Lock pick

The lock pick (Dietrich) is a very old instrument used for opening locks. Door openings performed with the help of a lock pick are non-destructive, provided you possess the necessary intuition and a delicate touch. Every lock is highly unique, and therefore the lock pick must be guided with great care and plenty of feeling. Anyone who works too quickly or uses too much force can not only bend the lock pick but, in the worst-case scenario, also jam the lock with it.

What is a Lock Pick?

The term “Dietrich” encompasses many variants of tools that look quite similar. All of these lock picks have different strengths and weaknesses. At the beginning, when you are unfamiliar with the lock that needs to be opened, it can take a bit of trial and error before you get the lock open. Depending on the lock, one lock pick shape or another will fit slightly better or worse.

Some locks are also better suited than others to be opened by a lock pick. Traditionally, warded locks (Buntbartschlösser) in particular can be opened with a lock pick. Lever tumbler locks (Chubbschlösser) can also be opened with a lock pick, though in some places this is more due to the fact that the lever tumbler lock only blocks the deadbolt, but not the door latch. Therefore, the door latch of the lever tumbler lock can be pried open with a lock pick. Modern variants of these locks are considered particularly secure and are therefore used in prisons and on safes.

Whether you actually achieve good results with a lock pick depends on its craftsmanship. The lock pick is usually made of hardened steel so that it does not bend immediately and, if necessary, can also withstand a bit of pressure. If the steel is too hard, the lock pick can shatter and jam the lock. A high-quality heat treatment by the lock pick manufacturer is therefore highly desirable. There are also variants, for example with the tension wrenches, which are manufactured from titanium. Depending on the area of application, a properly shaped nail could also serve as a lock pick a long time ago. But nowadays, high-quality manufactured lock picks are the tool of choice, not a self-cobbled nail. Particularly gifted lock pickers and locksmith services can also manufacture a lock pick themselves according to their wishes and for specific requirements, but such manufacturing requires great skill.

The naming of the “Dietrich” is not entirely clear. It is assumed that it followed the trend where duplicate keys were jokingly given male names like “Peterchen” (Little Peter) or “Kläuschen” (Little Klaus). In the case of the Dietrich, it is believed to be loosely based on the name “Dieb” (thief). In the past, lock picks were sometimes still made by criminals themselves. Of course, there were also companies that manufactured high-quality lock picks for professional users like a reliable locksmith service.

Nowadays, it is not only locksmith services or burglars who resort to using a lock pick. So-called lock picking—the opening of locks by means of a lock pick—has become a real sport. The great challenge to one’s own skill and patience drives the participants. However, this sport is always just about opening the lock with a lock pick, whereas a locksmith service resorts to the method that is non-destructive while working as quickly as possible. Even a good lock picker can sometimes spend quite a bit of time with his lock pick on a sophisticated lock.

Non-Destructive Door Opening by the Professional

At Amper Aufsperrdienst, we don’t just grant you access to your apartment; we grant you access without damaging anything in the process. In almost all cases, we can open your door without causing any damage. We prefer to open a lock with a lock pick before we resort to using a drill.

Especially when it comes to tools, you shouldn’t be a penny-pincher. The old rule still applies: buy cheap, buy twice. Furthermore, we consider it highly recommended to be adequately equipped for almost every situation. Only those who have well-trained personnel and high-quality equipment can reliably open front doors non-destructively. A lock pick is a fine thing. With enough sensitivity, a particularly large number of locks can be opened with it, but the quality must be right. A lock pick must be particularly finely crafted so that it fits comfortably into most locks. However, it must not break or bend either, which is why the material is of crucial importance. A steel lock pick that has been hardened too much can easily break and jam the entire lock. If the steel is too soft, it tends to bend, which does not advance the opening of the lock either.

Burglary Protection by the Professional: We Make Your Apartment Secure

As an experienced locksmith service, we know exactly how to gain entry into an apartment best and easiest. We are also extremely practiced in handling lock picks. It is not uncommon for burglars to attempt to break into your home using a lock pick. Together with you, we inspect the property and create a vulnerability analysis. On this basis, and taking your wishes and ideas into account, we develop a security concept for you.

Of course, we only install high-quality locking systems from renowned manufacturers for our burglary prevention. Many people are not aware at all of the severe quality differences that exist between various locks. One can be opened in no time by even a less-gifted criminal using a lock pick, while the most talented locksmiths almost despair over another. Rely on our expertise; we will secure your property and place a major obstacle in front of burglars. If a burglar cannot get into an apartment quickly and easily as desired, they will usually look for another, more easily accessible target.