This Video Shows You How to Escape Handcuffs Using Only a Paperclip

If you’ve been kidnapped, held hostage, or you’re just looking to become a magician, this video demonstrates how you can break out of a pair of professional, double-locking handcuffs with a standard paperclip.

This video, from YouTuber Grant Thompson—The King of Random—explains each step to unlocking the basic mechanism in a standard pair of handcuffs. When you have your paperclip bent the right way, all it takes is a couple quick turns. As the video points out, you should never try to escape from the police. It will only make things more difficult for you, so respect the law and only use this trick when you’ve been kidnapped, are being held against your will, or performing magic tricks. If your kidnappers are using zip ties instead, there’s acouple ways to break out of those too . Hopefully you’ll never have to worry about escaping from kidnappers, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.