How to Pick a Doorknob With a Paper Clip
The common doorknob in a home has a locking mechanism that is not designed for security like the lock on a front door. You can pick the locking mechanism that is inside of a doorknob using the straightened end of a paper clip. You will need patience and to follow a procedure that includes being sensitive to the way the locking mechanism feels as the paper clip touches it. No great locksmithing abilities are required and the lock on the doorknob will not be damaged by your having picked the lock.
Instructions
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Straighten out the paper clip with your fingers.
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Hold the paper clip in one hand by the back end. Hold the needle-nosed pliers in the other hand.
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Clamp the jaws of the needle-nosed pliers 1/2 inch in from the front end of the paper clip. Bend the end of the paper clip down into a “V” shape.
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Clamp the jaws of the needle-nosed pliers around the “V” shape of the paper clip.
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Squeeze the jaws of the needle-nosed pliers to compress the end of the paper clip against the rest of the paper clip so as to form a loop at the end.
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Insert the looped end of the paper clip into the hole of the locking mechanism of the doorknob.
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Twist the looped end of the paper clip back and forth from left to right until you hear a clicking sound.
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Remove the looped end of the paper clip from the hole of the locking mechanism of the doorknob. Turn the doorknob to open the door now that it has been picked.
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Tips & Warnings
Picking the lock on a doorknob can cause small scars around the locking mechanism.
Do not use a jumbo sized paper clip as it is too big to be effective
References
Resources
- Photo Credit paperclip image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
