How to Make a Pin Lock With a Bobby Pin and a Paper Clip

Getting locked out of your home can be costly if you have to get a locksmith to come and open the door. You can make a pin lock (more commonly called a "lock pick") that lets you to unlock the door yourself. The paperclip and bobby pin can be purchased from a drugstore, if they are not already in the home, and do not require any special tools for them to be modified for use. Does this Spark an idea?

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Straighten out the paperclip with your fingers. Hold the paperclip by one end in your right hand. Bend the end of the paperclip into a "U" hook shape with the fingers of your other hand.
- 2
  
  Hold the two protruding tips of the bobby pin in your left hand. Insert the other end of the bobby pin into the lock's keyhole near the bottom. Twist the bobby pin clockwise, then counterclockwise until you feel which side has less resistance than the other. Press down and turn either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on which side had less resistance.
- 3
  
  Insert the end of the paperclip into the top of the keyhole. Rotate the paperclip in the keyhole until you feel resistance from the interior pins.
- 4
  
  Push up on the pin until you feel the resistance lessen (or an actual "clicking" sound is heard). Move the paperclip horizontally to the next pin and repeat the procedure. Continue to do this for all five pins.
- 5
  
  Push the bobby pin in the direction which has the least resistance, to force the locking mechanism to open. Remove the paperclip and bobby pin from the keyhole.