this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
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I won't speak to how the UK does things, but in the US this would make for an easier criminal charge.
It can be difficult to prove that someone stole (or is about to steal) a car, or broke in to steal the contents. This is especially true if they weren't apprehended in or with the vehicle itself. But if they are arrested on suspicion, and one of these devices is found on them, they can very easily be prosecuted for possession of criminal tools. It's similar to how we normies can't legally own a lockpicking kit unless we're locksmiths.
That doesn't make it okay.
And you can't own lock picking tools? Like, buying from this website is illegal? That's ridiculous!!
I can, and it's incredibly useful to DIY access locked doors in my house. I'm not calling a locksmith unless I can't figure it out, because that's expensive.
The proper solution is to require car manufacturers to reimburse customers for any losses due to poor design. Same goes for lock makers.
It's perfectly legal to own any type of lock picking tool in all of the states in the US, as long as you are not using it for malicious purpose. But there are four states that have increased scrutiny on if you are caught out in public with them: Ohio Nevada Virginia and Mississippi, but it's completely legal to have lock picking as a hobby(although some states require registration to do it professionally)
That's totally fair, though I think a bit excessive. I understand requiring registration for dangerous things like working on gas lines or high voltage electricity, because you could cause a ton of damage. But for a locksmith, the risk is really low, _especially if you're picking instead of the more destructive and faster methods most locksmiths use because they don't want to spend the time manipulating pins.
I'm guessing in those states where you need to be registered/licensed, it's more about raising the barrier to entry to protect existing locksmiths than any kind of actual concern for the safety of the public.
I was on board with your post until the last line.
However in the majority of the US it's perfectly legal to own lock picking tools as long as you're not using it for malicious intent, there's only four states in the US that has restrictions on them similar to what you describe, those states are Mississippi where if it's concealed / you don't tell them that you have the pick and they find it on their own, you have to provide counter evidence in court of why it wasn't you; and Nevada, Ohio and Virginia which states you must provide evidence directly countering the claim.
All states have it legal to own and use the tools, it just those four states have increased regulations on the tools that make it harder to defend in court if you're caught out in public near a crime with them