Jeff Janus from Bloomingdale Fire Protection District #1 sent in this tip for “forcing†a door with a jamb during non-hazard situations. Apparently it’s called the Fernald Lock Pick, and involves a bleach bottle of all things. We love posting about the non traditional forcible entry methods everyone uses. Check out Tips from the Bucket section for details.
Isn’t this the same principle as using a thin credit card? In addition our department has been using the smoke ejector bar for years until recently, because they are now are designed with a spring loaded shoe to prevent over tightening and bending the bar. By the looks of the one in the photo it does not have the spring loaded shoe,check yours out !!
I don’t know if it was covered here already. But I saw a way into doors with this type of door handle in Brownsville, Brooklyn NY. The security people in a womens shelter use a system that I’ll try to explain. They used a long piece of metal that looks like a thick wire coat hangar. It was long enough to go under the closed door, and angled up to go around the door handle, and still leave enough metal to work the lock from the hallway side of door.
At one end it is shaped into a closed loop. At the other end it was bent into a shape like the end of a sheperds crook. The closed end was slid under the door and then manipulated up towards the door handle. The other end, the crook shape, was then moved until the person felt she had the looped end around the handle on the door. Pull down, door opens. I’m sure the guards there get a ton of practice doing this as the residents are always locking themselves out or forgetting their keys. The funniest thing was when the woman was showing us their technique and she said to the effect,”I size up the lock to make sure my tool is the right one for the door” and then performed the evolution. I kid you not when she opened the door in about 5 seconds and that was including her “size up”. We couldn’t believe it and told her to do it again. She proceeded to open three doors in a row as if she had a key for them. Impressive to say the least. I’m sure it couldn’t be used everywhere but in certain situations, no damage, no security needed etc…
Stay safe.
You carry a set of irons for a reason…Force the door…
Very good idea, although I think it’s for the service call type of runs only. Anything else, force it!
I hear ya guys regarding the irons and forcing the door.
However this method caused no damage, so the door could simply be closed when you’re done. That’s a definite plus when you may be stuck “babysitting” a door for Police arrival at 2AM on a rainy Saturday night. Because we know how the PD “loves” running to sit on a door, and that’s under the best of circumstances-if they even have the manpower to spare.
And as quick as this young lady (I’m guessing around 50)
opened the doors it is a bonafide option, in my book.
Stay safe.
This method is not meant for the smoke in the bulding, fire, hazard or anything with a major life threat. This method is used on lock-outs no hazard. I don’t know about others but we do lock-outs to buldings and this works on about 95% of residential unless the deadbolt is thrown. I work with Jeff so I speak from experience with this method. Just remember to place the Hanger bar above the lock otherwise you hit it while working the lock. It saves a lot of paperwork and insurance claims to the homeowner and good PR if you need it.
FTM-PTB EGH
The Engineer I worked with on my first Engine company said it best: “If it’s stuck, force it, if it breaks, it needed to be fixed anyway!†Not bad for an Engine guy.
I can think of many calls that this little gem of a technique would have gotten our pretty little heads back to the pillow much quicker on a few late night fire alarms. Trust me when I say, If there is anyway I can remotely justify forcing a door, it’s gonna get forced. –Jimm-
I agree with Joe and Chris ….. FORCE IT
Can anyone explain how to do this?
Force it? Why break the door if there is no life safety issue. Even if the problem on the other side is a property damage situation only, it still might be better to go the “slow” route and pop the door using a damage-free technique. One good example is a water leak–by the time you get there, the water damage has already been done. Any additional damage that results in the 20 seconds it takes to pop the door using a damage-free technique is probably minimal in comparison to the cost of replacing what could easily be a $300+ door.
You multiply that times every door on just one floor of an apartment building, and you are sticking someone with a pretty hefty repair bill to go smashing things…not to mention the safety issues if the tenants are allowed to return to their apartments which are now lacking a functional lock on the front door. What if someone gets raped or robbed because of that?
We got guys in this area that like smashing everything they touch. They get a bad rap quick. We are here to protect property, not cause unneccessary damage.
Sure, if you got smoke, fire, or anything serious, go through the door the quickest way possible. However, even then, the “quick” way may be to slip in the credit card. If the door has any play while the latch is in the keeper, it can often be picked in 5 seconds or less. With practice, some doors can be popped with a card in less time than it would take to use a key.
Many folks can’t force a door in that amount of time. Time yourself–see how long it takes for you get the set of irons apart, hand one to your partner, line up the halligan, and take two shots, then pry it. I bet that’s more than 5 seconds…
If it’s a deadbolt, then grab the irons. However, if you are facing a cheap spring lock with some play in the door (especially with a soft rubber draft stop), my old AAA card will be quickly placed into service.
You’re right Eric – the old burglars used to call it “loiding”, as in “celluloid”.
As for you muscle>brains dyed in the blue wool truck apes there are time when forcing is the last thing you want to do. I gained a reputation with my first Lt. as his “second story man” for the ways I could find to get into a structure without causing damage for service calls. Know your building construction and how locks and security devices work.