My $2 shed lock got picked clean in 15 seconds flat

I figured the cheap combination lock on my garden shed was fine since nobody targets sheds. Then some kid on a bike walked up, jiggled it twice, and pulled the shackle right out like it was butter. I timed it on my phone. 15 seconds from him touching it to walking off with an old lawnmower. Took me longer to unlock it with the code. Now I'm wondering if any budget lock under $10 is even worth buying, or if I should just bolt the door shut entirely. Anyone else seen those wafer locks fall apart that fast?

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2 Comments

wendyc534mo ago

waitt... only 15 seconds?? that's insane. i gotta admit i laughed when you said it took you longer to unlock it yourself than it took him to break it. like seriously, $2 lock says everything right there in the price tag. i had one on my gym locker once and the thing literally fell apart when i was trying to close it. those wafer locks are basically toys for grownups, not real security.

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the_joseph4mo ago

The real issue nobody talks about is that cheap combo locks don't just fail to pick, they fail to keep honest people honest too. Those wafer locks are so flimsy that even a neighbor kid might pop it open by accident trying to borrow a rake. I've seen people use padlocks that cost less than a coffee and then act surprised when the whole thing snaps off with a pair of pliers. You're basically paying for a visual deterrent, not actual security. For a shed, you'd be better off with a thick hardened steel hasp and a real padlock that costs at least $15-20. Bolt the door shut if you have to, but at least upgrade to something that takes more than a second to break.

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