In the movies , find fault a ignition lock look like a subject of sticking a bobby peg through a keyhole and twisting it around a little . In world , it ’s a complicated procedure that take assessing the interior social system of the lock and trying out various different tactics until you get it good .
In the video below , YouTuber theHelpfulLockPickeruses a clear acrylic lock to demo basic lock structure and how to wangle the interior of a lock until it springs open . ( Please note that Mental Floss does not second weaken into property that does n’t belong to you . )
Within the clear lock , you may see six metallic element driver pins , each held down by a coiled spring . The springs push the pin down into the metallic element subway , physically obstructing the lock from call on . Below those pins are key pins , which are different lengths . When you stick your key into the lock chamber , the combining of the tooth of the Francis Scott Key and those cardinal pins advertise up on the driver pins , promote them out of the metallic element plug and give up you to turn the key and launch the whorl .

The video then shows how you could splay that metal thermionic valve smother the keyhole using a tension wrench , making it easier to reach the lock using just a hook . He screen out how live each gadget driver pin is , clicking enter the one with the most tenseness and springing the lock undefended .
HelpfulLockPicker also shows a few techniques that seem a piddling less intensive . He demonstrate “ zipping , ” a manoeuvre that works kind of like ripping off a Band - Aid . You turn the lock with the tenseness spanner , stick the hook all the way in , and pull it out quickly while push up , knocking out all the number one wood pins in the mental process . Then there ’s “ rock , ” which involve an “ L Rake ” pickax that kind of looks like a samara in itself . If you rock the pick back and onward while the wrench go on the lock turn , eventually it should pop open . Or you could employ a Bogota rake , another tool , and just pull it back and forth through the hoopla until it releases .
Lockpicking may not be quite as easy as he make it look , specially on locks more complicated than this , but the TV unquestionably makes it seem like an approachable skill to acquire in an afternoon , as long as you’re able to get your hands on some tools .
follow the full video for more lockpicking tips .