I locked myself out of my apartment so I called a locksmith company and got a quote for $100. The locksmith showed up and tried to pick it by doing nothing more than ramming a pick in and out for a couple minutes. Complete amateur. He eventually got it open by hammering a wedge into the door frame, leaving it a little bent. He then billed me $150; "it was harder than expected."
"My door is open and I have my keys so I'll pay you what I was quoted." He proceeded to threaten me with police and lawyers until we agreed on $120. I have never had an interaction with a locksmith that didn't leave me sketched out. Presumably it's a regulated profession to protect us from the incompetent and shady yet it's full of them.
edit: I guess my point is that the locksmith profession is so screwed up that it's difficult to take too many lessons from them.
I suspect that, stood in your own house with keys in hand, faced with an angry man with a wedge who has just broken your door open, the police might be persuaded to take your side...
edit: I guess my point is that the locksmith profession is so screwed up that it's difficult to take too many lessons from them.