criminal association with lock picking

[antaean3000]

Why do people associate lock picking with criminals?

Iv seen several sites which claim burglars lock picks. howto website says that.

[LocksmithArmy]

cause people see the possibility of how it could be bad... they dont like the thought of someone using it for ill intent.

why is this in locksport local... maybe general or questions would have been better

[unlisted]

...why is this in locksport local... maybe general or questions would have been better

And moved..

[raimundo]

One in four people will take an instant attitude against the person who has this skill. This negativity will never go away. Others will take a standoff and wait to see attitude, and there are a lot of these people.
Two types are rare, the ones who are genuinely interested in the skill and are not thieves, and people who are helped through this skill and are genuinely grateful and remain friendly.

Its best to not introduce the subject unless the situation really needs the benifit, that means that if there is a copy of the key 60 miles down the road and the difference between getting that and manipulating the lock, its often preferable to take the time consuming ride, based on a judgement that the people who would be helped can't really handle the information well.

[minktheshrink]

One in four people will take an instant attitude against the person who has this skill. This negativity will never go away. Others will take a standoff and wait to see attitude, and there are a lot of these people.
Two types are rare, the ones who are genuinely interested in the skill and are not thieves, and people who are helped through this skill and are genuinely grateful and remain friendly.

Its best to not introduce the subject unless the situation really needs the benifit, that means that if there is a copy of the key 60 miles down the road and the difference between getting that and manipulating the lock, its often preferable to take the time consuming ride, based on a judgement that the people who would be helped can't really handle the information well.

Agreed. Most people think its a trade that only thieves seem to have. In reality thieves try lock bumping or just damage the lock. When it comes down to it most lock pickers are either hobbyists or locksmiths.

[turkeysandwich]

People fail to realize that any experienced thief or burglar isn't going to spend his time picking the lock to enter a property. Breaking a window or finding an unlocked entryway are much easier.

[UEDan]

1 word:
Hollywood\
Every heist/thief movie has some idiot picking a lock with a feeler pick and half diamond.
And
because locksports just sounds like a lie.

[LocksmithArmy]

lol speaking of that, I love when moovies have a whole real pick set... but only use 1 tool to open the lock lol

Hustle did that, they pulled out a nice HPC set... thee gu carefully selects his S rake and opens the lock with just that... and in another movie I was watchin (it was a thief collection of moovies) the girl does the same thing but worse... she not only used only one tool, but did not even turn the cylinder... but the lever handle door became "unlocked"

cracks me up...
sorry totally off topic

[WOT]

Why do people associate lock picking with criminals?

Iv seen several sites which claim burglars lock picks. howto website says that.

I don't think you can confirm it until it is verified by a forensic locksmith. Even then, it may not be that accurate if the lock has ever been picked before, i.e. from a prior lock-out.

"someone picked the lock" is a convenient excuse to make a false insurance claim or cover up the claimants goof up of forgetting to lock the door.

[Mr. Peabody]

It's pretty obvious why people have associations between Lockpicking and suspiscious activity. Although most of the lockpicking that we see on TV is from secret agents not burglars. People generally get uneasy when they realise ther house, which they thought was safe, can be opened by someone with lock skills (or indeed some dude off the street).

I have explained to some very close friends that I have recently gotten back into lockpicking as a hobby and at first they are very dubious and wonder what on earth I could possibly be doing it for. When I mention that it is now a worldwide "hobby" which is growing rapidly and show them the various enthusiasts websites they then back off and appreciate my new interest with a bit more understanding. Although I wouldn't tell anybody. Its hard enough being the guy who knows how to open a car door with a coat hanger. First they are all "yay thanks so much". Then they are all like " Stay away from my car man - mock suspiscious look"

[gdeadbolt]

There are many parallels between Locksport and Class 3 firearms ownership in the U.S.

Thanks to Hollywood, both activitives though legal, have been stigmatized in the public's viewpoint due to decades of films showing these items as the tools of criminals. Due to that, I limit discussion of it in real life to other likeminded people. While there is nothing wrong with it, people will look at you differently once they have that knowledge.

[lockmanstan]

In my opinion, people feel threatened by anything that threatens there security. "Unfortunately", locks a the #1 type of security, which makes anything or anyone that can disable them a threat to many people.

Quite frankly, the association of criminality with hobbyist or even professional lock picking services has always bothered me. It's almost like a stereotype. It's just standard human nature: anything that threatens you, beat it down lol. Unfortunate, but true.

[Squelchtone]

hobbyist or even professional lock picking services ....It's almost like a stereotype.

I totally agree. I'm on the fence of being a hobbyist and almost a professional, but I only unlock things for close friends. I don't plan on putting a listing in the phone book or driving around with magnetic signs on my car, but it's funny how sketched out people get about lock picking. There was a woman at my last job who locked her 2005 Impala with the keys inside, I got it open in about 10 seconds and for 2 years after, if we were talking at a work event, she'd make sure to say oh "squelchtone's great, he broke into my car once" and finally one day after having to correct her a dozen times that I didn't break anything, I just used a coat hanger to push the lock/unlock button; finally I told her to just please stop repeating the story, its making me look like a street thug.

Most people stop thinking bad things about picking when they see that I can ramble on about locks for an hour with intense passion, then they fall asleep listening to me, and that's when I take their purses and wallets!

just kidding.
Squelchtone

I aint no street thug.

[unlisted]

its making me look like a street thug...

Not a street thug, but a lock thug. That photo is proof.

Gangsta...

[pjzstones]

when i first started picking locks as a hobby this stigma really bothered me. i just wanted to tell every one "hey i got this great new hobby" but i was afraid they'd be like "why, you trying to break into people's houses"? i did end up telling most of my close friends who all were either fasinated or like oh thats cool. only one was like "well if anything comes up missing and there's no sign of break-in i'll know who did it". i really didn't think much of it i just said "yeah ok well you ain't gotta worry" enough said. i've only had one serious problem and i hope it's the last cause i'm way more reserved now because of it. well most of my friends knew what i do and were fine with it. there was one of these friends who i use to hang out with all the time that lives with his dad. his dad never had a problem with me and he had said before that he liked me. that is until he leaned that i pick locks. the first thing he said was "so what, you break into peoples stuff" with a blank condisending look on his face. i really didn't see that one coming. i told him no it's my hobby just as some one collects card or builds models or what not. he still doesn't belive it and i'm no longer welcome at his house. i guess this stigma was a more stronger influence on him than my personal integrity.
this isn't really about why people associate it with criminals but more on how much some people can belive it.