The Art of Lockpicking ====================== An Introduction --------------- Issue 1.0 Thanks goes out to: ================== Red - Your board is on its way to greatness... Steve Arnold - Nice little shop you got there... Yardly Flouride - Dragonfire may be down, but it will always be rembered... (Right, Mr. Sandza?) Storm Citadel - You are a schmuck, but are still my !! PUPIL !! Distrubuted and Compiled by: =========================== -----=====< Havok >=====----- -----=====< Halcyon >=====----- Chief Magistrate of the City of Sanctuary Home to all Criminals, Thieves, and Beggars 10/5/90 Introduction ------------ Well, as they say, starting off is the hardest part. This applies to many things as well as the topic we are about to discuss this evening, or whenever the hell you are reading this. When I first got interested in lockpicking, it was difficult for me to find any sort of phile that explained ANYTHING at all about it. I saw a few here and there and decided that if I could compile a large phile made of many smaller philes and several peoples assorted research, (including my own) I could get one hell of an interesting little do-dad for all those aspiring little thieves out there. So here it is! But, enough of this Bull-shit.....let's get to it..... A NOTE TO ALL FEDS, PIGS, AND OTHER ANIMALISTIC BEINGS: ------------------------------------------------------ -=>---------------------------------------------------------------------<=- -=> !!!!!PLACE STUPID AND RETARDED DISCLAIMER HERE!!!!! <=- -=> <=- -=> This phile is intended for (as usual) information purposes ONLY!!! <=- -=> So if any info in this phile is used for illegal activity, it <=- -=> ain't my fault or anyone else's except the particular individual. <=- -=> After all, we didn't FORCE him to read this or pick any locks. <=- -=> <=- -=>---------------------------------------------------------------------<=- Basic Picking -------------- In the following, you will see the instruments used for picking in TEXT form about as good as they can get. Some things you will need to know just to start picking: 1) MANUAL DEXTERITY - If you have no self control, then don't even think of picking locks. 2) KNOW HOW LOCK WORKS - This is very easy. It works sorta like an engine, with the tumblers acting like the pistons. (They move up and down) 3) CORRECT TOOLS - You can either make them or buy them. Buying is much better. (A place to purchase lockpicks from through mail order is listed at the end of this article.) 4) !!PRACTICE!! - You will never be any good at lockpicking if you don't. It is possible to pick a 5 tumbler (easy-medium lock) in under 1 minute, but that ain't gonna happen if ya don't practice. Not to mention, if ya don't practice, and fuck up when your trying to break into something, that extra time you take due to inexperiance could cost ya some freedom on this great planet of ours. Get the point?????? The Entry Lock -------------- An entry lock is a front door lock, or some sort of lock that protects what's on the other side. These are usually 5 tumbler locks, and can be picked with some sort of ease. Go to your local K-Mart and get an El-Chepo entry lock and give yourself a blue dot special discount. (Either 5-finger or price reduction.) (THIS MEANS STEAL IT DUMMY!!) Once you have this, then take the fucker apart. This may/is easier said then done. All you will need when you are down is the part that the key goes into. After getting that and looking it over, you will find a cap type thing on the top of the lock. VERY CAREFULLY TAKE THAT OFF!!! If you slip and open it too fast, the springs will go flying into a void and never be found again. The figure for the lock is figure 4. Once the cover is off, dump 4 of the spring and tumblers into a holeless baggie (Ziplock preferred). Stick the cap back on and you are ready to use the 1 tumbler lock. This is very easy to pick, that is why you are starting with it. Pickings -------- Now you are ready to pick, but what? NO PICKS? Looks like you are screwed unless you get some quick. If you are going to make them, then get some blue spring steel and a grinder. The final product mustbe about .025x .125 flat. If you already have your picks, then read on! Take your one (1) tumbler lock and the feeler pick (fig. 1), and your tension wrench (fig. 3). Hold the lock in your other habd (ie. if you are righty then hold it in your left, and vice versa) adn stick the tension wrench into the bottom part, so that it doesn't obstruct the feeler pick as it moves in and out. Now turn the tension wrench downward (or whatever way will open your lock but usually clockwise) and insert your feeler pick. You shoudn't have to stick it in far because you are only using 1 tumbler, adn can probably see it where you are looking. Now gently push up on the tumbler, and the lock should open. If this fails to happen, then let loose on the wrench and try again. If you still can't do this, then give up, YOU ARE A LOSER IN LIFE!!! If you did open your lock, then CONGRATS!!! After you have picked your lock, then try it again and again and again so that you get the feel of how much pressure to put on the wrench and the tumbler. When you think you hve an idea of what you are doing, open up the cap (CAREFULLY!) and stick in another tumbler (both of them) adn the spring. You should now have two tumblers installed. Now try to pick this one. Should be a little harder, but no huge difference. If it doesn't happen all at once, then try again. If you still can't do it, then this time you are NOT a loser in life, just someone who WILL have no future. Once you are done with your 2 tumbler lock, then stick in three, then 4 and then 5 tumblers. The more there are, the harder the lock will be to pick. In one day, I got up to 4 tumblers, 5 is tricky. For less tumblered locks, a raking pick is good to use (fig. 5). The biggest thing in in lockpicking is just getting enouf practice. Once you think you have 5 tumblers, try oyu garage door lock (locked, duh!) and see if oyu can get in. Don't worry, there will be no marks on the lock itself so MOMMY or DADDY won't shit all over you for messing with the locks. FIGS. 1-5: 1) The Feeler Pick in TEXT ________________________ \ `---------------^, \______________________,----------------' The end part there goes up smoothly to a rounded end of some chicks tits. 2) What The Tumblers Look Like And The Spring In the locks, the tumblers are different sizes (the ridges in the key should have told you that) so that is would be stupid to try and show all of the different lengths. The spring in half the size of a pen spring. (no figure) 3) The Tension Wrench ___________________________: : : The wrench should be somewhat thicker so that it doesn't bend on your ass. 4) The Basic Tumbler Lock: CAP---, \:/ _____-------------------__ : IoI IoI IoI IoI IoI : : IiI IiI IiI IiI IiI : ========================= : --------------------------- o = The smaller of the two tumblers. i = The larger of the two tumblers. = = The passage way of the key. (KeyWay) 5) The Rack Pick (very rough) ______________________ ,- ,- ,- ,- \ `----------------- ` ` ` : \____________________;---------------------------' This pick is just a varation of the feeler pick, 'cept that it has ridges that move the tumblers up and down fast. Well, that's about it. Happy Picking. THE LOGIC GATE Help Phile 2 - 908-874-4101 - HST - 160 Megs File Originated from MIXTURES FOR DESTRUCTION WWIVnet SUB number 9811 Written by Chuck. Combination Locks ================= Introduction ------------ As you know, many people use combination locks to protect their property and personal possesions. With most, there is no keyhole, barring the ones used on regular lockers in the hall way of schools. The following will try to help you "PICK" some of the most populare combination locks used today. [<%: THE DARK FOREST [312] 232:8804 :%>] {=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=- -=} {=- -=} {=- -=} Picking Combination Locks {=- -=} {=- -=} {=- -=} A Metal Communications Presentation {=- -=} {=- -=} {=- -=} Written by: The Byte Byter {=- -=} {=- -=} {=- -=} The writer of this text file takes responsibility for what {=- -=} {=- -=} this text file is used for. Hopefully it will only be used for {=- -=} {=- -=} illegal purposes cuz i can't think of a reason it can be used for {=- -=} {=- -=} legally. Well, on with the text file. {=- -=} {=- {=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=- -=} {=- -=} Call: /\/\etalland 1 10megs AE/BBS/Cat-Fur Line! [503]538-0761 {=- -=} {=- {=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=--=}{=- Ok, so ya say ya wanna learn how to pick combination locks...This text file SHOULD help you. As a matter of fact, if ya do it right, it WILL help you. First of all, let me tell you about the set-up of a lock. When the lock is locked, there is a curved piece of metal wedged inside the little notch on the horseshoe shaped bar that is pushed in to the lock when you lock it. To free this wedge, you must(must is a word used to much) you usually(that sounds much better) have to turn the lock to the desired combination and the pressure on the wedge is released therefore letting the lock open. I will now tell you how to make a pick so you can open a lock without having to waste all that time turning the combination (this also helps when ya don't know the combination to begin with). First of all, ya need to find a hairpin. What's a hairpin? Well, just ask your mom. She will have one. If she asks what its for, say ya gotta hold something together... If she says use a rubberband or use a paperclip, tell her to fuck off and die and then go to the store and rip off a box of 50 or so. Ok, enough stalling (yea, i was stalling). Once you have your hair pin (make sure its metal), take the ridged side and break it off right before it starts to make a U-turn onto the straight side. The curved part can now be used as a handle. Now, using a file, file down the other end until it is fairly thin. You should do this to many hairpins and file them so they are of different thicknesses so you can pick various locks. Some locks are so cheap that ya don't even have ta file! But most are not. Ok, now you have a lock pick. Now if ya haven't figured it out, here's how ya use it. You look at a lock to see which side the lock opens from. If you can't tell, you will just have to try both sides. When ya find out what side it opens from, take the lock pick and stick the filed end into the inside of the horseshoe-shaped bar on whichever side the lock opens from. Now, put pressure on the handle of the lock pick (pushing down, into the crack) and pull the lock up and down. The lock will then open because the pick separated the wedge and the notch allowing us thieves to open it. Don't say bullshit until you've tried it. Because I have gotten lots of beer money from doin' this to fellow students' gym lockers. Also, this technique works best on American locks. I have never picked a Master lock before because of the shape a pressure of the wedge but if anyone does it, let me know how long it took. Also, the Master lock casing is very tight so ya can't get the pick in. So, if you're locking something valuable up, use a Master, cuz at least ya know I won't be picking it and I'm sure there aren't that many that could. And when I say pick, i don't mean lighting a stick of dynamite next to the lock, picking is opening a lock without using force, making a substitute key, etc... If any of you believe that this information is not sufficient for picking an American lock, or any other kind besides Master, leave me a message at: /\/\etallant 1 (503) 538-0761. This concludes my text file on picking combination locks. My next text file will probably be "Picking key locks". See ya later. The Byte Byter ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ +==========================================+ + BE A LOCKPICK, GET INTO PADLOCKS + + "HOW TO CRACK A PADLOCK" + +==========================================+ I must attribute this message/file to reading I have done from another files about this, and some methods that I have made up on my own. This method has been only assured with "Master" padlocks. They are a very common padlock.. This might only work on those, but who knows.. First, pull the lock down, not so much as that it is impossible to turn, but just enough to be able to do the following: Turn the knob around clockwise (to the right) until you feel a small, small resistance which will last 2-3 numbers on the dial long. You might try doing this a few times to find the exact number that it does this on, and not to be mistaken with another. Now, add 5 to the number you have gotten. Guess what? You have the first number in the combonation! There are a few mehods to get the next number. I will tell you both, one method, is very quick, but not always 100% reliable. The other is very difficult. QUICK METHOD: This method will get the last two numbers in the combination in one step. --First, turn right and stop on the first number you got. Then, turn left and stop on the first number again. Continue turning to the left to the next marked number. This means that the dial goes by five, and if your first number is 18, go to the 20.. Then turn to the dial to the right again, while pulling down on the lock (as hard as you pull to unlock it if you have the right combo), and keep turning to the right until you get to the 2nd number you've tried. If it doesn't unlock, go on to the next marked number on the dial. (For instance, you're first number is 18, you tried 20 past right, it doesn't work, then try 25.) Keep doing this until eventually you unlock it, or it doesn't work. The most times that you would have to do this is about 8. HARD, BUT NEVER FAILS METHOD: As in above, turn right to your first number, and then turn left until you get your first number again. Begin pulling down on the lock again, and trying to feel for a little resistance. If it is very stiff, you probably have the second number. If it is weak, then continue turning. You should try 2 or 3 times to make sure you get the same results. After you think you've got the second number, turn back to the right, while pulling down on the lock between tries of oh, say every 3 numbers, and eventually, CLICK, it will open. //=DISCLAIMER: I am not held responsible for the use of this information. This is for, let's say, basic knowledge... Let's say, if you ever forget your combonation, or it is very important you get into another lock. This file/message has been brought to you by MASTER MICRO! Miscellaneous Locks =================== Introduction ------------ Some of you who are a bit more experiance in BBsing and the type of stuff that go along with it (ie, phreaking/hacking), may have wondered what a phellow such as Agent Bioc 003 has to do with a phile about locks. Very little actually, but when I was reading over his manuals again, I though it would be a good idea to include that little segment concerning phone locks in this tutorial. While they may not be used much anymore, it is not hard to remember how to get around one of these locks, if such a time arises. See here..... |--------------------------| | Infinity's Edge | | | | PRESENTS | | | | Agent Bioc 003 | |--------------------------------------| DIAL LOCKS HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN OFFICE OR SOMEWHERE AND WANTED TO MAKE A FREE FONE CALL BUT SOME ASSHOLE PUT A LOCK ON THE FONE TO PREVENT OUT-GOING CALLS? FRET NO MORE PHELLOW PHREAKS, FOR EVERY SYSTEM CAN BE BEATEN WITH A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE! THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO BEAT THIS OBSTACLE, FIRST PICK THE LOCK, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO TEACH LOCKSMITHING SO WE GO TO THE SECOND METHOD WHICH TAKES ADVANTAGE OF TELEPHONE ELECTRONICS. TO BE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, WHEN YOU PICK UP THE FONE YOU COMPLETE A CIRCUIT KNOW AS A LOCAL LOOP. WHEN YOU HANG-UP YOU BREAK THE CIRCUIT. WHEN YOU DIAL (PULSE) IT ALSO BREAKS THE CIRCUT BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH TO HANG UP! SO YOU CAN "PUSH-DIAL." TO DO THIS YOU >RAPIDLY< DEPRESS THE SWITCHHOOK. FOR EXAMPLE, TO DIAL AN OPERATOR (AND THEN GIVE HER THE NUMBER YOU WANT CALLED) >RAPIDLY< & >EVENLY< DEPRESS THE SWITCHHOOK 10 TIMES. TO DIAL 634-1268, DEPRESS 6 X'S PAUSE, THEN 3 X'S, PAUSE, THEN 4 X'S, ETC. IT TAKES A LITTLE PRACTICE BUT YOU'LL GET THE HANG OF IT. TRY PRACTICING WITH YOUR OWN # SO YOU'LL GET A BUSY TONE WHEN RIGHT. IT'LL ALSO WORK ON TOUCH-TONE(TM) SINCE A DTMF LINE WILL ALSO ACCEPT PULSE. ALSO, NEVER DEPRESS THE SWITCHHOOK FOR MORE THAN) A SECOND OR IT'LL HANG-UP! FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO THAT FONE AS THE ASSHOLE WHO PUT THE LOCK ON IT! NOTE: Obviously, you needed a tiny bit of phreaking knowledge, but if it doesn't work the first time, try a couple more times. If it still doesn't work, I've got some swamp land I'd like to sell ya! (DUH!) The Safety Chain Lock --------------------- A commonly used lock is the safety chain. Y'know, the one that you slide into the little slot along the back of your door. Well I, as well as other people have come to the conclusion that this type of lock protects you and your valuables from intruders/burglers about as much as tin foil does! While the simple method of breaking through such a pitiful barrier is to take your shoulder AND SMASH INTO THE DOOR AS HARD AS YOU CAN works well, so do bolt cutters. I will try to explain to you how to get past one of these locks quietly. After all, isn't the whole idea of lockpicking to be as quiet as is humanly possible? First, you will need about 4 tacks, some elastic bands, and some common sense. To defeat a safety chain lock where the door is unlocked but the chain prevents you from stealing some valuables, simply take an rubber band and somehow tie or stretch one end of the band over the knob end of the safety chain. By knob end I mean the end you would take (if you were on the other side of the door) and slide into the slot on the back of the door. Next, take the other end of the rubber band and a thumb tack and, reaching around the back or the door as far as you can, stick the thumb tack into the back of the door as hard as you can with the rubber band rapped around or somehow affixed to the tack. Then slowly close the door. The rubber band on the back will pull the chain out of the slot for you. You can then open the door, remove the tack, and steal stuff. (Fig. 1) FIG-1 ----- What the setup will look like for inside: ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------------- - - - - ============ - - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - - {{{{ ~+ = ()~oooooooooooooooooooo { ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - - {{{{ ============ - - - - (DOOR) - - (WALL) - - -------------------------- ----------------------------- LEGEND ------ " - " Border of wall/door " ~ " Elastic Band " o " Link of Safey Lock " + " Tack " = " Slot For Knob of Safety Chain " { " Base of Chain " () " Knob Part of Safety Chain --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, so far, most of what you have been reading has been things that I have picked up in a few scattered philes and people. Now I will begin the actual tutorial. This includes descriptions of all kinds of locks, most still being used today from the locks on your screen door, to the lock on your car. ---------- - PART 1 - BASIC RULES AND PRINCIPLES ---------- The main key in bypassing any lock, is to know how the lock works and its design. For example. Many banks use what is called a partition lock to lock a swinging door. --------------------- - - - === - - Knob --> = = - Partition Lock - === - - - -------------------- When an irate customer comes barging into the bank wanting attention NOW, they may go up to the lock, and begin jerking, pulling, whatever on the little brass knob expecting to open the gate. But nada happens.. This is because the know is a phoney.. It is there with only one purpose, to fool the customer. The real way to get in is to use your finger tips and push up on the false bottom. This opens the gate. So the "key" here was to know how the lock worked.. Get it? General Rule #1 - The Universal Key to any lock is knowledge. ------------------------------------------------------------ General Rule #2 - Don't become keyway oriented to the point of single- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mindedness. ---------- This second rule deserves some explainnation. It generally translates to, take the easiest way in/through, which is not always the door lock.. For exaple, don't try picking a difficult door lock when you have a window that you can go through. Or don't begin to focus on picking the lock without atleast checking to make sure that the door is actualy LOCKED!! (Even experts have made that mistake.) Here are a few more rules... General Rule #3 - Know the locking mechanism perfectly. ------------------------------------------------------ General Rule #4 - Never give up on a practice lock opening. ---------------------------------------------------------- General Rule #5 - When all else fails, CHEAT! -------------------------------------------- General Rule #6 - Practice on the most difficult BLT and/or lock. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Again, this rules require some explaination. The first is easy. If you are trying to pick a lock that you think is a simple warded lock but is actually a two-level tumbler, you will get nowhere fast. So know the locking mechanism. (#4) If you are trying to open a practice lock, it is ok to take 5 minute break, but after that, get right back to it. If you stop now, you may never go back. (#5) This means that if you are totally stumped by a practice lock, it is perfectly ok to open the lock up and make sure it turns the way you think it does, etc. But after that, go right back to attempting to pick the lock. Lastly, it is real impressive to pop open a disk lock in under 10 seconds, but you'll never learn how to open a high security cylinder by opening disk locks. So if a lock gives ya major trouble, keep trying it until you get it.. ---------- - PART 2 - WARDED LOCKS ---------- Well, now that we have gone through the basic principles, let's take a look at the easiest type of lock. The Warded Lock. In warded locks the key, when inserted and turned, merely engages a locking bolt mounted in the case and slides it to the locked or unlocked position. In addition, the key may also lift or disengage a bolt retaining lever or spring; or ot may act on the bolt via an intermediary lever. ----------- ---- - - <-- enters keyway - - Warded Key - --------------------- - ------------------------------- - <-- Handle of key ^^^^^^^^ - - Were the patterns were cut ---- This type of lock offers the bare minimum in amount of security since almost any object resembling the key will open the lock. The next step up comes when a locksmith inserts teeth called wards into the keyway or the turning path of the keybit, the end of the key that is inserted into the lock. A simple example is to cut the keyway with a tooth extending halfway into the keyway to block access. The lockmaker then cuts notches in the key where the ward would block the path. Example: The Keyway: The Keybit: ----------- - - ------- - - ------- - ==- ----- - ==- ----- - - ------- - - ------- ---------- The keyway would ofcourse not This is the end of the keybit, be square. That is just for as if it were pointing at you. clarity sake. The pair of The space in the middle is "=" represetns the wards. how the keybit bypasses the They are in obstruction of the wards. It simply passes over keyway. them. These locks eventually involed many wards within the lock, resulting in large but very figurative keys. A locksmith would usually create teh lock first including all of its wards. Then take a key with a rough out- line of the wards in the lock already on it. He would then put the "blade" of the key in the center of a candle flame, coating it with soot. Then the key was inserted into the lock, turned, and removed. The markes where the wards were left tiny scratches which were then filed down. Since many people can do this simple method, security was nil. Eventually the famed "Skeleton Key" was created around this time for this type of lock which was usually an "L" shaped tool designed to bypass many different types of warded locks. You may/will find these types of locks on many 1910-1940 homes, chest, and other assorted apllication where security was either not highly required or known. Another simple security messure was to have a small peg at the end of the inside of a keyhole. Thus the pipe key, with its hallow end was made. I believe that some police handcuffs used to/still do use this method. Those stupid little locks you see on luggage etc. are usually of the warded type. The only problem these little suckers pose is that since their keyways are so small, it makes it difficult to find a pick to fit into the hole. Careful though, because these locks may also be lever tumblers which are quite different but look the same from tht outside. A look at the key can usually help you tell which is which.. Many padlocks are warded as well. But they are usually bottom of the line models. If the coer can be rotated by inserting a straight tool it is a warded lock; if not, it is a disc or pin tumbler. B L T Begin you BLT (Bypass Lock Technique) on warded locks. When trying to pick one of these locks, you are trying to 1)avoid all wards 2) contact and swing the bolt with enough strength without breaking the pick and getting you ROYALLY pissed off. You would be best to purchase a bunch or skeleton keys from a manufacturer for these locks.. They usually come in sets of 4- 6 and are your only alturnative to making you own skeleton keys with the soot method using blanks.. Remember to becareful if you decide to cut your own keys.. If you use the same key for different locks, you MIGHT end up putting too many wards into one key thus weakening the key and it could become very uneffective, especially when it breaks off in the lock. Now, when picking a lock, you must remember also the treatment to give a lockpick/skeleton key. DO NOT EVER use the slam-bang method like you would with your house key. Insert it slowly, feeling for obstructions until it bottoms, then turn it slowly and feel for the notch cut into the locking bolt that the key blade must contact. If you hit a solid resistance, that you have most likey hit a ward, if it is more springy thenyou have probably hit a bolt retaining spring which must also be lifted. Be sure to always carry the proper tools.. Otherwise, a simple warded lock on an old door may stop you dead in your tracks. Warded padlocks are very common and are the perfect learning and practicing tool for beginners. You should definatly buy ATLEAST one to practice with and possibly even to attempt the soot method with.. It is good to get more than one so that you can see what different brands of locks look like inside or how to pick another warded padlock once you have conquered another. To do this BLT, it is usually required that you pull on the shackle of the padlock to make a tension. If you are having problems, you might want to try varying the amount of tension you apply when trying to pick the lock. That just about covers warded locks and related BLT. You should begin practicing on these locks as soon as possible to help boost your ego of actually opening a lock and not to mention, a thief that gets stopped by a warded lock looks like a complete moron. 90% of this beginning lesson should be preparation, getting the right tools, and beginning to understand locks. The other 10% should be practice. This completes this section and your education of Basic Principles and Warded Locks. Look for: Part 3 - Disc Tumbler Locks Part 4 - How to Mount Practice Locks Part 5 - Lever Tumbler Locks ....in the next phile.. If you don't know where to order/get lockpicks from, call the Hellfire BBS. Tell the Sysop that you heard of his board from this phile. Downloaded From P-80 Systems 304-744-2253