Excited (but probably shouldn't be)

[Kulu]

Hi all

I thought it would be nice to learn how to pick locks (at the moment I can rake pretty much anything rakeable but that's about it).

Anyway, I went to see my folks over Christmas and the heating was left on overnight. The room I was in had windows that were locked, I could not find a key anywhere to open them - but, I had a pick set with me. So I picked the locks to the windows and had a good night's sleep. Even better, I didn't damage the locks so didn't have the embarrassment of having to ask a locksmith to repair my shoddy handiwork on Boxing Day.

I know it's not much in the overall scheme of things, but I did love being able to find a solution to my problem without disturbing my folks at 01:00.

Anyway, I'm a new member and thought I would share an introductory story.

[LocksportSouth]

I can imagine (though I haven't done so myself) that a lot of the adrenaline rush and sense of "YES! I did it!" can come from picking a lock that you -need- to pick as opposed to one you -want- to pick. Of course, I'm sure you're aware (and will be reminded) of the two rules of locksport:

1. Never pick a lock that you don't own (or have explicit permission to pick from the owner), and
2. Never pick a lock that's in use

However it's great that you made this achievement and got out of it unscathed (locks CAN break from being picked, or you can get picks broken off in there etc). Congrats on your successful pick! I wish you lots of luck in your new lock-picking adventure - get yourself some practice locks (padlocks, cylinders, cutaways, whatever) and enjoy the hobby!

[Kulu]

Thank you!

I did know the two rules and was relaxed because it was my parents' house (so they would have given consent) and I could afford to pay for the locks to be replaced (I'm lucky that I can and lucky that I didn't have to).

I broke the second rule a week ago when I tried to pick the lock to my apartment from the inside. I managed to do it and then when the plug turned 180 degrees and the pins fell into the keyway, I learned a lesson that I won't forget in a hurry.

I have now bought some practice locks!

[LocksportSouth]

Eep! Have to admit I may have broken the second myself raking my front door lock a couple of times when I was 'new' (still a noob tbh, lol). Luckily it didn't break or go wrong in some way. Side note: I'm now terrified of the crap security on my own front door, lol.

Did you managed to get your apartment door fixed?

[Nagelfar]

do peaple usaly have bad locks on their front door? in sweden almoust everyone got ASSA locks with sidebars, and that would be a long day trying to rake

[LocksportSouth]

do peaple usaly have bad locks on their front door? in sweden almoust everyone got ASSA locks with sidebars, and that would be a long day trying to rake

Here in the UK at least, yeah, pretty much. New home builders will stick the cheapest crap they can find in there, and even home owners, advised about their security lacking would rather pick up the cheapest Yale (a brand people know well) and be done with it. The average person just doesn't consider security that big of an issue - or at least, doesn't consider picking an issue. Which is partly true - burglars will normally force entry or find a bypass like an open window - but lock snapping is pretty big here for criminals IIRC and most homeowners just don't care or are totally unaware.

Wish we could all follow Sweden's example

[GWiens2001]

Same here in the USA. When we bought our home, the first thing I did was pull the Kwikset junk off the doors and install something reasonably secure.

Gordon

[Lunna200]

Yes, the standard in the US in a cheap Schlage or Kwikset cylinder. Generally only Schlage C keyway. Stores often have the shelves stocked with several locks of the same key code, so your neighbor could practically have a key to your house.