About Pick Tools

Lock picks would normally come in a set of various tools as a mean to unlock a lock. There are many types of pick tool sets that are used by professional locksmith in order to accommodate most types of locks in the market. These types of tools would normally be used on tumbler or pin type cylinder locks where the tools will be used in order to lift the pins so the lock can be opened without using a key.

So when a lock would need to be picked? Many professional locksmiths in the industry are using pick tools to unlock a residential and sometimes commercial property lock applications where the customer needed a lockout service because he lost or misplaced the key. A locksmith technician would normally be able to use pick tools to unlock a lock without causing it any damage.

In addition to professional locksmith companies and technicians, there are many criminals who use the form of lock picking to break into homes. That is why, in many states around the country they have laws that restrict who can purchase a pick tool set and who can't. Technically in these legislated states, if you have evident or a proof for the need of a pick tool set, then you will be allowed to purchase one. On some of these states, the only people that would be allowed to own a pick tools sets are professional locksmiths and authorized law enforcement.

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Jaguar Trunk Lockout

As a locksmith technician, I find that vehicles from different years and different manufacturers all have different kind of tricks to deal with when servicing them. For the average locksmith technician, automotive services is a significant part of the job. It is very difficult to learn all the different tricks and methods to do multiple services on different vehicles year make and model such as lockouts, ignition work, or making a key. Luckily, there are many manuals available to help the average locksmith technician to provide those services. However, what will happen if the answer a technician need will not be in the manual?

I remember few years ago I got a call from a customer who locked his keys inside the trunk of his 86 Jaguar XJ6. After doing a quick review in the manual regarding the best way to approach the problem, I came to determine that the best way would be to make a a new key. The problem with this old model was that it didn't have any trunk release to pop the trunk, and picking it was almost impossible. After closing with the customer regarding the possible solution and cost, I was heading his way.

Once I got to the customer's location, before going through the process of making a key, I tried picking the trunk lock, but without any success. Something just didn't feel right with the cylinder, but I figured it was because I was trying to pick it and not because it had an issue. I then started going through the process of disassembling the door lock in order to read the stamped code. After I had the code, I was able to cut the key. However, as I was trying to unlock the trunk lock, I felt something was loose which prevented me from unlocking the trunk.

Since using a key was the only possible way to unlock the trunk, I had to think outside the box to solve this one. I called a Spokane locksmith co worker of mine to see if he had any previous experience with that type of vehicle. According to him, there was another way to pop the trunk open which did not involve much for the process. What I needed to do was removing the license plate and remove the rubber strips that were separating between the plate and the bumper. Once they were off, I detected a hole that gave me a direct access with a long screwdriver to the trunk latch. After accessing the latch with the screw driver, I was able to unlock the trunk.

Unlocking a Lexus

Lockout services are probably the majority of work an average locksmith technician will do throughout his career. Most of the lockout services most likely will be automotive. Unlocking a a vehicle can vary from vehicle to vehicle. In fact, there are some models in the market that are almost impossible to unlock. There are many types of specialty tools a locksmith will use in order to unlock a vehicle depending on the model. However, not all the time the intended specialty tool will help.

I had a customer called a while back claiming he locked the keys inside the vehicle by mistake. The vehicle was a 95 Lexus. I've done many types of vehicles before, but never a Lexus. Figuring there was a first time for everything, I decided to take the job, got the customer's info and headed his way. Once I got to the customer's location, I reviewed some of the automotive material I had to see what would be the best tool using to unlock this type of vehicle and it seemed that it called for an under-the -window tool.

Even though an under-the-window tool can be a tricky tool to use at times, I had a lot of practice using it, so I knew I won't have any issues using it this time as well despite the fact I did not work on a Lexus model before. I immediately started working on the vehicle and after couple minutes of manipulating the tool through the door and inside the vehicle, I was able to access the door lock. However, each time that I tried unlocking it, it quickly locked itself not giving me a chance to open the door.

Since picking the locks were not an option due to the fact this vehicle had high security locks, I decided to give a call to a Spokane locksmith co-worker of mine for a little advice. After getting him on the phone and telling him the story, he said that the reason the vehicle kept locking itself each time I tried unlocking it was because the alarm was armed and that there was no way to disarm it. The only option I had he said was having the customer pull the handle as soon as I used the tool to unlock the door lock. After making couple attempts unlocking the vehicle with the help of the customer, the door finally opened!

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A Lockout Service?

Sometimes I feel that 50% of the jobs I get as a mobile locksmith technician are lockout services. Most of the times when a customer calls where he or she has been locked out of the car for example, you get the feel that they called a professional locksmith only as a last resort. Meaning, they wasted time and effort figuring out how to unlock their vehicle without having to spend any money and call a professional locksmith.

I got a call the other day from a customer who was locked out of his vehicle. Apparently, she left the keys in the ignition and without realizing she did that, she locked the doors behind her. The vehicle was an early 90's Toyota Corolla. I accepted the job and was heading over to the location of the vehicle. Since I already had much experience opening this type of vehicle, within two minutes the car was already unlocked and the customer was able to get her keys back. She was surprised into how fast I was able to open the vehicle and the fact that it costed less than a $100. She then decided to tell me the following story about her friend who has a 2011 Chevy Camaro and got locked out of his vehicle last week.

As the story began, she asked me if we provide lockout services for newer vehicles as well and I responded that we obviously do. Then she started telling her about her friend getting stuck with his Camaro last week and how his dad had to drive for an hour to get him the spare key, so he could open the vehicle because he was positive that a professional locksmith wouldn't be able to unlock a new-ish vehicle such as that. When I asked what was the reason he would think something like that, she mentioned that the mall security guard who came to try and unlock the vehicle with his Slim Jim tool, was not able to do that and claimed that this tool was what most professional locksmith technicians used to unlock vehicles.

As she finished the story with the last sentence, I started laughing and said to her that true professional locksmith technicians have many specialty type tools in which they use to open various types of makes and models. I also mentioned that most locksmiths constantly keep themselves updated with all the latest technology tools and newer vehicle make and models, so they can keep up with all the changes that are made as the technology progresses. I finished by giving her few of my business cards, so she can pass one to her friend in case he would ever get stuck again.

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Truck Lid Lockout Tip

I got a call the other day from a customer complaining he lost the key to the lid on the back of his 2000 Ford F-150 truck. Normally the way I would approach these types of jobs is by picking the lock which shouldn't take very long and I could be on my way in a matter of minutes. However, for some reason, I did not have much luck dealing with the lid on that truck. When I got to the job site and started working on the lock with my picking tool, it did not work as well as I thought. I called one of my fellow locksmith technicians and he advised me to look into the safety latch pull and so I did.

Looking a little closer, I noticed the safety latch that was located to the left of the lock cylinder. It seem to be held by a Velcro piece,but was still accessible if approached in an angle. I took a Slim Jim and cut small slot at the end of it using a dremel tool I had. Then I used couple of plastic pieces to protect the paint while I'm sliding the Slim Jim through them into the lid. Once I got about 6 inches with the Slim Jim inside the lid, I was able to catch the release lever and I pulled in order to open the lid. Although I was able to open it, the open springs seem to be very tight, so I had to use some force when I pulled on it.

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