parking meter pickin'

[shawnbye]

So many folks around these boards are talking about how to make some quick bucks, but they usually amount to literally a few quick bucks, no real dough...plus I always hear about others lockpicking skills, but I wonder how hard is it to pick open the cash box of parking meters? From what I have researched about them they generally hold up to 65$ each, use various types of locking systems (exactly what type I have not been able to figure out yet), but how hard can it be? I think that the locks are a wafer type, I have tried to find specs about them but none yet. Most manufacturers boast about security features such as inserting a card and key at same time to unlock, but I know for a fact that around here they only use a key, and the chage vaults are not sealed as we just had a big sno and I witnessed a meter guy going around with just a bag strapped to his side and emptying them out into the bag, opening with the key only, so I dunno...sounds like it might be a half decent way to make a few real bucks if one was able to figure out the locking systems and develop a pick or key? Any thoughts on tis one?

[odin_dax]

So many folks around these boards are talking about how to make some quick bucks, but they usually amount to literally a few quick bucks, no real dough...plus I always hear about others lockpicking skills, but I wonder how hard is it to pick open the cash box of parking meters? From what I have researched about them they generally hold up to 65$ each, use various types of locking systems (exactly what type I have not been able to figure out yet), but how hard can it be? I think that the locks are a wafer type, I have tried to find specs about them but none yet. Most manufacturers boast about security features such as inserting a card and key at same time to unlock, but I know for a fact that around here they only use a key, and the chage vaults are not sealed as we just had a big sno and I witnessed a meter guy going around with just a bag strapped to his side and emptying them out into the bag, opening with the key only, so I dunno...sounds like it might be a half decent way to make a few real bucks if one was able to figure out the locking systems and develop a pick or key? Any thoughts on tis one?

Runnin' over 'em will do the job!

Seriously, good luck. Doing it in broad daylight is no good. Late night, nobody else will be around (in downtown areas), so you'll look suspicious. And if you're just going down the street picking off meters, the change will get heavy, and you'll probably get seen, even if you can pick a lock quickly.
Risk analysis = Pass
Pay:Risk ratio = Not worth it

[Nox (ADVANCED)]

wouldnt it be a bit hard to run away if u were spotted with $65 in coins i dont know what meters accept never had to use one being rural aus. if u ran away from security/cops with a pocket full of change it would a) weigh you and or your pants down b) make a hell of a noise.

[shawnbye]

Both good responses, although perhaps unrealistic...I mean if one was going to take the time to do the job properly, it wouldn't be for $65 but more like as much as possible (while leaving enough leftover in each so as to not arouse suspision immediatly), would probably fashion some sort of quick-drop chute for a backpack or something so it could remain worn properly and still have contents dropped into it each meter (maybe stuck in jacket running under arm or somethin?). Where I live there is a fairly strong cop presence but not like larger cities and have had plenty of opportunities to do recon and stuff like that without being a heatbag recently, if one was really concerned they could keep a scanner on hand and plugged into ear to listen to piggies getting possible reports of your actions (used to do this when I was dealing couple of years back).

Anyhow, just putting out 'feelers' right now, I still have no ideas about the locking systems used, they look sort of like a handcuff key type setup, more security though, there is no way to see into the actual mechanism- the lock is set back into the case and the pins or whatever they are sit hidden to the side(s) of the keyhole. From specs I have checked out the keys are not shown in detail enough to know what the types are, dimple or wafer or??

To get further into it I was thinking about impressioning techniques, but would have to at least start with knowing the type of blank used or somehow be able to make a 'mould' of one keyway so as to get a rough idea of what is in there, just haven't been able to figure what to use to take the initial impression of the keyway, was thinking of some hardening putty or something that could be removed before completely hard, or melting a plastic stock and ramming it in there prior to it hardening up again...I dunno. When I am flat ass broke the idea gets though out a bit more, when I got some bucks I forget about it for a while...One post I read aboput had a group in NY scoop the whole meter, take back to whereever and they fashioned a master key by reverse eng the meters lock system. This could be applied as well in this case but I honestly don't have the tools to get the meter off the post, althouh I do know how they are attached from reading specs.

I wanna hear from folks who have any experience with meters or are adept at pickin various lock systems and might know what they are talkin about...ta, SB

[shawnbye]

well I did a bit more recon of the meter ideas this afternoon, followed a meter-man around a bit while he did his rounds in hopes of catching on a bit more about the key(s) used and whatnot- ran into a wall tho- the meter man ususally carts around a wheeled enclosure for the collection of the individual vault holdings, the opnes they use around here are sealed I found out- although I knew about this particular feature I had thought that they were not used in out city, but I guess I was partially wrong, some do and some don't (I saw another collection guy a week or so ago collecting and just dumping the cash into a side bag, no inserting and twisting like today...so I dunno) From what I understand of the design from checking out the specs online and what I saw today, the mechanism which is inserted is on the bottom of the cash-vault, the coin opening on the top, likely with a one way opening. The twist and drop action and the ease with which he demonstrated its use suggest that the sealed containers are easily circumvented but would not be practically done on site, so would have to take each container with and manually empty using tools or whatever it takes (crackin them isn't a real option as they are deigned to withstand forces and all that). Also since some or most of our meters do actually use sealed containers, I would imagine that the more hugh security locking systems are likely used as well, for meters which are capable of being paid by cash card methods, this most likely means that not only is the actual key lock used but possibly also an IR lock-releasing systems as well, as far as I have researched there are two methods, one uses as mater type card to fit into the target meter, then the cash vault lock can be engaged, the other uses an IR based tool to do the same thing- if any in use here than that would be what we have in place- I actually never saw any evidence of this but could well be that the IR device was in his vest, of somewhere else on his person in close proximity...

The whole ideas is just not as worth ot as it seemed to be initially, thats another one put on the back burners- at least untill I can find a werk-around...I just don't have all that much time to invest.

the only other seemingly viable method to me would be to actually remove a meter and take it back home to hack on, then I might be able to both fashion a key and also troubleshoot the IR or card system better, both of which are most definatly possible but would take alot of time investment. oh well, lesson learned.

[INCH06]

Just gonna put a little imput into this...

The english parking meters are ALL alarmed, and the alarm in question is loud as fuck... SWIM once threw an 8ball at one and that was enough to trigger the alarm... so be careful huh.

These are the ones in Question (withoot that stupid solar thing ontop)...

http://suif.stanford.edu/~nickolai/photos/2005/10.29-london-kew-gardens/tn/medium~london%20179.jpg

[ComfortablyNumb]

Now thats a spiffy pakring meter. I'm only used to seeing little shitty ones like this
http://www.benadams.com/picturesALL/08012003Parking_meter_in_the_desert.jpg

[shawnbye]

^^ yeah that european meter looks more like a bot! I'de expect it to next sprout some wheels and scoot away on you. I have heard about the solar powered ones, just never seen anything like that. The reasearch I did on meter security systems did make mention of alarm systems as well, but theirs described silent types that would alert a server, server dispatch to ???cappers? I dunno. I seriously doubt that ours use such extravegant features but who knows, I've already had some of my previous conceptions dispelled, so who knows...

^ that second meter pic is just the kind of remote target I would require to gain more insight into the inner werkings of the craft...although surely that particular meter is way outdated? where is that , the flats or something?nevada maybe?

well, back to dinner.

[INCH06]

:haha:

No offence or anything but those skinny American parking meters wouldn't last five minutes in my area, the kids would have them fucked up in seconds, either that or the heavys would have em in the back of a transit countin' up tha cash...

How tha fuck do they last longer than a day in tha States I ask myself..?

[shawnbye]

Those meters are really difficult to remove from the posts, they are bolted to the actual post, no biggie, but hen they place a tigh fit sleeve over the hard post so if one was going to remove (without running it down with an auto) you would have to first cut into the sleeve, then remove the pin, then remove the meter, much more werk than usually possible in most street settings, day or night.

Yeah the states are rough from what I know of em, used to live down there in various north-western ones back in the ol' punkin days of mine...I left because it was just way too much for me to figure back then (I was 13 and livin the streets, squattin and all that crud). Getting guns pointed and shot at ya often was commonplace, gang fights most every night, rollin twinks cause they had what I (we) wanted, etc. The cops didn't even try to break shit up, they would surround blocks and cordon off the streets the action was happening on and just wait till everyone was knocked out and bleedin to come in and collect...

Never really knew what a real ghetto was till I went to Chicago and some others, I used to live in Toronto before I went down there (and after) and I had thought that place was 'ghetto'- nope. I can understand what you are talkin about, but again those meter manufacturers have put alot of R&D into their products for just that very reason....nothing is impossible but more like deturents...

[shawnbye]

gone.

[shawnbye]

gone. sorry but this thread just became a bit more than hypothetical chit chat.

[Scamula]

:haha:

No offence or anything but those skinny American parking meters wouldn't last five minutes in my area, the kids would have them fucked up in seconds, either that or the heavys would have em in the back of a transit countin' up tha cash...

How tha fuck do they last longer than a day in tha States I ask myself..?

To be honest with you, most of us probably have never thought about parking meter jacking. I know it never crossed my mind until I read this thread.

[ronmexico]

i loved your guide on the five finger discount that you wrote. it was the best shit that i have ever read so far. i was wondering if you had an aim or something like that. cheers to your brillance

[Scamula]

i loved your guide on the five finger discount that you wrote. it was the best shit that i have ever read so far. i was wondering if you had an aim or something like that. cheers to your brillance

Thanks! I have no aim but you can always pm me here.

[Stone]

i loved your guide on the five finger discount that you wrote. it was the best shit that i have ever read so far. i was wondering if you had an aim or something like that. cheers to your brillance

Keep personal shit to PM. Don't derail threads. Read the rules. Welcome to rorta.