Lock Picking in Iraq

G

Gimpy

Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
21
I have been in Iraq as a contract civilian engineer supporting the US military in Operation Iraqi Freedom for the past fourteen months. The handiest tool I have is Southord lock pick. It is their model JPXS-6 for $37.95. The picks fold into a handle like a pocket knife. I often have to direct renovation of old buildings on former Iraqi military bases. With a little practice I have been able to defeat most padlocks and door locks. This eliminates the hassle of searching for non-existing keys and breaking doors that we would have to replace. Lock picking is not a mystery. You just need the right tools and a little practice.

http://www.southord.com/

Gimpy
Engineer and Blues Man
Baghdad, Iraq
 
that is a really good tool to have.
i have used one to unlock my lock-box so that i could get my keys back when i accidently locked them in
 
Actually it is disturbing that these are readily available,with no Locksmith business verification.It would seem just too easy for a person with criminal intent to access these tools very easily.No matter how good a lock you have,nothing is secure with tools that can silently break into peoples homes ,so easily available for sale off the internet.
 
Locks are for honest people anyway. Most thieves aren't going to take the time to pick a lock they are just going to break a window or the doorjam. Finesse is not high on the priority list of the modern criminal.
 
when I was in Iraq we inherited a filing cabinet (the previous owners had left) and we used a sledgehammer and a metal rod to "pick" the lock. the cabinet worked fine once the lock was removed.
 
If you don't want a lock picked use a Medeco tumbler. I don't reckon there's many who can pick those locks easily.

Yeah, we had a filing cabinet that someone had leaned against the locking mechanism and broke the key off in it. I just jerked on the handle until the little retaining finger inside bent over far enough that it cleared the obstruction.

Of course, now the cabinet won't close all the way, but at least we can use it.
Just an example to prove the above is true. If someone wants in, they ain't gonna mess with a lock for long before they will find a more direct solution.
 
What's the average criminal break into? A car with stereo equipment or a shed with tools in it. What's a criminals worst enemy? Being spotted. What's the easiest way to avoid being spotted? Do it extremely fast. This involves breaking things, not picking a lock. Do you actually think a criminal with crack shivers is going to go to the trouble of getting on the internet and ordering lock pick tools and learn how to use them? No, he's going to go to a hardware store and shop lift a pry bar.

Kinda reminds me how people have their factory alarm disabled to put a viper alarm in. The factory alarm requires a programmed key that requires a factory computer to program. There is no way to steal the car quick enough to bypass the factory alarm. When people put these viper alarms in with push button start the guy that installs the alarm takes one of their keys and sticks it inside the steering column. Bam, you've just converted your car back to the 1980's. All a thief has to do now is get the ignition cylinder to turn and he has your car. Lets throw some 20 inch rims on there too and get the thief an extra crack rock. I don't know why I just ranted about this.
 
We just moved into a old office building at the Mosul airport. My SouthOrd lock pick salvaged two Iraqi file cabinets and a fine mahogony office door. Don't leave home without one.

If lock smithing is out lawed, only outlaws will lock smith.
 
I'm just curious: How hard is it to acquire this particular skill. I've always wanted to know how to pick locks, and it would be cool to learn. How should I go about it?
Is that enough questions?
 
This country really started going downhill when we started outlawing objects and substances instead of actions and consequences.

Now we are not allowed to stock up on cold medicines because someone might be using it for meth. Can't plant poppies. Can't plant hemp even though it makes the best paper, etc. etc.. Can't buy many guns. Now red devil lye is going out of production, so much for the small soap maker. The country and much of the world is also outlawing large bodies of knowledge that used to be common. The US government used to have public papers on how to make anfo for farmers to blast stumps. Apparently outlawing old farm practices is more politically correct than typing people and getting rid of actual terrorists.

Are there logical reasons for all of the above? Yep. But they are mostly of the same quality of reasons that lead to nazi germany and soviet russia. I am ok with these things, but we can not trust THOSE people with them.

Anyway, I was a locksmith apprentice for a while. Did not work out. Went into electronics instead. Had to pick my way into my own bedroom last week. Used a safety pin among other things. OK, editing to add that my wife was also locked out. The kids locked the door as they left and all our keys were on the inside. dumb.
 
Cymro said:
I'm just curious: How hard is it to acquire this particular skill. I've always wanted to know how to pick locks, and it would be cool to learn. How should I go about it?
Is that enough questions?
Click to expand...
Picking for conventionnal locks requires nearly no skill. Actually in the 60ies there were some cheap "stamped steel and springs" devices, not a single electronic part, that allowed operator to pick a lock with no skill at all.

EDIT: Here is one.
 
I'm just curious: How hard is it to acquire this particular skill. I've always wanted to know how to pick locks, and it would be cool to learn. How should I go about it?
Is that enough questions?

It is not that hard. It takes a little pratice. Cheap and old worn locks are easier to pick than some of the better ones. There are some good locks that I have not been able to pick. Not yet anyway. You can get everything you need from the Internet. South Ord has the best tools. Paladan Press has all the books cheap.
 
I thought they used something like HK's 'entry weapon' , a 14" 12 gage.
 
Its relatively easy to learn how to pick a lock- very difficult to master. Anyone who spends some time will be able to open cabinets, desks, and cheap padlocks. It takes some finesse for better padlocks, and a good amount of skill for quality deadbolts. I can pick a cheap padlock/desk/cabinet in about twenty seconds-some in as little as five seconds- but the better locks can take a while...the ease of picking is a combination of the quality of the lock and the amount the lock has been used. If it is new it will be harder to pick. Basically it works as follows- one piece- the tension bar (L shaped piece of spring steel) simulates the turning of the lock, whilst the pick presses down on individual pins. The pins have a tendency to stay where the they are supposed to be when the key is in due to use (ergo the more the lock is used the easier it is to pick because the pins are that much more apt to stick in that spot). When all the pins are stuck where they would be when the key is in oilla - lock opens. And for the record I'm not a locksmith, but am an LEO...
 
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