Who keeps Lock Picks in their BOB

While I was writing this a few of questions came to mind. 1) If it was your door or window that somebody decided to break to get into your house, shed, barn etc. How would you respond? 2) If your response involves firearms, does this change your mind on how you would enter?

Ooohhh good one, did not even think of that :thumbup:
 
I carry a simple pick and a tension wrench in my wallet, it's illegal to purchase them in Australia, but I made it.
 
have a set in the car ; 5 picks and a tension wrench, i think would come in handy in certain situations, also have a slim jim ... mostly to help other people who have locked themselves out of their own cars.. hehehe have been able to help 3-4 people already....
 
Dougo83, for me the most likely scenario of having to use my BOB is if my aircraft goes down in bad guy territory. I'm going to have to put some distance between me and the wreckage and link back up with friendly forces. In the mean time I don't want the bad guys to know where I am or where I've been.

Tell me you are military or something. This scenario seems really far fetched to me. At least it does for now.

How you handle getting around locks will depend on your situation, but if you have a lot of hostile folks out looking for you I wouldn't want to make a lot of noise or leave evidence behind.

Just my POV is in a true SHTF situation, everyone will be making noise, I think. Look at NO for example, breaking and smashing seemed to be the norm.


While I was writing this a few of questions came to mind. 1) If it was your door or window that somebody decided to break to get into your house, shed, barn etc. How would you respond?

I guess this depends on where you are. In rural Texas I doubt I would have any reason to kick down doors. I could probably simply knock. but, I can't say this for sure anymore. Times have even changed in my short lifetime.

2) If your response involves firearms, does this change your mind on how you would enter?

In that case it certainly would. If someone is bashing in my door, they would probably get shot. Especially if it is a true emergency situation going on. My family is pretty much located in close proximity. We have a plan to circle the wagons at one home before GTHOD.

Or to put it differently 3) Is it better to sneak in or announce your presence and possibly be on the receiving end of some gunfire?

I think you would have to be dang good at sneaking around to bit get shot either way. I dunno, it would vary by household. I am the guy who wakes up when the wind kicks up or my neighbor slams his car door while my brother could sleep through a blanket bombing.

Everybody's actions will be situationally dependent and their gear should reflect the situations they may find themselves in so I'm not saying one way is better than another.

Exactly, I think they could come in handy sometimes, but I find it hard to come up with a good use for a lock pick. It seems to me, maybe just in my clumsy hands, that the time and effort involved is not worth it.
 
Dougo83, yes I'm a military pilot. So my situation may be different from many other folks here. When I think of using a BOB my first thought is not of some problem here in the US, it is what could happen on deployment. While overseas, I'm not saying that I would go sneaking into people's houses, generally I would avoid contact with anybody I wasn't positive was friendly. An isolated US servicemember will have good guys and bad guys looking for him, and he does not want to be found by the bad guys. Therefore, if I had to defeat a lock I would not want to leave evidence behind. A small lockpick set is so easy to carry that for me it makes sense to have one.

I threw those questions out since many folks said they would simply bust a door or window, but don't mention what would happen if somebody were inside. I guess the real question is, why are you breaking into some place? If you don't have a right to be there, aren't you contributing to the chaos (assuming some type of disaster here in the US. In combat, play to win)? Like you I could probably just knock. Just some food for thought.
 
How long does it take to pick a typical house or car lock?

Alot longer than it would take me to smash/break/crash/destroy the same entry point, i.e. window or door. :D:cool:

Dougo83, yes I'm a military pilot. So my situation may be different from many other folks here. When I think of using a BOB my first thought is not of some problem here in the US, it is what could happen on deployment. While overseas, I'm not saying that I would go sneaking into people's houses, generally I would avoid contact with anybody I wasn't positive was friendly. An isolated US servicemember will have good guys and bad guys looking for him, and he does not want to be found by the bad guys. Therefore, if I had to defeat a lock I would not want to leave evidence behind. A small lockpick set is so easy to carry that for me it makes sense to have one.

Ok...now that makes perfect sense.

I threw those questions out since many folks said they would simply bust a door or window, but don't mention what would happen if somebody were inside. I guess the real question is, why are you breaking into some place? If you don't have a right to be there, aren't you contributing to the chaos (assuming some type of disaster here in the US. In combat, play to win)? Like you I could probably just knock. Just some food for thought.

I am looking at it as a bonafide SHTF situation in the States. Zombeez, terror attack, massive natural disaster, those kinds of things. In all three cases, I am going to be far less concerned with contributing to a problem if my actions will end up with a beneficial outcome for me, my loved ones, or someone in need. For example, in the case of a serious attack on our soil, I would have no problem removing the door to a gun store/sporting goods store so I could restock ammo. Same goes for a grocery store where food is concerned. ESPECIALLY food, it will go bad and to waste if not used anyway. No, this is not intended to justify theft and vandalism, but necessity can breed such action.


I carry picks. Not everything problem can be solved with VIOLENCE! Learn to use them and PRACTISE!

No, not all problems can be solved with violence. However, when speed is more important than stealth, why waste the time?
 
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How long does it take to pick a typical house or car lock?

There's a method called raking in which a rake pick is inserted and removed in rapid succession while slight tension is held with a tension wrench, this works with most house locks and car trunks and doors.

Some locks pick in seconds some a lot longer, practice everychance ya get and understand the mechanics of the lock so you can exploit it's weakness.

There are many ways to open locks, pick are just one way.
 
Dougo83. Glad I clarified that for you.

As for the questions, I hope that they got folks thinking about their answers.
 
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