Reading time: 6 minutes / Lars Buchwald / July 17, 2026

Professional Lock Opening Technology and Responsibility at Multipick

Contents

→ Why professional lock opening technology requires responsibility

→ What lock opening tools are actually designed for

→ A tool is only one part of the full picture

→ What studies really reveal about residential burglaries

→ Screwdrivers instead of lock picks: the reality behind the numbers

→ What the statistics cannot prove

→ Our responsibility

We regularly hear the same accusation through a variety of channels: “You sell tools for burglars.” That is why I would like to explain how we at Multipick view this issue. 

The subject also comes up regularly outside of work. When you meet new people, sooner or later someone asks the obvious question: “So, what do you do for a living?” By now, I have developed a certain routine for answering it. I explain that we are one of the leading manufacturers of professional lock opening tools, and I usually add right away who these tools are designed for and the situations in which they are used. The term “lock opening tools” alone has raised more than a few eyebrows, I can tell you that. Even after I explain, the conclusion is often: “So, tools that can be used to break in.” At that point, I usually ask whether the person has ever been locked out, or whether they have ever had a child, a dog, or an elderly relative behind a locked door. Suddenly, the subject becomes much easier to understand. Nevertheless, it seems to be part of our industry that we must repeatedly explain the purpose and legitimacy of professional lock opening technology. That will probably not change anytime soon. I would like to explain why our tools are needed, what responsibilities come with the way they are presented and used, and what reliable studies actually reveal about typical burglary methods. Because one thing is clear to me:

Professional lock opening technology requires responsibility

Multipick develops tools that can open locks. That is exactly what they are designed to do. Our position is very clear: Professional lock opening technology belongs in the hands of responsible people who are authorized to use it. These tools support fire departments, government agencies, locksmiths, security professionals, and other qualified users in their work. We categorically reject the unauthorized opening of locks on someone else’s property. 

We know what our tools are capable of. That is why we speak just as openly about responsibility and boundaries as we do about their technical capabilities.

Why professional lock opening technology is needed

A locked door protects people, property, and privacy. In an emergency, however, it can become an obstacle. 

Two documented emergency responses illustrate what this means: 

On January 9, 2026, the fire department and emergency medical services were called to assist an elderly woman in Gehrden. She had apparently fallen inside her home and was lying behind a locked front door. Through a window, responders could see that she needed medical assistance. The fire department opened the front door using specialized tools, allowing paramedics to reach her. The woman was then taken to a hospital. The door could be locked again after the emergency response.[1] 

Another incident report from Munich describes a locked vehicle with a six-month-old baby and a small dog inside. Emergency responders were able to open the vehicle without causing any damage.[2] The reports do not identify the brands of tools used. They therefore do not establish that Multipick products were involved in either incident. They do, however, demonstrate why professional lock opening technology is needed. 

A person who has fallen may be lying behind a locked door. A child or an animal may be trapped inside a vehicle. Food may be cooking on the stove while the resident is unable to get back into the home. In situations like these, professionals need a range of options. Depending on the circumstances, a door may be opened using specialized tools. In other cases, forced entry may be necessary. The responders at the scene decide which method is appropriate.

A tool is only one part of the full picture

Ultimately, of course, the individual decides how a tool is used. Nevertheless, manufacturers and retailers also bear responsibility. The way they present their products, communicate about them, and demonstrate or encourage particular uses influences how those tools are handled. That is why we make one thing clear: Professional lock opening technology is not a license to test the boundaries of someone else’s property. 

The same applies to lockpicking. It can be a challenging technical pursuit that teaches people about locking mechanisms, fine motor skills, and mechanical principles. The essential condition, however, is that it must only be practiced on personal training locks or locking systems expressly approved for this purpose. Technical curiosity ends where the rights of others begin. This applies regardless of whether an opening is described as practice, a dare, or a supposedly harmless challenge. Without permission, there is no legitimate reason to open a lock.

What studies really reveal about residential burglaries

Discussions about lock opening tools quickly conjure up the image of a highly skilled burglar opening a lock almost silently, perhaps with a professional pick set. 

The available studies paint a different picture. 

Germany’s Police Crime Statistics recorded a total of 82,920 residential burglary cases, including attempted burglaries, in 2025. Of these cases, 44.9 percent remained unsuccessful attempts.[3] The German Police Crime Prevention Program points out that many residential burglaries are committed by opportunistic offenders. They frequently attack windows and doors using simple prying tools.[4] However, the Police Crime Statistics do not provide a current nationwide breakdown by individual tool type or brand. They therefore cannot tell us how often products from a particular manufacturer were used to commit a crime. 

A statement such as “Tools from brand X were used in only 0.1 percent of all cases” cannot be substantiated using the Police Crime Statistics. Older case file analyses can provide a more detailed picture. One study by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony evaluated, among other material, 2,403 case files suitable for analysis from Bremerhaven, Berlin, Hanover, Stuttgart, and Munich. The cases came from the 2010 Police Crime Statistics reporting year, and the findings were published later.[5] 

In cases where a tool could be identified, the breakdown included the following:

These figures relate exclusively to cases in which a tool could be identified. Multiple tools could also be recorded in a single case. The percentages should therefore not be added together as though they represented mutually exclusive shares of the total.[6] An additional 37.6 percent were grouped in the study simply as “other tools.” Because this broad category was not broken down any further, it is impossible to determine whether these were commonly available tools or specialized lock opening tools. We have therefore excluded this group from the direct comparison. Nevertheless, the specifically identified tool types reveal a clear difference: Screwdrivers were identified in 42.6 percent of cases, considerably more often than lock picks at 1.3 percent. Pry bars, crowbars, and wrecking bars were also identified much more frequently than lock picks. Another study from Cologne and Leverkusen confirms the major role played by prying attacks. Among targeted front doors, apartment doors, and secondary entrance doors, prying on the opening side was the most frequently identified method, accounting for 62.29 percent. Attacks on the profile cylinder accounted for 6.46 percent. This category includes various methods of attack and must not be equated with lockpicking.[7] 

Prying also played a central role in attacks on windows, balcony doors, and patio doors. This does not mean that specialized lock opening tools are never misused. Such a claim would be just as misleading as the sweeping assumption that anyone who owns a pick set might use it to commit a crime. Instead, the studies show that many residential burglaries involve force and that commonly available tools play a significant role among the tools that could be clearly identified. The widespread image of a technically sophisticated burglar manipulating a lock with precision and leaving almost no trace does not reflect the typical methods identified in the cases analyzed.

What the numbers do not prove

The studies cited compare neither companies nor retailers. They do not record where a screwdriver, wrecking bar, or lock pick was purchased. The numbers therefore provide no information about where these tools were obtained. Nor do they absolve manufacturers of professional lock opening technology of responsibility. Any effective technology can theoretically be used without authorization, and that possibility must be taken seriously. However, the numbers help keep the discussion grounded in fact. Anyone discussing burglary prevention should consider the methods of attack that are actually used rather than focusing solely on methods that appear especially skillful, mysterious, or even cinematic. The reality is often far less elegant. Doors and windows are pried open, hardware is damaged, and lock cylinders are attacked by force. This distinction is important for property owners because it shows where effective burglary prevention needs to begin.

What responsibility means to us in practice

For Multipick, responsibility means neither downplaying unauthorized lock openings nor presenting them as an entertaining challenge. Our products are intended for professionals and technically minded individuals who work exclusively on their own locking systems or on systems they have been expressly authorized to use. If we receive credible information about the possible misuse of our products, we take it seriously. Multipick has previously worked with the relevant authorities, within the limits of the law, to help assess and investigate such incidents. As a manufacturer, we have a duty to make our position clear and not look the other way when specific concerns arise. Our tools are intended for people who are authorized to open locks, not for people with criminal intentions.

Our commitment

The available studies show that residential burglaries predominantly involve forced-entry methods and commonly available tools. Professional lockpicking does not reflect the typical approach. This does not change the fact that effective lock opening technology requires responsibility. For us, this means clearly defining its legitimate use, refusing to downplay misuse, and taking action when specific concerns arise. Our tools are developed for people who are authorized to open locks. For us, that boundary is clear.

FAQ – everything you need to know

About the Author

Lars Buchwald has been an integral part of the Multipick team since 2006, where he dedicates his passion and expertise to marketing and graphics. As a trained graphic designer and copywriter, he brings a wealth of experience and creativity to his work, which enables him to convey the messages of the ingenious tools in an appealing and convincing way. With a keen sense for the needs of the target group, he steers Multipick's marketing fortunes. His commitment is characterized by a high degree of sensitivity and the right richer at the right time. 

As a native of Bonn, Lars not only has close ties to the region, but has also firmly integrated his passion for marketing spear tools into his professional work. His attachment to the city is reflected in his work and gives his marketing campaigns an authentic, Bonn touch.

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