Is it legal to pick locks to gain access to an area you&#39;re allowed to be in, in Canada?
<p>After a bit of discussion regarding my answer for <a href="https://workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/164272/employer-planning-on-making-a-change-that-im-prepared-to-quit-over-how-should/164314?noredirect=1#comment532451_164314">this question</a> in the Workplace Stackexchange, I got to wondering:</p>
<p>Is it legal to pick a lock to gain access to an area you're authorized to enter in Canada, without getting permission to pick the lock? For instance, you're legally allowed to enter your workplace, so would it be legal to pick a lock to gain access to it, rather than using the intended methods of opening the lock? If you're allowed to go there, you wouldn't be committing a crime like Criminal Trespass or Breaking and Entering, right? Are there any other laws that would make this illegal there?</p>

<h2>Are you “legally allowed to enter your workplace“?</h2>
<p>Or are you legally allowed during normal work hours when the premises is open for business? Permission to enter can be conditional and a locked door is generally a big denial of permission.</p>
<p>However, let’s assume you have permission to be inside. Do you have permission to break in? That’s a question that will turn on the facts. If the owner says you didn’t have permission then breaking in is a crime.</p>

criminal-law canada trespass