At least ONE business is booming these days - Locksmithing

[Canuckistanian]

The mortgage crisis has been great business for locksmiths. Banks need to get the locks changed quickly because people who've just been evicted often take out their anger — or their appliances.

Source: NPR
Audio: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89695232

[Muttocracy]

1. interesting - and people probably fear economic downturn -> more burglary. nt

[knitter4democracy]

2. Well, since that's what my five year old wants to be, I guess it's good.

He still hasn't gotten over his key phase, and he often talks of being a locksmith.

How awful that everything has to move so quickly. :(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. And that's one of the professions that can't be outsourced!

[tomreedtoon]

4. You know how easy it is to pick a lock?

I picked up a set of lockpicks at a "spy store" near me. After fifteen minutes of practice I opened the lock on a cabinet to which I had lost the key.

I haven't tried it on my front door, but will probably do so sometime. As it was explained to me, in the view of the law, the moment you insert a pick into a lock, you have "entered the premises" and you had better have done so under legal circumstances.

While it isn't as easy as shown on TV, it's not difficult. (Hint; if you only have one thing inside a lock - like a lock pick without a torsion bar - locks won't open. The one-tool lock openers they use in TV shows is called a key.)

So this will be a low-demand job. Not a big deal.

[magellan]

5. Yeah, I locked myself out of my apartment one morning

Just the bottom lock, the one with the button on the inside doorknob. Inspired by Magnum P.I., I dug a paperclip out of the bottom of my purse, unbent it so I had two prongs, and played with the lock until it popped. It was my first time so took about five minutes. Those button locks are worthless. I imagine someone with the know-how and proper tools could open just about anything if they wanted.

Hence alarm systems. :)

[tomreedtoon]

6. Just for your info...

...on "certain places" on the Internet, I found a video about lockpicking. It shows the mechanics - but not the morality - of learning how to pick all varieties of locks. In fact, some of those "certain places" sell pick sets - but if there is a "spy store" in your city, it's probably cheaper to get a set there. Some people with mechanical aptitude can supposedly make better picks than are commercially available, using spring steel and a grinding wheel.

I feel that, as long as I am not trying to B-and-E or cause harm, there is no problem in owning a small set of lockpicks. Of course, they are nothing to flaunt; a policeman might be very, very suspicious of someone who he catches with a set of picks and tension bars.