I have a question that needs to be answered =\

[polarmike]

I want to start the hobby of lockpicking but I don't know if its legal here. I currently live in Illinois and its getting a bit confusing because I keep hearing several things.

What I want to purchase is

http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/PXS-05l.jpg

from southord of course but im not sure that it would be safe here.

Illinois: (Possession)
Legislation: Unknown
Quote:
Sec. 19-2. Possession of burglary tools. (720 ILCS 5/19-2)
(a) A person commits the offense of possession of burglary tools
when he possesses any key, tool, instrument, device, or any explosive,
suitable for use in breaking into a building, housetrailer, watercraft,
aircraft, motor vehicle as defined in The Illinois Vehicle Code,
railroad car, or any depository designed for the safekeeping of
property, or any part thereof, with intent to enter any such place and
with intent to commit therein a felony or theft.

(b) Sentence. Possession of burglary tools in violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony. (Source: P. A. 78-255.)

That was posted on the site but im not sure exactly.

[UWSDWF]

with intent to enter any such place and
with intent to commit therein a felony or theft

it is not illegal unless you intend to or police can prove you have/had intent to do something illegal


summary: THEY MUST PROVE INTENT!

Welcome
Cheers

[polarmike]

with intent to enter any such place and
with intent to commit therein a felony or theft

it is not illegal unless you intend to or police can prove you have/had intent to do something illegal


summary: THEY MUST PROVE INTENT!

Welcome
Cheers

Thank you! I was getting worried with this heh. I basically only wanna lockpick for the fun and challenge of different locks that I purchase and such. =)

[UWSDWF]

LP101 is a great place to start.
Take a look at the new users section, first and don't be afraid to ask any questions just remember to try a search before posting.

If you're looking for locks to pick, buy some but, DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON
I repeat DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON, they can and will break, then your house/car/safe/chasity belt is vulnerable or unable to be opened (think: emergency situation).

Cheers,
UWSDWF

[polarmike]

LP101 is a great place to start.
Take a look at the new users section, first and don't be afraid to ask any questions just remember to try a search before posting.

If you're looking for locks to pick, buy some but, DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON
I repeat DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON, they can and will break, then your house/car/safe/chasity belt is vulnerable or unable to be opened (think: emergency situation).

Cheers,
UWSDWF

Ill look heh. I have like 10 padlocks here that i lost the keys to or i just found laying in the dirt that i wanna try them on =P

[jim00718]

i whould get a bigger set and i heard that book was worthless

[UWSDWF]

yeah i'd reccomend the 14pc set as a starter

[freakparade3]

That book is indeed worthless. It's not even soft enough to make good TP. To someone who has never seen this site, it has some useable information on basic mechanics of a lock. But to anyone who has found LP101 it's not going to teach them anything.

[zeke79]

I agree, forget the book mang.

[polarmike]

The thing is, i cant pass up a good deal =D

[globallockytoo]

I'm not 100% sure about all the laws of Illinois as it pertains to locksmith tools but, Having recently sat in on the court case of the State of illinois vs Dependable Locksmiths and learning some more about the Illinois state laws, it has been made apparent, that if there are laws that specifically require ownership of said tools (and the court case did not make mention of anything specific), then as far as i understand, only the use of said tools in a professional environment required the holder to have a state issued license as a locksmith.

As a business that employs others than just the owner/operator, it is required to have a private agents license as well.

You may find though, that because the state of Illinois is prosecuting unlicensed locksmiths so fereverently, suppliers within the state of Illinois may be reluctant to sell the tools to anyone who cannot show their license as a right to hold such tools.

This does not mean that there are other companies outside the state of Illinois, that wouldnt sell to anyone as they were to see fit.

As a locksmith, I am torn about the ethics of making said tools available to "the untrained", but as someone who wants to further the trade as well, I can see the merits in allowing hobbiests to access the tools in the pursuit of determining better and more improvements to locking systems.

[Krypos]

actually, the book easy pickings comes with like, 95-100% of all SO orders. i ordered the pxs-14 + 2 slimlines and the book came with automatically, free of charge.

the belief is that the company has a huge surplus of that book due to the fact that nobody orders it, and so they throw it in as a nice little bonus on orders.

do either what i did (pxs-14 +2 slimlines) or just go with the pxs-14.

its a nice set for learning.

and welcome.

and UWSDWF- WTF is up with you and that bleeping chastity belt?! im not even sure what that is, and im afraid to seach google for it in fear of terrible results.

[UWSDWF]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chastity_belt imagine if you couldn't get the lock off!