What is lock picking and how does it work?

What Lock Picking Actually Does to a Lock

Lock picking manipulates the internal components of a pin tumbler lock to simulate the action of the correct key — without using it. Almost every residential deadbolt in Fort Collins, from Old Town bungalows to Harmony Corridor new builds, uses a pin tumbler design. Inside the cylinder are spring-loaded pin stacks. Each stack has two pins — a key pin on the bottom and a driver pin on top. When the right key is inserted, it pushes each key pin to exactly the right height, aligning all the gaps (the "shear line") between key pins and driver pins. That alignment lets the cylinder rotate and the lock open.

When there's no key, the driver pins cross the shear line and block rotation. Picking defeats that block by manually lifting each pin stack to the correct height using a tension wrench and a pick tool.

How the Single Pin Picking Method Works Step by Step

Single pin picking (SPP) is the most common technique, and understanding it tells you exactly what your lock is — or isn't — defending against.

1. Insert a tension wrench into the bottom of the keyway and apply light rotational pressure in the direction the key turns.
2. Insert a hook pick and feel for the "binding pin" — the one pin that's under the most friction due to slight manufacturing tolerances in the cylinder.
3. Lift that binding pin until you feel or hear a faint click. The driver pin sets above the shear line on a small ledge created by the torque.
4. Move to the next binding pin and repeat. Each pin that sets allows slightly more rotation.
5. Once all pins are set, the cylinder rotates fully and the lock opens.

A practiced picker can open a basic Grade 2 Kwikset in under 90 seconds — often faster than someone fumbling with the correct key.

Which Locks Are Hardest to Pick — and Why

High-security locks from Medeco and Mul-T-Lock resist picking through engineering features that standard pin tumbler locks lack.

• Medeco: Uses angled key pins that must rotate as well as rise. This adds a second dimension — both height and rotation must be correct simultaneously. The sidebar won't retract until all pins are both elevated and rotated to the right angle.
• Mul-T-Lock: Uses a telescoping pin-within-a-pin design plus a sidebar system. Even if you manage to pick the main pins, a secondary sidebar prevents rotation until its own elements are aligned.
• Schlage B60N (Grade 1): Not pick-proof, but its tighter manufacturing tolerances and anti-pick pins make it significantly harder than a standard Grade 2 Kwikset. This is the most common affordable upgrade in Fort Collins.
• Smart locks (August, Yale, Schlage Encode): The electronic mechanism doesn't eliminate the mechanical cylinder — most still have a physical key override. The underlying cylinder's pick resistance matters equally.

Is Lock Picking Legal in Colorado?

Owning lock picks is legal in Colorado — the law focuses on intent, not possession. Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-4-205 covers possession of burglary tools: picks become criminal only when possessed with intent to commit a crime. A licensed locksmith carrying picks professionally faces no issue. Using one to enter property you don't have permission to access is burglary regardless of the tool. Colorado locksmiths are licensed through the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations at dpo.colorado.gov.

What This Means for Your Home's Security in Fort Collins

Understanding pick vulnerabilities tells you exactly where to spend on security — and where not to bother.

Colorado's temperature swings — from -15°F winters to 95°F summers — cause door frames to expand and contract seasonally. In Old Town and the CSU area, older wood frames shift more than newer construction. A deadbolt that's slightly misaligned due to frame shift becomes unpredictable inside the cylinder, and unpredictable binding dynamics make picking easier. Local locksmiths see this pattern every winter: a binding deadbolt that a homeowner has been forcing open for months is also a deadbolt with worn pins that pick faster.

According to FBI Uniform Crime Report data, residential break-ins typically involve kicking doors and breaking windows rather than picking. Picked locks leave no forced-entry evidence, which creates insurance complications. If your lock shows no damage and your home was entered, proving a break-in occurred becomes harder. This is another reason Grade 1 deadbolts with pick resistance matter beyond the picking threat alone.

If you're concerned about your current hardware, see Does a good lock really prevent break-ins? for a full breakdown of what actually stops a burglar. For guidance on replacement timing, How often should I change my house locks? covers the timeline.