Found on our doorstep - what is it?

[oscarcat99]

See picture - it's about the length of my index finger and metal. DH suspects criminal intent! Can anyone identify it?

It’s a “break in” tool I believe - to open a lock.

Yep. A lock picker

My dp reckons a wire puller, something an electrician might use

Lock pick

Looks more like a a bike tyre lever to me

Could have been worse... Could have been a baby!!

It looks too hooky to be part of a lock pick set.

Looks like a lock pick

That does look like a thing from a lock picking set.

Any neighbours that might have seen anything?? Or have those camera doorbells?

Worrying

Though most people would say don’t be daft , I’d call the police (111, not 999).
My husband worked away and I was alone at home with 8 year old and newborn when I noticed a full handprint on one of our windows, in the place where someone would naturally put their hands if they were trying a sash window.
I thought I was being stupid but daft but friends persuaded me to call the police. I told my husband about it and he called them.
They took it really seriously, sent an officer who took fingerprints. Nothing else happened thereafter but at least those fingerprints were then on file.

No one picks locks nowadays

Maybe it’s a hinge off a pram.

My husband said it's from a lock picking set.

Or a hinge off a clothes dryer?

that is a lock pick, no doubt at all. I have got a set of them bought when I bought an old chest on ebay that was locked with no key

Looks like a lock picker. If it was on your doorstep it's unlikely to be a pram hinge unless you recently have had your pram fall apart.

It’s not a bike tyre lever…..they have the flat part of the shaft at a right angle to the hook bit of that makes sense…for better leverage.

@3luckystars

Maybe it’s a hinge off a pram.

I thought this, it looks like the bit on my stroller that hooks it all together when folded up.

@ThatsNotMyReindeer

Looks more like a a bike tyre lever to me

Never seen one like that.

Have you checked door/car locks for any signs of tampering?

It looks to me like a lever to open a window, based on the bit in the middle.

Thanks all, a little concerning. It's not likely to be a pram hinge as neither we nor any visitors have a baby. It's up our steep drive too so not likely to be dropped by a passerby. Bit odd they'd try the front though as we have a motion sensitive security light so they'd be v visible!

@Brollywasntneededafterall

Could have been worse... Could have been a baby!!

Or the remains of a robin, courtesy of one of our cats the other day. I opened the door to go out to the bin and almost stood on it .

But the thing in the OP definitely looks like a lock pick, so I'd phone the police, they might be interested in it for evidence/info and even fingerprints if it's not been touched.

I don't know how you can say that people don't pick locks @Divebar2021, it's not that long since it was all about changing the barrel in your uPVC lock because there had been lots of incidences of snapping, where burglars broke the lock to get in the house, usually to steal car keys, along with looking for jewellry etc.

I’d be getting cctv and a ring doorbell fitted ASAP!