X-ray sheet can open locked doors. This is true in France. So, X-ray sheets are not only used by physicians to check the state of your internal organs but also by door specialists to unlock closed doors. Does this surprise you? It surprised me. But then, I have my friend vouching as a witness to this operation and also performing it. Don't worry, my friend is a law-abiding expatriate and he was trying to get inside his apartment after conveniently forgetting the keys inside. This happened twice.
When my friend was locked out his apartment the first time, he called up a door specialist. The door specialist arrived carrying a suitcase, which is popular with all workers who specializes in the sundry tasks associated with a house. After the examining the door, the specialist searched his suitcase and pulled out a X-ray sheet. He then placed the X-ray sheet in the narrow space where the door meets the wood attached to the wall. The X-ray sheet was placed in the lower half of the door. Then, in one swift move, he pulled up the X-ray sheet passing over the lock in a matter of microseconds. The door was open.
My friend was relieved to get inside the apartment. But his happiness was short lived as he was presented with a bill of 90 Euros. The cost made him wiser. Now, he began to double-check and triple-check if the keys were with him before he stepped outside his apartment. But this was also short-lived. In a matter of days, he was again locked out. This time, he didn't call the door specialist. Instead, he called up a colleague, visited the colleague's house and brought back a X-ray sheet. The X-ray sheet worked and he was back inside the house.
Now, does my friend carry a X-ray sheet with him all the time? Does he double-check, triple-check and quadruple-check for the keys before leaving home? I do not know. Reading this, are you going to carry a X-ray sheet too? If you are thinking of carrying one with you, let me remind you why this worked. This worked because my friend has a habit of pulling the door with force to close it on his way out. He doesn't lock it. If you also have the same character traits, then this might work for you. As of writing this, I am not sure if this solution is location specific; in other words, works only in Paris and other parts of France.
As a foot note, please try this operation only on your door. Trying this on your neighbor's door or in that matter any other person's door will have undesirable consequences.
I think such information should not be made public. What if a burglar reads this?? I am hoping the Godrej locks in India are Xray proof
ReplyDeleteSame trick - http://www.wikihow.com/Open-a-Door-with-a-Credit-Card. Ask your friend to use his card next time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting !I specially liked the last two lines .
ReplyDelete@Radha - I think burglars already know this. So, make sure you lock the door while leaving the apartment. That is one of way of preventing it.
ReplyDelete@Sajesh - :) I came across this method while searching for this technique on the internet. Incidentally, this article was about how they tried X-rays and credit cards in Paris. By the way, my friend will reading the article and also the comments. ;) So, I don't have to tell him. You have already told him.
@Kavita - Thank you. I thought I was divulging too much information here. That was the reason for last two lines. ;)
X-rays not only help docs but also the common man during 'outstanding' situations. By saying 'Outstanding', I didn't mean u are smart. What I meant is that when u stand outside your house without keys(outstanding), you can make the best use of this 'X-Ray" sheet technique. Hope the readers got my point loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteA different kind of a post and I liked it very much.
From: sriramnivas.wordpress.com
@SriramNivas - Outstanding comment on the out-standing phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteWhatever next? I had read about credit cards opening doors, and now x-ray sheets. Hmmm... Maybe there is a market for recycling used x-rays. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThats a super idea..but I wonder, where can i see the demo of this process?
ReplyDelete@Tomz - Move to Paris. ;) Rent an apartment. Get locked out. You will have a demo for sure.
ReplyDeleteNona I too called a locksmith one evening expecting him to arrive with professional tools. The young man arrived with a radiograph, spent 30 minutes trying to unlock my door (unsuccessfully), charged my 75 Euros anyway, and offered to replace my lock for 650 Euros. I told him I could stay in a hotel for that price for a week!
ReplyDelete@Everlost - 75 Euros and still ending up with a locked door. He is a consultant. When I quickly searched on this topic before writing the blog, there are many instances in Paris (by American travelers/expatriates) where they locked out of their apartments and this X-ray sheet technique worked. All these instances start with skepticism and ends up with surprise of the effectiveness of this technique. There are instances where this did not work out too. Yours is one such instance.
ReplyDeleteYour friend was lucky enough that the key was not in the keyhole. That was what happened to me and it was a bank holiday, so they had to change the whole lock! ... me was on vacation and renting the apartment, so I had hardly any choice *boo hoo hoo* It was a big ouch! and my souvenir to bring back on holiday was the bloody lock!
ReplyDelete:) Have heard this horror story too. Probably, you went outside the apartment and got locked out. That is why you had to change the entire lock.
DeleteYeah... and I was just trying to take out the rubbish before I head out to meet my friends. Lucky me! haha :)
Deletedoesn't work if the door is "blindée" (reinforced door) with several locks !!
ReplyDeleteLuckily, most doors are not like that. ;)
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