Can Picking a Lock Break It?

Lockpicking almost always leaves marks on a lock.

Whether or not a lock is damaged when picked depends largely upon the method used and the skill of the picker. However, almost all methods of picking will leave some damage in the form of scratches or dents on the lock.

Lockpicking

Lockpicking involves, at its most basic level, two tools: a pick and a tension tool like a wrench. The tension tool applies force to the lock so its locking elements bind, and the pick is used to determine where the binding elements are and to position them so proper force will cause them to open. Lockpicking almost always damages locks somewhat, and marks are left on the softer metal parts of the interior. Unskilled lockpickers may apply too much force on a lock and leave many deformations.

Bump Keys

A bump key is a type of blank key that is inserted part of the way into a lock and then hit with a screwdriver to "bump" the tumblers of the lock open. Bump keys can very easily damage a lock. Often, bump keys cause small deformations to the internal parts of the lock, causing the bump key to get stuck in the lock.

Pick Guns

Pick guns work on the same principle as manual lock picks. However, they have a small trigger attached to the end of the pick which applies the force once fired. Pick guns are very invasive and almost always leave marks on the pins of the lock. Additionally, they can only be used on certain types of locks, like those that employ a "pin-tumbler" system, as they can severely damage other locks, like those that rely on spring mechanisms.

References

• Black Hat USA Briefings: Lockpicking Forensics
• Lockpickguide.com: Bumping Locks
• TopBits: Bump Keys
• Stason.org: What are "pick guns" or "automatic pickers" and do they work?

Resources

• Lockpicking Forensics: Forensic Locksmithing