How realistic is lock picking?

[uperkurk]

So you've all seen movies where the CIA or a criminal will whip out a set of picks and pick their front door in like 10 seconds, obviously it would probably take longer than that but even then I still think it's just unrealistic that this happens in the real world. You also see them stick a stethoscope to a safe and within 1 minute the safe is cracked and sure it's all well and good for movies but how realistic is lock picking with regards to stuff like this?

I see videos on youtube of people lock picking padlocks and stuff but when it comes to a proper house lock, like in the UK the most common house lock is and it just isn't possible, even for a professional to pick this lock without having it at the perfect angle in a vice and even then it takes 5 minutes. Trying to do this while kneeling down at someones front door just seems highly unlikely.

[Squelchtone]

So you've all seen movies where the CIA or a criminal will whip out a set of picks and pick their front door in like 10 seconds, obviously it would probably take longer than that but even then I still think it's just unrealistic that this happens in the real world. You also see them stick a stethoscope to a safe and within 1 minute the safe is cracked and sure it's all well and good for movies but how realistic is lock picking with regards to stuff like this?

I see videos on youtube of people lock picking padlocks and stuff but when it comes to a proper house lock, like in the UK the most common house lock is and it just isn't possible, even for a professional to pick this lock without having it at the perfect angle in a vice and even then it takes 5 minutes. Trying to do this while kneeling down at someones front door just seems highly unlikely.

it's just a Yale British Standard 1 star kite marked cylinder.. and I think the BS kitemark is more for anti snapping than picking.. sure, there are people who can rake that open in 5 seconds, even mounted on a door, on their knees. some are hobby pickers, some may be locksmiths, some may be bad guys. I think the bitting (key cuts) come in to play, if the lock has spool pins or not, and just getting lucky doesnt hurt. Is it 100% repeatable to have a man walk up to 10 doors that have the same model lock and he will pick everyone in 10 seconds or even 1 minute or 2, probably not, but if he knows his stuff, it shouldn't take longer than 1 or 2 minutes, 5 if he is struggling.

I think in the UK at least, snapping is a bigger issue for people to worry about from what I read, it doesn't take much experience, and seems to happen more often than picking, although picking may be harder to detect if someone locks the door on their way out.

So yes, although TV and movies make it seem like anyone can open any lock in 10 seconds, normally it does take a little longer, but sometimes locks do open in 10 seconds, it just depends on the picker and his tools.

[uperkurk]

it's just a Yale British Standard 1 star kite marked cylinder.. and I think the BS kitemark is more for anti snapping than picking.. sure, there are people who can rake that open in 5 seconds, even mounted on a door, on their knees. some are hobby pickers, some may be locksmiths, some may be bad guys. I think the bitting (key cuts) come in to play, if the lock has spool pins or not, and just getting lucky doesnt hurt. Is it 100% repeatable to have a man walk up to 10 doors that have the same model lock and he will pick everyone in 10 seconds or even 1 minute or 2, probably not, but if he knows his stuff, it shouldn't take longer than 1 or 2 minutes, 5 if he is struggling.

I think in the UK at least, snapping is a bigger issue for people to worry about from what I read, it doesn't take much experience, and seems to happen more often than picking, although picking may be harder to detect if someone locks the door on their way out.

So yes, although TV and movies make it seem like anyone can open any lock in 10 seconds, normally it does take a little longer, but sometimes locks do open in 10 seconds, it just depends on the picker and his tools.

Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I know locks can be snapped and doors kicked in or crowbar'ed open but I'm talking about the "stealthy" break in that you see in movies. The entire point is that they break in and get out without the home owner knowing anyone was even in their house. Even if you came home and couldn't find a peice of jewelry or your handbag you wouldn't think someone broke is because nothing else looks out of the ordinary... Your lock is in tact, no broken windows ect.

I just wanted to compare real life lock picking to that in movies.

[Squelchtone]

I just wanted to compare real life lock picking to that in movies.

I wish Mythbusters would do this sort of testing, but something tells me the movies will always win when based on speed. heck, I would just be happy if more movies and tv shows showed actual picking using a wrench.. I saw a movie recently where they stuck 2 picks into the lock, no wrench, and it opened.. sigh...

[blue60]

having lost my keys I have had to pick my house (deadbolt with 5 spool pins in it) my storage locker (masterlock) and my shed (another masterlock) , I got in to all 3 places in under 3min (each)

[bembel]

I can open some locks in a few seconds, but the majority will take longer or they won't open after all.
In movies, it would be pretty boring to watch someone picking a lock for 10 minutes. (Or giving up after 30 minutes), so they're using the short version. I'm fine with that, because even as a lockpicker I wouldn't like to watch that for too long.

Lockpicking is just an element to keep the story going. If someone needs to enter a building, lockpicking is one possible option for the scriptwriter. It's not so important how they get in, but that they have entered the building now and the story continues.

[smokingman]

I can remember when they never showed picking at all much in movies or TV shows.
It was always a glass cutter (sometimes a even a diamond !) and duct tape/suction cup that got heros/villians into the target area so the story could continue.
I think the premise was to show a possible but not probable method of entry ,
that would not inspire real life burglars.
Something a little too far out there for average Joe to try, but entertaining instead.
Producers didn't want to get sued.
Heck , there was not even any cursing in movies back then, if there was it got an R rating.
When I started as a lockey apprentice, I was told never to let anyone see
how it was done, like it was a secret to be kept among ourselves .
Some of those guys would roll over in their graves if they knew how openly such things are discussed now.

[Achyfellow]

I always laugh (Or cringe) if the depiction is absurdly simple, but you have to understand how they work: They are making a 90 minute action-packed movie (Or not) that is telling and talking about lots of events in a very short amount of time. They have a story to develop and every second is precious, so it's understandable they don't want to spend 10 out of those 90 minutes with the guy picking a lock. Unless it's the lord of the rings, then I bet the guy would have made each movie two hours longer.

To OP: Obviously it's not as simple as depicted. As a standard approach I would recommend to assume everything you see in movies and TV is not real unless you find evidence to prove otherwise.

[nsquidc]

Unless it's the lord of the rings, then I bet the guy would have made each movie two hours longer.

Very, very true: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzQdW3RUY5g

And though this doesn't have to do with mechanical locks, that gate really needs a timeout after three incorrect guesses.

[DennisK]

I just wanted to compare real life lock picking to that in movies.

I wish Mythbusters would do this sort of testing, but something tells me the movies will always win when based on speed. heck, I would just be happy if more movies and tv shows showed actual picking using a wrench.. I saw a movie recently where they stuck 2 picks into the lock, no wrench, and it opened.. sigh...

I have repeatedly told my wife that some of the movies/TV shows should hire me to evaluate the way they use firearms in shows. Maybe we could go together and start a company that critiques guns and locks!

[teamstarlet]

I think you have to ask yourself how realistic movies are in the first place...

But as Squelchtone pointed out, it's all about the picker and his tools.

[glenaw]

I'm a retired locksmith and I myself have gone up to a door with two locks and picked both locks and had the door opened in less than three minutes, then there is the other side where I have been up against one lock and it took ten to twenty minutes to unlock the one lock. In the real world you have good days and bad days. So I have not only beat tv in time I have also took so long that they could never make the movie with the time it took to really pick the lock.

[Squelchtone]

I'm a retired locksmith and I myself have gone up to a door with two locks and picked both locks and had the door opened in less than three minutes, then there is the other side where I have been up against one lock and it took ten to twenty minutes to unlock the one lock. In the real world you have good days and bad days. So I have not only beat tv in time I have also took so long that they could never make the movie with the time it took to really pick the lock.

It would be interesting to make a film or movie about a locksmith trying to pick a lock open for a customer and have different people walking by have short conversations with him and the entire movie would take place in front of 1 door, and by the end of the movie he actually gets the door picked open (maybe a metaphor for his life or something), and you've seen him interact with all sorts of people and talk about all different things, and in the mean time show him trying to pick it, and show inside the lock shots of pins moving up and down..

Squelchtone

[illusion]

So many variables!

A clean(ish) lock that isn't mounted in some way that makes it a nightmare to apply tension and get picks in, generally isn't too hard.

By a busy road, when it's raining, with a lock that is stiff and corroded and mounted in a stupid position = less easy/pain in the arse.

[KPick]

So many variables!

A clean(ish) lock that isn't mounted in some way that makes it a nightmare to apply tension and get picks in, generally isn't too hard.

By a busy road, when it's raining, with a lock that is stiff and corroded and mounted in a stupid position = less easy/pain in the arse.

oh hell yeah. I serviced a couple of locks (deadbolt and doorknob) a couple of days ago.... Pain in the ass. There was a layer of old paint over the lock that made the plug harder to turn. Also, the lock hasn't been open in what seemed like a mellenium.... I was like. Aw crap. lol. scraped the old paint off and then super lubed it up with wd 40, raked and voila. baby opened up like a new born bird.