Picks through Airports

by **stilte** » 2 Dec 2006 5:33

When bringing picks through customs, would it be good to take 'precautions' such as camouflaging them among screwdrivers, tweezers, locks and the like?

I'm going to sinmgapore, dont know the legal situation, I tried to finding info but found none.

by **Legion303** » 2 Dec 2006 5:40

I would make no attempt to disguise them at all in an airport, because if they're found and it looks like they were hidden, you're in for a long night. More importantly, I would check very carefully on Singapore laws regarding picks. A country that canes people for spitting gum on the sidewalk is probably not a country that would look favorably on someone smuggling (or at least giving the appearance of doing so) lockpicks in.

-steve

by **UWSDWF** » 2 Dec 2006 5:41

Yeah I wouldn't bring them till i found out the law.... I don't imagine Singapores prison system is too nice

by **stilte** » 2 Dec 2006 5:57

That sounds reasonable. And I wouldn't like to find out how nice the prisons are.

I found this part on ebay.com.sg:

eBay does not permit the listing of any lockpicking or locksmithing device. eBay users are cautioned that under Singapore law, any person found armed with any article or instrument for use in the course of or in connection with any housebreaking is guilty of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment. Since lockpicking devices would fall under this category, these are prohibited from being listed on eBay.

It's different from ebay.com's warning. However if what they say is true, then it would still go to proving intent that the person was going to use these tools to commit a break in.

If I can't bring them, it'll mean over a month without picking, I'll suffer from withdraw symptons. Better ask around a bit more first, can't be overcautious with this. Maybe I could send my picks in the mail and pick them up somewhere.

by **Romstar** » 2 Dec 2006 6:15

Still working on the law end of this question.

However, while I do not condone the illegal transport of possible contraband into a foreign country your idea is not without merit.

Thats the way it used to be done when you needed to get some specific pieces of hardware into another country. Just put it alongside a bunch of other stuff in a tool kit. If you are supposed to be an electical or computer technician, having your tool kit is perfectly reasonable. Most of the tools are pretty common, and the ones that aren't must be some specialized tools that you use.

Please do NOT try the following example, this is for illustrative purposes ONLY!

I distinctly remember an incident where a gun was brought into a secure area by disassembling it, and putting the pieces into various electronic devices. I believe that back in the day when video cameras sat on your shoulder, you could fit an entire Walther PPK inside one. Nobody the wiser.

I do NOT encourage this activity under any circumstances.

If you do not know the legal status of your tools in a foreign nation you should leave them at home.

Or, you can use Barry Wells' trick. Fed-Ex them to a friend or to the hotel where you will be staying.

Personally, considering the way the legal system works in that country, I would just leave them home and see if I could buy some once I was there. It isn't worth that kind of punishment.

Have a good day,
Romstar

by **stilte** » 2 Dec 2006 6:22

Yes, definitely. Besides a few speeding laws, i've been a law abiding citizen for most of my life. My question regarding airports would be to avoid the hassle of having to explain them to inquisitive customs officers.

by **Romstar** » 2 Dec 2006 6:33

stilte wrote:Yes, definitely. Besides a few speeding laws, i've been a law abiding citizen for most of my life. My question regarding airports would be to avoid the hassle of having to explain them to inquisitive customs officers.

Be aware that customs goes in both directions.

You could always find the numbers for a few Singapore locksmiths, ring them up, tell them you are a locksmith, but are unfamiliar with the laws in their country, and ask if your tools are illegal.

Since this is a foreign nation, and so far I can't find anything on the law for the country if the issue of being licensed comes up, leave them home.

Its funny, but if you put your entire kit in your checked luggage, and fly to just about any American city nobody will bat an eyelash. Some other countries though aren't so relaxed.

Bear in mind, Singapore is a country where drug trafficking can carry a death sentence. Whats the punishment for possession of break in tools? 10-20 in a hole in the ground?

Either figure out the law, or leave them home. Its just too much of an unknown.

Romstar

by **greyman** » 2 Dec 2006 7:20

Don't even think about taking lock picks through Singapore. That country is one of the strictest on earth for "banned substances". They excecute 20 people a year or something like that for drug smuggling and they only have a population of around 2 million people. I would not for the life of me be putting myself in a position of having to explain WTF I was doing carrying lock picks there. If you need them at the destination, just send them through the post to a friend. Call it a trade sample or something.

by **stilte** » 2 Dec 2006 8:31

Now that it's put that way, I won't be doing anything like that till I'm sure of the laws. Thanks for the replies. The population is 4.4m according to cia.gov. I can put just the bare essentials in an envelope and mail them, will cost me only $2 at most.

by **Romstar** » 2 Dec 2006 9:25

Now thats the ticket.

Oh, and I do agree with Greyman, Singapore is a bit nuts with their punishments.

Romstar

by **raimundo** » 2 Dec 2006 11:29

there are a number of countries in the far east that have companies making lockpick products, 13 Song or New sparkling or shuang or something like that, one of them may be in singapore, if that is so, I would consider buying them in country, this will give you a legitimate reason to have them as you are buying them for use when you return, alternatly, consider the various improvised picks, piano wire is a good thing to have. a long straight piece of it in the bottom of a luggage pocket would be no problem, If you can make your own picks you will never have to carry picks through customs, and don't talk about your hobby in singapore except if you find a company to buy the picks from, there you should be sure to tell them that you are studying locksmithing and researching various locks. Singapore is a place where you would not even be advised to talk about lockpicking unless its absolutly necessary, its a facist dictatorship with an elected leader. typical of so many banana republics and now the US.

by **Verhasst** » 2 Dec 2006 15:30

I agree with what others have said here; leave them at home. There is no way that, if they discover the picks, they are going to be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. They are going to assume that you are intending to use them for some nefarious purpose, and they are going to incarcerate you for who knows how long.

This is a place where you can get a caning for vandalism; what do you think "intent to commit burglary", or whatever they class it as, will get you?

If you have to take anything at all, take some small pieces of metal you can use to make picks & tension wrenches with a file and pliers. We used to carry the metal "brushes" that came loose after the streetsweeper went by the curb.

by **stilte** » 2 Dec 2006 20:54

Yeah I've been pretty much talked out of carrying them with me into the country. Newsparkling is in singapore, will give them a call to see if they're willing to sell their picks to me.

After an hour of searching, I found the burglary laws...

HERE

Looks like you still need to prove intent to use the instrument in a break-in, but I'm not going to test if it'll hold up in court.

by **Verhasst** » 3 Dec 2006 0:22

stilte wrote:Looks like you still need to prove intent to use the instrument in a break-in, but I'm not going to test if it'll hold up in court.

Well, that's what needs to be proven when the case goes to court; that's not going to stop the police from arresting you and perhaps keeping you locked up until trial.

by **lancoff** » 3 Dec 2006 0:38

I used to work for the Transportation Securtiy Administration I would have to say that it would be a horrible idea to try to transport any sort of lockpicking equipment on a airplane. Even if you declare them you will be in for a lot of questions. I would say it would probably be easier to mail them to the location you are going to. I have done this from time to time with certain items I have not wanted to go through the hassle of try to get through the airport. If you are staying at a hotel mail it to them and they will gladly hold it for you when you check in.

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