h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK...Yesterday I was just leaving my appartment, when I smelled something like eggs which were just not that fresh anymore. So I just thought to shut the door immediatly not to let in that ..argh. So I shut the door and - what do you think ? - right, my key still was inside and even worser it was still in the lock. So no way to get into my appartment ! So I went to a neighbour and she told me that when the same thing happened to her a hole had to be broken into her door and that this costs about 360 DM. The other opportunity would be to smash a window but that would cost 250 DM. Well, I thought that's it. This really is the worsest day I ever had. But at the end we phoned a "Schlüsseldienst" ( in English ? I don't know) and the man just took a little ..thing and - the door was open. It costed me 120 DM. So what did I learn out of this ? That's simple - I want to learn to open the door like him !

You can easily save the 120DM or so which a >>lock-picker<< charges you -- as long as you did not turn the key. All that is required is a metal wire coat-hanger (you get them along with your dress from a dry cleaning facility). Cut away a piece of some 20cm and give it two sharp rectangulare bents as far away from each other as your door seating has 'steps'. Hold the wire upright while inserting it into the gap between door and seating, find the locking piece and then turn the wire 90° while pushing down --- click!
Practice first with some partner on the other side of the door!