Locking a deadbolt from the outside without a Key

Why on earth would I need to do this you ask?

long story short, I was brand new in my office, they hadn't given me and office key yet, an I was the last one in the office option 1 was wait 4 hours for a coworker to return, or find a way to lock the door.

jump a few years into the future, and I just recently found myself in the same circumstance, last one in the office with my wife's car (and keys) so I had no office key. I was on my way in less than 5 minutes.

I'm sure if you think about it you can find a few more not so good uses, but you're on your own there!

Step 1: Materials

Materials:
Tape
Scissors (optional.)

The tape can be just about any kind. Only a little strength is needed.
Clear packing tape seems to be a good choice.

Step 2: Setup

1. Cut a length of tape about 8-16".
2. Cut a notch in one end.
3. Fold the tape over on to it's self.

Step 3: Double check

You don't have a key to the door and your about to lock yourself out, make sure you have your car keys, iphone, etc. You don't want to explain why your trying to break into your office, especially if your a new employee.

Step 4: Locking the door

Open the door
stick the tape to the lever
fold it around the door.
close the door
pull the tape
Door locked!

Comments

[incroyable]

SMART 8) good for you !!!

[desmondtheredx]

a year back i also learnt this trick from a crime investigation show. but locking from inside. You could use a remote control toy car with this too
and it came useful once.

[Morriscow]

 wonder if you could attach it to the knob on the inside and turn it from the outside

[Fluffy, the Destroyer of Worlds]

That would be an awesome prank to forever keep someone out of the room.
If you make it so turning the knob locks the door, after someone unlocks it with a key and try to open it, it will be locked!
If you made it so that to lock it, you turn it whichever way people don't usually turn knobs, it could work as a fix.
If you made it so that to lock it, you turn it whichever way the target does usually turn knobs, it could work as a prank!

[IceTeaEdwin]

Lol, everybody wants to use this for crime now.

[Blofish]

LOL !

[Morriscow]

 howtf would you use it for crime

[IceTeaEdwin]

Reverse engineer, DUH.

[awang8]

Pushing a piece of sticky tape? Umm... OK...

[kbhasi]

lol

[artquilter]

I'm glad this was a banner instructable.   It's cool!  I've been in this situation too, where a room should be deadbolted, but I don't have the key.

For those that think burglars kick the door in...just go to your local police department report and see how many burlaries were 'forced entry' and how many were not!  Most are not...an unlocked door is the main reason.

Many small burlaries occur because some sap goes up to every door, every night, and tries it, waiting for the one time you've forgotten to lock the door.  Not only at an office, but this happens with many home burglaries - it's rather disgusting to think that someone is touching your doorknob every night...

[jules15]

i dont get the point of this

[pyro1324]

 The point of this is that you don't remember where your key's are and you need to lock the door

[disneyace]

and how to break into a office  ;D

[jules15]

but cant you just turn the lock on the inside part of the doorknob?

[pyropaul]

Yes but then you can't get out without unlocking again.

[Tim Temple]

I was stuck being the last person to leave a church in the evening -- and didn't have a key.  Much bigger problem.  After putting my Aspergers brain into overdrive, I got a big paperclip and a spool of thread.  I tied the thread to the bottom of the clip and pushed the top of the clip onto the toggle on the inside.  I carefully closed t the door while holding the thread.  Once outside I pulled the thread which threw the bolt.  Then I gave the thread a good yank to pull the clip off the toggle and leave them with a mystery in the morning!

[place name here-]

I had to do this once but the lock had a long thumb latch so i used a string with a slip knot and that worked well. But I would never have thought of that if it wasn't for your inst.

[Kryptonite]

This is cool but how did it end up as a banner-Instructable? (Instructable featured in the header/banner)

[frollard]

I did this but with a slipknot in some string - knot slips off if you yank real hard once the door is locked, and you're out!

5 from me!

[matchbookhymnal]

This is brilliant.  Why does it always take employers so long to get you your own key?!  I could have used this trick several times at my last job.

[trent1]

very nice. In my life I had a similar situation with forgotten key at home.
respect!

[rickick]

How do you open it after ?

[IceTeaEdwin]

With the key.  If you don't have it, tough luck.

[Thelonelysandwitch]

Not to be a killjoy, but if you have the key to get back in, then why would you use this?????

[rhoula]

He said that this is done because he does not have the key to get back.

[Thelonelysandwitch]

ohhhhh. that would help thanks.

[wanyairegi]

You seem to be a very practical guy. but for the murder and concealing evidence you may need to use a nylon string or thin steel wire! brilliant

[budbush]

Clever idea! One suggestion, though. While "clear tape" may be the best option in actual use, how about making the instructable photos over using an opaque tape, or duct tape. It would be easier to follow.

[ysabet]

Very nicely done. Amusingly enough, there's something very similar in a Japanese anime/manga series, 'Meitante Conan'. I understand that the voice actors started playing pranks afterwards, locking each other out of their rooms.

[ShippingGuy]

Very Nicely Done!

[riverreaper]

(removed by author or community request)

[srilyk]

The creator of this instructable was correct - the deadbolt is precisely what he locked. There's absolutely no reason to try and lock a spring lock from the outside when all you have to do is lock the door and shut it. It's fairly certain that the deadbolt was secured using this method, based on the physics of the thing. Most deadbolts use ~100-110 degrees to create a full lock. The gripping strength of packing tape is perfectly sufficient to twist the lock when applied in this fashion. That being said, even a deadbolt is a pretty weak deterrent against any thief who has a clue what they're doing. They'd just kick in the door - one or two well placed kicks, just to the side of the knob will create enough force to shatter the door jamb. They'd just walk in, pick up computer monitors/computers, and walk out. In less than 10 minutes they'd get most of the valuable items there. This is a great instructable!

[kashell4crab]

no, having to wait 3 1/2 - 4 hours for someone to lock the door isn't a need to be in a hurry? I would hope that the man was paid for having to babysit the office. If not, any person would be in a "hurry" to leave work especially after having to wait that long!

[stapuft]

actually that was the deadbolt. the deadbolt is usually at the top and the other thing, it has the straight bar thing, that way it can't be jimmied open.

[Hextor]

your comment is a little unclear, what I'm gathering from your comment, is that because the deadbolt is spring loaded, I left my office at risk by not full securing the dead bolt. Our office has 2 doors, I tried this a few times and went in the other door to check. it was as secure as doing it by hand or key.

[Grady]

Hey, I think it's clever. Even a deadbolt can't keep out a master mind, but it's a good deterrent for the average Joe. It sure beats having to sit 4 hours, doesn't it?

[4thAce]

I don't get what the "notch" is about. Is it a cutout or a slit or something? It doesn't get mentioned in the other steps, so maybe not important.

[!werdna!]

the notch makes a loop in the tape once its folded over.

[Hextor]

The notch is so that when you fold the tape together, one end still has a sticky part that you attach the lever of the deadbolt.