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Discuss “How Things Work: Lock Picking”

Through the delicate handling of small, metal parts, thieves and detectives can find their way into buildings without using a key.

Lock picking involves the modification of a lock’s internal components. Picking a lock is like cracking a secret code.

“Cylindrical locks” are one of the more common types of locks that are found on doors. For cylindrical locks, keys are used to turn a plug inside the lock. A plug is a small cylinder that is encased in a housing.

The rotation of the plug turns a cam. A cam is like a miniature arm that extends off of the plug. When the cam rotates, it pulls on the bolt, and the door opens.

The types of cylindrical locks found on doors include the pin-and-tumbler, wafer-tumbler, and tubular designs. Pin-and-tumbler...

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