CPL Emergency Entry Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a controlled entry on a door with a mortise lock, which tool is most appropriate for bypassing the latch bolt without causing frame damage?
- Loid (credit card shim) (Correct answer)
- Slim jim
- Door under tool
- Air wedge
Correct answer: Loid (credit card shim)
A loid or shim can slip between the door and frame to retract a spring latch on a mortise lock without damaging the frame.
Question 2: In an emergency entry scenario involving a double-cylinder deadbolt with no interior thumb turn, what is the BEST non-destructive approach?
- Drill the lock core
- Pick the lock cylinder (Correct answer)
- Remove the door hinge pins
- Cut the door panel
Correct answer: Pick the lock cylinder
Picking the lock cylinder is the preferred non-destructive method when no thumb turn exists and the lock must remain functional.
Question 3: Which emergency entry method is considered MOST destructive and used only as a last resort?
- Lock picking
- Drilling the lock (Correct answer)
- Using a bypass tool
- Shimming the latch
Correct answer: Drilling the lock
Drilling destroys the lock cylinder and is reserved for situations where non-destructive methods have failed or time is critical.
Question 4: A locksmith arrives at a scene where a person is trapped inside due to a jammed knob lock. The fastest non-destructive option is:
- Drill through the knob face
- Use a bypass tool to retract the latch (Correct answer)
- Remove the door from its hinges
- Break the door glass panel
Correct answer: Use a bypass tool to retract the latch
A bypass tool can retract a spring latch quickly without damaging the lock hardware.
Question 5: When using an air wedge during emergency entry, its primary purpose is to:
- Break the door seal
- Create a gap for bypass tools without damaging the door edge (Correct answer)
- Deflate the door frame
- Lubricate the lock cylinder
Correct answer: Create a gap for bypass tools without damaging the door edge
An air wedge creates a controlled gap between the door and frame, allowing tools to reach the latch or interior hardware.
Question 6: During a welfare check entry, a locksmith discovers the door is secured by a chain latch from the inside. The appropriate tool to release it without cutting the chain is:
- Slim jim
- Chain release tool or bent wire hook (Correct answer)
- Air wedge
- Loid
Correct answer: Chain release tool or bent wire hook
A chain release tool or bent wire hook inserted through the door gap can manipulate and slide the chain out of its track.
Question 7: Which factor most determines the drilling point location when drilling out a pin tumbler cylinder in an emergency?
- The color of the lock face
- The shear line between the plug and shell (Correct answer)
- The keyway profile
- The finish of the cylinder
Correct answer: The shear line between the plug and shell
Drilling at the shear line destroys the driver pins so the plug rotates freely, allowing entry without affecting the door or frame.
CPL Emergency Entry Techniques 2
When performing a controlled entry on a door with a mortise lock, which tool is most appropriate for bypassing the latch bolt without causing frame damage?