Given the failure of all previous picking attempts, the arrival on July 21 of a letter, headed “American Department, Crystal Palace,” at the firm’s offices likely brooked small concern. “An attempt will be made to open a lock of your manufacture on the door of a Strong-room at 34, Great George Street, Westminster, tomorrow, Tuesday, at 11 o'clock A.M. You are respectfully invited to be present, to witness the operation.”
posted by Chrysostom on Mar 19, 2013 - 16 comments

DEFCON Kids! [more inside]
posted by jeffburdges on Jun 27, 2011 - 15 comments

Stunningly easy way of breaking into and then resealing a locked suitcase. A little harder: How to open a padlock with a beer can shim. Or do it without tools: Opening a master lock. For that oops moment: How to get into your car when you've locked your keys inside. [more inside]
posted by storybored on Mar 4, 2011 - 52 comments

Lock bumping (pdf). They make it look (63.5 Mb wmv) pretty easy. (via)
posted by sp dinsmoor on Jan 4, 2006 - 24 comments

Use one of those heavy U-locks to secure your bike? You might want to think again. It seems the barrel style lock mechanisms some of them employ can be opened by a Bic pen [.mov movie].
posted by normy on Sep 14, 2004 - 69 comments

Pick A Lock, Any Lock: Why do Selfdefenseproducts.com's products seem so ill-related to self-defense and so suited to, er, crime and violence? Got your PayPal ready? File under "Only in America". (Via Bifurcated Rivets.)
posted by MiguelCardoso on Oct 1, 2003 - 31 comments