What is Lockpicking?

Lockpicking is the method of manipulating the tumblers inside a lock so that one may unlock it without the use of a key.  This is different from impressioning or sight-reading, both of which involve decoding a lock’s tumblers in order to originate an entirely new key.  For the purposes of this article, we will be referring to lockpicking as it pertains to opening pin tumbler locks, which are the most common type of lock used in the United States.  We will also cover what measures may be taken to make common household locks more difficult to pick.  I will not be covering how to pick locks, as that topic is outside the scope of this blog.

            Lockpicking is commonly used by locksmiths to assist customers who have locked themselves out of their residences.  It is also one of several options for a locksmith who is called to rekey a customer’s newly purchased home but the customer was never provided with keys to one or two doors (this is more common than you might think).

Schlage Key-In-Knob lock picked open for customer.  If you look closely, you will see that the lock's plug (part the key goes into) has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise as if the correct key has been used

Motor vehicles often use a different type of lock cylinder (typically a wafer tumbler lock) and are generally easier to bypass than to pick.  For this reason, many locksmiths and roadside assistance personnel use bypass tools (e.g long-reach tool) instead of lockpicks when serving customers who have locked their keys inside their vehicle.

            To pick a lock, a degree of skill is required.  That skill can only be acquired and maintained through practice!  For this reason lockpicking is a less preferable option for most common burglars, who typically look for the path of least resistance such as kicking in a door or by gaining entry through the use of a bump key.  Lockpicking generally takes longer depending on the type of lock and the skill level of the lockpicker.

            Also, one must have the proper tools at their disposal in order to pick a lock.  Paper clips do not provide sufficient tensile strength to manipulate the tumblers inside a lock and other common household items are typically too large to fit inside the lock’s keyway.  Specialized tools, known as lockpicks are instead.  These tools may not be acquired from your local hardware store, but have become increasingly available to the public within the past 15 years.  For this reason, a customer may express concern about their locks being picked.

            If a customer is concerned about their locks being picked, there are several options they may take that do not necessitate purchasing new locks.  Even a common Kwikset deadbolt or key-in-knob lock may be retrofitted with special tumblers known as serrated pins or spool pins.  Serrated pins are designed to trick a lockpicker into thinking they have manipulated tumblers into their proper position.  Another type of tumbler is known as the spool pin.  This type of pin allows the lock’s plug to rotate just enough to make it difficult to raise any stacks containing these pins.  Most Schlage deadbolts come equipped with multiple spool pins.

            In conclusion, most locks on the market can be picked.  However, simply having the proper tools is not enough.  One must constantly practice this skill if they wish to become proficient and for that reason many criminals lack the discipline to master such a craft.  However the possibility of a criminal learning lockpicking is not out of the question and for that reason there are relatively low-cost measures homeowners may wish to take to make their property more secure.

Opening Instructions for Privacy Latches

Let's suppose you find yourself locked out of an interior room in your house or appartment, such as a bathroom, bedroom or powder room.  Usually, these rooms are equipped with privacy latches, and not keyed entry locksets.  A privacy latch is a knob or lever handleset that is designed to prevent someone from inadvertently opening a door.  It is not intended to keep an intruder out.

Most of these latches have a poke hole in the center of the knob, which may be depressed using a paperclip.  Other knobs use a slotted disc, which can be rotated with a screwdriver.

This bathroom privacy latch may be opened by simply inserting a screwdriver and rotating

Kwikset brand privacy latches have a hole in the center of the knob and typically necessitate inserting a thin slotted screwdriver and rotating (usually counterclockwise).  Also, the two mounting screws are usually on the outside of the door so another option would be to remove these mounting screws and then retract the latchbolt using the shaft of a screwdriver (use this option only as a last resort).

Weslock brand privacy latches can sometimes confuse and frustrate homeowners who find themselves locked out.  These latches feature a recessed slotted disc to the left or right side of the knob (depending on the handing of the door).  Opening may be accomplished by inserting a slotted screwdriver and rotating in either direction.  Upon rotation, you should hear a click.  This click is the button on the inside of the door popping out and into the unlocked position.  Below are two photos of a Weslock keyed entry knob.  The first photo (inside of door) shows the locking button on the inside of the door.  In the second photo (outside of door), I am pointing to where the recessed disc would be located on a privacy latch version of this knobset (the one in the photo is a Weslock Key-In-Knob lock, which is why there is a cylinder on the outside instead of the recessed disc).

The screwdriver in this picture is used to indicate the location of the unlocking disc on Weslock privacy latches (which share the same internal mechanism as the key-in-knob lock pictured)

On the inside of the door is this button.  When the inside handle is rotated, the button pops out, unlocking the door

Are the Deadbolts on Your Home Code-Compliant?

If you take a trip to the hardware store or go online to purchase a deadbolt for your home, you will find a wide array of products.  However, most deadbolts can be divided into two categories:  Single cylinder and double cylinder.

            A single cylinder deadbolt is one where there is a keyed cylinder on the secured side (outside) of the door and a thumbturn on the egress side (inside) of a door.  An authorized person may enter by using a key and then secure themselves within the space by flipping the lock's thumbturn.  Any person may egress by rotating the thumbturn and opening the door. 

Schlage B60N single cylinder deadbolt, view from egress side of door.  Notice the thumbturn

             A double cylinder deadbolt is one where there are keyed cylinders on both sides of a door controlling a single bolt.  If the door is locked, one must use a key to open it regardless of which side of the door they are on.  Therefore, anyone without the correct key cannot exit through a door secured by one of these locks.  This creates a serious life-safety hazard.

 

Schlage B62N double cylinder deadbolt, view from egress side of door.  Notice the key

            The Residential Code of New York State (RCNYS), 2010 Edition sets forth the egress requirements for all residential structures that the code applies to (most one or two-family dwellings).  Specifically, the code requires that “All egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort” (quoted from RCNYS R311.4.4).  Therefore, double cylinder deadbolts violate this requirement when used on an egress door.  While the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) could theoretically override this requirement, this would be highly unlikely due to the potential life safety hazard this would present.

            For instance, if there is a fire, or if the Carbon Monoxide alarm within a residence starts sounding, immediate and unobstructed egress is critical in preserving the lives of all occupants.  If instead, the occupants are tasked with finding a key, or if the key holder becomes trapped or incapacitated then all the occupants could be killed very quickly.
            The only instance where a double-cylinder deadbolt would likely be permitted, would be on a door between two separate areas, each of which has it's own unique egress door.  For example, if a single-family structure has been converted to house two separate tenants, a door separating the two occupancies could be permitted to have a double-cylinder deadbolt, as this would not impede egress from either occupancy.
             Some homeowners may wish to have a double cylinder deadbolt on a door with a window in it for fear that if they used a single-cylinder deadbolt a burglar could smash the glass, flip the thumbturn and gain entry.  However, there are other alternatives that do not compromise life safety, such as protective window covering or an alarm system that utilizes door position switches and Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors.

            On a personal note, a friend of mine used to rent an apartment from a landlord who had gone so far as to secure each tenant’s bedroom door with a hasp and padlock!  This means that anyone could lock a tenant in their room and if a fire were to start, the tenant would be trapped.  This is probably the grossest violation I have seen to date of this requirement.  Also, the landlord used Master Lock airline-luggage-sized padlocks and left the hasp screws exposed, so anyone could gain entry either by backing out the screws with a Phillips screwdriver or giving the padlock a good swift hit with a hammer!

            In conclusion, homeowners should refrain from using double cylinder deadbolts on any entrance or egress doors and instead go with the single cylinder alternative.  By eliminating the double cylinder deadbolt entirely, the homeowner also eliminates the legal liability and inherent hazard that comes with it.

DISCLAIMER:  This post is not intended in any way to offer legal advice.  For advice on what hardware is allowed or prohibited in a given jurisdiction, please check the building codes in your area and contact your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)