How I Rob Banks

Chapter 66Bypassing Speed Lanes

If you have gone into an office building at any point in your life as a visitor or an employee, you have almost certainly been asked to walk through a glass sliding-door barrier. These come in multiple styles, but they are all based on a single mechanism: allow only authorized pedestrians through the barrier.

The mechanism can be independent of the barrier, but it is normally an RFID-based proximity card that you wave nearby. Once the authorization is verified, the glass doors open and allow you access.

Security is always a balance between allowing someone or something to do the job intended and not allowing others access. The point of security is to allow that to happen in the safest possible way. These glass barriers are hindered by so many safety concerns that they are barely security systems. It is possible to tailgate many of them—that is, walk in behind someone else. How often have you held the door open for someone you don't know or asked someone to hold the door open for you? In restricted-access areas such as lobbies to apartments or hotels, it's normalized behavior. You are just helping a fellow human. However, when taken advantage of, you could be letting in a criminal.

Tailgating your way past a security barrier can be an easy way into any site. You can take advantage of human psychology to help you do this.

People hate having their personal space invaded by someone else, and you can use that to your advantage. I have used this trick ...