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Probably a simple question

Hello. I have a question most of you can probably answer easily. I once worked for a department store. A guy who worked there was able to look at the key to a till (a rectangular metal box where the money for the cash register was held) and took two paper clips. He made maybe two dents in one and one in another. He took the first paper clip and slid it into the top portion of the keyhole of the till and the second clip in the bottom portion. He then simply turned them both and the till opened. Later I took the same paper clips and tried to open the till and could not. Can anyone tell me how he was able to do this. He obviously wasn't picking the lock technically since he was looking at the key while he bent the paper clips. Thanks

Reply to
John Smith
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Yes there was a certain amount of skill or 'knack' involved.

To find out more about picking, read the FAQ.

Reply to
BogusID

Most of these locks are nothing but simple wafer/disc tumbler locks. He used one paper clip to put a little tension on the lock and the other to position the wafers. You can open almost any of these without ever looking at the key in about 15 seconds. The NCR cash register 'locks' used on probably millions of registers are an even bigger joke. Any of the various function keys can be skelotonized with a file into a 'Z' key which will Z out the register.

Reply to
realaddress

Ottawa Canada

Most cash drawer locks on cash registers are pretty low security.

Like you can buy a pre-cut key from the corner hardwarre store that will open all the cash drawers on a particular brand of register, e.,g. NCR, etc.

This is why most retail establishmens leave the drawers wide open on the registers when the store is closed, to keep would-be thieves from damaging the drawer or register only to find all the money is in the safe!

Brian

"realaddress" ( snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com) writes: > John Smith wrote:

Reply to
Brian K.Lingard

That's exactly right! The only reason your friend insisted upon seeing your key was to 'pull your leg.' I'm a Joker (if not a midnight toker) myself, and that sounds just like something I'd do if it occured to me.Wafer cylinders are extremely easy to 'rake' open which is probably what your friend was doing with the bent paper clip. Looking at your key was just clever 'bluffery.'

Reply to
Radrunner

Well the thing is I saw him place the paper clip in the hole and simply turn it. From my perspective it didn't look like there was any fiddling or manipulation of any kind. Is this possible? Of course that was several years ago and I could be wrong. I mean he was only 18 but highly intelligent.

Reply to
John Smith

yes --Shiva--

Reply to
me

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