Lockpicks and how to dispose of them

[Mehere]

Hello, folks.

Now, I'd like to apologise in advance because I should really post in the introductions thread, but I only have one question to ask (at least at the moment), so I hope you'll forgive me on that score. Also, this little tale is going to seem very, very pathetic, so please bear with me.

Ever since Thief 3 interested me in the subject I'd been chatting to a couple of people on the net who did lockpicking for a hobby - a sort of puzzle, if you will. Being a bit of a puzzle freak myself I thought I'd give it a go, with a few old padlocks I inherited with the house I bought. After messing around for a little while with cheap tools like paperclips etc I found I'd had some limited success and so thought I'd splash out on a cheap set of proper picks. Being in Britain, and being aware that our laws can be a tad strict, I checked up and came to the conclusion that I was okay to possess picks as long as I didn't leave my 'place of abode' with them - at which point I'd be 'going equipped'. So I found a handy-looking set on eBay, bid, won, and took delivery.

However, after winning the auction I discovered that picking tools are prohibited items on eBay - I'd just assumed, like the newbie I am, that anything listed had been approved. Now, I'm still fairly convinced I'm okay to own these things, but frankly I'm embarrassingly law-abiding and I'm a bit uncomfortable with them now and think probably best to get shot of them. Do people agree? Are there any other British folks here who can advise me? And if you DO think it's best to get rid, how do you suppose I should do it, bearing in mind I could be in trouble if I leave the house with them?

Yes, I know the theme running through this whole thing is "well, you should've thought of that", but we live and learn, don't we?

Thanks for reading, and any advice appreciated!

[figo]

if you know someone that is a policeman, and i mean know, not just "hello, good bye" tell him what you told us and ask or advice. If you can save your picks, the better, as to dispose of them, i think down the flush is not an option... cant you get rid of them from your own house? do you live near any river? you only have a problem if you get stoped by the police and even then, only if they find them. what chances of that happening realy exist? or then, just break them to tiny pieces and throw them in the garbage

[toomush2drink]

If you have them on you in the street and cant prove your a locksmith on your way to a job or working then your in trouble as they only have one purpose really, but in your own home shouldnt be a problem.
Im british too and you should know if you carry things like knives and screwdrivers the police will have you for going equipped unless you have some great excuse, its the same with picks. Better still go to the police station and ask.

[WhiteHat]

If I wanted to get rid of something and I didn't want anyone else to know, I'd just put it in a box, inside a plastic bag with some rotten old food or whatever and dump it in the bin as per normal. no one would go searching through a package with rotten food.

but I would encourage you to keep them. it would be the sellers responsability to ensure that they were keeping to the guidelines, not the buyers. your concience should be clear.

alternatively, you can send them over here and I'll dispose of them propperly for you...

[Absinthe]

I am not aware of any state that forbids ownership of lockpicks within your own property.

If you are sure you want to get rid of them, you can put them in an envelope and send them to me

Honestly, I doubt that unless you are in possession of them during the commissioin of a crime, you will have any legal repercussions.

By the way, eBay forbids them because they do. I think it has to do with the fact that they are not permitted to me sent through th email. Yahoo auctions, doesn't seem to care and will allow people to post near anything.

But the disclaimer goes as follows, I am not a lawyer, for legal guidance seek a lawyer, that's what they get paid for.

[jason]

I'm in the UK - possession of lockpicks is not an offence. If they are on your property (in your house, shed, back garden etc., you don't have anything to worry about).

If you are stopped in possession of them in public and are unable to explain to the satisfaction of the officer concerned why you have them - then you will be going for a trip to the Police station.

There is some UK case law on this (R. v Harrison 1974) where the individual concerned was in possession of lockpicking equipment - the judge directed the jury to find the individual guilty, as the tools had no other purpose.

Basically if you are just picking for a hobby you have no need for the picks to be outside your house - so as long as they stay at home you don't need to worry.

I work as a locksmith part-time (but I carry a small set of picks all the time - therefore I'm more likely to have to answer awkward questions than you being in possession of a set at home).

Don't listen to the other guys on here offering to "dispose" of your picks for you - just enjoy picking locks.

[Mehere]

I'd like to thank those who took the time to reply. I guess I was being a little overcautious, but I have to admit that when it comes to potentially being in trouble for things I tend to border on the paranoid. It's probably some deep-rooted psychological thing - Freud or one of that lot would have had a field day, I'm sure...

Looking at things in the cold light of day I do realise it isn't that big a deal, so thanks to all of you for bringing me back down to Earth a little bit!

Oh, and WhiteHat?

1001100 1101001 1101011 1100101 1110100 1101000 1100101
1110100 1100001 1100111 0101110 0111010 1101111 0101001

Cheers, folks.

[WhiteHat]

I'd like to thank those who took the time to reply. I guess I was being a little overcautious, but I have to admit that when it comes to potentially being in trouble for things I tend to border on the paranoid. It's probably some deep-rooted psychological thing - Freud or one of that lot would have had a field day, I'm sure...

Looking at things in the cold light of day I do realise it isn't that big a deal, so thanks to all of you for bringing me back down to Earth a little bit!

Oh, and WhiteHat?

1001100 1101001 1101011 1100101 1110100 1101000 1100101
1110100 1100001 1100111 0101110 0111010 1101111 0101001

Cheers, folks.

Just a thought. no law has been broken, just the guidelines of ebay.

I hope you find lots of enjoyment out of lockpicking, just like the rest of us!

thanks for the compliment on my tag too...

[BiGD440o3]

you could all ways give them to me!!!

[archiebald]

Happy picking keep them at home and use the at your leisure.