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ocksmithing as we know it, has I-r been evolving for thousands of years. It has progressed from the village blacksmith to the highly
qualified and technical individual who

,SICS

- THE NEWEST FIELD IN

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LOCKSMITH\NG,,,,n
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doorway, the lock was opened with

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an service mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical, computer operated, and all of the other types of locks and deyices wnicn are on the market. For those persons with a special interest or background, there is a new/old field which needs your
skills.

was committed by an amateur, a professional; an employee or an

outsider.
,

a ffiirrs device. hqse tools#e notr1 --tishly working key and the defendant was nn .eggqrity expffive or the only person with a key. Just as technii!l.,but they' j|l".my oplmon, important is the advice and essential,'ppecially tho.se maikd essentid;:;spec professional opinions a forensic with an asteri$k. '' ')' ,,. . w,, #iig,ffi .. *r,, locksmith could offer to investisal.ors ""ii*" TOOL KIT to help determine whether ,
irf".r""ti*r.
evidence.

&

*1. Pens, penc

tS IT FOR ME? lVho can become a forensic

locksmith and how? There are several skills, talents, or experiences required to be a successful forensic locksmith. You must, first and foremost, be a knowledgeable locksmith, who has
understands how they work and their

*2. Felt tip mar

FOFEA'S'C LOCKSMITHING
IMhat is Forensic Locksmithing?

*3. Sketch pad and/ for making sketches or scene. (graph paper woilir

floorr

ga,etc.)

If

the ability to inspect/examine all types of locks and devices, who

gffi#ne to mean, something that can be 'l' scientifically verifed and*', the results -;niwrking parts' The second necessary of which, will stand as evidence n '$ffi\kill is you must have an analytical '$.Ski11 ' '' 1'mind, and investigative avna.io-^o experience ^^^ which ^^- be court of law, or evidence ---L:^L can L^ . ..,'' minr] end inrpcfioeia used by an investigator to assist iiljfil:: and/or training is extremely helpful.
solving a

drawii etihes to differences etwfi|'nt made items, to indicate the where items of evidence weie
etc.

pencils are

weaknesses, and can identify , - {1n91mal or unusual marks on the

*5. Camera and lenses, a good 35mm SLR with a Macro lens is
essential, other lenses, filters, etc. are nice to have if you know how to use them. If not, I suggest you leave the photography to a professional.

crime. How does this is

tremehdoirs ithi]s? Jhere is a trmenaOus are beneficial are accepting tb'effiffi'ft<jd.fnrecoEnize :cognized.bi the

app,!y1: 1o appbs,,',io required, the other characteristics that

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These are the technical skills

*6. Pocket ruler in inches and

bv"the
for
t

and

lhe interest in
overcoming

metric for fine measurements and for placing in photographs to depict the
scale of an item being photographed.

most,

challenges/enigmas/pttzzles andthe

itwitnesses
.ev vv4rlJqrrJ

ability to communicate clearly in

sPeaking and writing'

*7. A 50/100' tape measure is

that a lock

e$ffiffi opened with openedwiih

company,

osecutor,

handy.

What..

do I. look for

*8. A quality magnifying glass

investigating a crime scene or piece of

.when

(Sherlock Holmes used one.)

something othe*ffiffi. working key. examplqffiA what it would mean to atr.jmffi&company if they

For

could r'iire or automobile had been o_ffie:;i# ttrat the car had nly an authorized

provi

ent claims for

etc., could be in court. ' attorney, who could prove in a criminal case that an

examine the evidence for similar

markings.

microscope

with

photographic

capabilities is invaluable in your lab,

attempt had been made to pick open a lock, could thereby instill a reasonable doubt that his/her client who had the only working key must not have been the culprit. Or consider a prosecutor who could prove that a room had not

been entered except through the

can not teach you to be a forensic locksmith in this article, but I will give you some ideas as to how to go about learning more about it. lt me give you a proposed sample list of the type of tools/equipment you will need to have available to conduct a forensic examination of a lock or Obviously,

although for your tool kit you only hand-held microscope. This does a terrific job in examining lock pins and other small

need a 30 power,

parts for marks and costs under $20.00. There is also a 100 power

handheld microscope for under $20.00

which works extremely well in

differentiating between individual

lOB . The National lcksmith

marks. You can often tell which mark

was made last; i.e., a key mark or Pick

mark. However, this microscoPe is

*11. A basic locksmith's tool kit with the necessary tools to remove, disassemble and examine various
locks, etc. much more difficult to use.

There's only 1 Number to dial for Sargent & Greenleaf

*t2. Plastic

baggies,

Paper

preserve, protect, and seParate evidentiary items. The tape can be used to seal the bags and You can
write on the tape.
13. Disposable rubber gloves.
*

envelopes, and masking tape - used to

14. Various flashlights/specialty

lights.
15. A tape recorder, you can use it to record your thoughts, findings and opinions as you work on the scene. I

prefer a voice activated micro-cassette recorder because of its convenience, but any type will work. Remember to carqr extra batteries and do not come to depend totally on this machine,

For an S&G catalog' You can

they fail at the most inoPPortune

times.
16. A mirror on a telescoPing arm to look for marks on the bottom sides of door, etc. 17. A compass to assist in locating north to orient your sketches and drawings of the scene.

t I

ffiGF

us at:

pilgrim@trilogy.net

Circle 226 on RaPid RePIY

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Beyond the obvious things, such as

tool or jimmy marks, which anY self-

respecting police officer or

investigator will discover, there are some not so obvious things onlY You,

recognize. A short list of some of

these are: 1. Wrench marks around the face

as a locksmith, would find and

of a rim cylinder lock showing that

it

has been removed. 2. Scratch marks on the face of the

lock, at the base of the

keYwaY,

showing where the turning wrench

slipped during a picking attzck.

3. Scratches around the uPPer portion of the keyway showing where

lock.
4. The heavy indentation at the toP of the keyway showing that someone

the rake or pick slipped out of the

has impressioned or attemPted to

impression a working key. 5. The marks that ONLY You, or

someone like you, could find, the

been penetrated by something other than working keY. On a Pin tumbler

marks on the face of the Pins, wafers,

or levers showing that the lock has

Circle 232 on RaPid,RtY

opened with a key.

Now reload the lock with new pins and pick it open once or twice and examine those pins (Photograh 3).

1. Brand new Kwikset pin from pin kit.

You will notice an assortment of scratch marks on the bottom of the pins that had been picked. Reload a lock with new pins and rake it open with picks. Defined scratch marks are much more pronounced (Photograh 4). Nso notice the difference between the marks on the pin in the first chamber as opposed to the marks on the pin in the last chamber
(Photograh 5).

Now reload a lock with new pins

5. Back Kwikset pin after being raked open twice,

open. However, you can testify that it was not, or you can testify that a certain type of tool was inserted into the lock in an apparent attempt to
open it.

lock, these marks are relatively easy to read and decipher. You can learn for yourself what thy look like if you do as I did. Take a cylinder lock and load it with new pins, First examine the new pins (using a microscope) to see what they look like freshfrom the
pinning l<tt (Photograh 1). After examining a new pin, open a

and open

it with a pick gun. A

spattering array of scratch marks can be seen (Photograh 6). Reload the

lock with new pins once again and open with an electric pick gun. Because of the rapid intensity of the electric pick gun, a mushrooming effect can be seen on the bottom of
the pins (Photograh 7). Do this using every technique you know and every tool you have, always starting with a new set of pins and

Remember, there are two types of

evidence which can be used in a court

investigator in identifying the culprit

lock loaded with new pins several

times with a working key, remove the pins and examine them (Photograh 2). Compare the difference between

of law and which assists an or ascertaining what probably

argumentation,

the new and picked pins. You will notice faint scratch marks on the bottom of the pins that had been

examining them immediately after opening. You will see definite differences in the marks being made.
You should also look for marks on the shoulders or sides of the pins which could not be made by a working key. In some cases, you may have to cut the cylinder in half and look for pick

happened in order to conduct a better investigation. Since the word forensics

means suitable for

everyone wants
Forensic l,ocksmithing.

I guess that is why

formal

to argue about

marks on the edges of the pin

chambers.

With this type of experience,

training, and practical application, you could stand up in court and, as an expert witness, give your opinion as to
Remember, preservation of evidence, and the proper use of chain of custody

what was done to the lock.

is extremely important. Let me tell 2, Kwikset pin alter being opened twice with a key.
you that I know of no way that anyone can testify that a lock was picked

6. Kwikset pin after being opened with a pick gun,

3. Kwikset pin after being picked opened twice.

4, Front Kwikset pin after being

raked open ttuice.

7, Kwikset pin after being opened with an electric pick gun.

11O

The National lcksmith