RALEIGH — Doors and locks are supposed to keep criminals out of your home, but it is easy for them to get in if they have the right tools. Local locksmiths are trying to change that.

Laura Busse, a professional locksmith. says it is too easy for criminals to get the tools of her trade. You can buy lockpicks on the Internet and join chats about techniques. That is one reason Busse is pushing for legislation that would make it illegal to possess the tools of licensed locksmiths.

The bill would also make it illegal to obtain lockpicks through Web sites or magazines. Currently, you do not have to have a license to be a locksmith in North Carolina.

"Right now, anyone can claim to be a locksmith and install locks, poorly or well, give advice, good or bad," she says.

At the very least, Busse hopes licensure will help the public find competent locksmiths. However, she says money buys the best locks.

"Most locks are adequate for controlling polite people, but only a few locks are effective against an intruder," she says.

If you want to "pick-proof" your home, Busse suggests the following locks: Medeco, Assa, Abloy and Multilock. Busse says the following locks are easy to pick: Schlage, Weslock, Harlock and Kwikset and Kwikset copies like Geo and Mainstreet.