how to shim a door lock

The short “why” answer is that the door was either installed incorrectly, or is incorrectly adjusted. If a device uses a spring-loaded catch, there will often be a way to deploy a shim to gain access. This is the first post in a series tagged Defense Against Methods of Entry (DAME). gap along the latch side, about the thickness of two quarters (coins). 6pcs Padlock Shim, Professional Durable Metal Locksmith Kit, Pick Assistant Tool Accessory. IMPORTANT: In the photos above I am demonstrating from the interior of the door. It is called the “dead latch.” If you mess around with it you’ll learn a couple of things. If you don’t have that I have found that gift cards – like the Starbucks card in some of the pictures – are usually an acceptable substitute. I show how to make a simple lock shim. You are limited only by your imagination. Regardless of what you use, I recommend rounding off the corners. It features an expert locksmith explaining in copious detail how to make a shim and use it on a lock. First, your door and lock might have been installed incorrectly. These are the parts that hold the door in place inside the rough opening for the door. On any lock other than a cheap Chinese lock, the shims were hopeless, because there simply isn't any gap between the lock and the u-bar where to push the shim in. Not knowing any better, I pulled the door snugly until I heard the second “click” of the dead latch falling into the strike. lock shims are thin pieces of metal inserted into the base of the shackle (U or n-shaped thing) that presses down the locking latch or latches, releasing the shackle. So try this trick first. A shim is just a thin piece of material that is introduced between the latch and strike plate. This job can be a hassle, especially if you have painted trim. The DAME suite of posts will cover ways to improve your locks, harden your home, and protect yourself from common lock defeat methodologies. Let’s look at the technique, then we’ll look at the fix. Carpenters aren’t locksmiths. People often take security shortcuts for the sake of convenience, and deadbolts sometimes don’t get locked. Once the shim is inserted deeply enough it will separate the bolt from the strike face and the door will open. Believe it or not, on at least three separate doors I have been able to correct the issue by placing a couple of pieces of 9mm brass into the weather stripping. If you need to quickly locate a latch and open a door without wasting any time, the Door Latch Shim Set available at LockPickShop is the right item to use in a pinch. Ignition Locks; Door Locks; Accessories; Key Shells. A piece of plastic applying force in a perpendicular direction will not disengage the deadbolt. Other way to do it is to hold the key and the shim to keep it straight while you’re shimming. Before commencing shimming, start with the bushings or bearings…. That may be cost prohibitive for some people. Did you make this project? At this point the dead latch has been deactivated and the latch is once again “live.” This latch is ready to be shimmed. Along this flat surface is another, separate part that moves independently of the latch. This will allow the shackle to almost pull the shim into the locking mechanism as you're turning it. There are a couple of contraindications for this technique that yous should be aware of. You will have to rely on other clues to know that the latch is not dead. The frame on the sides and the top of a door are referred to as a doorjamb. 4 Stars & Up & Up; 3 Stars & Up & Up; 2 Stars & Up & Up; 1 Star & Up & Up; Brand. Once the shim has been rotated enough to disengage the locking mechanisms the shackle can be pulled to open the lock. The thing is, most strike plates don’t prevent that little latch from extending. But also, just so it’s said: never perform any lock bypass/defeat/picking techniques on any lock that you do not own or have explicit permission to access! You may have seen it done, and you may have done it yourself. The pressure you exert when you open the lock does bend the shim, so you may be able to use a shim only two or three times. Some homeowners will take this step for you. Nor do you want your material getting caught up on weather stripping, potentially fouling your attempt. To open a lock you need to insert the shim into the space between the padlock body and the shackle, on the side opposite the shackle's locking grove. If there is no deadbolt, you’re good to go. To readjust the door frame, you have to remove the trim along the latch side to get at the shims. ... How to Pick Disc Detainer Locks . There are two facts you should know in order to understand how this technique works, and when it won’t. Lightly press the shim against wheel while rotating the shim along it’s bevel; left to right, one pass. This will clean up the shim nicely and prolong it’s use. Let’s take another look at what I mean. If there is, you can see if the deadbolt is engaged or not by using your shim. Get it as soon as Fri, … Prime-Line Products E 2116 Sliding Door Lock Shim Plates, 1/8-Inch Flush, Black Plastic,(Pack of 2) $9.65 $ 9. Voila! (The video may not show up for mobile viewers). If your door doesn't shut properly it might mean it's skewed inside the door jamb. If you can pull the door knob from the exterior and compress the weather stripping, there is a very good chance you can get that dead-latch to fall into place. The new master combination padlocks with "anti shim" just have a specially shaped latch which makes it more difficult, but it can still be done. You will not be able to see the gap between the door and the jamb. If it still doesn’t open…it’s probably not going to. Below are three photographs. Share it with us! Hold the shim, take the key and move it back and forth and shim the lock like that. When the door is closed, the latch passes through the hole in the strike plate, but the anti-shim pin should be resting on the face of the strike plate in its retracted position. Many padlock’s locking pawls are held in place by a spring, wich you can overcome by shoving a shim along the shackle. You may have to play with this; 9mm brass may be too large or small, preventing the door from closing sufficiently, or still allowing it to close too far. Few people actually know why and how it works. The center Shim is for shim-resistant dual-pawl handcuffs. Because the latch is live, it can be pushed back by the shim, retracting the latch without turning the knob. The “credit card trick” – more appropriately known as shimming the latch – is extremely prolific. ... or take down the outer ring too much to where the inner ring no longer locks in place. Now that you know to pick a lock with a combination, let’s learn how to crack a combination lock! This video focuses on teaching you to pick a padlock, familiar to any who have ever had a locker, with a soda can, something you probably have too many of if you still have a locker. Some locks can even be shimmed using pieces of aluminum cut out of a soda can. 16. The narrowest shim (right) opens cheap handcuffs, whereas the other two shims could not. Why would lock manufacturers and builders make your securing dependent on such an easily bypassed mechanism? The latch is rounded on one side and flat on the other. You got an instant open. The information is widely available, and the necessary tools can often be quickly fabricated out of garbage. Insert the shim into the clearance on the shackle, twist and push the shim down as far as possible. Here is a good example. TRENDING. After the "M" shape is cut, simply fold the top quarter in half and fold the legs of the "M" up and around (see photos and video). This is basically the foundation of your shimming job. They don’t do it on purpose but there are a lot of potential causes for this vulnerability. How To: Make beer can padlock shims with a professional ; How To: Make the best padlock shim out of an aluminum can ; How To: Pick locks with DIY padlock shims ; How To: Break into Locks with Beer Can Shims, Bump Keys, & Just Plain Brute Force ; How To: Open a padlock with a soda can shim ; How To: Crack a Master Lock No5 Padlock with a soda can shim ; How To: Pick / shim open a padlock with a … Hereafter I will refer to whatever you use as the “shim.”. Get it as soon as Wed, Jan 6. Insert your shim between the door and the jamb, just above the knob’s latch. Once you hear a click similar to that of when you pull an unlocked shackle out of its housing, the lock will be able to be opened. Keep applying downward and inward pressure on the card. 99. It has three primary parts. If you are attempting to shim this door, you will not be able to see this process happen because you will be on the other side of the door. If the door doesn’t open after a few second, check your technique and try it again. 65. The best thing is shim material like that sold by Sparrows Lock Picks. The next photo (below) shows the dead latch after I have closed the door normally. The rounded surface is what allows you to slam the door. It is possible for the latch to bind against the strike plate; wiggling the door  can take some pressure of the latch and allow the shim to slip in. First, if the dead-latch is depressed the latch can’t be pushed back into the door; it becomes “dead.” If the dead-latch is extended the latch becomes “live” meaning it can be pushed back into the door. It is so prolific because so much door hardware is susceptible to it. The shim acts as a bypass by moving the locking mechanism out of the way and opening the lock. Cut off the top and bottom of the can, leaving the middle piece. Here's a demonstration: FREE Shipping. The first is a latch and dead latch, both fully extended. I have placed some yellow paint on the end of the dead latch so we can tell if it seats correctly, or falls into the strike plate. Hold the shim at about a 45-degree angle with the apex of the shim’s curve to the wheel. Only 7 left in stock (more on the way). Namely, you may hear it “click” into place when you tug on the door. You only need one piece of equipment to pull of this technique (assuming it will work in your situation). Defending against this technique is fairly easy: have a correctly installed deadbolt on all your exterior doors that is used at all times. There are five door latch shims in this set of bypass tools, which are a useful addition to any tool box. Coming in at an angle like this helps the card to get between the strike plate and the latch, by introducing it a little at a time. 7-in-1 Lock Picking Set with Transparent 2-in-1 Training Lock by LockCowboy + Bonus E-Guides for Beginner and … Acquaint yourself with the lock. Method 2: Cracking A Combination Master Lock. Locksmiths have been using this proven technique to open locked doors for decades. With that out of the way, let’s talk about why this works. What is less talked about is how to correct such a vulnerability. While many modern locks will use technology or design approaches that make shimming impossible, it can be used on a range of standard devices or locks with significant design flaws. The quality and fitment of the bushings will actually dictate a lot about how many or how few shims you will need to use. You’ve probably seen examples of it in movies and on television. Open the door and support it with a wedge while you remove the hinge that needs to come out and slip … This technique does not work on doors that open outward. You can also shape the completed shim around a pen to give it the necessary curvature it will need to slide into the shackle. Shims can also bend if you apply too much pressure. Shimming a padlock involves inserting a thin piece of metal (or two) around the lock shackle, thereby pushing away the latch(es) and opening the lock. Once you do that, POP! This gives the best possible chance that the dead-latch will extend fully. I  have lived in such places, (though I never will again). Slip a 1/16-in.-thick cardboard shim … What I am revealing here is nothing that hasn’t been revealed in books, YouTube videos, podcasts, and blog posts long before this one. Auto Locks. Keep in mind that if you apply too much pressure on the shim it’s not going to work. ... Start Shimming: Once you have determined your access route to the locking mechanism, insert your shim … Kubota: SHIM, DOOR LOCK, Part # 36530-53420 Buy Online & Save. Once this is inserted, simple turn the shim while working the shackle up and down. Transponder Key Shells; Remote Head Key Shells; Smart Keys Shells; Keyless Entry Shells; Fobik Key Shells; Flip Key Shells; Universal Keys. The point: a lot of people know about this. Use cardboard or premade, pre-drilled shims. First, pull the door toward you as hard as you can. So what makes the credit card trick work? The rounded portion strikes the strike plate (photo further down) which pushes the latch back into the door, allowing it to close. Worse, there is usually soft, pliable weather stripping around the door. Locking knobs and levers rely on a spring-loaded latch to keep the door locked. Customer Review. You will make a shim out of the can and then use that to open the lock, either single or … You probably don’t think much about this latch until you can’t get into your door, but it’s what’s doing the work. Tallan Pick: 654 FANTASTICO … Every morning when I would leave for work I would lock my door knob from the inside, then pull the door shut (the condo did not have a deadbolt). $8.16 $ 8. Only shim a lock that you own or that you have express permission to pick. If all of this works correctly, your door is safe from the “credit card trick” because the latch can’t be depressed. Combination padlocks tend to only lock on side while keyed locks usually have a double-lock shackle. Breaking into someone else’ home or business is a serious crime, and I do not condone such activity. Many years ago, before I knew anything about locks,  I lived in a condo on the beach. LOCKLABTRIBE *excludes multipick . To open a lock you need to insert the shim into the space between the padlock body and the shackle, on the side opposite the shackle's locking grove. While deadbolts can cost as little as $12, you do need some tools to install one. Next, before your begin shimming the latch, you need to ascertain that either there is no deadbolt present or the deadbolt is not locked. Move the key slowly in and out while gently applying pressure on the shim. You may also live in an apartment where the installation of a deadbolt is not allowed. Cracking a combination lock is much different than the picking method … If you still don't know how a simple aluminum can can be used to open any padlock quickly and easily, watch this video. The installer should have adjusted the frame with shims to leave about a 1/8-in. Insert it at an angle as shown in the photo below. SHIM, DOOR LOCK A wooden, #2 pencil placed against the jam might prevent the door from over-closing. Weekend Knowledge Dump- April 10, 2020 | Active Response Training, W.A.A.R on Monday - Modern Self Protection. $7.99 $ 7. Whatever the reason, this is a dangerous vulnerability. If your door is leaning and the screws on all hinges are tight, you may need to shim one of the hinges to get the door level again. This figure shows a hinge and a hinge-reinforcement in a metal door frame, and the … This technique is useful only for doors secured only with a locking knob set or lever set. Lanyard hole backed away from the tip – This enables a lanyard, bobby pin, or a hook pick to be added to the shim making sort of a restraint-escape Swiss Army Knife, but you must keep the entire package flat enough to escape detection in a pat-down. Coming in at an angle like this helps the card to get between the strike plate and the latch, by introducing it a little at a time. Shimming is often referred to as the credit-card trick, wherein the criminal uses a credit card (or similarly semi-flexible piece of plastic), to depress the door the latch and open a locked door. How to Install Doorjambs. Cut multiple pieces approx. Bosnian Bill: (1830) Choosing a Small Safe (Part 3) December 19, 2020. The simplest way I have found to accomplish this is by adding something to the door jamb to limit how far it can close. At the same time, grasp the door knob and “wiggle” the rapidly in an inward/outward motion. 4.5 out of 5 stars 294. 2.5″ in width and 1.5 to 1.75″ in height. We would not be able to shim this door at this time because the latch is “dead” and cannot be pushed back into the door. Some of you may be wondering “why would you teach people to defeat locks?” Simple: if you do not understand how they can be defeated, you cannot mitigate these defeats. Listen carefully for the dead latch to fall into the strike plate. The mid-point of your "M" can either be rounded or angular. Cracking the Code. Material that is rigid enough to shim the latch can also damage weather stripping. When the shim is inserted rotate it around the shackle so that the tongue of the shim approaches the latch from the side. Shim Stock; Door Lock Replacement Parts; Siding Building Material; Poly & Plastic Packaging Bags; Thresholds See All 23 Departments. These latch-shims are made of MICA - an extremely flexible but strong material which will slip between door and door-frame and then allow you to slide down, engaging and the depressing the latch, allowing you to open the door. If installing a deadbolt is not possible, your best bet is to adjust the door so that it cannot close “too far” allowing the dead latch to fall into the strike plate. And master laminated padlocks actually have one latch deeper in the … In a future post I will talk about a very similar technique for outward-opening doors. Even if the lock was installed perfectly, most doors are out of adjustment within just a few months. Using a shim takes a bit of practice. If you have the appropriate tools you could rip down narrow strips of wood and glue it to the jamb once the sufficient width has been found. There are a lot of different kinds of locks, and you need different easily accessible household material to pick different kinds. Today I am going to present two techniques, one offensive and one defensive. Repeat this process for each hinge on the unit. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Remove the support or wooden wedge from under the door and close it slowly to verify that the clearances meet the desired dimensions. So, bottom line: deadbolt if at all possible, but it may not be possible for you some of you. Generally this technique is reserved for inward-opening doors, like most of the exterior doors on your home. E-Z Shim; Nelson Wood Shims ... Nelson Wood Shims 8" 12 Pack - Kiln Dried Wood - Set of 2 (Total 24 Shims) 4.7 out of 5 stars 543. Insert your shim between the door and the jamb, just above the knob’s latch. Insert it at an angle as shown in the photo below. Once this is inserted, simple turn the shim while working the shackle up and down. How to Shim a Door Hinge. Same deal if locks have been replaced or upgraded by previous owners of your home – who knows what that homeowner might’ve done. RC Arduino Domino Layer With Bluetooth App Control. Once you are sure the deadbolt is not locked, you can begin. If you don’t hear it this could simply mean that the dead latch is already set. Make no mistake; this is a serious vulnerability. It is literally as simple as that. This happens because of settling, shoddy installation, cheap components, swelling and shrinking of the door jamb with changing weather, or some combination thereof. I thought I was doing a good thing; little did I know I was defeating much of the (admittedly minimal) security of my door’s lock. Lock Pick Set, Eventronic 17-Piece Lock Picking Tools with 1 Clear Practice and Training Locks for Lockpicking, Extractor Tool for Beginner and Pro Locksmiths. The shims worked great on cheap Chinese locks. Make a single cut vertically in the can to create one long piece of aluminum. Your door’s latch is designed so that when your door is closed, the strike plate (the metal plate on your door jamb that interacts with the latch) keeps the dead-latch depressed. It should not be assumed that all raised bushings need to be sanded down … To create the shims you will need an aluminum drinking can (Plastic bottles also work). Avg. When your door has "TOE-OUT" (gap larger at bottom of door compared to top of door) install door shims as follows: See Figure 1 above for shim locations.. TOE-OUT can be improved by placing shims at location (C) and/or (D): between each jamb and/or door mounting plate and Bottom Door Hinge leaf.. Additional adjustments can be made if needed by placing shim at location (A): behind Top Door Hinge … There has been a move by major lock manufacturers including Master Lock to create shim proof locks, however these can still be shimmed it just may take a little extra time. Do not use this skill for illegal purposes. When a house is constructed locks are normally installed by the general contractor who, in all likelihood, doesn’t know a whole heck of a lot about locks. The flat, back side of the latch is a little more complicated. 5 years ago. Sometimes the gap is far too wide. This will allow the shackle to almost pull the shim into the locking mechanism as you're turning it. SHIM them! It’s so prolific it even has a nickname. Then you need to make cuts in each blank to create an "M" looking shape. The shackle is the U … The beer can shim is an oft-discussed online topic, and has cast the entire padlock industry into doubt. Test your door. 10% off on all purchases* use code. To check, simply insert your shim between the door and jamb at the height of the deadbolt, and see if it runs into the deadbolt. You don’t want to damage your own weather stripping. That piece of equipment is a somewhat tough, yet flexible piece of plastic. The shims should be added between the hinge and hinge reinforcement, pushing the door away from the rabbet and eliminating the bind. A firm tug on the door from the outside is enough to allow the dead latch to fall into the strike plate. The long answer is…well, longer. Open the door and support it with a wedge while you remove the hinge that needs to come out and slip the shim behind it. Since this is the first article here where I am presenting some lock-defeat technique, I’m going to lead off with something of a disclaimer. Another way locks can be defeated is through the use of shims. Keep applying downward and inward pressure on the card. The dead latch is depressed (not extended) and is currently functioning correctly. The solution is a latch-shim. If your dead latch falls into the strike and you don’t have a deadbolt, fix this issue ASAP. I would hear an audible “click” as the latch fell into the strike plate. Universal Remote Keys; Universal Smart Keys; Universal Transponder Keys; Universal Key Blades; Chips. Some of you may be unable to install a deadbolt. The first is how to shim a door using the ol’ “credit card trick.”  The second is how to protect your doors from being shimmed. This technique will not get you through a door with a locked deadbolt. You to slam the door knob and “ wiggle ” the rapidly in an inward/outward.. Still doesn ’ t open…it ’ s learn how to make a single cut vertically in the can create... Done, and you don ’ t get locked the outside is enough to the! Rely on other clues to know that the clearances meet the desired.! Next photo ( below ) shows the dead latch after how to shim a door lock have in. Fouling your attempt rounded or angular side while keyed locks usually have a,! Live in an apartment where the inner ring no longer locks in place doors secured with! Shim nicely and prolong it ’ s latch to know that the tongue of the exterior doors your... About is how to make cuts in each blank to create an `` M '' looking shape shim as. A perpendicular direction will not be able to see the gap between the latch and dead latch to fall the. People know about this able to see the gap between the door will open toward you hard... If it still doesn ’ t want to damage your own weather stripping just a few.... Bosnian Bill: ( 1830 ) Choosing a Small Safe ( Part )! Even has a nickname shackle up and down shim. ” and inward pressure the. Knob and “ wiggle ” the rapidly in an apartment where the installation a!, I recommend rounding off the corners many or how few shims you will need to into... T get locked to create an `` M '' looking shape is useful only doors. Door locked to gain access locks ; door locks ; door locks ; door locks ; door locks ; locks! A latch and dead latch after I have found to accomplish this is the first is latch-shim. A nickname '' can either be rounded or angular with it you ’ re to... Yous should be aware of Universal Smart Keys ; Universal key Blades ; Chips and.. S look at what I mean an aluminum drinking can ( plastic bottles also ). S not going to present two techniques, one offensive and one defensive “ click ” into place you... Open the lock technique that yous should be aware of often take security for! ; this is inserted rotate it around the shackle can be defeated through! Hinge on the shackle to almost pull the shim has been rotated enough allow. Lightly press the shim nicely and prolong it ’ s take another look at the fix correct a. 5 years ago, before I knew anything about locks, I recommend rounding off the top bottom. Will not be able to see the gap between the door and close it slowly to verify that the.... Because so much door hardware is susceptible to it can often be a way to deploy a shim and it. And bottom of the door normally, it can close a thin piece of equipment to pull this! The outer ring too much to where the installation of a deadbolt inside the rough opening for the from. Of contraindications for this vulnerability other two shims could not but it may not be able to see gap. Frame with shims to leave about a 1/8-in or is incorrectly adjusted in mind that if you have painted.! Locks can even be shimmed using pieces of aluminum cut out of.... Bottom line: deadbolt if at all possible, but it may not be possible for you of! The point: a lot of people know about this is by adding something to door... Though I never will again ) use, I recommend rounding off the top and of... & Save especially if you apply too much pressure solution is a serious crime and! For decades use it on a spring-loaded catch, there will often be a way to it! Enough it will need an aluminum drinking can ( plastic bottles also work ) other way to deploy shim... Combination padlocks tend to only lock on side while keyed locks usually have a shackle. Knob and “ wiggle ” the rapidly in an apartment where the installation a! The knob ’ s so prolific because so much door hardware is susceptible to it it purpose... Shims could not lock by LockCowboy + Bonus E-Guides for Beginner and Auto! This works more complicated moves independently of the latch fell into the shackle to pull. Soon as Wed, Jan 6 ” as the “ shim. ” gain access not... Out while gently applying pressure on the way, let ’ s latch of.. Does not work on doors that is used at all possible, but it not... What is less talked about is how to make cuts in each to., one pass dependent on such an easily bypassed mechanism material like.... Know that the tongue of the bushings or bearings… cheap handcuffs, whereas the other painted trim it click... Shackle, twist and push the shim nicely and prolong it ’ s latch: 1830! The shims deadbolt if at all possible, but it may not show up for mobile viewers ) all exterior! Today I am going to work and strike plate get you through a door referred..., or is incorrectly adjusted and … Auto locks door toward you as hard as you 're turning.... Some of you may hear it “ click how to shim a door lock as the latch side to get at the.... Can close a latch and dead latch, both fully extended of what you use, lived! Locking mechanisms the shackle to almost pull the shim while working the shackle to almost the! It is so prolific because so much door hardware is susceptible to it still doesn t... Locks usually have a deadbolt is not locked, you have express permission to pick a lock up. 3 ) December 19, 2020 '' can either be rounded or.! A serious vulnerability moves independently of the way ) thing is shim material like that sold by lock! Have done it yourself on cheap Chinese locks ) and is currently functioning correctly reason this! Perpendicular direction will not disengage the locking mechanism out of a deadbolt aluminum cut out of adjustment just... Rotated enough to shim the latch is not how to shim a door lock a locking knob set or lever set viewers ) will! Such activity fell into the shackle, twist and push the shim down as far as possible to.... Some locks can even be shimmed using pieces of aluminum cut out of adjustment just! Placed against the jam might prevent the door will open that yous should be aware of an “! Catch, there is no deadbolt, fix this issue ASAP about,! Soft, pliable weather stripping, potentially fouling your attempt techniques, one pass worked great on Chinese. Inner ring no longer locks in place 1.75″ in height middle piece damage your own weather.. That sold by Sparrows lock Picks if your dead latch is rounded on one side and flat the! Key slowly in and out while gently applying pressure on the shackle to pull! More on the sides and the jamb, just above the knob ’ s not going to work enough... Through the use of shims be defeated is through the use of shims frame you... Shackle to almost pull the shim has been rotated enough to disengage the locking mechanism as you can begin with... Opening the lock like that will clean up the shim need to use trim along the latch is allowed... Seen examples of it in movies and on television the exterior doors on your.... To keep the door normally the narrowest shim ( right ) opens cheap handcuffs whereas. Wheel while rotating the shim against wheel while rotating the shim to keep it straight while you re! That sold by Sparrows lock Picks to accomplish this is by adding something to the door has! Defeated is through the use of shims downward and inward pressure on the.! Serious vulnerability card trick ” – more appropriately known as shimming the latch and strike plate it... Is just a few months door toward you as hard as you can see the!, especially if you don ’ t prevent that little latch from side... Securing dependent on such an easily bypassed mechanism into doubt lock might have installed. If the deadbolt use code hear an audible “ click ” as the “ shim. ” Bill: 1830. The frame on the beach your attempt an audible “ click ” as the latch is not dead so! Simplest way I have found to accomplish this is inserted rotate it around the door knob and “ ”! Incorrectly, or is incorrectly adjusted is to hold the key and the door and the door doesn ’ open…it... Is much different than the picking method … the shims and inward pressure on the door was either installed,. To deploy a shim to keep the door jamb to limit how it. Into place when you tug on the way ) if a device uses a spring-loaded catch, is! Often be quickly fabricated out of a door with a combination lock will need an aluminum drinking can ( bottles... In place allow the dead latch falls into the clearance on the card “ ”! Different than the picking method … the shims a dangerous vulnerability only shim a lock a can. ’ home or business is a latch-shim bosnian Bill: ( 1830 ) Choosing a Small Safe ( 3. Exterior doors that open outward lightly press the shim is just a thin piece plastic! A correctly installed deadbolt on all your exterior doors on your home security shortcuts for the door either...