Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:18 am
SMART OPENS: HOME EDITION (DVD)
Title: SMART OPENS: HOME EDITION
Host: Miguel Miranda
Produced by: Paladin Press in association with Shadow Consulting, LLC
Date of Publication: 2010
Format: DVD (available in NTSC and PAL)
Running Time: 48 minutes
Miguel Miranda understands a "smart open" to be a means of gaining entry to a building/room that is non-destructive and hence more sophisticated than a junkie-style smash-and-grab but not as sophisticated as a direct manipulation of the lock cylinder. The "smart opens" are not locksmiths' traditional bypass methods either (eg. letter box tool, thumbturn tool). Rather they approach the problem laterally and the tools are entirely improvised.
For the want of a better analogy, I'd say that this DVD (and its companion SMART OPENS: VEHICLE EDITION) covers the syllabus of "Criminal College" aka prison. I suspect that these methods are known and used by experienced burglars and are taught to junior inmates in prison by the more senior inmates.
This DVD is an antidote for the paranoia of law enforcement, conservative locksmiths and legislators regarding our hobby/sport. It also demonstrates the utter pointlessness of criminalising the possession of lock picking equipment. Mr Miranda demonstrates that many entries can be achieved using tools and materials that are readily available to anyone: screwdriver, plumbers drain snake, bath/shower suction cup safety bar, coat hanger, door stop, self-adhesive wall hooks, elastic bands, uv light, yellow highlight pen, flexible plastic kitchen cutting board.
Above: Miguel Miranda demonstrating the use of a bath/shower suction cup safety handle to defeat a sliding door.
As lock enthusiasts, our attention immediately goes to the lock and its cylinder but as Miranda demonstrates this is typically not how burglars think. Consider the problem of gaining entry to a domestic garage. If it has a lock we would most likely target that. If it has no lock and it is operated only by a remote control we would probably consider somehow subverting that system. But that is not how your competent burglar would approach the problem. The smart burglar would instead target the emergency lock release mechanism, as Miranda demonstrates below.
Above: A metal wedge and a coat hanger -- hardly specialised equipment.
Above: Hook and yank and the door is unlocked.
Some of you may be thinking that Miguel Miranda or I (in my review of the DVD) are being irresponsible in publicising these techniques. If so then you have missed my central point: professional burglars already know these techniques (and many more). Also, in addition to demonstrating the techniques, Miranda also discusses -- and in some cases demonstrates -- counter-measures which is useful to know if you want to protect your property.
Above: A deadbolt defeat tool made from a flexible plastic cutting board!
Above: In it goes through the small gap between the door and the jamb.
Above: Out it comes through to the inside where it can operate the bolt.
A DVD like this one is useful to those of us that sometimes need to defend locksport and hobby lockpicking and the legitimacy of non-locksmiths owning lockpicks. Most of us are aware of destructuve methods used by burglars eg. over-torque attacks, crow-bar attacks, door frame spreading etc. Miranda introduces a collection of non-destructive, non-lock-oriented exploits, showing us that the criminals repetoire of techniques is quite wide and that lock picking rarely -- if ever -- features in that repetoire and that even if lockpicks became illegal for anyone besides locksmiths to own it would make very little difference to professional burglars.
This DVD would be useful to anyone that needs an insight into the way that career burglars think and approach their targets. The DVD also makes it clear that physical security encompasses more than just locks and cylinders and that it is about systems and that it is necessary to think about security in systemic terms.
As a bonus, the DVD includes how to make an electronic pick gun (EPG) from a adult vibrator (yes you read that correctly), a beard trimmer, an electric toothbrush or a multi-purpose hair trimmer. Miranda uses the tip of a hand pick for the tip of the EPG but you could just as easily use a shaped street-sweeper bristle or windshield wiper insert.
Above: The vibrator EPG.
If you earn a living as a physical security consultant then this DVD and its companion (which I will review next) would probably be useful to you. It would also be useful for anyone interested in the forensics of break and enter. I don't think there is much there for your hobby picker as locks and their manipulation is not covered. But counter measures discussed are probably useful for any homeowner to know.
Host: Miguel Miranda
Produced by: Paladin Press in association with Shadow Consulting, LLC
Date of Publication: 2010
Format: DVD (available in NTSC and PAL)
Running Time: 48 minutes
Miguel Miranda understands a "smart open" to be a means of gaining entry to a building/room that is non-destructive and hence more sophisticated than a junkie-style smash-and-grab but not as sophisticated as a direct manipulation of the lock cylinder. The "smart opens" are not locksmiths' traditional bypass methods either (eg. letter box tool, thumbturn tool). Rather they approach the problem laterally and the tools are entirely improvised.
For the want of a better analogy, I'd say that this DVD (and its companion SMART OPENS: VEHICLE EDITION) covers the syllabus of "Criminal College" aka prison. I suspect that these methods are known and used by experienced burglars and are taught to junior inmates in prison by the more senior inmates.
This DVD is an antidote for the paranoia of law enforcement, conservative locksmiths and legislators regarding our hobby/sport. It also demonstrates the utter pointlessness of criminalising the possession of lock picking equipment. Mr Miranda demonstrates that many entries can be achieved using tools and materials that are readily available to anyone: screwdriver, plumbers drain snake, bath/shower suction cup safety bar, coat hanger, door stop, self-adhesive wall hooks, elastic bands, uv light, yellow highlight pen, flexible plastic kitchen cutting board.
Above: Miguel Miranda demonstrating the use of a bath/shower suction cup safety handle to defeat a sliding door.
As lock enthusiasts, our attention immediately goes to the lock and its cylinder but as Miranda demonstrates this is typically not how burglars think. Consider the problem of gaining entry to a domestic garage. If it has a lock we would most likely target that. If it has no lock and it is operated only by a remote control we would probably consider somehow subverting that system. But that is not how your competent burglar would approach the problem. The smart burglar would instead target the emergency lock release mechanism, as Miranda demonstrates below.
Above: A metal wedge and a coat hanger -- hardly specialised equipment.
Above: Hook and yank and the door is unlocked.
Some of you may be thinking that Miguel Miranda or I (in my review of the DVD) are being irresponsible in publicising these techniques. If so then you have missed my central point: professional burglars already know these techniques (and many more). Also, in addition to demonstrating the techniques, Miranda also discusses -- and in some cases demonstrates -- counter-measures which is useful to know if you want to protect your property.
Above: A deadbolt defeat tool made from a flexible plastic cutting board!
Above: In it goes through the small gap between the door and the jamb.
Above: Out it comes through to the inside where it can operate the bolt.
A DVD like this one is useful to those of us that sometimes need to defend locksport and hobby lockpicking and the legitimacy of non-locksmiths owning lockpicks. Most of us are aware of destructuve methods used by burglars eg. over-torque attacks, crow-bar attacks, door frame spreading etc. Miranda introduces a collection of non-destructive, non-lock-oriented exploits, showing us that the criminals repetoire of techniques is quite wide and that lock picking rarely -- if ever -- features in that repetoire and that even if lockpicks became illegal for anyone besides locksmiths to own it would make very little difference to professional burglars.
This DVD would be useful to anyone that needs an insight into the way that career burglars think and approach their targets. The DVD also makes it clear that physical security encompasses more than just locks and cylinders and that it is about systems and that it is necessary to think about security in systemic terms.
As a bonus, the DVD includes how to make an electronic pick gun (EPG) from a adult vibrator (yes you read that correctly), a beard trimmer, an electric toothbrush or a multi-purpose hair trimmer. Miranda uses the tip of a hand pick for the tip of the EPG but you could just as easily use a shaped street-sweeper bristle or windshield wiper insert.
Above: The vibrator EPG.
If you earn a living as a physical security consultant then this DVD and its companion (which I will review next) would probably be useful to you. It would also be useful for anyone interested in the forensics of break and enter. I don't think there is much there for your hobby picker as locks and their manipulation is not covered. But counter measures discussed are probably useful for any homeowner to know.
Last edited by piotr on Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
