I’ve put a lot of research into this, and I’ve seen a lot of great rogue-like characters, where the author was clearly unsure as to how they perform their criminal activities. If you feel the need to ask why I know this stuff, my main writings are for a book series called “A Thief’s War,” which should be more than enough explanation. I swear I’m not personally a thief.
Anyway, here we go:
Lockpicking:
I’ve seen some stories where characters grab a paperclip, and boom, no lock can stop them. I’ve also seen some where master thieves take a hammer and smash the lock.
A lock has a series of tumblers in it, each of which need to click into place for it to unlock. A key’s design is usual exactly what it must be to get these tumblers into the proper position.
There are a wide array of shapes and sizes for lockpicks, and if you’re going to go around picking locks, you’re going to need more than one. There is no universal lockpick. Furthermore, for some reason a lot of people don’t include the secondary locking tool: a lock wrench. This is used to turn the the lock, and to keep the tumblers in place once you’ve appropriately placed them with the lockpick.
A lockpicker will know that a tumbler is in place when they hear it click, but the noise is usually quiet, so they’ll often have their ear close to the door.
Can you pick a lock with a paperclip? Yes, but it’s hard as hell, and a paperclip won’t fit into all locks. Not to mention it’s a pain turning the lock once the tumblers are in place.
With code locks, a lot of movies or books show someone pressing their ear closely to the lock, whilst turning it, and listening for a click when it hits the right number. This actually works. These are the most useless goddamn locks in history.
Now, if you’re writing modern day, with smart locks and various other such tech, I’m afraid I can’t help. I haven’t studied that as much. Though, the previous advice will help for most locks, and that information still applies to basically all types of lock that aren’t incredibly expensive.
Sneaking:
The dashing rogue slips through the shadows, his cloak billowing behind him, and somehow none of the dozen patrolling guards walking right by happen to notice him.
Yeah, that’s not how it works.
Sneaking involves a lot of remaining very still, knowing your surroundings, and holding your breath.
A thief infiltrating a house will scout it out, usually for weeks in advance. Sometimes they’ll pose as various businessmen, and try to get the owners of the house let them in for a while so they can study the ins and outs of it. Cracking open a window isn’t quiet, and you need to know what doors will creak and what doors won’t.
If you’re trying to sneak, you need to try and stick near furniture and heavy objects. The floor isn’t nearly as likely to creak when you’re near these. Furthermore, you need to step lightly, and wear the appropriate footwear. Usually some cloth wrapping’s around one’s feet will help to be quiet, but avoid any shoes that might make clacking noises, or sound like they’re peeling off the floor when they move. A thief will also neverscuff their feet, if they’re any good at sneaking.
Black clothing only helps you sneak if it’s dark, and your surroundings aren’t bright coloured. If you’re in a city of white buildings and marble, you’ll want matching attire. This is just for if you’re skulking about a city, though. Just make sure you don’t stand out. However, dark clothing will greatly help you not be seen from a distance when it’s night.
If a thief suspects someone is nearby, they should always try to locate a nearby hiding spot, and remain perfectly still. Do not move, and a good thief will hold their breath if they start getting anxious, as heavy breathing could easily give someone away.
Many stories also don’t seem to account for the fact that various rogues and criminals have shadows, too. Even a quick and subtle movement of a shadow might be enough to give away one’s presence. It’s really, really hard to actually sneak up on someone due to this, and several other factors. Most people will actually feel tense, and usually catch wind of it if someone is sneaking up behind them, as even very quiet sounds and movements like breathing will subconsciously register to people if you get too close.
I’m a master assassin, and I carry a goddamn greatsword:
There is a reason they would use daggers. Assassins didn’t usually sneak into the king’s bedchamber in the dead of night, without being seen once. There are guards. A long hallway with two guards standing in front of the door at the end, there is absolutely no way to slip past that.
They would usually have to get into the building during the day, disguised as a servant, or even another guard. They’d have to wait for the perfect opportunity to sneak into that nobleman’s bedchamber, midday when he was absent, and then wait in there for hours.
If the assassin is sneaking in at night, they rarely go through the interior of the building. Just like a thief, they’ll get the layout of the building, and then they’ll usually enter through a window, or wherever is closest to the target. If they don’t have those guard patrols memorised, they’re screwed.
But you know what’s not subtle? An assassin carrying around a scimitar, or some flashy crossbow. If you’re going to sneak past people, you need a weapon no one will see, and that you can probably hide if someone decides to search you.
Fingerprints:
This is mainly relevant for modern era stories, and I just wanted to say that I’ve seen a few shows where a criminal isn’t wearing gloves throughout the whole thing. You always wear gloves, you never leave the murder weapon. If you touched something without gloves, you may as well take it with you to avoid risk.
Slipping out of Handcuffs:
This usually requires dislocating your fingers. Ouch. But, if the one cuffing or tying up the thief isn’t paying too much attention, you can keep your hands at an appropriate angle that the cuffs will not go on correctly, or the ropes not pulled tight enough, and you can probably slip out of them.
Who needs masks when you have shadowy hoods?
Guess what the easiest facial feature to notice in the dark is? If you guessed eyes, then you’re right. But, if you’re blending in, and your eyes are veiled by the hood that’s somehow not obscuring your vision while you crane your neck downwards to ensure that it covers your face, then people are usually still going to be able to see your lips, which stand out the second most of any feature on a person.
Yes, a hood is good if you’re trying to blend in. But it’s not good for making sure people don’t see your face. Wear a damned mask.
This is all I’ve got, for now. Hope it helps someone!
By the hand of Witch Penelope, the only person God gave specific instructions to prophesy about the coming things.
To the fakers who claim Gods name, those who claimed Jesus Christ, but have ignored Gods voice, about who you should be associating yourselves with and about who you are serving.
The places you go, the places you bring your innocent children to are fortresses of the enemy. You have purposely placed your and Gods people in danger out of pure pride, you hold on to your fake beliefs. God turns His face away from your prayers. You are to Him a clashing of symbols with no rhythm.
IT IS NOT ME AND I´M NOT OKAY THAT MY ART IS POSTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Dear followers, If you see my art in another place please report it, they don´t have authorization. Only a couple of people have it. (Yes literaly two people, and no one else)
BGMBYN (Bagumbayan) Act I | Selected Illustrations
Bagumbayan Is an illustrated novel set in an alternate Spanish era Philippines where extraordinary bandits began to form a brotherhood that threatens Spanish rule over the land. For inquiries on how to get the book, you can send a message through the facebook page.
Roughly 2 years without your brother is tough. I thank God for this time. Lord You’re too good & give me too much. Every blessing You pour out, I’ll turn back to praise. I dedicate this picture to You Jesus. From Cali to Melbourne. “Me & you, no truer 2.” Started this conversation on the toilette & ended in prayer. Friends that pray together stay together #unless1hastogotoaustraliathentheyprayoveroovoo #NETconditioned #VeniSanctiSpiritus #beautifulfeet #Jesussaves #romans1009 #romans1015 #pendejomies #thieves #toomanyotherhashtagstobemadebutimhungry #teamomuchocarnal
Well… so much for thinking that I live in a nice neighbourhood! Kids just HAD to take all the chocolate chip cookies we left for the neighbourhood kids! So much for living in Oakville! . . . . . . #oakville #oakville #caughtintheact #caught #thieves #video #halloween #halloween2017 #halloweencostume #kids (at Oakville, Ontario)
Sigil for “protection from creatures who hunt in the night”. I designed this to reflect the physical, spiritual, and in-between creatures of our world. Bobcats, malevolent entities, and the cryptids we fail to understand. Thieves and more are also covered in this sigil. It has a lot of energy worked into it and I’m quite pleased with how it came out!
i learned that Antarctica used to be called Australia until modern-day Australia stole its name in 1824, which left the continent nameless until its current name was adopted in the 1890s (x)
Russians Loot $5M Farm Vehicles From Ukraine – Then Find They’ve Been Remotely Disabled
Russian troops in the occupied city of Melitopol have stolen all the equipment from a farm equipment dealership – and shipped it to Chechnya, according to a Ukrainian businessman in the area.
But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the equipment – because it had been locked remotely.
Over the past few weeks there’s been a growing number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in Melitopol speaks to an increasingly organized operation, one that even uses Russian military transport as part of the heist.
The equipment was removed from an Agrotek dealership in Melitopol, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. Altogether it’s valued at nearly $5 million. The combine harvesters alone are worth $300,000 each.
We are not naming a contact in Melitopol familiar with the details of the case for their own safety.
The contact said the process began with the seizure of two combine harvesters, a tractor and a seeder. Over the next few weeks, everything else was removed: in all 27 pieces of farm machinery. One of the flat-bed trucks used, and caught on camera, had a white “Z” painted on it and appeared to be a military truck.
The contact said there were rival groups of Russian troops: some would come in the morning and some in the evening.
Some of the machinery was taken to a nearby village, but some of it embarked on a long overland journey to Chechnya more than 700 miles away. The sophistication of the machinery, which are equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.
The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters – can also be controlled remotely. “When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely,” the contact said.
The equipment now appears to be languishing at a farm near Grozny. But the contact said that “it seems that the hijackers have found consultants in Russia who are trying to bypass the protection.”
“Even if they sell harvesters for spare parts, they will earn some money,” the contact said.
Other sources in the Melitopol region say theft by Russian military units has extended to grain held in silos, in a region that produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops a year.
One source said that “the occupiers are offering local farmers to share their profits 50% to 50%.” But the farmers trying to work in areas occupied by Russian troops are unable to move their produce.
“Not a single elevator works. None of the ports are working. You will not take this grain from the occupied territory anywhere. ”
So Russian forces are simply taking the grain, the source said. “They steal it, take it to Crimea and that’s it.”
Last week the mayor of Melitopol posted a video showing a convoy of trucks leaving Melitopol allegedly loaded with grain.
“We have clear evidence that they unloaded grain from the Melitopol city elevator. They robbed the elevator along with private farms,” the mayor said.
![[ Three of Paint ]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/36ae8f4e331a159d152639f42679a5ad/fc2519b6d42769e9-7f/s1280x1920/e57e20eec6e6ed3358685d1667e8b68273da66e6.jpg "[ Three of Paint ]")
