harder to get picks into and that the are usually installed in the door with the pins pointing up.

[vector40]

To be honest, yes, my impression is that a number of other countries tend to have higher-security locks floating around than us.

[Chucklz]

The locks in much of Europe tend to be Euro cylinders. Most are much higher quailty than the average US Kwikset. But shoddy installs abound, just like in the US, even in places where you would expect a good installation. The Hauptbanhof restaurant in Munich has euros on the exterior door sticking out a good 3cm !

[datagram]

Unless everyone there are using locks with trap pins (which I doubt), there's no reason for him to _have_ to drill every lock he comes across...sounds lazy to me. Plus, making them buy new door locks is more profitable.

[greyman]

I haven't been to South America, but I know a few people from thereabouts and it seems that the double-bitted double-turn lever lock (like the Italian Mottura but locally made) is very popular. Yes - I suppose it hard to pick without the right tools, but there's really nothing inside these locks that is specifically designed to make them hard to pick. They are actually very simple - all stamped steel and so cheap to mass produce. My observation about these double-bitted key locks is that although they are big and sturdy, often with 4 or more double-throw bolts on them, one small hole in the right place would suffice to align the gates on the levers. Bit of a David and Goliath really.

With respect, it would be a serious exaggeration to say that South America leads the world in lock technology.

[raimundo]

I havent been in south america for a long long time, but even then, there were bars on the windows of first and second floors, the twentyfoot high brick walls had broken bottles cemented into the top edge, and storefronts all had rolldown solid barriers locked with large padlocks, that had inserts that fit into the shackle to fill the entire area not used by the hasp, thus keeping out bolt cutters. the locks I found to pick were easy though. but the populations are security consious, cars have hijack switchs to kill the engine a few seconds after the switch has been flipped, I was told that a hijacked car will never be found if its not stopped in about a minute after the incident. little signs on the street say 'ojo, raponeros en la via"

[lockedin]

Not only are switches to kill the engine installed but metal obstructions are installed on the inside of car doors to prevent slim-jim type bypasses, and many of the door locks have been converted (unprofesionally) to cruciform locks. The hub caps require a special key to remove, and access to the gas cap required a disk type key like an abloy disklock.

I havent been in south america for a long long time, but even then, there were bars on the windows of first and second floors, the twentyfoot high brick walls had broken bottles cemented into the top edge, and storefronts all had rolldown solid barriers locked with large padlocks, that had inserts that fit into the shackle to fill the entire area not used by the hasp, thus keeping out bolt cutters.

Raimundo, your description sounded a lot like Peru. What country were you in?

[vector40]

Pretty sure he was living in Colombia (Bogota, appropriately).

[Mutzy]

i would've thought drilling is a more exhaustive process than picking...

[lockedin]

i would've thought drilling is a more exhaustive process than picking...

Any clown with a little knowledge of where the shearline is or how to get around steel inserts can drill a lock (not to say drilling is the easy way out in all cases). Picking and other forms of compromising take more practice and experience.