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Two Letters Re: Lock Picks as Survival Tools

Jim,
Just a word of caution, at least here in the People's Republic of Kalifornia (and probably most other locales), mere possession of said tools by somebody not driving around in "Joe's 24 Hour Locksmith" van could lead you to a peck of trouble by a nosy cop and land you in the clink for possession of burglary tools. Same with nice bolt cutters. Of course in TEOTWAWKI all bets are off be cautious and safe. Of course 'intent ' is the key word, but why risk the hassle? Cordially, Tim

JWR Replies: Laws on possession of lock picks vary considerably from state to state. In most states, possession and use of lock picks is equivalent to the possession of a pry bar or similar tools that could be used for burglary. Even in California, mere possession sans intent is deemed legal. Nearly all state statutes require proof of malicious or criminal intent to justify prosecution. This is the case in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and many other states. To the best of my knowledge (but don't take my word for it--consult your state and local laws) the only jurisdiction that makes mere possession illegal with no proof of intent required, is our nation's capitol, Washington, DC. I should also mention that in California, locksmiths must be state licensed. (What a Nanny State mentality!) Granted, carrying a set of lock picks on your person could be considered criminal intent, depending on the circumstances. And who knows how much grief you'd invite by doing so in a state like California. In such states it probably wouldn't be a good idea to carry such items in your car. FWIW, I carry a basic set of "lock out" tools in my primary vehicle at all times, but of course I live in the boonies in a lightly-populated rural state. However, if I lived in California I certainly wouldn't!

Jim-
Have you seen this YouTube video? It is one of several that describe the ['lock bumping"] problem. This one shows how to make the bump key. You might need several different kinds of keys, but a visit to Home Depot will tell you the most popular kinds of locks/keys for the home market. Amazing. - Bob

JWR Replies: I mentioned the lock bumping threat in SurvivalBlog a few months ago, but it bears repeating. It is worth paying more for dead bolt lock sets that are specifically designed to be "bump resistant."

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