Anger at YouTube videos that show how to break into houses

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Hundreds of videos are available on the site showing users how to pick locks, which experts fear will result in a spate of burglaries.

The films were uncovered in an investigation by Which? magazine and sparked calls for YouTube to remove them from the site.

Which? researchers found that a search for "lock-picking" on the site brings up more than 280 videos showing how different types of lock can be picked and what tools are needed.

One film, which shows how to make the tools needed to pick locks, has been viewed more than 60,000 times.

Jeff Turner of the Master Locksmiths Association said: "We wouldn't want to cause undue worry but some of the techniques should not be in the public domain because of the risk they'll be used by thieves.

"We see cases where people have been burgled but there's no sign of a forced entry. The police say a key was used. The householder says that no keys are missing but even then the insurance company refuses to pay out." Videos appear to have been put on the site by teenagers.

Some are accompanied by comments from people saying they have followed the instructions to successfully pick locks of neighbours.

One message says: "Made my first bump key today, using a file and a vice. It took me 10 minutes to file the grooves and 40 seconds to open my friend's front door. Sleep tight, people."

Google, which recently bought the site, said the matter is for YouTube, a wholly owned subsidiary. YouTube was unavailable for comment.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin said recently that he became interested in picking locks as a student and once picked the lock of his company's offices when he didn't have a key.

Last month, he told reporters that he learned the "bumping" technique by watching a video available through the Google website.

"I was curious" he said. "You want to see a person just do it."