How I did it: I googled for videos and learned from this.
I made a tension wrench from a pen clip broken from a pen and used a hair pin to pick the lock.

I picked the front door lock at 11pm, it turned half way and then
jammed. I spent the next few hours panicking. I'd trapped everyone
inside the house with no way out. No windows on the ground floor, just
that one door.

It wouldn't go forward and it wouldn't go back. And the key now didn't fit in the lock.

At 3am I gave it another go. I realised there were pins on BOTH sides of the lock, top and bottom, so after picking the bottom part, it finally went all the way around.

The relief that I felt went through me like a wave, and then it hit me; I opened my front door lock without a key. If I can do this, a criminal most certainly can.
I feel a lot less secure in the house now. However if I ever lock myself out, I can be confident I can get back in easily.

Lessons & tips: DON'T pick your front door. Practise on other locks, padlocks first then old door locks.

Be SURE you want to see how effective your locks really are. You could feel less secure in your own home.
 

Resources: Howcast video

Feb 21, 2009, 04:41AM PST | 0 comments | 3 cheers