if you want an idea for lockpicking and how easy it can be take a paperclip and bend the middle bend out from a U to an L shape.
Take the small side of the two remaining Us and find a file cabinet lock or in my neighborhood, each cluster of houses has on big box with seperate locking mailboxes. Even the smaller locks that go on luggage open REALLY easily.
jiggle the paperclip in and out and up and down while putting some sidways pressure in the direction the lock turns. dont use much pressure on the turning motion, focus on the jiggling. it will trun easily when you get it. if that doesnt get it, bend the open end of the looped back U and close it so it is in a long loop. rake it again.
I can open most of these small locks in less than a minute with either a large or small paperclip.
cheap rotating dial type of combination locks you can hit the top of the combination dial with a downward motion with a hard soled dress shoe or other hard object that you can get some leverage with. not master locks but the cheap ones that probably most of the crew that shops hot deals here would buy at the checkout line in the grocery or drug store.
the type of lock that looks like a pad lock but has a combination but not a dial is pretty fun and challenging to open. it just has three wheels that turn. pull on the lock and turn each wheel. the wheel that is hardest to move is the one to start with. turn it until you feel that somehow it feels different or gets stuck. then the next wheel that was easy to turn will now be more difficult. do the same with that and finally on the 3rd wheel the lock will open. it is alot harder than it seems. alot of zen with this type of lock but i can usually get them in a couple of minutes. to change the combination on this type of lock, turn the U part of the lock around 180 degrees and push down on it, then change the combination.
the same type of lock as above is often found on briefcases. from the handle side of the lock insert a small flat piece of metal under the latch. it has to be at a sligh angle and push it in and out adjusting the angle. the latch will pop open. takes about one minute for both sides. of course you could just force it with a screwdriver but if you use the above method, you can close the case and nobody will be aware that it was opened. just in case, remember what the combination was set to before you started and set it back to that when you are finished. also for this type of lock, if you want to change the combination, while on the correct combination, push the release switch twards the center handle and change the numbers. when you let go of the switch this is the new combination.
i have used all of the above for lost keys to furniture, file cabinets, used stuff that does not come with a key and... also its good to see just how unsecure things really are around the office. show people this at your own risk, while it is really easy, i have gotten funny looks from supervisors when i say allow me and open their "secure" cabinet and files in under a minute when they lose their keys.
most crimes and break-ins are crimes of opportunity. the door is left unlocked or keys are under a mat or in ignition. a simple locked lock will deter most thieves unless they are aware that you have something worth the hassle, they will just try a handle and if it is locked they will move to an easier target.