Is lock picking illegal?
There is no greater question, nor deterrent, for those wishing to learn lock picking than the fear of breaking the law in the process.
And rightfully so. The very nature of lock picking is to subtly bypass locks. So questioning its legality is totally understandable.
So let's tackle the legality of lock picks head-on and answer this question once and for all for those wishing to take the plunge and begin the amazing craft of lock picking!
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In short, I'm happy to inform you that in 94% of the United States and most other countries around the world, the purchase and possession of lock picks is legal.
Yes legal!
With that out of the way, let's dive a little deeper into what makes them illegal in some states and what states those are.
Or if you are just looking for your local laws, just jump down a little further and check out our interactive map of United States Lock Picking Laws.
To truly understand lock picking laws, we have to break down three simple legal definitions that govern the possession of lock picks.
Don't worry they are pretty straight forward:
In the US there are several states that have unique laws regarding the possession of lock picks. Three of these states have specific laws directly restricting lock picking tools. These states are:
Here is our interactive map containing current United States lock picking laws. Hover over your state to check the legality of possessing lock picks and click to read relevant law excerpts.
CHOOSE YOUR STATE!
Please note: This chart is specific to lock pick possession. I do my best to represent the current laws on this chart and keep it updated, however, I do not guarantee its accuracy.
So as you can see, in the majority of the United States locks picks are completely legal to purchase and use. So if you were on the fence about picking up your first lock pick set and jumping into this amazing craft due to legal concerns, hopefully, this short little guide was the push you needed.
Remember that the best way to protect yourself from the law is to know the law. Not every cop nor attorney knows every law so knowing your local laws could one day save you from an unfortunate situation.
Also, in general, just don't do anything stupid and follow the golden rules of lock picking. Only pick locks that you personally own or have explicit permission from the owner to pick and you'll likely never have to fear dropping the soap.
The misinformation about lock picking is sadly one of the greatest reasons most don’t undertake this awesome hobby. Be sure to share this post and help crush the misconceptions that keep so many from starting their own lock picking journey!
Happy picking!