[Hitman Monkey]

meh...check your local laws.

there are kits out there that you can use to teach yourself. comes with a set of picks, a book (or dvd) and a practice lock. i'm pretty sure that the lockpicking guns are fairly restricted in most places, though.

of course, for padlocks you just need to have a crowbar, or learn how to make a shim. which you can do out of an aluminum can

[mattifikation]

In response to, "Is it worth the time spent learning," I would suggest that since it's a real world skill that can be applied in the Pre-Apocalypse, it would certainly be worth learning. I know that if I ever got locked out of my house and I kicked the door in or broke out a window, my roommate/landlord would throw me out into the street. A lock pick set stashed under the porch would be a great alternative, and wouldn't be a security risk if found by a burglar, since any intruder with the skill and intention to pick my lock is probably going to bring their own set anyways.

[Vorpal]

You missed the point. While i noted that it was useful, there could be better skills to spend your time learning.

[Dark Gale]

About the only thing I know when it comes to lockpicking is the "Bump Key" method. Seems to be easier than picking it the old fashioned way, but plenty of locks these days are made with extra tumblers on the side so that using a bump key wont actually open it. Although I'm sure there are more places that don't have these types of locks, than there are ones that do.

[massacre07]

Dark Gale, on 30 April 2012 - 04:01 AM, said:

About the only thing I know when it comes to lockpicking is the "Bump Key" method. Seems to be easier than picking it the old fashioned way, but plenty of locks these days are made with extra tumblers on the side so that using a bump key wont actually open it. Although I'm sure there are more places that don't have these types of locks, than there are ones that do.

If you've got a quality slot screw driver about the proper size and a small mallet you can make short work of a LOT of consumer locks these days as well. A popped lock is usually re-lockable and while the original key may not work anymore ramming a screw driver into them would work again.

[Faran Brigo]

To me, it doesn't seem useless, but it's not really so useful that you'd want to make this a priority to learn. Like other people already said, there's other ways to get through the lock, and the only way lockpicking would be necessary I think is if you're trying to sneak around a place where you're heavily outnumbered to get something, which calls into question why the excursion was a good idea in the first place.

[Huckleberry]

I read an Ebook years ago written by a supposed ex CIA operator.
one of the first things he said was something along the lines of: there is almost always a faster way to get in.
while that is true I consider it an essential skill, I have used it many times since I learned and I even carry a small set in my EDC bag.