With more than 8,000 home invasions happening every year here in the United States, we’d like to present some tips on what you can do to not only protect yourself and your family, but how to fortify your home to better resist becoming a victim.
There’s a notable difference between a burglary and a home invasion, that being you. If you’re home, it’s a home invasion. If you’re not, it’s a burglary plain and simple. Criminals don’t always know what they’re walking into during the day, but at night its a different story. Most home invasions happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and weekends.
A criminal that breaks into a residence at night is expecting a confrontation of some kind. Hopefully it will be short lived when you shoot them dead, but as we’ve mentioned before in “Dealing with Violent Confrontations” you should always avoid a confrontation if possible. This is the same in a home invasion scenario, not by using the same methods, but by using some forward thinking to deny criminals the opportunity.
Using the tips we’ll share below will help you in avoiding this kind of confrontation and better protect you and your family. [Read More…]
Today we’re going to show you how to create a Lock Pick Rake and Tension Wrench using two simple paperclips and a Multi-Tool.
As we’ve mentioned in previous Lock Picking articles, the Rake/Tension Wrench is the most versatile combo to carry for bypassing standard pin/tumbler and wafer locks.
In our last Lock Picking article on the SerePick Bogota Entry Toolset, a lot of people commented that they were unable to purchase Lock Picks, and couldn’t get involved in learning the skill-set.
After today, you’ll have no excuse not to make your own simple picks, buy a cheap padlock and work on your raking technique. In fact, while we demonstrate creating a rake, you could also make a feeler pick to start learning how to “feel” the individual pins and how they move/bind under tension. [Read More…]
SerePick continues to impress with their new offering of custom Bogota Entry Toolsets, which now include the use of Stainless Steel and Titanium.
These hand-crafted tools have been used by many locksmiths and covert entry specialists worldwide, for numerous reasons we’ll cover here.
We’ve been dirt diving a set of Bogota’s for a few months, and with the addition of the Stainless and Titanium we decided it was time to give them a proper review. [Read More…]
Today we’ll be showing how to pick your way out of Handcuffs using only a bobby pin. We realize this may be a sensitive issue to some out there, as this information in the wrong hands could be detrimental; here’s our take.
The current “swinging bow rachet – type” adjustable handcuff design dates back to 1912 when the Peerless Handcuff Company patented it. Even the “double lock,” that we’ll get into later in the article, came about shortly after this. First off, why are we still using relying on this deprecated technology to keep our officers safe? Why are law enforcement grade handcuffs readily available at nearly any surplus store, readily available to be used on someone during a home invasion? Lastly, why is this simple key design still being used?
It’s an undisputed fact that handcuffs can be picked with a simple bobby pin, which reveals a fundamental problem with the lock design. We feel the more awareness that is brought to this issue, the better. [Read More…]
Here’s a couple of great reference reads that everyone interested in getting into lock picking should peruse.
We feel these are the top three open-source guides available out there right now, and should give everyone a solid understanding of lock picking basics.
LSI Guide from Locksport International
MIT Lock Guide
CIA Lock Picking Field Operative Training Manual
If anyone knows of another great resource, please post it to the comments
These lock picking tips and techniques provided in this article are only to be used in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and provided for lock sport (recreational lock picking) use only. Lock sport should be used to learn about the illusion of security, and how to properly protect yourself and your possessions. Don’t do anything illegal.
We received a tip today from WK at http://www.c4i.org/ who confirmed the existence of a Backup Lock Pick Business Card prior to Kevin Mitnick’s Business Card we reported on previously.
The card was originally designed by Jenni Mattison for Melvin, a self proclaimed “hacker, entrepreneur, and all around mischief maker.” Mitnick requested Melvin’s permission to copy the design and asked Mattison to create a variation on it, since he wanted more text to go on the card.
Details are contained in the comments on this Flickr page by “Antiuser” for those interested. [Read More…]
An interesting and very practical business card came our way the other day, and we’d like to recommend everyone get one! Kevin Mitnick, once the most-wanted computer criminal in the United States, has produced some truly remarkable Lock Pick business cards.
Kevin Mitnick’s business card is made out of steel by metalcards.com which doesn’t sell these cards, but you can order one at Mitnick’s Web site, check the sidebar for ordering instructions.
The card measures 3 7/16 inches long by 1 7/8 inches wide, slightly longer than a standard business card, but no thicker. Perfect to put into a wallet.
While fully functional, the pop-out picks aren’t very comfortable to use, but can be used in a pinch with some practice. Get two and try the picks out before you truly have to depend on them. [Read More…]
One of the things that’s sometimes hard to understand in Lock Picking is which pick to use. Many picks look similar and can be hard to distinguish from one another. It’s important to be able to recognize what type of lock you’re trying to pick, and know the appropriate pick to use.
We hope this article will give a better understanding of the common types of picks available and the locks their best suited for. We provide this information purely from an educational standpoint, not an illegal one. We strongly believe this is an important skillset to have, and should be used appropriately. [Read More…]
Lock Bumping is quickly becoming a popular way of bypassing a lock without the need for picking. The method uses a key blank from the particular lock you’re wanting to gain entry to. The key blank is then filed with a square file to let the key pins drop to their furthest position on the lock.
The filed blank is inserted into the lock, and then tapped with a special lock bumping hammer at the same time the key is being turned. The tapping from the bump hammer jostles the pins and allows you to turn the lock as the pins line up with the shear line. This is a hard concept to explain with words, so we’ve linked to the following video to provide some clarification. [Read More…]
I haven’t been much in the reading mood lately, but Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life
by Neil Strauss is amazing! I finished all 418 pages the same day I bought it. I can’t say that a book has held my attention like this ever before. Emergency is packed with information on how to increase your odds of surviving and escaping when SHTF.
Strauss has in depth information on obtaining multiple passports, living off the grid, crossing the border, lock picking, protecting your assets, Swiss banking and the art of disappearing. I can’t say that I have any money for an off-shore account, but we can dream can’t we?
If you’ve ever read Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand then this book is for you.
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