Lock picking as a hobby?

[goober]

Anyone tried this at a hobbiest level?

I was listening to a podcast from the UK the other day, and one of the hosts had become interested in it as a hobby. Nothing nefarious or dodgy, he just spends some time with some padlocks on the train commute!

[Barrykgerdes]

We took up lock picking at school 65 years ago and used to pick the padlocks on the lockers. We could open all of them except one with a big padlock. We tried for weeks but no one could beat it until someone got frustrated and hit it with a heavy stick. It flew open!

Our dirtiest trick was with the small combination locks. Opening them and reassembling the wheels then re-lock the locker.

Barry

[PlanetMan]

To the best of my understanding "lock-picks" and any such "lock-picking" apparatus are illegal in every state of Australia unless you are a licensed Locksmith - which is surprisingly heavily regulated trade for such reasons. They are viewed as "burglary" devices and hence this circumstance.

I suppose this is why it hasn't caught on as a hobby

[acropolite]

Do a google search for "bump key", I was shocked to find out how easily a standard lock can be compromised. It really is as easy as it looks, five minutes with a file and a few practice runs is all it takes.

[hobbit]

Do you have a source for that? I couldn't find any mention in the crimes act or any other legislation.

[PlanetMan]

Walk into your local police station and ask them - I'm sure they would be happy to explain the situation to you.:rofl:

[Kunama]

It is not illegal to own them or possess them providing you a have reasonable excuse for doing so. You can be deemed to be in possession of housebreaking implements under certain circumstances.

Similarly, if you possess a 'pinch bar or wrecking bar' on a building site you have a reasonable excuse for doing so, but if you do so at 3 am at the back door of the local liquor outlet you will be deemed to be in possession of housebreaking implements.

Perhaps a good hobby to practice at home !!!

[RB]

Thread Locked !

:P

[AndrewJ]

Just testing if "bumping" unlocks it :lol::lol:

Andrew

[RB]

You should register this skill with the police.

:lol:

[ianB]

I locked my car keys in the car a couple of weeks ago, the car was in the garage, the garage keys were in the car.
One hair pin from my wife and 10 minutes later the garage was open.

[noeyedeer]

the wire "brushes" from street sweepers are excellent to be shaped into lock picking tools. if you're able to find one lying in a gutter can be cut into around 3 and those can be grinded and shaped into picks .. found what I read years ago
www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf
been around since 1991

plenty of pdfs out there to read. bolt cutters, sledge hammers and stilsons work best thou

matt

[ourkind]

You got me :lol: loving this thread! :thumbsup:

[RB]

:lol:
I couldn't resist Carlos.