Loiding

= Loiding =

Loiding (or carding) is a bypass technique that uses a flat object, such as some, e.g. a US, credit card, to retract inward-opening spring-supported latches. The flat object, referred to as a shim or 'loid, is slid between the latch and strike plate and used to push back (i.e retract) the latch. Some modern spring-latch doors use a deadlatch or dead locking plunger to prevent loiding. Loiding may also be referred to as 'slipping' or shimming, though that is a more generic technique used to open various types of locking mechanisms.

The term loiding comes from celluloid, used for early photographic and cinematic film, strips or sheets of which were cut to size and used for entry. It became known amongst many British criminals as a loid.

Loiding is generally a surreptitious attack but certain tools and techniques might leave behind forensic evidence.