Legal & Ethics
Locksport is a legal, respected hobby practiced by hobbyists, security researchers, and locksmiths worldwide. Its practitioners are the reason modern locks keep getting better. But it comes with a strict, non-negotiable code.
The rules
- Only pick locks you own, or that you have explicit written permission to open. There is no other acceptable case. "Belongs to a friend" is not permission unless the friend has told you so directly, in writing.
- Never pick a lock in use. If someone is relying on the lock — their front door, their storage unit, their bike — you do not touch it, even if it is technically yours. This is a long-standing rule in the community and it exists because damaging or jamming a lock someone depends on is a real harm.
- Never carry tools with intent to commit a crime. In most jurisdictions, possessing picks is legal but intent is the determining factor. Carry your tools to practice sessions, meetups, and your own workshop — not to places you have no reason to be.
- Jurisdictions vary. Some US states restrict possession of picks to licensed locksmiths (e.g. Nevada, Ohio, Virginia have historically had rules on this). Some countries (parts of Europe) are permissive; others are strict. Check your local law before buying tools.
Join the community
Locksport is more fun with other people. Look for a local locksport group, a hackerspace with a locksport night, or a chapter of TOOOL (The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers). You will learn more in one evening of picking side-by-side with a mentor than you will from a month of solo practice.
This site is educational. It is not legal advice. If in doubt about the law in your area, ask a locksmith or a lawyer — not a website.