Defeated! :(

[Fah_Cue]

Yes, the title says it all... i was defeated tonight....

my mum is a real esate agent and one of her clients lost/misplased their keys to their new home. Well anyway she comes in asking if i could try to pick his lock so i agreed and went along to the house.

Here comes the bad part. I got there, there was a lockwood deadlock and door knob (forgot the abrivitation of them KIK i think). Got the dead lock open... i thought it would be easy from there but i was wrong, i couldnt get the right feel of tension on the door knob. It just felt really loose and everything. I tryed for a while... had no chance so i just called it a night. Then he told us that his sister might have a key, i was hoping i could leave the picking as a last resort. But it turned out ok his sister came with a set and they got in.

Dose anyone have any tricks/ways to get use to KIK's i know i should just go out and buy one and keep trying, bit late for that atm so just wanna get info from you guys.

Thanks
Fah

[Romstar]

Yeah, a pick gun.

Sounds like the lock you encountered is the same as the really cheap Weiser locks here.

The cylinder is made of plastic. So, your plug is prass, the pins are brass, and the cylinder behind the fase plate is some cheap-O thermo plastic.

The flexible kind. So all your feeling goes out the window. Some people can pick those, but honestly when you need it you just beat it to death with a pick gun. Well, use the gun last, you never know.

In any case, don't feel bad. I had one the other night that was installed upside down (pins on bottom), and that was a right royal mess.

Finally got it though.
Romstar

[globallockytoo]

Is it possible that you encountered a Lockwood combination entry set?...where it is a Lockwood 001, using a 201 Rim cylinder, usually 5 pin, for the surface mounted deadlatch. And the entrance set (KIK) was a Lockwood 530, also a 5 pin tumbler but the tolerances are tighter than other brands of knobsets because the length of the bible is shorter and the driver pins used can be of varying lengths.

OR could it be a Lockwood 007 or 777 deadbolt with a 500 series knob. If it was a standard residential as opposed to an urban dwelling, it probably isnt. The 007 or 777 uses a fairly good quality cylinder and the 500 series is a commercial grade lockset with better than average quality cylinders?

OR could it have been the cheap Lockwood Sentinel range of deadbolts and entrance sets, made in China and easy to pick. Perhaps you just had a toughy!

[telekenetix]

Romstar: In any case, don't feel bad. I had one the other night that was installed upside down (pins on bottom), and that was a right royal mess.

[/i]

Do you mean that locks with the pins upside down are harder? Because the main lock that I am looking to try (once I get my tools) is like that...and if it is a hard deal, I should not try it lol. It is a lock that isn't really in use because the lock is now a combination and used to use a key. So, the keyhole is still there.

[Raccoon]

Try picking the back door. I struck out twice now on cheap Key In Knob main entry locks, and succeeded on the less used, less worn back door.

[maxxed]

Try picking the back door. I struck out twice now on cheap Key In Knob main entry locks, and succeeded on the less used, less worn back door.

Lockouts can be ugly, even when the lock is a cheapie. Excessive wear and dirt can create problems. I carry both lubricant and degreasser to use on locks, each product can change the feel of the lock.
Don't forget to look for an unlatched window, I would rather climb through a window than drill a lock.

BTW every pro I know has been defeated, so Fah you have no need to feel bad

[globallockytoo]

Romstar: In any case, don't feel bad. I had one the other night that was installed upside down (pins on bottom), and that was a right royal mess.

[/i]

Do you mean that locks with the pins upside down are harder? Because the main lock that I am looking to try (once I get my tools) is like that...and if it is a hard deal, I should not try it lol. It is a lock that isn't really in use because the lock is now a combination and used to use a key. So, the keyhole is still there.

The main problem with cylinders fitted upside down (European method) is the fact that, if you were to take gravity into consideration and the prings in the bible are worn or not good quality, when you attempt to pick, you sometimes require alot less tension on your turning wrench, because the driver pins may not fall (rise) back quickly enough to create the artificial shearline. Hence the reason some of these cylinders appear harder to pick

[Raccoon]

The main problem with cylinders fitted upside down (European method) is the fact that, if you were to take gravity into consideration and the prings in the bible are worn or not good quality, when you attempt to pick, you sometimes require alot less tension on your turning wrench, because the driver pins may not fall (rise) back quickly enough to create the artificial shearline. Hence the reason some of these cylinders appear harder to pick

And another more serious issue is if you're not careful and over pick the pins, you can weaken or damage the springs to the point that the driver pin rests below the shear line and the customer's lock no longer functions. You can't pick it OR use a key.

[d_goldsmith]

Don't forget to look for an unlatched window, I would rather climb through a window than drill a lock.

Can you still charge people if you just climb through the window? Do you make them sign something or pay upfront?

[Romstar]

Don't forget to look for an unlatched window, I would rather climb through a window than drill a lock.

Can you still charge people if you just climb through the window? Do you make them sign something or pay upfront?

I know what you mean. I have often thought of that. I mean, they called you to get in, but climbing through a window has to be a last resort from my point of view. I mean, it can really make the owner feel silly, and in some cases even resentful.

I suppose, all in all if there is nothing else left, break out the ladder and go through a second story wondow.

Romstar

[maxxed]

I am definitly referring to last resorts, a choice between destroying someones property ( lock ) or going through a window that is not locked. In principle is it any different than any other bypass meathod. Are we hired to get in or just pick the lock?

[parapilot]

It wouldn't look very professional climbing through a window! They could have given a local kid some sweet money to do that.

You could take the glass out then climb through, that would look more professional

Plus i'd properly kill myself trying to climb through a 2nd floor window, or get stuck and need to be rescued by the fire department, that would be good for business!

[maxxed]

Plus i'd properly kill myself trying to climb through a 2nd floor window, or get stuck and need to be rescued by the fire department, that would be good for business!

Don't forget to share the video if this ever happens. lol

[Romstar]

Plus i'd properly kill myself trying to climb through a 2nd floor window, or get stuck and need to be rescued by the fire department, that would be good for business!

Don't forget to share the video if this ever happens. lol

Yeah, ya just know if you get stuck with your a$$ bared and hanging ot of a window, some wise aker is going to have a video camera. Especially if the fire crew comes out with the lights going.

Nothing like kicking the ladder out from under yourself to really make your day.

Romstar

[Bud Wiser]

I'll admit I lack the experience many of you have in actual lock outs and various locks. But I found the key in knob locks I've tried usually rake pretty easy. The only prob I encountered was I some times had to use a plug spinner because it was too hard to get the correct way.

But then again, I've only done about 12 of these kind of locks, for fun and only once for a actual lock out, so the next one I encounter may be the one that crushes me