ALOA Lock Picking and Bypass Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which lock picking technique involves applying light rotational tension to the plug while manipulating pins individually?
- Single Pin Picking (SPP) (Correct answer)
- Raking
- Bumping
- Impressioning
Correct answer: Single Pin Picking (SPP)
Single Pin Picking (SPP) applies light tension to the plug while individually lifting each pin to the shear line.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a tension wrench when picking a pin tumbler lock?
- To rotate the plug slightly to create a shear line offset (Correct answer)
- To push pins above the shear line
- To lubricate the keyway
- To measure plug diameter
Correct answer: To rotate the plug slightly to create a shear line offset
The tension wrench applies slight rotational pressure to the plug, creating a ledge that pins can set on as they reach the shear line.
Question 3: Which bypass tool is specifically designed to slide between a door and frame to retract a spring latch bolt?
- Loid / credit card tool (Correct answer)
- Plug spinner
- Pick gun
- Decoder
Correct answer: Loid / credit card tool
A loid (or shim/credit-card-style tool) slips between the door and strike to push back an unguarded spring latch bolt.
Question 4: What is 'bumping' in the context of lock picking?
- Using a specially cut bump key struck with force to momentarily bounce pins above the shear line (Correct answer)
- Ramming a door to force a deadbolt
- Drilling above the plug to destroy driver pins
- Using a rake pick in rapid strokes
Correct answer: Using a specially cut bump key struck with force to momentarily bounce pins above the shear line
Bumping uses a bump key cut to the deepest bitting, struck with a mallet so kinetic energy launches driver pins above the shear line long enough to rotate the plug.
Question 5: Which picking method uses a serrated pick moved rapidly in and out of the keyway to randomly set multiple pins?
- Raking (Correct answer)
- Single Pin Picking
- Impressioning
- Decoding
Correct answer: Raking
Raking uses a serrated or wavy pick moved quickly in and out while applying tension, relying on random pin setting rather than precision.
Question 6: What term describes the picking-resistant feature where pins have a spool or mushroom shape to create false sets?
- Security pins (Correct answer)
- Master pins
- Driver pins
- Control pins
Correct answer: Security pins
Security pins (spools, serrated, or mushroom) create a false set when picking, causing the plug to partially rotate before binding again.
ALOA Lock Picking and Bypass Techniques 1
Which lock picking technique involves applying light rotational tension to the plug while manipulating pins individually?