I know many on here are very concerned about computer security so, I assume, you are also concerned about the security of your home, especially when you visit the Philippines. A few weeks ago I started looking on the internet for ways to improve home security and was stunned at just how easy it is to break into the majority of homes almost silently and without any sign of forced entry - probably leaving you uninsured for your loss. Everyone has heard of lock picking, here it is in action on a typical upvc front door lock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALuzDxkIto0 Lock picking may require a little skill, so why not try an electric pick gun instead... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1IEubC0q84 And here you can see it is possible to pick a lock using a manual pick gun... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyHXCUdaUms Another method to open locks is with the use of bump keys... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyAxmVY8Dfo Even high security locks are not immune... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b3uqpRDOTY And here is a video of a DVLA wheel clamp padlock being picked... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=238rg_hFlgM This method involves a forced entry, but it is easy and relatively quiet... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cc4rg/Inside_Out_Yorkshire_and_Lincolnshire_20_02_2012/ In that last video you will note that the new locks fitted are made by ABS - these appear to be the best euro cylinder locks on the market. The actual model is ABS Avocet MK3, which is what I now have on my only exit door. This lock is anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-bump and anti-drill. It is the only lock on the market to achieve SOLD SECURE DIAMOND status. The company is currently in administration, but due to be sold to new owners... http://www.abs-secure.co.uk/ To complete your lock security, I have found the following security handles... http://hoppe.co.uk/?page_id=18 I bought the ABS AVocet MK 3 lock (and make sure it is MK3) and the Hoppe security handle for under £64. That is not expensive to give you extra security for your home and probably ensure that if you are broken into, at least you will still be covered on your home insurance!
Intresting stuff Howerd conversly I dont have any locks on my house and leave the keys in the car so far its worked for 21 years buggers dont know where to start i guess lol
In Scotland, I lived in the same one bed tenement flat that I grew up in for most of my life up until 1995. After my parents died my flat was broken into 5 times between 1986 and 1992, once they have done it once it never looks the same and becomes an easy target, my place was the first flat one floor up in our close, there were no flats on the ground floor only shops, it was a great solid stone built place lovely tenement. Anyway all 5 burglaries were bungled in one way or another, I never once actually lost anything, although a few times they did make off with stuff but it was always recovered. One time a few of them broke in and one made off with my bicycle (which had a dodgy rear axle) anyway he was caught trying to cycle away up the road by a polisman who basically just strolled up to him as the lad was having so much trouble riding the bike Another one was on the way down the stairs of the close with my portable Sony tele and just as he got to the bottom of the stairs about 10 Keystone cops came pouring into the close My auntie Etta (not my real auntie, but my auntie because I grew up with her kids, same way the word 'Tita' is often used in the Phils) she had come home and noticed my door slightly ajar and went straight upstairs and called the police. I guess I was always very lucky, I had a cheap alarm fitted and that scared them off a few times, when I moved the new flat was a bit more secure then when I moved to the countryside to the first and only property I ever had a mortgage on, the place was so quiet you could lave your door open without a problem. Where I am now, well I own very little but the place is fairly secure, in the Phils we have big bars on the gate and a big lock but it would not keep a determined crim out for more than 30 seconds. Ana has been getting more nervous recently because our community has been failing to pay it's monthly dues and the President of the subdivision resigned in disgust, so now we only have volunteer security instead of paid security, all because they won't pay 150 peso a month, we don't even have street lights now apparently, when we were in the Condo we were paying 1500 for monthly dues and had great security there.
Just found a video of my new lock being picked... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oF3qLxmH0A But, as you can see, picking this lock requires much more skill than those locks featured in the first post.
I lived in Edinburgh for a year, oss and had my quick release cycle wheel stolen from the bottom of the staircase leading to tenement flats. My bike had a heavy duty D lock around the rear wheel and frame, securing it to the staircase railings; a cable then went around the front wheel. One day, the cable was cut but nothing stolen; a few days later the front wheel was stolen but I saw two kids with it a few days later and followed them. They went into a three storey tenement not to far from where I lived. I went to one of those Police 'boxes' and a PC and WPC accompanied me to the tenement. They went inside but I had to wait outside. When they returned they said the kids had been carrying a bike wheel. They showed me the bike wheel they claimed they had been carrying. I pointed out that the wheel they had been carrying was radially spoked and was nothing like the wheel they showed me, but the Police would not do anything. The WPC was taking control and the PC remained silent. I said to the WPC what would happen if I went to the flat where I knew the bike wheel was; she said I would be arrested! Anyway, the Police left and I then went and knocked on the flat door. An elderly lady answered and invited me to look around. I declined but she gave me the address of her daughter (one of the boys' mother). As I was leaving the PC arrived (without the WPC). He said he was not happy in the way the WPC handled the matter. I told him I was visiting the boy's mother and he was OK with that. Whilst I was visiting the boy's mother her son rang up admitting that they had my bike wheel. Some weeks later, another Police Officer turned up at the flat I was living. The PC had made a formal complaint against the WPC and the Police wanted my bike wheel as evidence and needed to keep it for some time! I told them I needed my bike and that they had not provided assistance when I needed it, so I refused to give them the wheel. I have no idea what happened after that! I later had the whole bike stolen when living in Cambridge; this time they removed the D type lock, probably using this method... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hsM88Wx8QQ
And Edinburgh is probably the nicest safest city in Scotland your story makes me embarrassed to be a Scot Regards that video, I had a really heavy duty D lock for my motorcycle, it had a much better lock than that Mine had a circular quite complex key, cylindrical key really, the key fitted into a circular recess in the lock and had a weird inner and outer pattern at the base, nobody ever knicked my motobikes, they did pee in the tank of one of them though and I did tend to crash most of them rather a lot
From the videos I have viewed on the internet, picking a tubular lock is pretty easy - all the pins are fully visible so you can see if you have successfully picked each pin. Also, if you use a tubular lock pick, that pick can then become a pattern for making a key - I don't think that is possible with other types of locks! My computer is actually secured with a heavy duty cable and heavy duty D-type cycle lock with a tubular key - I may have a go myself tonight to pick it!
