Reviewer: Carlton S.

Now this one I liked. That one little tip at the very beginning made all the difference.

I have known, in theory, how to pick the simple tumbler lock for years. The so called "MIT Guide To Lock Picking", for example, covers the subject quite well. But I was never able to translate the words into the actual act. Every once in a while over that time I would spend a few minutes trying to pick a lock, but I always gave up out of frustration -- and I didn't want to damage the lock. It seemed to me that my application of the theory was lacking in technique.

What I mean by "technique" is that set of behaviors and feelings and attitudes that accompany the actual practice of a skill. These are subtle adaptations to the messiness of the real world that a theory does not cover in detail and that words are not always good at explaining.

Sometimes, pictures are better at explaining what is meant or desired, and sometimes, a moving picture is even better. This is the case with lock picking since it is a process. What is meant by "raking", for example. You can read about it, but seeing it done makes it so much clearer.

In theory, lock picking is quite simple -- frighteningly so. But one reason why everyone doesn't do it is that it requires practice, and that there are lots of different kinds of locks. This is another good thing about this video, that fact that covers quite a number of different locks. The explanations are fairly easy to understand and the examples are usually clear.

I would recommend this highly.

Reviewer: Tom G.

I bought my first pick set from a flea market a few years back and all I got with it was the infamous book "Easy Pickings". The book wasn't bad but when compared to this, it lacked a lot. This movie is great for beginners, if had seen this movie shortly after I got my pick set it would have saved me hours of research (though that was part of the fun now that I think about it). The thing I liked most about this movie is that I got to see the basic techniques being performed properly visually, not just being poorly described by descriptive writing or difficult / out of context diagrams like what I encountered in my research and in "Easy Pickings".

Reviewer: Curtis C.

The is a great instructional dvd, very useful information.

Reviewer: Thomas C.

Nice to view once. Unfortunately, it has no new material. I would have liked to see a demo on bumping for example. I would also like to have seen coverage of master-keying for example.

Reviewer: John H.

I found this very complete.

Reviewer: Stacy W.

A 'Must See' for anyone seeking information on how locks work and methods available to bypass them. I enjoyed the video.

Reviewer: Phillip V.

This is a scary show to watch. It just should be this easy to pick locks.

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm certain, from watching this video, that I'll be able to open my front door without a key. As I said, it's scary.

Reviewer: Mike P.

The vidio was great! Just what I was looking for! I work with vending machines, juke boxes, pinballs and video games for a living. Customers are constantly loosing keys or forgetting to leave a key when they drop off a machine for repair. Drilling the lock is not always the best solution. I knew a little bit about locks from a mail order locksmithing course I took when I was younger, and was able to pick most single locks, but double and round locks were never within my reach. They are now!

Reviewer: Henry M.

This was an excellent film. He is easy to understand, shows things clearly and repeats several times until you can see it happening. Definitely recommend this one.

Reviewer: Joe S.

This is some great info. I have often been intrigued about how locks function and methods of bypassing. This DVD covers so many situations and explains why I have never had success trying to open my front door dead bolt without the key. Also includes many tricks for auto, office cabinets, and pad locks. Very interesting DVD.

Reviewer: eugene g.

Great video. I learned alot and can't wait to try it out on some locks.

Reviewer: Rod H.

Definitely highly recommended. It covers a lot of information and I learned some new things. It also shows a lot of detail and what is going on inside the locks. If you are interested enough to read these reviews then just go rent it and you won't regret it.

Reviewer: Drew F.

I got this video just because I wanted to know how it's done, and I was not disappointed! I think that I could actually get into my own house if I got locked out, although I'd have to buy or make a set of lockpicks, first. Maybe not very useful information for most people, but certainly very interesting!

Reviewer: John M.

I was a locksmith apprentice 20yrs ago and then went in another career path. I very much enjoyed locksmithing and thought I would try to pick it back up. After viewing this video I was able to get up to speed quickly. It is excellent. I would recommend it highly.

Reviewer: Joseph G.

This is a very good video, well explained and produced.

Reviewer: Randy H.

This is a very well done DVD.I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: James L.

Irony, Thy Name is the Lockpicking Instructional Video Genre. This DVD begins with the standard FBI Warning against copying and distributing this work, and you can imagine the reaction of someone who got a pirated copy: Man, I came here to learn how to break into places, but I’m way over my head on this piracy thing. It’s bad enough that the FBI is on the job, but Interpol expressed its concern about piracy in 1977? I’m going straight.

After the FBI Warning comes another warning, from the video’s producers: “The events and procedures portrayed on this video could constitute a felony or misdemeanor if enacted on any property without the express written pr verbal consent of the owner or property manager.” I rarely cite Pauline Kael, doyenne of film critics, but: duh.

As we soon learn, this isn’t just lockpicking; it’s lockpicking for the new millennium. Just to prove it, the title screen uses the Star Trek: Next Generation typeface, then mixes it up with an OCR font that hasn’t been modern since the sixth printing of “Future Shock.” It makes you wonder why you want to learn new-millennium lockpicking, given the huge number of locks left over from the previous millennium.

Ah well. Let’s begin. Things learned right away: the part where you put the key is the Keyway. Alarming things learned right away: our narrator can pick a standard lock in about .04 seconds. You pause the disc and call a home security company to set up an appointment to install alarms. They can’t come until Tuesday. This is unacceptable. People could be renting this disk while we speak. You find yourself vaguely irritated with the lock-making industry; these things look ridiculously easy to open.

But you soon realize that this is one of those peculiar instructional DVDs that shows you how to do everything without actually teaching you. It’s like a DVD that teaches you how to marry Pamela Anderson. Now I’m going to compliment her movie career and subtly reveal an intriguing tattoo. My eyebrows indicate a disregard for her hepatitis status, while the shoes demonstrate a large bank account. Note how I move my retinas up and down in a circular motion. You could watch it all you want, but you’re not going to marry Pam Anderson.

Let’s move to handcuffs. Face it; we all want to know how to get out of handcuffs, just in case we’re unjustly arrested or suddenly wake to find we have lived a double life as a Houdini impersonator, and everyone’s waiting for us to get out of the cuffs and escape from the bank vault that’s been dropped in the Hudson river. According to the video, getting out of handcuffs is easier if you have a lock-pick. As the telephone operator says: please make a note of it.

The handcuff segment is followed by a demonstration on how to pick a car door lock, which would seem to have it backwards.

You know what would make a great instructional video? he asked, his mind wandering. How to escape from the electric chair. It would combine lockpicking, martial arts, ninja techniques, wall climbing, everything. That would be awesome. Once your appeals have been exhausted, raise your left hand in a quick motion and drive the shank into the guard’s neck. Firmly grip the electrodes and backflip out of the chair. You should be facing towards the door. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time; this move requires practice!

Anyway. Back to the vid. It should be noted that the visuals consist mostly of a hand jiggling a rake pick in a lock until the lock opens. There’s not the sort of technique we saw in the card manipulation video, and I wonder if people who expected real insider secrets for the new millennium are a bit disappointed; it’s like a video on “How to Fix Your TV” that consists of a guy slamming the top of the set with his palm until the picture stops rolling.

Next: Warded Padlocks. Here Mr. Hands opens a padlock with a strange “warded master key.” It’s the sort of padlock you’d buy to secure your shed or bike or locker. Takes Mr. Hands about six seconds to open the lock, and Mr. Voiceover says “One hundred percent of all warded padlocks can be opened using one of five passkeys, regardless of the make or model.”

That information alone is worth the cost of the rental. No more locks for me. From now on, I will use nothing but dogs glued to my valuables.

Production values: Just what you’d expect, really, although Mr. Hands appears to have bitten his thumbnail to the quick before they shot. Instructional value: I’ve no idea, since I couldn’t follow any of it. But it does demonstrate how any lock can be picked by an expert. If you’re into locks, this will be fascinating, though. And the music is very nice.

Incidentally, you know how some videos you watch show faces and other identifiable body parts?

Not this one.

Reviewer: James D.

I thought this video was great. The information is well presented and easy to understand.

Reviewer: Hermann G.

Yes, the Video is really interesting! I would say, it is great for beginners and others who have been in the field, but want to learn more about new tools and tricks.

Hermann, HI

Reviewer: Shauna H.

The CD needs to be cleaned or something. I was unable to hear most of it and the picture was wavy. What little I could pickup from the CD seemed very informative.......you just can't understand because of the interference.

Rating would be low because of the quality of the CD, not the information on it.

Reviewer: Dan N.

The dvd was first rate and i learned a lot wish that i had had more time to watch it several more times.

Reviewer: george w.

Great video. I rented it out of curiosity. They make it look so simple on TV. Now the truth is you have to find locks to pick. If you try your house locks and you mess them up you have the expense of a locksmith to fix your mistakes. I plan to buy some cheap locks and see what i can do. Don't expect to use this skill but it seems like a fun hobby. The video makes it look so easy. If only that were so. Just like the other videos i rent. If you have the experience it looks easy. But for the price i say go for it. You never know when you will be locked out of your own house. Of course if you are stupid enough not to have a hidden key outside you deserved to be locked out.

Reviewer: M.W. "Skip" S.

I found the DVD "Lockpicking for the New Millennium" very informational and well done.

Reviewer: Bob H.

It's scary how easy he makes it look to pick a lock.

Reviewer: Brooke K.

Great video. I had experience picking door locks. This video goes way beyond that covering handcuffs, car door locks, etc. Excluding electronic locks, this covers most types of locks I encounter daily.

Reviewer: Dagmar R.

A REALLY good DVD on lock picking. My partner has had locksmithing as a hobby for a number of years and he was so intrigued by this dvd that he went out and bought a copy. Warning - you get really creeped out by the speed with which these locks are picked and begin to wonder if any of your belongings are ever truly safe.