I thought I would pass this on from the NY Times.
“Bike Lock Can Be Picked With a Pen”
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Picking-Bike-Locks.html
Sorry if it is old news.
I have seen the video(s), but I don’t understand something.
The guy is shoving his pen under the bottom of the lock. Neither my ‘kryptonite’ nor my ‘citadel’ lock has ANY opening underneath the lock. Both have a cylinder style lock that accesses from the SIDE of the “U”, not the bottom. What hole is the lock picker using?
Can the technique on the videos be used to open U locks that have side-accessed lock?
I think this hole is underneath the vinyl covering, which was likely cut open or off in that area prior to the video demonstration.
I can steal most older model cars, asome new ones, with nothing more than a large screwdriver.
The solution is simple. Congress needs to ban Bic pens.
I can steal most older model cars, asome new ones, with nothing more than a large screwdriver.
Tom, you should make some videos and post them to ensure everybody understands. Please let us know what brand and model of screwdrivers we should be concerned about.
Let’s all start a bail fund for Tom in case his “demonstration” goes awry.
I think that’s where the key hole is on those models. If you have one of the cylinder style keys, it kinda makes sense. The key is just a cylinder with some grooves in it. So you jam a hard plastic cyliner (pen casing) in the lock that is the same diameter, and it molds into the grooves. I could be wrong, but that’s my take from using a krypto lock and watching the videos.
"If you have one of the cylinder style keys, it kinda makes sense. The key is just a cylinder with some grooves in it. So you jam a hard plastic cyliner (pen casing) in the lock that is the same diameter, and it molds into the grooves. I could be wrong, but that’s my take from using a krypto lock and watching the videos. "
Wonder if this will work on the vending machine in my office…
Read about this today. Since then I’ve been walking around work trying to find something to test it on…found my boss’s laptop with a Kensington security cable. As we are constantly reminded to lock up our laptops, I thought it would be funny to steal his. Guess what? It works. Just take the end off a white bic pen, jam it in there and wiggle/turn for a bit. Took me a few minutes but I unlocked his laptop and relocked it inside his desk. I tried another cable after that but the pen was too chewed up. Guess you need to bring a box of pens if you want to steal several bikes.
How long should I wait to tell him about it?
Yeah, it works. I just did my bike lock in a minute or two. The trick is really jamming the pen into the lock cylinder. 
So much for riding my bike to class.
Chris
Feeling a little better that 1 of my 4 locks is a huge Kryto chain with a flat key. However, the thought that I have 4 bikes locked up in my condo with 3 of 4 locks being crap is not very reassuring. These u-locks are not cheap to replace.
But I guess locks aren’t the only concern…I previously had 2 bikes stolen by the thieves cutting the bolts off the bike rack with a cut-off saw, and then taking both bikes WITH the 2 locks on them.
So it appears that the pen is being shoved into the actual U-lock cylinder key hole? not some other hole? (this is not shown clearly on the videos)
And it appears that this bic pen technique can be used on basically any comparable cylinder key lock?
Is that correct?
It really doesn’t matter which make or model of screwdriver that you use - it’s more important that you get a proper fit.
OK, so where do you put the screwdriver? I have seen people open up cars very, very quickly with a thin piece of metal (insert between window and door, hook lock mechanism with metal, pull up, unlock car), but I have not seen the screwdriver technique.
Yes. The pen cylinder is shoved into the lock hole (where the key would go). Then turn. And yes, it will apparently work on many different brands of cylinder locks.
I’m going home tonight to give myself free cable tv in every room. The cable co charges for each additional outlet they hook up, but all the hook ups are made in my store room - behind a small metal door with a cylinder lock. Pop the door, connect the additional outlets and voila!
Any cable co people reading - I’M JUST JOKING! I’d never do such a thing. Now if is was the phone company…
Wow. Then I would say that it appears that some folks (and companies) will soon be spending a lot of money revamping one hell of a lot of locks. This is not just a U-lock issue. Funny that the article just mentioned the bike locks.
It seems it should work on any cylinder lock, at least I’d expect on most cheaply made cylinder locks. I did a search this morning and found an article by some security expert saying this has been known for a long time as an issue with cylinder locks. Apparently some guys in the UK did a bike-stealing test in the early 90s and the Bic pen idea was noted then…makes you wonder why krypto hasn’t done anything about it.
So it appears that the pen is being shoved into the actual U-lock cylinder key hole?
That’s correct.
it appears that this bic pen technique can be used on basically any comparable cylinder key lock?
If you have a pen that has the right inside and outside diameter, plus the right consistency of the plastic - yes, though it is easier with cheaper locks (laptop cable locks are notoriously crap - they’re practically just for looks, like a blinking red light on the dashboard)
Also, it destroys the pen, which is fine, considering a box of two dozen is just a few bucks at your local office supply depot…
-Zo
What you refer to is the official tool(Slim Jim) that tow truck drivers and repo men use. The screwdriver can be used to pop the door lock mechanism right off, allowing you to unlock the door from the outside(dent pullers also work to rip them out). Once inside, olders cars(60’s -70’s) can be started by pulling the ignition out and shorting the starter wire to ignition.
Unless Tom is talking about the classic “jam the screwdriver into the key slot and turn” method, which works on lots of 80’s-90’s cars. This all comes down to the fact that there are few problems in the world that can’t be solved with a hammer and a screwdriver.
The sad thing is that it’s pretty easy to steal new cars with all kinds of security devices, if you have the tools and know how to use them.
Do we really think the bike thieves are going to Staples and buying these pens?