Free Lock Picking Lab, Open to the Public!

[HamFisted]

Yep, you read that correctly. If you currently don't have the funds to build your own lock pick lab, with practice boards, swivel mounts and various types of residential and commercial locks, HAVE NO FEAR!

There is a place for budget hobbyists to gather and sharpen their skills without paying a dime! All that's required is that you bring your own tools.

Where is this free and fun haven for lock picking students, you may ask? Chances are, there's one right around the corner from you.

Home Depot. That's right. HOME DEPOT!

I just got back from Home Depot (The University for Frugal Lock Pickers) and I'm still laughing about the whole incident. The Home Depot in my neighborhood has an awesome collection of Schlage, Kwikset and even the occasional Bedford locks nicely fitted on boards equipped with swivel mounts.

I recently acquired a sturdy set of Peterson picks and I was itching to try them out on unfamiliar locks. So, I promptly threw all the deadbolts into the locked position and proceeded to work my way from one end of the display to the other. At first, no one seemed to notice. Then, I found I had attracted a small crowd of onlookers. I paid them no nevermind and kept doggedly at my education.

Then, the orange apron wearing Home Depot employees gathered around. At this point, I figured that I was going to be focibly ejected from the premises, but to my surprise, they were all friendly and curious. One of them even asked that I tutor him.

I replied that I really shouldn't be teaching anyone anything at this point, since I was still learning myself and I would probably pass on some bad habits. Still, he was very cool about the whole affair and commented, "Man, come by and practice anytime you want. Feel free, dude."

So there you have it. Home Depot! The University of Easy Pickings!

[synth]

woah, bad ass.

yup, the home despot is one of my favorite stores, if not my favorite.

i love hardware stores....

i'm going to go try that sometime. i hope the guys at my local despots are as cool as your guys.

[Sabin37]

I think it's great that they encouraged you to come back. It's not really a response you might expect. Although when you think about it, most people are amused by lock picking and would be interested in it. One disadvantage is that you would not be able to do that in places where the possession of lock picks is illegal. It's definitely beneficial for lock pickers with a low budget.

[HamFisted]

I think that the only place in the U.S. where mere possession of lock picks is a crime without a locksmithing license is the District of Columbia. I guess I can understand why.

But in Cali, they have to prove criminal intent to have reason to arrest you or confiscate your picks. Messing around with the display locks in Home Depot may raise some eyebrows, but won't get you thrown in cuffs (though I imagine some store managers may ask you to leave).

However, if you're cruising around at night, with your headlights off, wearing a ski-mask and gloves and toting lock picks around... You might have a bit of explaining to do.

[stick]

I've been itching for a chance to go to my local Home Depot to buy some files to attempt to make some picks in the style of raimundo's ring handled ones... Maybe I'll give their locks a try and see what happens, heh.

[digital_blue]

Well, I certainly admire the audacity! You gotta have big brass ones that clank to walk into your local Home Depot and start picking locks like you own the place. Since the locks aren't yours, there's perhaps a bit of an ethical issue with trying this (though even that disappears when the staff start encouraging you ) but the locks aren't really protecting anything, so there isn't the break and enter concern normally associated with picking locks you don't own. Hmm... intersting.

It's pretty darn cool that they let you continue with your practice, but I suspect that this situation would not be reproduced in every store. But at the end of the day, all that will really happen is you'll be asked to leave if they don't like it, so I suppose there's no harm in trying.

I can't really try this myself because my company is a contractor for Home Depot and I've given a good number of trainings to their staff, so I would be recognized PDQ. I don't think it'd be a good career move for me to be expelled from one of our client stores. I suspect that this post will lead to more experiments like yours, so I do look forward to hearing what other people's results are (assuming that anyone else has the gall you have to pull it off ).

Well, good luck anyway! Props on the moxi it took to even try.

db

[reggae_carhorn]

My girlfriend and I have actually both done this too in the past. it wasn't too bright, but we opened most of the padlocks on display. nobody seemed to care. if yer hard up for cash (as most of us are) i'd try getting locks at thrift stores too BTW. they're used and cheap and won't risk getting hassled....

[quicklocks]

i realy dont think this is a good idea
you may attact the attesion of the police

[master in training]

i think its good that you werent thrown out on your *ss :lol:
they may not like you picking the locks if they actually know anything about picking, like how it can damage the locks, as quicklocks said, it can attract some "unwanted" attention of the local police as well, but if you go and ask the manager or something of a small hardware store (or even a chain store like home depot if you think you have a chance) and just ask if they would mind. if its not illegal to pick them, theres still such a thing as courtesy!

i certainly wouldnt like to just walk into a place and pick locks like i owned the place!

~ Master in Training ~

[quicklocks]

i hope you had plenty of cash on you because if you had of broken any of those locks you would had to buy them! it realy isnt a good idea to do this and i STRONGLY recomend no one else does this

[Varjeal]

Agreed, and perhaps it isn't stated often enough, but ONLY practice on YOUR OWN locks.

Anything else is asking for trouble.

[Kayvon]

It's a funny story, though. Nothing I would try myself, but definitely funny.

[begginerlockpicker]

What I do is I buy them from Home Depot then open the package neatly and practice my picking. After I have mastered the lock I return it with the receite(SPL??)... there was no problem returning it ...and it saves cash

Happy Picking

[stick]

Receipt.

I start to feel kind of guilty doing that. I tried that once with something else (can't remember what), and when I ran into the same cashier twice returning stuff, I stopped...

[MrB]

Very funny story. The number of times I have wandered through Home Depot and thought about doing that.

Quicklocks: It is highly unlikely any of the display locks in Home Depot remain saleable items. After they have been removed from the packaging, screws and small parts lost, clumsily fixed to a display stand by some cack-handed assistant, and mauled by the customers, they are only fit for junk. That's not to say they might not try to charge you, but it seems unlikely.

As far as picking the locks, you might say that you were "testing them for security before buying". You obviously need to make sure they are pick-resistant before parting with your hard-earned money, and why else are they on display if not to look at them and try them out?

The padlocks are tricky because they are usually locked to a staple. By picking them, you could give the impression of trying to steal them. Awkward.

All in all though, big brass ones as others have said. I would never have the nerve.