this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2024
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[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 134 points 9 months ago (2 children)

All handcuffs having the same key was actually utilized at stonewall. The leather folks took cabs over when they learned of the riot and started using their handcuff keys to free arrested people who were left alone

Every new fact I learn about Stonewall makes me respect the people who were involved even more.

[–] Inucune@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago

The handcuffs on the people sitting on the curb are free. You can just unlock them and keep them.

[–] Twitches@lemm.ee 71 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Picking handcuffs is super easy, but, snapping those zip ties are not as easy as it sounds, unless I'm doing it wrong it hurts too much.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah full disclaimer: This is a screenshot of something my friend posted and not my experience. I'd imagine it would hurt, but maybe I could practice it with ... a very trusted friend lol

[–] skulblaka@startrek.website 47 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Zip cuffs are basically impossible to remove without a sharp edge. Metal cuffs are a lot easier to get out of.

Source: my dad's ex cop friend tested this with us at his bar

[–] thurstylark@lemm.ee 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Important note: zip ties (what is being discussed in the OP), and zip cuffs (cuffs that are made from similar material and tech) are very much NOT the same, and cannot be treated the same way.

[–] superduperenigma@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The OP specifically says "zip tie cuffs," not zip ties.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I could ask the dude who posted this what video it was from, but he might not even remember. This was posted months ago in a discord server, and I just happened to have it as a screenshot on my phone. It's very possible that the YouTuber was mixed up or wrong and didn't know the difference. I know I didn't know there was a difference until this thread.

Anyway, I've only ever had cops use handcuffs on me, never zip cuffs/ties. I don't think I've even seen them used in person.

[–] superduperenigma@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Anyway, I've only ever had cops use handcuffs on me, never zip cuffs/ties. I don't think I've even seen them used in person.

Generally I think they only use zip cuffs during larger crowd control operations, protests for example. Saw a ton of them during BLM protests in my city. You can see them on the left cop and some of the background cops if you zoom in on this pic I took

Clearly, I need to get more involved

[–] AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

"ex cop...at his bar" Yep, that rings true.

[–] Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Police “Flexicuffs” are legit, and designed to prevent this technique from working. The ‘smash against hard surface to break’ works on regular zip-ties, the kind a kidnapper or rapist buys from the hardware store

Picking handcuffs is indeed trivial, and basically all models are vulnerable to shimming under the ratchet pawl as well as using the (nearly) universal keys that are cheaply available online

[–] discostjohn@programming.dev 2 points 9 months ago

Ah yes, the classic shimmery Rachel paw technique. I too am a master of lock picking.

[–] _MusicJunkie@beehaw.org 8 points 9 months ago

I tried it once with some household zipties, I could do it but it did hurt a lot. Dunno if the police use stronger ones, I would assume so.

[–] xor@infosec.pub 37 points 9 months ago (2 children)

breaking zip ties isn't easy... but if you have a paper clip or something, it's a simple mechanism and you can lift the little plastic tab and loosen it...
or melt it with a lighter....

[–] BigDaddySlim@lemmy.world 43 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Use the Heisenberg method, bite a lamp cord with your teeth, use the ends to cause a short burning the zip ties and burning the piss out of your wrists. You're then free to go hide your methylamine at your car wash.

[–] xor@infosec.pub 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

you know, i don't think i could bite through a lamp cord....

[–] GunValkyrie@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago

You could. My cat has proved it's not difficult.

[–] TheSlad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Youre supposed to unplug the cord before biting it right?

[–] BigDaddySlim@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Absolutely not, give yourself some extra energy for your escape

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 17 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Hi, i regularly open and reuse zip ties.

I use a knife and it's hard enough with that fine point. Unless your zip ties have massive openings and lots of slop it would be impossible with a paper clip.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 5 points 9 months ago

A small flat head screwdriver also works, although the legit handcuffs may be more tamper resistant.

[–] xor@infosec.pub 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

well ive definitely done it with a paper clip on a normal zip tie... the cop ones are a lot thicker so it seem like the tab would be bigger and easier to fuck with...

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 3 points 9 months ago

Hmmm. Maybe it's the brand i have, then.

[–] TheSlad@sh.itjust.works 33 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Protip: if you get out of the cuffs after a police officer cuffs you, that just gives them an excuse to beat the shit out of you. They are always looking for a reason to escalate the situation and show off their "authority". Don't give them a reason.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

yeah but also dont get arrested.

if you need to get out of cuffs for that....

[–] megopie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

YouTube algorithm “hey do you want to learn how to make gun barrels using pipe, electricity and water?”

Me “won’t deny I’m curious but I’m still not clicking that because I’m 90% sure I’ll get put on a list”

[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago

If everyone is on a list, how valuable is the list?

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I bought a handcuff key (on a keychain wand) on Cops Plus. The company didn't require confirmation I was law enforcement.

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Anarchist channels on YouTube