your door locks broken?

[Tom Nas]

Or locked your keys in the car? Here's how to get in without doing damage.

Disclaimer: I do NOT condone B&E into someone else's car, but I'm glad this 
was possible when I accidentally locked my keys in my car. And I wish this 
dope-crazed b at st@rd who broke into my car recently had used this method to 
get in instead of doing $400-worth of damage to my lock and door.

Tools: flat-bladed screwdriver, of the sturdy kind. One piece of cloth (old 
towel). Piece of nylon tie band used to strap boxes, tie stuff to pallets etc.

Wrap the towel around the screwdriver and push it between the door frame 
and the b-pillar at the top trailing edge of the door. Use the cloth to 
protect the door seals. Get the screwdriver in so that you can use it to 
lever the door frame away from the opening and create a space to get your 
tie band in.
Put the two ends of the tie band together to create a loop. Slide the loop 
into the crack you've created between door frame and opening, and move it 
down towards the door locking pin. Slide it over the door locking pin, pull 
it towards the rear of the car and up. Hey presto, one unlocked door.
This might take a bit of fiddling, but it's quite easy when you have a 
helper operating the screwdriver pry bar.

This shows that the Japanese (who don't use the locking pins on top of the 
doors) are right when they think it's safer. When I needed this to work I 
was glad I didn't drive a Japanese car, however.
This also shows how easy it is to get into a car, and the importance of not 
leaving any valuables in the car. Note that criminals sometimes have 
different notions of what's valuable: in my case, three copied CDs, one 
mobile phone car charger (worth all of $4!) and my fuel discount pass had 
been stolen. But that radar detector, your nice stereo (especially when 
you're not in the habit of removing the faceplate) and your expensive 
sunglasses might be of interest, too. Don't leave anything you don't want 
to lose in your car when you park in a high-crime area. Make a habit of 
leaving your glovebox open to show that there's nothing in there- that 
broken door lock or window generally costs more to fix than the stuff taken 
from your car costs to replace. On some Audis, locking stuff in the trunk 
is somewhat safer but the trunk isn't impenetrable either. When you REALLY 
need to leave valuable stuff in your car, get a strongbox-type locking 
metal box which you can bolt to your trunk floor. Get an immobilizer (I 
know I will!)- some insurance cos won't even insure your car against theft 
unless it has one, most will give you a discount if it does. Older cars 
have become attractive targets for break-ins and theft since newer cars are 
protected better.

Tom