Carrying it might not be illegal, but using it starts to get dicey. Unless you're using it on a lock to a room where you're entitled to access (your home, for example), you're setting yourself for a lot of hassles. More so in foreign countries. I see no possible upside of carrying this with him and many possible downsides.

Lock pick laws vary from state to state. In the vast majority of states including CA, NY and my own CO possession of a set alone is not enough to prove criminal intent. Of course IANAL and some municipalities might have their own laws.

I usually carry a set in my bag and have not had any issues.

I don't have an issue with picks, but why would one need them often enough to justify the weight/clutter of carrying them everywhere?

Maybe he has a hobby of picking locks (that he owns) for fun... except I don't see a lock in his bag.

You're right. Kevin Poulsen was stopped and searched by cops at least once, possibly several times IIRC, and found to be carrying a lockpick set. It definitely can make things a lot worse because typically when a cop sees that, it triggers a lot of presumptions.

It's fine in most US states. Only one state (I forget which) has a general proscription on lockpicks. In many states, carrying lockpicks while committing a crime is illegal, but otherwise it's fine.

> In many states, carrying lockpicks while committing a crime is illegal, but otherwise it's fine.

Is it any crime, or does it have to be something for which the lockpicks could have been a tool? Otherwise, I can imagine the news now: "Local man gets jail time for jay walking with lockpicks. More at 11."

If there is a crime near you involving a break-in and you are found to be carrying lockpicks, you will instantly be considered the #1 suspect.

I mean, I suppose there's probably no law against walking around with a glass pipe either but I wouldn't recommend doing it for the hell of it.

There are seriously laws preventing you from carrying a lock picking set?

Since the Theft act of 1968 the UK has had an offence of "Going equipped for stealing" [1]

It can cover any otherwise-legal item (bolt cutters or gloves for example) if it can be shown it was for use in a theft; and with items that are made specifically for burglary or theft (a lock-snapping bar or a foil-lined shoplifting bag for example) possession alone is illegal.

[1] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/25

I work in England but a co-worker here mentioned that the law says he can't carry them unless he had a very good reason e.g. he is a locksmith.

"Going equipped"

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/25

(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, when not at his place of abode, he has with him any article for use in the course of or in connection with any burglary or theft.

2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.

3) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section, proof that he had with him any article made or adapted for use in committing a burglary or theft shall be evidence that he had it with him for such use.

It varies from state to state.