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Lock Out Tools

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jamesemery728

Well-known member
Joined
May 2, 2009
Messages
961
Anybody have any good recommendations for lockout tools. It seems like lately more of my family, friends, little old ladies are locking their keys in their cars. I have always used wooden wedges and a coat hanger with some degree of success but sometimes these "tools" scratch the paint which I would rather not do. There are all sorts of air jack blow up wedges, plastic jack wedges and plastic coated metal gadgets that are available online. Not training to be a car thief or anything, but would like to know if anyone has used any of the brands that are out there and if they are worth the money. Also does anyone know if it is legal to carry these types of gadgets in your car or truck toolbox. Not talking about lockpicking tools or jigglers or whatever they are called to pick locks with but rather the tools that go thru the door frames or a partially open window.
 
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ptschram

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Sep 8, 2006
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2,573
Location
Churubusco, IN
I got mine from my Matco dealer. Wroth every stinking penny. The first time you lock your own keys in a car, it'll be worth it!

I don't know the brand, but it came with an inflatable bladder, a plastic wedge, a piece of thin plastic (I haven't needed it yet) and a LONG glow in the dark pole.

I no doubt paid too much for it getting it off the truck, but it's already paid for itself the few times I need it. The inflatable bladder also comes in handy when a vehicle door won't open and you need to get it just "that much",more open to access something to pop it open.
 
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RhodesSpeedShop

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Jun 22, 2011
Messages
277
Location
Dallas, TX
My SO guy brought me a blue point lockout kit last week only because it was green and he ran out of green stuff to sell me.:lol_hitti

Nice kit though. It had several long extensions you could thread together for various lengths and angles to reach manual or electric locks. Came with an inflatable wedge, slim jim, etc. The tips were glow in the dark. Came in a pouch and is supposed to unlock 98% of vehicles. Havent tried it yet but it looked a hell of a lot better than my prybar and coat hanger:thumbup:
 
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Sterff

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Feb 8, 2010
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Location
PA
I like how it says "For sale to registered locksmiths, police and bonafide repair professionals only."
 
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j.c.whitney

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Mar 26, 2011
Messages
558
Location
Omaha, Ne
My Mother locked her purse and keys (along with groceries) in the trunk of her 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I came to the rescue and absolutely could not get that pooch open. Another Lady pulled up in a 1995 Cutlass and saw the predicament, she offered to try her key in the trunk. I thought yeah right Lady. Insert key, opened the trunk, and away she went. Someone later told me there were only like 12 keys that would fit the trunk on a 1996 Olds, don't know.
 
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earlthegoat2

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Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
877
Location
SE GA
The long rod is by far the most useful of the tools out there. The slim jim type tool is probably the least handy but can work in a pinch for darn near anything.

Those 95 and 96 Olds locks are piece o cake with a slim jim incidentally however they are more likely to do damage where the long rod will not.

Lockout kits are worth every stinking penny. I was on the way out of my shop one time when a police officer locked his keys in his car. He had to respond to an accident call so he was trying to get the door unlocked as fast as possible otherwise they woudl have used their spare keys back at the station.

He asked if I could unlock it and I told him I would as long as he did not take away my lockout tools. He said they are not illegal to possess. Only illegal to posses while up to something illegal or actually using them on someone elses vehicle without their consent.

Now I work on golf equipment as well as maintain a fleet of vehicles for a golf resort. The maintenece personel are ALWAYS locking their keys in their vehicles. I got my supervisor to get us a larger kit from NAPA about 2 months ago and it has paid for itself 3 or 4 times so far.
 
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Danglerb

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Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
I think I bought my stuff from ToolTopia, but might of been Amazon. Easy to spend a fair amount of money, but one call if you don't have AAA etc and its paid for, plus waiting is not all that much fun, and you get to help somebody out from time to time.

Lots of the kits have a tool for specific cars, and its not just the tool you need, but also the sheet of paper that shows how to use it. Practice before you need it.

Basic tools are;

Slim jim, slide down between glass and rubber on the door, catch on the innerds and unlock.
Wedge and air bag, no mar plastic to get the top corner of a door open a hair and slip in the air bag and pump it up like a blood pressure cuff and it "gently" prys door open enough to snake in the next tool.
A long stick to poke the unlock button on the other side of the car.

Not much info IMHO, but this is a link to locksmith laws by state.
http://www.aloa.org/legislation/Leg_Map/ALOA_Map.htm

Wiki says
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_picking
In the United States, laws concerning possession of lock picks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of a crowbar or any other tool that may or may not be used in a burglary. Illegal possession of lock picks is generally prosecuted as a felony under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. In many states, simple possession is completely legal as their statutes require proof of intent.

In California, locksmiths must be licensed by the state.[1] However possession by laymen may be legal there and in most states, as illegal possession must be coupled with felonious or malicious intent.[2] This is also the case in Utah,[3] Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Washington D.C.,[4] New York, and Arizona.[5]
 
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Sterff

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Feb 8, 2010
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PA
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Danglerb

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Sep 6, 2007
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SoCal
BTW I had heard that printing up a business card was best protection against carrying lock picks etc., but sounds to me like that may be completely WRONG. Most states apparently come down hard on anybody that "says" they are a locksmith, charges for related services, some of them specific like making a master key or repinning a lock, and doesn't have a state issued license.

I gave some thought to making the claim your an auto mechanic and need the lock out tools in the course of your work, but depending on your state that might actually get you into more trouble. Main point is that you can't charge or accept pay for using them.
 
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jhelrey

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Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
7,249
Location
MN
Plus people offer to pay you for your time, etc... When they tried giving me cash, I used to say no, but now I take it.
 
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osborn.ozzy

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Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
970
Location
Charleston, SC
While we are on the topic of locks and picking them, would recomend this for the newbie when picking padlocks and doors. (stuff with only pins on one side like the things I mentioned)
 
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kindyr

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Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Messages
117
Location
Springfield IL
I have had great luck helping people get into their cars with the long hot dog forks they sell at places like walmart. Strong enough to press the electric locks or pull the latch, but given the other camping stuff I keep in my truck, noone would question having one in my truck.

And at less that $5, if they get too bent, I just throw it out and get a new one. there is a risk of scratching the paint slightly, but when it's between that and a locksmith bill, people are ok with the risk and with a bit of care it can be done with no scratches.
 
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Bruce Lancaster

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Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
1,642
American Lockpicker, I am interested in any and all picking type gear you might be getting rid of. I fiddle with locks a lot because I am an old car nut and continually encounter parts with lost keys and so on. Mostly early V8 Fords, which had higher quality hurd locks, much more precise than 1950's--1980's cars and reallydamnhard to pick.
On the crude locks...that 2-ended gascap key really works, often as easily as the proper key! A 1930's gas cap suddenly becomes much more valuable when you can work the lock. Entirely different game than the approach of reacing inner door mechanisms.
 
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