It can be very frustrating to be locked out of your door, bedroom, or bathroom, especially when you're in a hurry. Fortunately, simple household locks can be cracked with two common bobby pins and a little practice.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Prepare Your "Kit"
Step 1. Open the first hairpin to make it into a long flat piece of metal
It will be the tool you will use to lift the lock pins.
Remove the rubber protectors on the ends of the hairpin, as they will only get in your way. You can do this with your teeth or with a wire cutter, if available
Step 2. Use the lock to bend the tip of the bobby pin into a hook
Insert it about an inch into the hole. The flat side must face up. Push the rest of the hairpin to the left, bending the end slightly. It only needs to bend a few millimeters.
You have to push the hairpin 5-7 cm to the left to get the desired fold
Step 3. Bend one end of the hairpin to create a handle
Take one end of the elongated hairpin and fold it back on itself to form a loop. This will make it easier to hold it and maintain pressure.
Step 4. Create the lever by bending a second bobby pin to get a right angle
The easiest way to do this is to use pliers, but even with your fingers you can get good results if you are patient. The lever acts as a key: it has the task of turning the lock after you have lifted the pins that prevent it from turning thanks to the first hairpin. Just bring the folded part of the hairpin (the one away from the rubber protectors) at a right angle to the rest of the tool.
Step 5. View the inside of the lock to understand how it works
A common lock consists of two parts: the cylinder and i pistons. The cylinder is the part where you insert the key. Pistons are small round pieces of metal that sink into the cylinder, holding it in place until the key pushes them up. The latter are cut in half and when their cut part aligns with the cylinder, the lock can be turned. Your job as a burglar is to manually push each plunger into the correct position, slowly turning the cylinder so that it cannot return to its place. When you have raised all the pistons, the lever will rotate freely and you can open the door.
The elongated hairpin is essentially a very simplified version of the key. The knurls of the keys are designed specifically for a type of lock, so that the pins can align perfectly making it possible to open the door
Method 2 of 2: Pick the Lock
Step 1. Insert the lever into the bottom of the lock
Bring the folded part in, keeping it as low as possible and pushing it all the way in.
Step 2. Turn the lock slightly in the opening direction
Use the lever as if it were the key. It won't move much, but this pressure is important and you need to maintain it throughout the process. Don't push too hard, though; you have to move it slightly without forcing the mechanism. Remember that the pistons must be able to move up and down.
If you're not sure which direction the lock opens, try both. When turning in the wrong direction you may hear clicks and you should feel some resistance
Step 3. Insert the elongated bobby pin into the lock with the hook facing up and look for the pins
Try moving them up and down with your instrument. They are located at the top of the cylinder. Push some up, feel them move, and let them go back down. You have to move the hairpin up and down to find all of them and some of them may not move yet, but this is normal. For now, just count the pistons, take note of which ones are moving and which ones seem stuck.
- The hook of the hairpin must point upwards. You will use it to push the individual pistons.
- If the pistons are not moving at all, you are probably applying too much pressure with the lever. Loosen it and try again.
Step 4. Find the first piston that is "stuck" or difficult to move and push it up until you hear a click
Try them all and find the one that doesn't move. Maintain constant pressure on the lever and gently push the piston upwards until it produces a "click". This means that you have managed to align the center of the piston with the cylinder and that you are one step closer to unlocking the lock.
You may notice that the lever turns slightly more after you put a plunger in its place. This is because the lock is locked by one less piston
Step 5. Find all stuck pistons and repeat the operation
After releasing one piston, it is possible that others that previously moved are stuck. This is good because you will know which piston to switch to. Repeat the process until you can fully turn the lever in the lock and open the door:
- Find the stuck piston or the one that moves the least.
- Maintain constant pressure on the lever, turning the lock as if you wanted to open it.
- Gently push the plunger upwards until you hear a click.
- Switch to the next piston.
Step 6. Adjust the tension on the lever if you have difficulty
Almost all beginners have problems with this technique, because it requires sensitivity and experience. If you push the lock too hard, the pistons are stuck and you can't move them. If the pressure is too low, however, the pistons will return to their place and you will have to start over. The best method is to start with a slightly higher pressure than necessary and slowly loosen it until you can move the pistons; in this way you will avoid losing the progress made and you will be able to find the right pressure gradually.
Advice
- Remove the rubber caps at the ends of the hairpin, as they can get stuck in the lock.
- Hairpins work best on padlocks and regular home locks.
- Do not rush. Proceeding slowly and steadily is the best choice to avoid mistakes that force you to start over.
Warnings
- Never try to pick locks you don't own or without the owner's permission. This article is to help people who have been locked out of the house or who have lost their keys.
- Don't try these tips for fun, as you run the risk of breaking the lock and having to change it.
