How To Pick a Lock

Get a paperclip or safety pin and bend it straight. Now make a slight upwards bend at the very end.

Insert your wrench into the lower part of the keyhole—that is, the side opposite the one where the key’s teeth would go in.

Figure out which way the lock needs to be turned to open by turning the wrench clockwise and then counterclockwise. You’ll feel which way has more give.

Turn the lock the correct way with the wrench, putting slight pressure on it. Hold the wrench in place.

While keeping pressure on the lock, insert the end of the paperclip into the top part of the keyhole.

Feel around the keyhole with the paperclip until you locate the pins. If you’re picking a common door lock, there will most likely be at least five of them in a row.

Now for the actual “picking.” One at a time, push each pin up with the paperclip. Try to feel for the moment when the pin reaches its “unlocked” position. You should feel a slight give—or even hear a faint click.

As you go, apply slightly more pressure with the wrench until you have all the pins lifted up.

Now turn the wrench fully. Voila! The lock will pop open.