The plate on the door actualy goes around the door edge and onto the inside of the door – at first I though I could unscrew the 2 visible screw heads and prise the remaining one but it will still be attached on the inside. Screwheads on the door edge lock are covered by the locking mechanism.
Options I see are:-
– hammer time on the locking mechanism but as it's a little rounded I'm not that I'd be able to hit it with sufficient force. (would it matter if it was hit top i.e. clockwise or bottom so spinning ant-clock ?)
– prise mechanism from door frame – likely to cause some damage but as the wood is old and possibly a little damp it might come out without too much of a fight.
– Drill mechanism – I guess I'd just have to drill and destroy the barrel ?
– Locksmith (phoned and looking at £70 to £80 to enter and replace)
help / suggestions appreciated
p.s. and yes I was on here asking about removing security tags a few weeks ago – just a coincidence / run of bad luck !
I'm pretty sure your average scrote would just rip it off with a a small crow bar / leaver causing maximum damage – nothing fancy needed. I'm interested in minimising the damage / cost.
Thanks Woody I'd already seen you're link whilst it was there and it reminded me that a locksmith shouldn't need to replace lock
I'd be looking at raking or bumping the lock personally, but I appreciate that's not for everyone.
My first thought was unscrew and prise, but the damage to the frame might be hard to fix.
I wonder if it's brute-forceable; pair of hefty mole grips on that lock might be enough to shatter the pins internally. It'd ruin the barrel, but it's probably the least work to replace. What's the cost of a new lock against the cost of a 'smith?
Thinking laterally – any other way in? Loosen the roof / jemmy a window / dig under the door?
I'm not sure a 'how to' on lock breaking is somethign that we need on stw?
Fairly sure that if someone was on the Internet looking for lock-picking guides, there's far better places to start looking than a forum for a MTB magazine.
(Plus, as already mentioned, your average bike thief turns up with bolt crops, not lock picks).
Quick update…after the wife expressed her reluctance to squeeze through a window I called the locksmith. It took the guy seconds with his 'pick' to open the lock…and the really good news is he didn't charge me a penny (He did fit a new front door lock from me about 8 months ago).
Now I've got nothing to fix. Sometimes perhaps it's just worth calling a professional.
Posted 13 years ago
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