B And E: A To Z
How To Get In Anywhere, Anytime
By Scott French - 1991 - 120 Minutes - VHS Tape
Available From Paladin Press
Review by Pete Kautz, 2007

You've seen it on TV where the private detective takes a bent paper clip and opens a padlock, right?  Well if you ever saw that and wondered "How the heck do you do that?" then you will have a lot of fun watching this tape and seeing just how easy it is for a professional!

This unusual instructional video from Paladin Press covers a number of different methods for bypassing house door locks, pad locks, car door locks, file cabinet or desk locks, and even how to crack a safe!  Things that probably you have only seen in films or TV shows, here you will learn how they are done.  So, the video is definitely entertaining in that respect.

Moreover, for anyone who puts a lock on something they consider valuable, this video is an eye opening experience in just how easily that lock can be compromised by someone with the know-how and desire to do so.  If you own a home or business then this tape will show you how a criminal might break in and what tell-tale marks the different methods might leave as evidence.

(For that matter, if you have ever locked yourself out of your own house and wished you knew how to get back in easily, this tape will show you how!  Then you won't have to kick in the door or go through a window like I've had to over the years - once almost getting shot by a concerned neighbor who though I was a bad-guy breaking in to the place!)

In each section of the video you learn several methods to defeat each kind of lock, so for example with door locks different methods of manual picking are shown, using electric picks, making a key impression, using tools to bypass the lock entirely, lock disassembly, and so on.  Having already read some books on the topic will help here as the video has to be somewhat general due to the sheer number of topics covered in two hours but they really do give you a good starting point with what they show.  Combine this with some book learning and practice and you will be able to learn.

Which brings us to the question perhaps some are asking - "WHY learn something like this?"

While I can only answer for myself, there are two main reasons.  First, to learn how something is done is the first step in being able to defend against it, just like in the martial arts.  Second is because in time of great need such as a natural disaster, if medicines or food or even the means of escape *were* locked away wouldn't you want to know how to access them to help others?  In no way do I advocate reckless use of this knowledge but like so many things, it is what you do with your skills that counts.  Just because you know CPR you don't hope someone drowns when you go to the beach so you can "use your knowledge" but it is there if, God forbid, you should ever need to know it.  Just like your fighting skills, a treasure you conceal.

The video quality is what you might expect for a low budget production done in the early 90's.  There are a few glitches, odd edits, and at one point the on-camera host even forgets a word and is reminded by someone off screen ("Oh right, toluene is what you mix with thermite to make it easier to light")  Despite these small flaws, the information is every bit as relevant as when the video was first produced and if you have any interest in the topic then I think you'll enjoy this tape.

B And E: A To Z Is Available From Paladin Press