Introducing Physical Security 405
a stealthy way to bypass a lock and can make it harder for the victim to determine what
has happened.
The basic components used to pick locks are:
Tension Wrenches This type of wrench looks like a small, angled, flathead screwdriver. It
comes in various thicknesses and sizes.
Picks Similar to a dentist pick, these tools are small, angled, and pointed.
Together, these tools can be used to pick a lock. One example of a basic technique
used to pick a lock is scraping. With this technique, tension is held on the lock with the
tension wrench while the pins are scraped quickly. Pins are then placed in a mechanical
bind and will be stuck in the unlocked position. With practice, this can be done quickly so
that all the pins stick and the locks are disengaged. Figure 17.4 shows a selection of
lock-picking tools.
FIGURE 17.4 Lock-picking tools