New Type of Bike Lock

Shamrock said:
How easy is it to become a master locksmith and join the MLA? I might change careers to professional bike thief!:D
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Joining the MLA requires the filling of a form, the paying of some money annually, the having of two referees (one of whom is an MLA member or related professional of good standing), the passing of a CRB and so probably not being a criminal in the first place...

Becoming a Master Locksmith requires playing the MLA a *lot* of money, doing their courses, passing their exams and then paying them even more money for further and affiliate annual memberships...

In fact, with all those costs, you'd think there's no money to be made in stealing things!
 
Jono said:
I fancy learning how to pick locks... just for fun, in case there's a zombie apocalypse... or something I want is locked up somewhere ;)
Mostly just for something to do with my hands.
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Rule #1 - Do NOT practice on your own house locks. You will stuff them up.
Rule #2 - Do NOT attempt to pick any lock without the owner's permission.
Rule #3 - Do NOT carry picks in public, as it may count as 'Going Equipped'.

In general, don't spoil the hobby for other Locksporters by being a pillock about it... and it is mostly a hobby these days, as professional Non Destructive Entry specialists tend to use bypass tools.

It's easy enough to get started - Decent set of Southord style picks, a few padlocks and a couple of books (or YouTube, as it is nowadays).
Thereafter, it's a LOT of practice and time developing your 'feel', since you generally can't see inside a lock. Some people get transparent practice locks, but they can be as much of a hindrance as a help.

However, for the Zombie stuff, bypass tools or just breaking in will be faster.
 
I always thought paper clips were too bendy.

I've never had real picks but it so happens that certain pen clips and sewing machine needles (right kind of stiffness) have been pretty good for me for the padlocks I've tried.

You'd have to stretch imagination if you found that junk to base a charge on it.
 
Looks pretty good, if I left an expensive bike un attended I'd be tempted.

I must admit that for the times my bike is left unattended ie. Pre/mid sportive wee or on a solo ice cream stop I use a lock my wife was given free when she rented a bike at centre parcs :o
 
Hotwired said:
I always thought paper clips were too bendy.
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You can do cheap wafer locks with them, like desk drawers and some filing cabinets, but you still need to shape them a bit and they're pretty useless for any serious locks.

Hotwired said:
I've never had real picks but it so happens that certain pen clips and sewing machine needles (right kind of stiffness) have been pretty good for me for the padlocks I've tried.
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Again, cheap ones sure. Try it with a 6-pin cylinder one and then see.
Either way, shims are usually much quicker and easier.

Hotwired said:
You'd have to stretch imagination if you found that junk to base a charge on it.
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If they are sufficiently identifiable as homemade lockpicks, then they are still considered lockpicks... in the same way a homemade shotgun is still a shotgun.
Chances are the average bobby wouldn't immediately twig what they are... but sod's law is you'll get one who's well-versed in wayward ways. Not worth chancing it!

I used to habitually carry a jackknife set of picks and so forgot it was on me when I went through the metal detectors into Windsor Castle... I escaped that situation by pure luck!
 
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